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| A deep load and a nice "D" loop ready for launch! |
HISTORY: "Beginning in the 1990's many of today's most recognizable spey authorities independently where developing Skagit type lines. Noted casters and anglers such as Ed Ward, Mike Kinney, Scott O'Donnell, Scott Howell, Mike McCune, Jerry French and the legendary Harry Lemire among others were at the forefront of the Skagit Revolution. Along the banks of Northwest rivers coupled with late nights in the depths of fly-tying rooms of the Pacific Northwest the chop-shop artist and line theologists were hard at work developing what would become today's Skagit Lines. Some would cut and splice their way; others would utilize bumped up WindCutter bodies to perfect the craft. The shorter belly approach was underway. The day had come to maximize the spey rod for winter Steelhead conditions as well as Alaskan and B.C. Kings with large over sized flies. The use of Northwest hybrid and Skagit Cast such as the Snap T, Perry Poke, Snap Z and Wombat lent themselves to a shorter more powerful approach. Today the Skagit line is THE approach to sinking line endeavors worldwide. Be it Kings in Alaska to Sea Run Browns of the Rio Grande from the Umpqua to the Babine and all points in between. The Skagit Line has become the omnipresent tool. Originally developed purely as a sink tip asset, the Skagit line also can be an effective full floating line particularly on 12' to 13'9" rods. To be sure, the spey caster will endure a greater level of stripping of line to recast (applies to all Skagit Lines versus mid to long belly lines) but the reward is undeniable highly energized, long and straight cast." - another excerpt from George Cooks Skagit/ology 3.0 2019-2020.
A lifetime ago, or at least it seems like a lifetime ago, I was first exposed to the two handed rods on the Klickitat River. While guiding, I would occasionally see an angler with a huge two handed rod spey casting and to be honest, I was not in the least bit interested in it other than watching a skilled caster huck line clear across the river. The rods, were just too big and bulky for my liking when catching steelhead from 6 to 12-14 pounds, seemed like way overkill. I just didn't see the glamour in it, the cast were beautiful, but the size of rod to the size of fish being caught didn't seem to match, therefore I had no interest. Again, the cast were beautiful and somewhat mesmerizing but when it came down to the nitty gritty of catching a steelhead with it, I was not impressed.
A few years down the river later, I began to see shorter and lighter rods on the river and that grabbed my attention and began to sway my opinion. At one point I pulled my drift boat over to chat with the angler and I asked him all kinds of questions you could imagine and it wasn't long that I was getting into my first two handed Spey rod. Luckily for me, I have had some great friends in the industry over the years who have been big into helping me get to the point I am now in my two handed game. Travis Duddles, friend and owner of the Gorge Fly Shop, Tom Larimer, friend and once guide now working for G.Loomis, to name a few have helped me fine tune and hone the skills needed to enjoy the sport of the two handed rod.
Gone are the days I grumbled and growled about the gear and how you would never catch me with a two handed rod. Now, it is what I do 98% of the time! I've sold nearly all of my single handed rods, with exception of just a few. Even trout fishing, nowadays I prefer a two handed "Trout Spey" rod over a single handed rod. Never say never I guess. I am just thankful that creative and innovative spey fisherman have been kind enough to share their knowledge with us and therefore changed the game. So much so that it is rare today to see a steelhead or salmon fly fisherman on a Northwest river that isn't using a two handed Spey or Switch rod. It literally has been a "Skagit Revolution" to say the least. Which by the way, if you are new to the two handed game or just thinking about getting into it, my good friend Tom Larimer has a DVD that has been out awhile now called the Skagit Revolution where he talks and shows in depth Skagit casting techniques. This is one of the best resources out there for the beginner and advanced angler alike. Tom is also responsible for helping to develop quite a few of the Skagit and Scandi lines we use today.
In today's Skagit land there are a few popular manufactures producing Skagit lines. Companies like RIO, Airflo, Scientific Anglers and O.P.S.T. (Olympic Peninsula Skagit Tactics) to name a few. Working for the Gorge Fly Shop has given me the opportunity to play around with all of the Skagit lines that have evolved in the past 10 years that we carry. Some I love, some not so much. One thing is for certain, having talked to customers for countless hours over the phone and in person during this time and from my own personal time with the lines is this, you have to start somewhere when choosing a line for your specific rod, casting style and fishing needs. What may be perfect for me may not be ideal for you. There are quite a few variables to satisfy before I fall in love with a line.
