Using an Airflo Rage head as a Scandinavian shooting head

[@SultanofSpey]

Sage Igniter 7126 + Rage 480 = lots of fun.

[@sandeel2]

I,v been using them as a Scandi for the past three seasons on my 13-1/2ft 9#.I use a 540 grain with straight mono 15ft leader and an Airflo 10ft intermediate poly leader with a 6ft tippet for lighter summer fishing.I also use a 600 grain with heavy poly leaders for big heavy flies.Used with a OPST Lazer shooting line they fly out.

[@itsmeagain1745]

I've been testing the 660 grain version on my 15' #11 (15' 1" TSD competition spey with a pretty powerful backbone...). I thought it was ok but nothing more than that. The line didn't fly so controlled (me a beginner). For a laugh I hung an 18' Guideline 12 gram floating tip on - what a difference. Absolutely incredible. It just flies, so I would recommend trying a tip to match the diameter of the end of the Rage head. You can get all sorts of lengths and weights and sink rates nowadays. I've just got a LTS SCSS 8' floating tip to try (mainly on my 15m 55gram Gaelforce head). I've also got the head in 540 and 480 grains for 2 of my other double handed fly rods, so it will be tested on those as well.

[@hooked4lifeca]

That doesn't surprise me since that's a competition rod that you're using and a 15 footer as well, the tip made the head longer and heavier, producing a more efficient D-Loop.

[@itsmeagain1745]

@@hooked4lifeca I think it's also the fact that you have all of the Rage Pro head in the loop instead of just some of it. I've tried it since with a shorter lighter tip and the effect is the same.

[@loomi47]

I have a little question about polyleaders. 2 polyleaders in the same strength and density,like 12lb trout intermediate 8ft and 10ft,they have the similar weight but different length.Which one of them is good at turning big flies ,and which one is good at presentation?does it make difference?

[@hooked4lifeca]

All else being equal, the shorter PolyLeader will turn over big flies better than a long one.

[@FrankyV911]

Hi Peter can you direct me where i can purchase a shooting head wallet binder like yours i can't seem to find it on the airflow site ? thanks

[@hooked4lifeca]

They don't see to be selling them anymore. Try contacting The First Cast Fly Shop in Guelph, Ontario as they might still have some.

[@aJwilliams555]

I like your videos, so I don't intend to be rude by pointing this out, but I don't think your description is accurate. The Airflo Rage was not designed as a skagit replacement, but rather, an aggressive Scandi. It was created, because longer traditional Scandi's could not take the abuse of cutting high wind, so they shortened it up to make something that could cut the wind. The Rage is still designed for surface, or near surface fishing. Although the larger front tip, that comes from shortening the overall length, benefits in being able to carry larger sink tips, the real benefit is that a larger tip tracks better in the water; this allows for an overall cleaner presentation. That being said I have put T-Material tips on it before, they work, but I still prefer to fish it higher in the water column. The Rage does not have the capability to fish sink tips as comfortably as a skagit, the taper is not there. Otherwise, like I said, I like your videos, looking forward to a new one, and tight lines out there!

[@hooked4lifeca]

Since the Rage is a "tweener" we can view it either way. Check the description on this Tom Larimer (Airflo) video and see that it is described as being part of the Skagit family. Tom was the designer of the line and he views it as a floating Skagit replacement for Scandi lines, for when the wind blows. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4S8dGCBjJaFqsU