Here's the scenario:
I've been using a 7wt for bass (and unsuccessfully for pike) lately, and had some good catches. But I've got some flies that I really like the looks of and want to use effectively. The problem is that they're too heavy and really whack the line tight at the end of the back and forward casts, and splash down too hard. These are streamers and minnow patters with pretty heavy heads. Anyone watching me try to cast them must be laughing, and the fish are instantly spooked. I can't afford another rod. I was thinking about putting a heavier line on one of my reels (I happen to have a 9wt floating line sitting here for some reason). Would the heavier line do anything to smooth out the flight and landing of a heavy fly? I also have to get out my grandpa's old fiberglass Fenwick rod and see if that handles them any better than the more flexible modern rods I've been using. I keep forgetting to take it with me.
Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Olaf