Introducing the OPST Commando Groove. New Dual-Density Floating/Intermediate Heads.
Featuring the same popular and effective taper designed by Skagit Guru Ed Ward, now in a floating rear third and an intermediate front to really slow down that swing and presentation, along with getting that head and tip under the conflicting surface currents for a more user-friendly swing as well!
Available in Commando Head Sizes ranging from 200 grains all the way up to 475 grains, to cover all your needs on the water.
Same great Commando Heads now in dual density-intermediate to round out your Pure Skagit quiver. Slide into that slot with the Commando Groove!
The original OPST Commando Head changed the game for trout spey and single hand Skagit tactics. But for streamer, dry fly and nymph fishing, where you often fish at close range and strip flies right up to the rod tip, we knew we could improve it.
Enter OPST Smooth Commando Integrated Skagit. Take a Commando head and a thin, slick coated running line and integrate them together into one with a smooth, gradual taper. No longer will you feel a bump as the running line/Commando Head junction enters the guides. You won't feel anything at all, except a jarring strike as a fish attacks your streamer.
We listened to the requests of numerous Commando Head fans, and created a line that fishes even better than the original. The Commando Smooth is designed to be used with our Micro Tips and Commando Floating Tips, from 5 to 10 feet long. The running line is orange to provide a nice contrast against the Sauk Blue head. If you are looking for a line that can do almost anything, experience the Commando Smooth. It's just like the wildly popular Commando Head. Only smoother. Length: 99.3 feet. Head weights: 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 275, 300 grains.
Color: Sauk Blue Head with Orange Shooting line
Shooting Line Diameter: 0.026"
These rods represent decades of dedication purely to sustained-anchor two-handed casting. A rod reflecting its designer and a true illustration of Ed’s vision.
Olympic Peninsula Skagit Tactics is proud to release our very own line of Micro Skagit and Pure Skagit Two-Handed Rods, designed by Ed Ward. We developed our rods over five years during which we refined the taper to represent Ed’s concepts. It will initially include six rods in total, ranging from a 9’9” Micro Skagit Two-Handed 3wt up to a 11’6” 8wt, and every whole rod weight in-between.
This line-up will be classified by design differences, into two categories:
The Pure Skagit Rod line-up is definitively more focused towards Spey/Skagit-type two-handed casting.
Represented by a 10’8” 6wt, an 11’ 7wt, an 11’6’ 8wt, they depart from our Micro Series in a few ways. The upper grips are double-welled and thus more aligned with contemporary two-handed rods under 12’, while the lower handles remain switch-style.
These rods are also faster than the Micro series, being a true medium-fast action that casts off the upper third of the taper. This taper loads very well during the Sweep phase of the Skagit casting sequence and maintaining that load into the Forward Cast, with a very crisp final delivery.
This rod line-up is targeted toward the fishing of large trout up to Canadian and Alaskan King Salmon. Rod color is Matte Black with Blue Accent Wraps
Olympic Peninsula Skagit Tactics is writing history in fly fishing heritage starting with the revered Commando Heads and now following that up with precise tips that cast exceptional and deliver your fly where it needs to be.
New for 2018, Commando 5' Sink Tips. Also known as "Trout Tips". The 5 foot tips all weigh in at 40 grains and come in 3 distinct densities: S2-Riffle, S4-Run, S6-Bucket.
These tips are ideal for smaller, trout size applications from trout spey to single hand skagit rods. The grain weight and length optimizes them for 6' to 10' rods.
Most of the Fly Fishing industry moves along day to day, year after year following a standardize path of success. Somewhat boring and true! There comes a time when every product starts to look the same and your vision gets blurred. Just when you're about to schedule an eye exam something new comes into focus and you reach a conclusion that a different way of thinking is all you needed to correct your vision.
To find a Different Way of Thinking all you have to do is look to the anglers who live their lives everyday doing what drives their passion. This is where you will find the latest franken flies, basement lines and a collaboration of out of the box thinking that happens with a drink in hand after long days on the river with like minded anglers forever reaching for the pursuit of perfection!
