Does anybody use OPST commando heads for single hand spey casting? how and what do you use them for
Swinging flies and streamer fishing. Essentially a shooting head style system with heads that are heavy enough for spey casts. Not quite as versatile as some rigs, good for what it does, but pretty much a niche rig.
I think i am going put one on my Christmas list with floating & sink tips for of my single hand 9’ 4wt rods for trout, sand bass & stripers on one of our wider tailwaters. it looks like they will cast weighted and bigger flies with no problem. i will probably use lazer line for shooting line
I got the 225 grain Commando head for a single hand 9’ 6wt rod. Lazar line as the running line. A floating MOW tip. I need to practice with it more. I’ve used a switch rod and enjoyed it. The Commando line should be very similar to cast, but it seemed a bit tougher to cast than I expected (that’s why I need to practice with it more). I’m sure its just comes down to nailing the technique. I think it’ll be GREAT for fishing flowing water, which I sometimes do when chasing Smallmouth Bass. I’m hoping to find a practical use for it on the still waters I fish most often. One of my common frustrations is not being able to cast large bass flies far enough into a headwind, and this head should be heavy and compact enough to hopefully solve that issue. The videos online sure make it look super easy to cast and use…almost elegant! Did I mention I need to practice with it more? :rolleyes:
I’m often fishing from shore, and one thing to note is that you can only retrieve a certain distance from you… not as close as you would be able to with a conventional fly line. Since you leave the full lenth of the Commando head outside your guides most of the time while fishing, you have that length (13.5’ for the one I have), plus the floating (or sinking tip) which could be as short as 5’, but might typically be 10’. And then the length of your tippet. In my case I often use 4.5’-6’. For this example, lets say 5’ of tippet. So, 13.5’(head)+10’(tip)+5’(tippet)+9’ (rod length)= without casting any additional line, your fly is already 37.5’ away from your body, and you can’t really fish any closer than that. Just something to keep in mind. Lately I’ve been getting a lot of strikes and fish just 15’ away. With the Commando I’d have a tough time fishing that close…but could probably angle my casts to the shoreline to cover that distance. But one key with the Commando head, you can fish FURTHER…possibly MUCH further, based on your casts and needs.
I’ve tried some other lines on my 6wt rods, and usually end up disappointed. I keep coming back to my favorite all-purpose line that you can actually do some spey-type casts with, but it still really easy for more conventional single hand rod casting…Airflo 40+ 6wt WFF.
FIshnDave Thanks for the insight. i have access to one bass pond in particular that i fish from the shore, it has steep banks, trees and chest high weeds. i have reached the fish laying in deeper water using roll casts etc but in the stiff wind that blows often in Oklahoma i thought the commando head might help. i have never spey cast so maybe i won’t be able to cast it. AS you said though the videos sure make it look easy. i have been fly fishing a long time but it is still fun to learn something new. That said if it does not help me reach more fish more easily i probably wouldn’t use it