Airflo Spey Line Recommendations
Choosing the correct Spey Line for your rod is extremely important, if you get the grain/weight ratio wrong, you may be in for a tough time loading the rod. Get it right, and your new line/rod will cast like a dream. We've put together our Spey Line Recommendations below to help you select the best Airflo Spey Line. If you have any questions or queries on our offerings, get in touch we'd be more than happy to help!
| Two Hand Rod | Single Hand Rod | Grain Weight | Skagit Scout | Skagit Fist | Skagit Driver | Rage Compact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 3/4 | 150 | 13.5' | |||
| 1/2 | 4/5 | 180 | 14.5' | 26.5' | ||
| 2/3 | 5/6 | 210 | 14.5' | 26.5' | ||
| 2/3 | 6/7 | 240 | 15' | 27' | ||
| 3/4 | 7/8 | 270 | 15' | 27' | ||
| 3/4 | 8/9 | 300 | 15.5' | 27.5' | ||
| 4/5 | 9/10 | 330 | 15.5' | 27.5' | ||
| 4/5 | 360 | 16.5' | 28' | |||
| 5/6 | 390 | 16.5' | 28' | |||
| 5/6 | 420 | 17.5' | 29' | |||
| 6/7 | 450 | 17.5' | 20.5' | 23' | 29' | |
| 6/7 | 480 | 18.5' | 21.5' | 23' | 30' | |
| 7/8 | 510 | 18.5' | 21.5' | 23.5' | 30' | |
| 7/8 | 540 | 18.5' | 22.5' | 23.5' | 31' | |
| 8/9 | 570 | 22.5' | 24' | 31' | ||
| 8/9 | 600 | 23.5' | 24' | 32' | ||
| 9/10 | 630 | 24.5' | ||||
| 9/10 | 660 | 23.5' | 24.5' | |||
| 10/11 | 720 | 23.5' | 25' | |||
| 10/11 | 750 | 25' |
When choosing a spey line for your customer, there are many things that can be taken into account. We have included some more information below on factors that can affect line choice.
Floating, or near surface presentation - Rage Compact Shooting Head:
Heavy Flies and Sink Tip Presentation - Skagit Head (Scout, Driver, FIST):
Dead Drift, and Nymphing - Kelly Galloup Nymph/Indicator (Full Line):
Other Considerations
Skill Level -
Line Length/Rod Length = Shooting Head Ratio
*Between 1-2 is a good place to start for beginners, more than 3 can be difficult.
Rod Length -
<--- 9’ --- 10’ --- 11’ --- 12’ --- 13’ --- 14’ ---- 15’ ---->
Scout < FIST / Driver < Rage Compact
Switch/Spey Note - Based more on design than length, a switch rod is designed to behave like a long single handed rod great for mending and brutally powerful overhead casting. A spey rod however, is designed specifically for anchor centric “spey” casting..
Size of Water -
2-4wt Trout spey for for smaller rivers, trout sized fish - Skagit Scout or Rage Compact
5-6wt Small steelhead and large trout - Skagit Scout, Rage Compact, Skagit Driver
7-8wt Typical NW steelhead setup - Skagit Driver, Skagit Fist, Skagit Scout, Rage Compact
Size of fly or sinking tip -
Size of the fly and tip you can throw depends on the mass and thickness of the shooting head
For sink tips:
2H rods Throwing 350gn or less - Sink tip that weighs less than 100 grains
2H rods throwing 450gn or less - Sink tips that weigh less than 150 grains
2H rods throwing 550gn or less - Sink tips that weigh less than 200 grains
Stripping the fly -
Integrated Lines Allows for stripping the line all the way in
They are also ideal for overhead distance casting or throwing big streamers on relatively large water.
Airflo Integrated Shooting head lines - Sniper 4 Season , Kelly Galloup Streamer lines
Fishing Efficiency -
Pick the best tool for the job
Skagit Scout - Versatility, No backcast room, turnover power (gn/ft)
Skagit Driver - Similar Versatility, Smooth Casting, Big flies/tips
Skagit FIST - Fast currents, Heavy flows, Big flies/tips
Rage Compact - Surface presentations, Soft Hackles, Less running line to strip in
Environmental Conditions -
Choose Ridge Extreme Running Line in any summer or other warm weather conditions, it has a tropical coating that will not compress like the cold water High-Vis SuperDri Ridge Float.
General a Shooting Head Setup is comprised of 3-4 parts:
| Running Line $50 | Shooting Head $60 | Sink Tip $20-30 | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thin, non-tapered and shoots easily. Can be used with multiple shooting heads. | Generally somewhere between 12-40ft long. This Line will be generally much thicker than single hand lines and take up extra space on the reel. | Required for Skagit Lines, as they are designed with the sink tip in mind. A floating tip will work in place on the Scout and Driver lines. | When not using sink tips, the leader should match the approximate length of the rod (Rage Compact). |
Sink Tips:
| CCT (Custom Cut Tips) | Polyleaders | FLO Tips | Rage Compact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tungsten (T-material) Comes in T-7, T10, T14, T-18 T-7 weighs 7 grains/ft etc... Comes in 10’ ad 18’ lengths with one bombproof FlexiLoop and line ID Can weld loops in other end easily |
Tapered for easy turnover Comes in variety of sink rates Not as durable as T material Comes in a variety of lengths with welded loops on one end. Comes in different weights |
T-material with a 2.5’ butt section of intermediate sink line Less hinging between shooting head and sink tip Bombroof welded Loops and ID |
Ideal for Floating Presentations Will throw sinking polyleaders and light tips Throws tight loops |
Running Lines:
| Airflo SuperDri Ridge Floating Running Line | Airflo Ridge Extreme SuperDri Floating Running Line |
|---|---|
| Giant FlexiLoop for attaching shooting head Comes in 20lb Fl. Yellow and 30lb Fl. Orange Great for cold water, easy to manage PU coating improves durability but reduces shootability |
Grey tropical coating stiffer than standard Running Line Giant FlexiLoop for attaching shooting head Similar to monofilament but less wiry Comes in 20lb, 30lb, and 50lb |