RIO SKAGIT LINES:
RIO SKAGIT MAX: This is an exceptionally easy casting shooting head that can cast big flies (weighted or non weighted), and the heaviest sink tips with remarkable ease. The taper design not only casts all the different types and styles of big flies associated with Skagit fishing, but it also forms beautiful loops and is extremely pleasant to cast. The head is built on RIO’s ultra-low stretch ConnectCore for excellent casting control and sensitivity, and I really like the highly visible orange section loop at there rear of the head that connects to your running line for easy visual reference when setting up the next cast. The Skagit Max is available in lengths of 23' to 25' depending on the grain weight and it will cover rods in the 12' to 14' range nicely.
Recommended Shooting lines sizes in relation to grain weights:
I could be wrong, so don't quote me, but around 15 years ago a few manufactures began to introduce shorter two handed rods (that were not called switch rods at the time) Sage had a model, G.Loomis had a model and Winston had a model. With the introduction to these shorter rods came the need for shorter heads. These shorter rods and Skagit heads opened a whole new level of opportunity for the two handed fisherman. Now you could fish that spot that you couldn't with the longer rods. You know the spots, the ones where the tip of your rod would have been up in the trees or the spots where your back was literally up against the bank and you had zero room to form a "D" loop. Now, for those all but impossible spots to fish, there is a rod and Skagit head that allows you to get there and fish effectively.
Not only are these shorter two handed rods and Skagit heads great for the tight spots, but they are ideal for mid-sized and smaller streams. These shorter systems have also made it much easier to land bigger fish like Chinook (an 11' or 11'6" 9wt rod is ideal for Chinook nowadays).
RIO SKAGIT MAX SHORT: The Max Short cast exceptionally easy and well and is ideal for the shorter Spey rods, Switch rods and single-handed rods. The head will cast big flies, just like it's big brother the Skagit Max and sink tips are no problem. These heads are 20' long and range from 275 - 650 grains.
A lifetime ago, or at least it seems like a lifetime ago, I was first exposed to the two handed rods on the Klickitat River. While guiding, I would occasionally see an angler with a huge two handed rod spey casting and to be honest, I was not in the least bit interested in it other than watching a skilled caster huck line clear across the river. The rods, were just too big and bulky for my liking when catching steelhead from 6 to 12-14 pounds, seemed like way overkill. I just didn't see the glamour in it, the cast were beautiful, but the size of rod to the size of fish being caught didn't seem to match, therefore I had no interest. Again, the cast were beautiful and somewhat mesmerizing but when it came down to the nitty gritty of catching a steelhead with it, I was not impressed.
A few years down the river later, I began to see shorter and lighter rods on the river and that grabbed my attention and began to sway my opinion. At one point I pulled my drift boat over to chat with the angler and I asked him all kinds of questions you could imagine and it wasn't long that I was getting into my first two handed Spey rod. Luckily for me, I have had some great friends in the industry over the years who have been big into helping me get to the point I am now in my two handed game. Travis Duddles, friend and owner of the Gorge Fly Shop, Tom Larimer, friend and once guide now working for G.Loomis, to name a few have helped me fine tune and hone the skills needed to enjoy the sport of the two handed rod.
Gone are the days I grumbled and growled about the gear and how you would never catch me with a two handed rod. Now, it is what I do 98% of the time! I've sold nearly all of my single handed rods, with exception of just a few. Even trout fishing, nowadays I prefer a two handed "Trout Spey" rod over a single handed rod. Never say never I guess. I am just thankful that creative and innovative spey fisherman have been kind enough to share their knowledge with us and therefore changed the game. So much so that it is rare today to see a steelhead or salmon fly fisherman on a Northwest river that isn't using a two handed Spey or Switch rod. It literally has been a "Skagit Revolution" to say the least. Which by the way, if you are new to the two handed game or just thinking about getting into it, my good friend Tom Larimer has a DVD that has been out awhile now called the Skagit Revolution where he talks and shows in depth Skagit casting techniques. This is one of the best resources out there for the beginner and advanced angler alike. Tom is also responsible for helping to develop quite a few of the Skagit and Scandi lines we use today.
In today's Skagit land there are a few popular manufactures producing Skagit lines. Companies like RIO, Airflo, Scientific Anglers and O.P.S.T. (Olympic Peninsula Skagit Tactics) to name a few. Working for the Gorge Fly Shop has given me the opportunity to play around with all of the Skagit lines that have evolved in the past 10 years that we carry. Some I love, some not so much. One thing is for certain, having talked to customers for countless hours over the phone and in person during this time and from my own personal time with the lines is this, you have to start somewhere when choosing a line for your specific rod, casting style and fishing needs. What may be perfect for me may not be ideal for you. There are quite a few variables to satisfy before I fall in love with a line.
