Airflo Rage Compact Spey Head



Airflo Rage Compact

 Man, another spey line to discuss? Wow, it just never seems to end. The Airflo Rage Compact Spey Head – yes it is a mouthful – is yet another Spey line to consider in the redundancy-ridden gear world we live in. But is this one redundant? Has the Rage Head carved out that niche that can elevate your spey fishing pursuits? I think so. Northwest veteran Steelhead Guide and Rage Line designer, Tom Larimer, thinks so. I will try to cover this line from a non-technical point of view and instead, highlight the specific circumstances where this line really excels.

Think of this line as a cross between a Scandi line and a Skagit line that is meant for dry line fishing and light sink tip work. It is slightly shorter than most Scandi lines, but fishes very similarly. It is longer than Skagit heads, but casts very similarly. More mass in the back and front end of the line taper allow it to turn over better than Scandi lines in windy conditions.

Why Rage?

1. Dry Line Presentation in Windy Conditions
If you are bummed about the way your Scandi handles in the breeze – which is a very common frustration – try the Rage. By keeping grain weight more compact over a shorter distance of line and adding a slightly more aggressive front taper, this line slices through wind.

2. Tight Casting Quarters.
You can make smaller D-Loops with this line. Much like the Airflo Skagit Compact, the Rage is tapered to load under a smaller stroke. The beauty lay in having the ability to put your back up against a grassy bank, or up under over-hanging tree branches and shooting dry-line presentations with little effort.

3. The Skagit/Scandi Dilemma
For those who spend a lot of time casting sink tips with Skagit lines, the move to Scandi lines can be pretty frustrating – as can the vice versa scenario. The stroke is different. Skagit lines are built to be cast with a more compact stroke, where Scandi lines demand a slightly more open stroke with a little more finesse. If you want to spend less time relearning how to cast every time you switch out from a Skagit, try the Rage.

4. Sink-Tip Ability with Floating Line
So the sun is up and the fish have lost that aggressive edge? Drop it down with a tip. Without switching to a Skagit, just loop on a sinking polyleader or modest amounts of level Tungsten tip (up to modest amounts of T-11 or Type 6). I should say that Scandi lines can handle dense polyleaders/versileaders, but level T-Tips above T-8 are pretty debilitating. With more condensed mass, the Rage Head can handle heavier tips than Scandi Heads (Unless of course, you are using the Scandi Short Versitip)… If you really need to get deep however, the Skagit is where it’s at.

Over the years my affinity for shorter spey heads - for both sink-tip and dry line fishing – has grown considerably. I am sold on the pure comfort involved with using shorter strokes and trying to manage less amounts of line during the cast. I like both Scandi Lines and these innovative Rage lines for this very reason. However, if the circumstances above apply to you, I recommend the Rage.

If you fish a Skagit, choose a Rage Line that is right around 30 grains less than your Skagit line grain weight. Much like Scandi’s, the Rage is designed to be fished using a polyleader. A ten foot polyleader is most popular among anglers but those using long rods or those who have an aggressive stroke may prefer a 14 foot poly. Conversely, those using shorter switch rods or those who prefer a very relaxed stroke, may find the 5 foot polyleader to work best.

Airflo Rage Spey Head

Have a good time,
Duffy