Efficient Spey Casting: Part 25 - What should we use Mono or Coated Running Line

[@cevisuals]

Having been doing more single hand micro skagit on my 3 & 5 wt rods (and their matching smaller reels), The OPST commando heads and tips combined with mono is my preferred setup... I tried using 15lb coated running line and it drastically reduced my casting distances along with thew coiling issues. Tried SA's flat shooting mono and that is worse than the coated running line. Recently purchased OPST's new oval mono and will be giving it a thorough workout over the coming few months on the local native resides here in my area hoping it resolves the issues I've had with single hand rod micro skagit casting...

[@laxberndt]

As usual very informative video. I personally use Mono for all my fishing from trout to salmon. I put the momolina in warm water a few hours before fishing. then it will be soft and nice.

[@hooked4lifeca]

I've found that the Airflo Impact mono stays supple without pretreatment, even in cold water.

[@ChefAlexSocci]

Im thinking about trying to weld 12’ or so cut from the end of a regular fly line to some 30 or 40lb mono to make a diy version of the rio grip shooter. Hoping this will be a best of both worlds scenario.

[@hooked4lifeca]

Unfortunately that weld will not hold as the mono will just lose it's strength

[@ristorikuasikainen1957]

Great video. How about the tension of the line in flight when using a light mono runner? You easily lose line tension and the air resistance of the fly line increases. Then the casting length falls and the line does not straighten properly. When using coated running line, the friction of the coating keeps the fly line in tension, as well as the greater weight of the running line. The fly line flies straighter and the loop unrolls better. It's easier and more reliable to make a longer cast where the fly line straightens up to the hook. It is worth comparing in places where you can estimate the actual casting lengths or cast against a measure and look where the fly lands. I use nowadays only coating running lines, stripping long strips 5-6-7, 6-7-8 or 7-8-9.

[@hooked4lifeca]

That's an important issue and in other videos I've likened it to the fletching on an arrow, but the characteristics of the head and the quality of our casting also impact this issue. With a well designed head well cast, the running line has limited impact on the quality of the cast beyond the obvious distance issues (less resistance = more distance). When the line taper is clumsier along with the casting, then the drag of the running line will help to smooth things out. I didn't add these issues to the video to avoid over complicating things.

[@ristorikuasikainen1957]

@@hooked4lifeca Hi. I think that less resistance is not always more distance. I have noticed that if I use a light mono running line I have to delay the timing of when I let the fly line fly. Otherwise the heavy rear end of the fishing line will fly far and the fishing line will not straighten properly. Or you have to brake the thin running line with your fingers so that the fishing line straightens properly. The longer cast and harder you cast, the bigger the problem. By using an appropriately thick and weighted coated running line, the fly line remains under tension during flight and always straightens well, whether cast close or far. Most of fly lines with integreined running lines had quite thick coated running line. They keep always good tension of the fly line and the turnover is always good for all casting lengths.They are like automatic transmission cars. Easy to cast close or far off. For longest casts you have to choose a thinner coated running line.

[@ἀπόστολος14]

Interesting. I guessing it's the inertia straightening out the line sooner in the air; it would be considerably less air resistance, and at that speed the air resistance is the biggest factor. My precision currently isn't good enough to release the line right when the shooting head starts to straighten instead of where I stop in the cast. With mono, I'm curious if it's better to have a lighter head, because the inertia of the mono will be greater. I use mono on a 300gr scandi with a 10' 6wt T&T switch rod and it casts notably farther then with a 330gr; the same length head. I initially got the 300gr head for an 10'4" 5wt OPST Micro Skagit, but will go lighter next season, maybe like 270gr.

[@TezukuriLure]

Nice theme. Imho, turn over and straight line cast is coated. Distance and line speed is mono. Both are better. My choice is mono. But needing more study about coated.

[@loomi47]

I read a book which written by Albur, tells how to design fly lines. Albur talk about the resistsnce of intergrated coating running line benifit the head unrolling.If I change the intergrated line into a head, and use a mono running line ,will it get negative impacts?

[@hooked4lifeca]

Not usually. Mono running line sinks slowly so there will be water drag on it as the head rolls out. That drag is enough to stabilize the flight of the head. The negatives are more about handling and the loop-to-loop connection.

[@ἀπόστολος14]

The issue is when netting fish with a loop to loop connection catching the guides can be a real pain. So I was thinking using integrated scandi next summer; however, I was thinking of putting a braided loop on the butt end to create a smoother connection to the mono running line. It seems like the double surgeons is the smoothest connection and maybe creating a smooth ramp to the knot with some Aquaseal. I'm wondering if you have any experience with this?

[@hooked4lifeca]

I stopped using braided loops a long time ago. Too many problems and they're definitely not smoother. The rear loop to the backing is never a problem, as when under tension, it flattens out quite well. I've had quite a few fish pull the backing out and there has never been an issue with the loop-to-loop connection backing to fly line as the connection is quite small.

[@loomi47]

A triple or double surgeons is so big and so hard for the guides. I am using a perfection loop on the running line loop to loop connection.You know, a mono running line is very slippery to tie a perfection loop, so when the loop is forming,I do a extra step,make the thread goes through the other side before tighten the perfection loop.It is small enough and never to slip,then use a drop of UV glue and make it smooth.

[@jayr7471]

Try coating the knot’s edges with loon knotsense. Make a narrow football shape over it to smooth it out and it’ll let it slide through the guides without catching.

[@ἀπόστολος14]

The double surgeons is better for steelhead. it's my go-to knot for the running line. The perfection loop sticks out like in a right angle while the double surgeons is more elongated and with some aquaseal it makes a perfect football shape.

[@flemmingschnelljensen8810]

What about mending the 2 runninglines and how does the line perform with sinking heads ? Flemming

[@hooked4lifeca]

Really not a lot of difference when mending them. I do find the coated lines mending a bit more easily thanks to them having more mass, but the difference is slight. Mono is better for full sinking heads thanks to the smaller diameter and that mono sinks (slowly).

[@stickhillfarm]

fyi everyone, I tried Seaguar 80lb blue label with a 550g sink tip. (2 hand overhead, cold atlantic) It does not work well. You can shelve that idea

[@Bobandi1269]

What happened to your website?

[@hooked4lifeca]

I took it down when I stopped teaching.

[@michaelh3994]

To take twist out cast all the line out till it touches the reel

[@colinchisholm300]

As a Scottish salmon angler its amusing listening to US 'experts' talking about 'Spey Casting' when they're using tiny wee lightweight short rods. It's simply not Spey Casting. 😂

[@hooked4lifeca]

A Spey cast is a Spey cast. The size of the rod is irrelevant. And I've owned my share of 15' and 16' rods.