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| Rio Skagit Max (23' - 25') - Perfect for rods 12'6" or longer |
RIO SKAGIT LINES:
RIO SKAGIT MAX: This is an exceptionally easy casting shooting head that can cast big flies (weighted or non weighted), and the heaviest sink tips with remarkable ease. The taper design not only casts all the different types and styles of big flies associated with Skagit fishing, but it also forms beautiful loops and is extremely pleasant to cast. The head is built on RIO’s ultra-low stretch ConnectCore for excellent casting control and sensitivity, and I really like the highly visible orange section loop at there rear of the head that connects to your running line for easy visual reference when setting up the next cast. The Skagit Max is available in lengths of 23' to 25' depending on the grain weight and it will cover rods in the 12' to 14' range nicely.
Recommended Shooting lines sizes in relation to grain weights:
- 400 to 550 gr - 0.030”/0.032” shooting line, or 35lb RIO SlickShooter/RIO GripShooter
- 550 to 675 gr - 0.035”/0.037” shooting line, or 44lb SlickShooter/GripShooter.
I could be wrong, so don't quote me, but around 15 years ago a few manufactures began to introduce shorter two handed rods (that were not called switch rods at the time) Sage had a model, G.Loomis had a model and Winston had a model. With the introduction to these shorter rods came the need for shorter heads. These shorter rods and Skagit heads opened a whole new level of opportunity for the two handed fisherman. Now you could fish that spot that you couldn't with the longer rods. You know the spots, the ones where the tip of your rod would have been up in the trees or the spots where your back was literally up against the bank and you had zero room to form a "D" loop. Now, for those all but impossible spots to fish, there is a rod and Skagit head that allows you to get there and fish effectively.
Not only are these shorter two handed rods and Skagit heads great for the tight spots, but they are ideal for mid-sized and smaller streams. These shorter systems have also made it much easier to land bigger fish like Chinook (an 11' or 11'6" 9wt rod is ideal for Chinook nowadays).
RIO SKAGIT MAX SHORT: The Max Short cast exceptionally easy and well and is ideal for the shorter Spey rods, Switch rods and single-handed rods. The head will cast big flies, just like it's big brother the Skagit Max and sink tips are no problem. These heads are 20' long and range from 275 - 650 grains.
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| Skagit Max Short - Perfect for rods 12'6" or less. |
RIO SKAGIT MAX GAMECHANGER: The GAMECHANGER heads feature RIO's Multi Density Control - a seamless blend of three or four different densities that ensures the smoothest transition of energy when casting, and the very best depth control when fishing. Say goodbye to hinging, weak casts and poor turnover with these killer heads. Each head is built with an ultra-low stretch core for the maximum in sensitivity and performance.
*** Technique Tip: Some fisherman seem to struggle with this type of head and the main reason is that at the end of the swing, before going into their next cast, they don't perform a Roll Cast to bring the sinking portion to the surface of the water to break the tension from the water on the tip. In doing this they struggle to pull the sinking tip out of the water, exerting much more effort to perform the next cast. If they would perform a roll cast to break the tension on the line and immediately go into their next cast, these lines are nearly as easy to cast the as the standard Skagit lines.
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| RIO's Skagit Max GameChanger is a superb line when needing to slow down your presentation in pesky currents. |
(D = Density) option.
- 3D Option - Floating/Hover/Intermediate
- 4D Option - Floating/Hover/Intermediate/Sink 3 or Floating/Hover/Intermediate/Sink 5
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| AIRFLO Skagit Driver - With an improved more efficient design is still a standard for spey enthusiast! |
AIRFLO SKAGIT DRIVER: For anglers using two handed rods that need to get sink tips delivered to their favorite runs with minimal back casts have chosen Skagit-style heads as the go-to tool for the job and despite extra short and other more specialized Skagit-style lines coming on to the scene in recent history, the Skagit Compact is still a standard, and it has been redesigned as the Skagit Driver.
The fairly new Skagit Driver is the result of thousands of hours of design, observation, and field testing. This generation Skagit line has been redesigned to sit lower in the water, helping to better load the rod when making the cast. Most folks will tend to slow down a bit during their casting stroke if the feel the rod loading. Its unique density also slows the swing down while fishing for a more thorough, methodical swing. The improved design will get you casting more efficiently and keep you more connected to your fly through the entire step, cast, swing ritual. The Airflo Skagit Driver comes in grain weights from 450 -720 grains in 30 grain increments and ranging from 23'-25' long.
AIRFLO SKAGIT SCOUT: One of my favorite lines to come out recently. It is literally a match made in heaven when put on a Switch or Trout Spey rod. The ultimate one-hand Skagit line. These lines are perfect for single-hand spey casting and for anglers using switch rods in places with minimal casting room. Utilizing the best all-polyurethane construction and an improved, supple coating, the Skagit Scout heads open up water that is unfishable with other lines. They allow trout, steelhead, and salmon fishermen to use their single-hand and switch rods to cast any sink tip in their bag.
