So...I've been told many times that casting a large fly rod, like my 8 wt, is considerably different than casting a small trout rod. Not knowing the difference, I thought, "Sure...ok...can't be that hard." I had only ever cast an 8 wt until this spring. I bought anew trout rod so I've been casting a 7.5 ft 5 wt all spring and have had no time to practice with the 8wt salmon rod. I get 2 hrs to try and hook a salmon, step out onto the bank, string up the 8 wt and proceed to cast like I have a wet noodle on the end of a broomstick. It was both frustrating and embarrassing at the same time and I caught nothing except trees. The moral of the story is if anyone gives you advice, at least try it before you dismiss it. If I had taken a 1/2 hour to do some lawn casting before I went (as I had been told many times to do) I would have had a much more enjoyable time on the river. Yield to experience...it will usually yield good results