The following outfits are the ones I use most often on New Zealand Rivers.
a. |
Small rivers (2-9 cumecs): |
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A 9 ft presentation 5wt with : |
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i |
A Scientific Anglers Skagit Lite 150 and 25 lb flat mono shooting line for fishing light to moderately weighted streamers on 10 ft #5 Rio Replacement Tips or Sonar leaders. This head will also handle larger weighted streamers on 7.5 ft of T-8. | |
| ii | A SA #5 Creek Trout and 15 ft tapered leader for soft hackles and wee wets. | |
A 5wt Loomis NRX LP is outstanding in this role. |
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| b. | Medium rivers (10-25 cumecs): A 9.5 ft 5 wt rod and 35lb OPST Lazar running line with: |
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| i | A SA Skagit Lite 180 with 3-D MOW light tips, T-7 FO tip or or 9 ft of T-11 for fishing progressively deeper with large streamers and for stripping close. | |
| ii | A SA Skagit Lite 180 intermediate with a 10 ft #6 Rio Replacement Tip or S3/S4/S5 3D MOW tip for deep pools, areas of even flow, or when the wind is blowing. | |
| iii | SA Scandi Lite 150 with 9 ft tapered leader or #5 Trout Creek with 15 ft leader for soft hackles and swinging dries during the evening caddis hatch, as well as small streamers near the surface or in shallow riffles.
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| c. | Larger Rivers (25 - 50 cumecs): An 11.25 ft Sage 4 wt Trout Spey HD and 35 lb Scientific Angler flat mono running line with: |
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| i | A 325 grain Scandi Body and #6 10 ft Rio Replacement Tips for small to medium streamers in low summer flows. | |
| ii | A 300 grain Skagit Scout with light 3D MOW tips, 10 ft T-10 Flo tip or10 ft of T-11 for medium to large streamers. | |
| iii | A Skagit Lite 270 and 10 ft S3/S4/S5 and S5/S6/S7 3D MOW tips for a lighter touch when swinging streamers at night or into shallow water when the rivers has some colour. | |
| iv | Skagit Lite 270 intermediate and 10 ft 3D MOW tips and 10 ft of T-11 for swinging and stripping medium to large streamers in deep pools and runs, or when the wind is blowing hard. This head with 10 ft T-11is my go to combination when using the 4 wt on the Tongariro in winter.
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| d. | Large Rivers (>50 cumecs): This river category includes the Tongariro in winter when above 28 Cumecs and large South Island rivers such as the Clutha, Waitaki and the east coast salmon rivers.
A 12 ft Orvis Mission 5 wt and 35 lb Scientific Angler flat mono running line with: |
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| i | A 375 grain Rio Skagit Max Power and 10 ft of T-8 or T-11 for swinging streamers on wide sections of moderate depth and flow. | |
| ii | A 360 grain Airflo Skagit Scout with 10 ft T-10 and T-14 Flo tips for medium to large streamers. | |
| iii | Skagit Lite 330 grain intermediate and 10 ft of T-11 for swinging medium to large streamers in deep pools and runs, including estuarine channels, or when the wind is blowing hard. | |
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I usually use the following Trout Spey outfits on small, medium and large New Zealand rivers.
Small rivers (2-9 cumecs):
A 9 ft presentation 5 wt with a Skagit Lite 150 and 25 lb Scientific Angler's flat mono shooting line for:
1. |
Larger weighted streamers on 7.5 ft of T-8. |
2. |
Light to moderately weighted streamers on #5 10 ft Replacement Tips |
3. |
Soft hackles and wee wets on 10 ft intermediate coated leaders around 50 grains. |
A 5wt Loomis NRX LP is outstanding in this role.
Medium to large rivers (10-25 cumecs):
A 9.5 ft 5 wt rod and 35lb OPST Lazar running line with:
1. |
A SA Skagit Lite 180 with 3-D MOW light tips, T-7 FO tip or or 9 ft of T-11 for fishing progressively deeper with large streamers and for stripping close. |
2. |
A Skagit Lite 180 intermediate with a 10 ft #6 Rio Replacement Tip or S3/S4/S5 3D MOW tip for deep pools, areas of even flow, or when the wind is blowing. |
3. |
SA Scandi Lite 180 with a 5 ft clear intermediate Trout Polyleader for soft hackles, and a 9 ft tapered leader for swinging dries during the evening caddis hatch, and small streamers near the surface or in shallow riffles. |
A 5wt Sage X-597 is a great stick for this purpose.
Larger Rivers (25-50 cumecs):
An 11.25 ft Sage 4wt Trout Spey HD and 35 lb Scientific Angler flat mono running line with:
1. |
A 325 grain Scandi Body and #6 10 ft Rio Replacement Tips for small to medium streamers in low summer flows and fishing at night. |
2. |
A 300 grain Skagit Scout with light 3D MOW tips, 10 ft T-10 Flo tip, 10 ft of T-11 and a 10 ft 110 grain OPST bucket tip for medium to large streamers. |
3. |
Skagit Lite 270 intermediate and 10 ft S3/S4/S5 and S5/S6/S7 3D MOW tips, and a 10 ft 110 grain OPST bucket tip for swinging and stripping medium to large streamers in deep pools and runs, or when the wind is blowing hard. This head with the OPST bucket tip is my go to combination for the Tongariro in winter. |
A 9.5-10 foot 5wt rod with a Rio Trout Spey 190 and 5 ft clear Polyleader for soft hackles and a 9 ft tapered leader for swinging dries during the evening caddis hatch, or small streamers near to the surface.
For large South Island rivers flowing at more than 100 Cumecs a 6wt 12-13 ft double-hander and a Skagit head would be most suitable.
Single Hand Skagit - Science behind the magic |
|
| + | Where it all began |
| + | Head design |
| + | Sink tips |
| + | Casting heavy sink tips |
| + | Running lines |
| + | Reels |
| + | Rods |
| + | Intermediate heads |
| + | Favourite outfits |
| + | Conclusions |
| + | Casting Notes for 12 Skagit Heads I tested |
| + | Table of Sink Tip Recommendations |
| + | Table of Lengths and Weights of Sink Tips |
Single hand Trout Spey : Getting started with a 9 ft 5wt rod |
|
| + | Getting started |
| + | Rods and Skagit heads |
| + | Sink tips for Skagit heads |
| + | Tippet for Skagit heads |
| + | |
| + | Hybrid heads |
| + | Floating tips for Skagit heads |
| + | Running lines |
| + | Cost effective approach |
| + | Learning to Spey cast |
| + | A final word |
