Polyleaders and VersiLeaders for Scandi Shooting heads & Floating Lines.

The Ultimate Scandi Cast: Learn the fun and line speed of the Scandi Cast vimeo.com/onde...
Learn to Cast Big Flies Far: vimeo.com/onde...

[@cliffords9422]

Tim, this is clear as mud. I enjoy your videos but this perfectly demonstrates the confusion people have in dealing with the various tips and leaders in relation to skagit, scandi, midbelly, etc. systems. Dialing in a new line and system becomes a major problem due to the confusion oftentimes created by the manufacturers trying to overly finetune their systems. Sometimes I think I'm starting to understand the game and then I realize it ain't working as hoped for. Just want to yell for help.

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Thanks Clifford. I agree, it’s all very confusing! Sorry if I muddied the waters even more! I personally use 10 or 12’ sections of t8, t11, or t14, I buy off eBay. Also, I use the above sink tips in t8 or t11 on my Gaelforce 15 meter extended Spey shooting head. I don’t use any kind of polyleaders or versileaders on a Scandi line! Just level mono leader or A home made 2 or 3 step leader.

[@crestonlaager3216]

@@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins I'm with you wholeheartedly. Due to the rain this summer in the NE, I managed instead of fishing to try and Perfect (can that ever really be done, lol) my casting using different heads on two different rods, a 14' heavy duty-spey, and a 13' TFO Deer Creek, mix and matching with the Scandi Compact, Hardy Dual Density, Commando and a few mid-belly salmon/steelhead lines. I'm more convinced than ever that one of the problems I was having is with the stroke because as I'm sure you're aware of, what works well with one, fails on another. To make matters worse for me, I just bought a used, gorgeous, Vosseler S3 from made in Germany, from GB. I love the reel, however, it came with a shooting line I'd never seen or used. . .a kind of "Gripshooter." And, on top of that, it had Scandi Body 23ft 400 gr. shooting head made by Rio. Then I started futzing around with that and of course now, with the ll salmon season starting on the Lake Champlain tribs where I live, I'm getting a feeling like I'm a mess again. So I put the Scandi Compact on the 13,' the Commando on the 14' heavier rig (for steelhead in the Lake Ontario tribs and the salmon/steelhead mid-belly on my 11' glass, and I'm leaving it at that. I saw a video once with Goran Anderson where he said something like his father made him use some kind of long belly, level line, and being forced to fish like that's how he developed his way, his style, his form, of casting. Sometimes we must suffer for our art, lol. Then when we "arrive" it all becomes clear. I'm certainly not there yet, and may never be, but I plan on enjoying the journey. Thanks for your insight.

[@glennness6988]

As a minimalist, This is solid advice.

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Absolutely! Less is definitely more!

[@bigron8346]

With my scandi i just put a straight piece of mono or fluoro on it i use the sink tip for my Skagit lines. Thanks Tim.

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

I like it Ron. Keeping it simple!

[@bigron8346]

@@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins Thanks Tim

[@mikemcguire1160]

Said another way, one is missing the whole point of a Scandi line if it is loaded up with a lot of extra weight on the front end. It just ain't designed for that. I think some of this comes from the mindset that Scandi is cool and Skagit isn't.

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Great observation Mike! I agree! Thanks for the straight talk!

[@whisperingblues9887]

Great info I certainly don't put polyleaders on scandi lines they just dont turn over worth a dam.

[@sebastianvasque9341]

OUCH, anglers putting on multiple tips at once!!! I wonder what their line looks like underwater? The MOW tip scraping bottom while the fly skates across the surface? LOL. I think it's also important that people understand how a polyleader works, and how it's different than a regular leader or sink-tip. If you're using an unweighted, slow sinking fly, and loop on a fast or extra-fast polyleader thinking you're going to get the fly down, you're not. You're just making a "U" shape with the tip of your scandi and polyleader. The mass of the polyleader is in the butt-section.

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Good point Sebastian. Thanks for that!

[@Machster10]

That's pretty funny Deschutes story that people are putting three diff tips on. Too much! haha. Imagine trying to turn over a MOA skagit tip on a light line Scandi line.

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Not my idea of a good time! Thanks buddy!

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

T8….maybe but the heavier MOWs on a light Scandi would definitely not be a fun time! Thanks !

[@Machster10]

I prefer to add about 10-15' of tapered floating fly line to Scandi lines since they are just too disappointingly short. Hard to mend anything also. Just find some old 5wt tapered fly line to chop and add a loop connection. You can ask for used lines from shops that they just throw out anyways. I then use a a floating poly leader on this extension with about 4' of tippet.

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Good idea! Thanks !

[@SultanofSpey]

Isn’t the compelling factor here the size of the fly? Scandi = light leaders about 1.5x rod length + small flies. Skagit = some form of a sinking tip + an intruder style fly or similar size.

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

very much so! Thanks for weighing in

[@ChefAlexSocci]

What do you think of the maxcatch skagit heads? I just ordered 2 of each size so i can chop some up and make some short heads similar to the opst heads for little $$$

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Thats exactly what I do brother. Good call.

[@whipfinishflyco]

I think the last minute of this video has the most important information. I have been trying figure out how to set up my scandi lines but keep going back to the commando head with sink tip. (I don’t know why the scandi setup has been so unclear and confusing to me). Quick question; We do quite a bit lake fishing using indicators to manage fly depth with leaches and chironomids. What is your suggestion for line / leader setup with and indicator, to achieve this setup with my two handers? We typically run anywhere from 6’ to 16-20’ (on the deepest) under slide indicators depending on water. Thanks for you info Tim!

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

thanks man, tough question, and anything will probably work but of course there will be the trade off to consider. The guys at the fly shop (find and fire in Redmond oregon) have been using the rio outbound short and SA Titan type lines for their indicator fishing, might be worth investigating.

[@aunttim3541]

Good video man. As always. Who's your favorite basketball player? Mine is Kevin Durant because my favoite band is Duran Duran and it kinda sound like that a little :)

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Favorite player is Michael Jordan!! Maybe Damion is my fave now. I’m glad somebody noticed I have music! Thanks bro!

[@aunttim3541]

@@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins ohh buddy!! I love Jordan too! I also like good ol’ reliable Magic Johnson :)

[@stevensaddler5530]

I gotta ask if this is Normal I was set up with with a 13,6 8wt with a Sagit head 23 ft 550 grain with 14 ft t14 I told the guy I was a beginner looking to hunt salmon and steelhead in the great lakes

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

The Skagit head sounds right to me but the sink tip might be cumbersome to cast for a new caster. That setup would turn over big flies and fish deep for salmon for sure but a 10 or 12 foot section of t8 would be a lot easier to cast while your learning.

[@stevensaddler5530]

@@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins my bad the skagit head is 630 grain I just went back and looked at it

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

@@stevensaddler5530 what make is the rod Steven?

[@stevensaddler5530]

@@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins 13.5 foot 8wt redington dually model 8136-4 it’s the old version of the dually not the new

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

@@stevensaddler5530 They definitely lined it on the heavy end. It should work but it will be pretty heavy feeling for you. 10’ of t8 or t11 would be a much more manageable sink tip for you.

[@robertwest7197]

Hi Tim, do you use long mono leaders for winter fishing?

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Sometimes. I normally use a few feet of mono on a sink tip but a long mono leader can get down too!

[@andy1or2]

Head = 2 1/2 times rod length....Leader (polyleader or mono leader plus tippet) = 1 1/2 times rod length )... make it simple, go fishing..;)

[@mikekuczynski1552]

The end :-) simplicity at its finest. Takes the mystery out . Go fish