The fairly new Skagit Driver is the result of thousands of hours of design, observation, and field testing. This generation Skagit line has been redesigned to sit lower in the water, helping to better load the rod when making the cast. Most folks will tend to slow down a bit during their casting stroke if the feel the rod loading. Its unique density also slows the swing down while fishing for a more thorough, methodical swing. The improved design will get you casting more efficiently and keep you more connected to your fly through the entire step, cast, swing ritual. The Airflo Skagit Driver comes in grain weights from 450 -720 grains in 30 grain increments and ranging from 23'-25' long.
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| AIRFLO Skagit Scout: My favorite Short Skagit head when used on rods 12' or less! |
AIRFLO SKAGIT SCOUT: One of my favorite lines to come out recently. It is literally a match made in heaven when put on a Switch or Trout Spey rod. The ultimate one-hand Skagit line. These lines are perfect for single-hand spey casting and for anglers using switch rods in places with minimal casting room. Utilizing the best all-polyurethane construction and an improved, supple coating, the Skagit Scout heads open up water that is unfishable with other lines. They allow trout, steelhead, and salmon fishermen to use their single-hand and switch rods to cast any sink tip in their bag.
I was fishing with my Tom Larimer on the Deschutes River shortly after he got his hands on the line. He helped develop the Scout and he happened to put me in one of the toughest spots I had ever fished on the Deschutes. I literally was one step off the bank, wading chest deep and right beside and under a couple of trees, and he instructs me to cast to the far side of a couple of rocks that were breaking the surface of the water.
As he sits up on the bank behind me watching me struggle to try to cast this line (no ever having used it before) he chuckles and tells me exactly how to fish it in this situation...he says to me "John, slow waaaaaay down and creep into the position for your forward cast slowly like molasses and then use a bit more bottom hand. After doing exactly what Tom had instructed, the line shot out like a rocket and did exactly what it was designed to do. The nature of the taper allowed me to creep into the forward casting position and once I applied the stroke with the bottom hand I could feel the rod load because a good portion of the grain weight is near the back of the taper. Been using this line ever since!!!
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| OPST Commando Skagit Head |
OPST COMMANDO SKAGIT HEADS: Since these short Skagit heads hit the public scene, they have acquired quite a following, especially so, with single handed and switch rod casters. A few folks will use them on longer 12'6" to 13'6" rods, but we don't recommend this for folks who are just getting into fishing Skagit type heads. The OPST Commando heads are a beautiful and perfect match for the shorter switch rods and single hand rods. This has allowed folks who fish smaller streams to take advantage of the Skagit style cast in tight quarters where they had no room for overhead cast.
To watch a video where Caleb Hanna talks about some of the advantages of the OPST Commando Heads CLICK HERE
The Commando heads are a result of years and years of focus on a sustained anchor system or what they call SAS (Sustained Anchor Systemology) which was developed by Ed. Ward, Skagit Master extraordinaire. Designed to broaden the capabilities of shorter spey rods, switch rods and single hand rods beyond their normal applications.
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| OPST Commando Smooth - Integrated Skagit Line OPST Commando Smooth: The beauty of the Commando Smooth is that they have integrated the perfect size running line into the Commando head making this ideal for streamer fisherman who don't necessarily like the loop to loop connection of a separate running line and head system and it going through the guides as they strip in the streamers. Often times a fish will hit fairly close to you on the bank or near the boat so streamer fisherman tend to strip their line in as much as possible. It just makes for a more SMOOTH presentation. Another advantage, in my opinion, is if you try to use this line to nymph fish, I feel the integrated floating running line, makes it easier to manage mending the line. The only issue I see regarding using the Commando Smooth line is that, unless you carry extra spools, and you want to change your line set up, you are kind of stuck with it. For instance, if I decide I want to swing soft hackles, this would not be my first choice of line to do so. It's a Skagit line and I'd rather use more of a Scandi type line or one of my favorites, the RIO Single Hand Spey line for that presentation. Could I use the Commando for soft hackles? Sure, but I would have to put a floating tip on it to call down the "Chunkiness" of it being a Skagit and to be honest, this line was not designed for doing soft hackles. I am just using this as an example of needing extra spools if you go with an integrated line set up. LAST CAST: This is not an end all be all article on Skagit lines, this is an overview of Skagit evolution and the popularity and effectiveness of the line. This will be old stuff to someone who has been around awhile and full swing enjoying fishing with a two handed rod and a Skagit line. This may be useful to those who are just starting to dabble in the art or idea of getting into it. If you have questions or just need to chat about things "Skagit" you can give us a call at the Gorge Fly Shop, we are always happy to talk fishing. John G. |
"The Gorge"
Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977
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