OK, I’ve got another Bamboo question…this time it’s about the best flyline to use. The rod is a 7’6" Ovis Pacesetter 6wt. I am currenly using a Hardy WFF 5 for drys. (I under lined the rod based on the suggestions of many others on this bulletin board from the last question I asked about this rod). I fished with the rod for the first time last weekend and it layed down dry flies quite nicely with a 10 ft 7X leader once I got used to a slow, high cast. Now here is where I have a problem…when I tried a dry/dropper set-up, it tangled something awful. I realize it probably has a lot to do with me getting used to casting a much slower rod that I am used to, but I never had tangle problems using a graphite rod.
I am wondering if there is a better flyline for this set up? I am not a traditionalist so I don’t have to use silk. I am fishing mostly dry flies in the 16-26 range but occassionally I like to add a bead headed pupa or soft hackle as a dropper to a hair wing caddis. I have seen where the Cortland 444 Sylk and Rio Selective advertise that they are designed specifically for Bamboo. Will going to one of these lines reduce the tangles with a double fly setup? If so, do you have a preference of the Cortland or Rio? If changing lines won’t correct my problem do you have any suggestions how to reduce the tangling?
IF the rod has a small stripper guide you may want to try a Cortland SYLK which will fit better through the guides. But if the guides are normal ANY fly line with a standard taper will work just fine despite all of the “made for bamboo” claims.
I have used everything from a Cortland 444 to a Rio Classic on bamboo with no problems. The tangles you are experiencing have nothing to do with the line but probably more to do with the rig and overpowering the cast on a slow line to compensate.
BTW - I always use a dropper tippet heavier than the upper fly to reduce tangles. In other words my dry fly is on 6x while the nymph dropper is 5X.
It definately sounds like you are overpowering the line and also going just a little to fast. Maybe one of the experts will chime in here and correct me but in my cse with this problem I was going to fast, not letting the loop form. Remember to feel the line load up before moving forward, and then only with the energy it takes to lay that line out. Just my 2 cents.
That’s what it sounds like to me…I sometimes still have problems trying to overpower my cast on the forward part and that’s where you develop those tailing loops which will create tangles, especially with multiple flies.
Just try to remember to slow down and don’t overpower, this will open up that loop which will make it much easier to cast a two+ fly rig without getting those nasty tangles.
IF the rod has a small stripper guide you may want to try a Cortland SYLK which will fit better through the guides. But if the guides are normal ANY fly line with a standard taper will work just fine despite all of the “made for bamboo” claims.
I have used everything from a Cortland 444 to a Rio Classic on bamboo with no problems. The tangles you are experiencing have nothing to do with the line but probably more to do with the rig and overpowering the cast on a slow line to compensate.
BTW - I always use a dropper tippet heavier than the upper fly to reduce tangles. In other words my dry fly is on 6x while the nymph dropper is 5X.[/quoteBamboozle,
Bamboozle,
Great advise, as always. When compared to my newer rods, the stripping guide is smaller, so I guess I may try some 444 Sylk. I will definitely try going with a heavier dropper tippet. Hey, do you ever get to Reading to fish the Tully? If so, you can usually find me on Saturdays fishing somewhere between the flat above the Papermill and the 222 overpass. I’m easy to spot, I’m the guy who’s untangling his leader!
I can also tell you that I have used regular lines on rods with small guides with not too many problems. I really only had a big issue when fishing in the winter. The guides would ice up in a millisecond. Try the Sylk, you may just love it but bamboo is like any other rod material when it comes to fly lines; it all depends on the rod. Your rod is slower than a lot of newer boo so a standard taper like a 333, 444, Rio Classic or Sylk is probably ideal.
BTW - I don’t fish the Tully because I have the Saucon & Monocasy in my backyard. Wild fish and cold water all year long! You gotta try it sometime!