Ed Ward and Jerry French are exactly the kind of anglers to who are not afraid of a Different Way of Thinkingand with that collaboration came OPST (Olympic Peninsula Skagit Tactics)
Two new OPST products got my attention real quick. Pure Skagit Commando Heads and Pure Skagit Lazer Line.
OPST Commando Heads -
OPST's Commando Heads represent the culmination of decades of innovation in
Skagit casting by Ed Ward and Jerry French. Ed and Jerry were at the forefront
of the "Skagit Revolution", and they have been refining skagit fishing
techniques ever since. These are remarkably efficient, easily casts and
enjoyable for the simple reason that they are specifically designed for SAS
(Sustained Anchor Systemology). The philosophy behind SAS is simple: The Skagit
cast is a water base cast with the rod load coming from the tension between the
water surface and the line. As Such a sustained anchor cast where the fly
remains stationary until the final power stroke is the most efficient form of
casting. Our lines are shorter than traditional skagit lines and perform
exceedingly well with a continuous "out and around" casting stroke. There is no
pause before the final stroke and the cast is one continuous motion. Pure Skagit
lines take beginning casters and make them effective. They take experienced
casters to a whole new universe of casting pleasure. Our Commando heads excel on
conventional two hand "Spey" rods but are optimized for shorter switch rods from
10 -12 foot.
But where these lines really get interesting is in single hand casting. We have taken two handed casting theory, traditionally associated with steelhead and salmon and applied it to the micro end of the spectrum. Now you can skagit cast and swing flies for everything from sea run cutthroat trout to smallmouth bass to panfish with rods as light as a 3 weight, and as short as 6 foot. The same principals of sustained anchor and water load apply. You can haul or not, back cast or not, roll cast, skagit cast, just about whatever you want to do, these lines will do it and they will fly off your rod tip.
Commando Head Specs -
SKU
Head
Weight
Length
Color
Sink
Rate
PS-150
150gr
12ft
Sauk
Blue
Float
PS-175
175gr
12ft
Sauk
Blue
Float
PS-200
200gr
13.5ft
Sauk
Blue
Float
PS-225
225gr
13.5ft
Sauk
Blue
Float
PS-250
250gr
13.5ft
Sauk
Blue
Float
PS-275
275gr
13.5ft
Sauk
Blue
Float
PS-300
300gr
15ft
Sauk
Blue
Float
PS-325
325gr
15ft
Sauk
Blue
Float
PS-350
350gr
15ft
Sauk
Blue
Float
PS-375
375gr
15ft
Sauk
Blue
Float
PS-400
400gr
16.5ft
Sauk
Blue
Float
PS-425
425gr
16.5ft
Sauk
Blue
Float
PS-450
450gr
18ft
Sauk
Blue
Float
PS-475
475gr
18ft
Sauk
Blue
Float
Lazer Line -
Olympic Peninsula Skagit Tactics Pure Skagit Lazer Line is the slickest running line out there. This is a line for those of us who love to launch a cast, sit back, maybe eat a sandwich while the line rushes out of the guides and pulls line off the reel as is comes tight. Lazer Line is hydrophobic, extremely durable, consistent over a broad range of temperatures and virtually impervious to memory. It features a slight, calculated stretch that allows for extremely sleek and strong knots. This stuff will rock with your Scandi head as well. We searched far and wide for the perfect running line and knew we could do better than what was on the current market. Pure Skagit Lazer Line is quickly becoming the favorite running line of fisherman all over the world...Find out why!
Features -
50 meters
Hydrophobic
Exceptional durability
Consistent performance in varying temperate conditions
No permanent Memory
High Visibility
Beautiful Knots
Calculated stretch
Specs -
SKU
Diameter
Line
Size
Color
Total
Length
RL-01
0.405mm
25lb
HiVis
50
meters
RL-02
0.435mm
30lb
HiVis
50
meters
RL-03
0.470mm
35lb
HiVis
50
meters
RL-04
0.520mm
40lb
HiVis
50
meters
RL-05
0.570mm
50lb
HiVis
50
meters
Check out this video for a great explanation of SAS
In conclusion if your skagit cast is getting a bit vision blurred before you call your optometrist set your sites on a Different Way of Thinking! It might just be what the doctored ordered...
