I am hoping to get some info on setting up my fly rods for the salt. I have been fishing freshwater, mainly moving, for awhile but am new to the salt. The two rods I am currently setting up are both Sage XI2’s - one is an 8 weight and one a 6 weight. Both are 9 feet. I will mainly be fishing in Southern California between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. The spots I will mainly be fishing in are the surf, from jetties, from a kayak around the kelp beds, and occasionally from a boat.

My first question is in regards to the general line I would usually be using, especially in the surf. I am thinking of setting up both rods with Rio Outbound or a similar line. Working off of the specifications for the Rio Outbound line should I be getting an intermediate head with a floating running line for the surf? Or should I be getting a faster sinking head (faster than intermediate at least) and an intermediate running line? I know that depends probably on how quickly the grades under the water drop off and what depth the fish usually hold at and what I am fishing for. I know that you want at least part of the line to sink in order to not get washed back in the surf as much but is an intermediate head fast enough sinking for getting down in the surf and is it right then to have the running line be floating?

My next question is regarding shooting heads. I am also planning on setting up both of those same XI2 rods with shooting heads, probably the Orvis Wonderline head system or the Rio Riomax system. I may be fishing more in the surf than anywhere else since it is easiest to get to and am wondering what weight of shooting head over my rod’s specified line weight I should be getting. I have heard of going one line weight up and I have heard of going two line weights up. Both rods are fairly fast and stiff. Does going up one line weight with the shooting heads give enough extra weight to load fast rods and to get the head moving with so little weighted line to work with? Or would you recommend going up two line weights? If you did go up two line weights are there any negative aspects to that? I’ll be using a variety of heads - intermediate, sinking, fast sinking, etc…

While you are at it any recommendations on backing for salt would be apprecated as well.

Comments or recommendations would be highly appreciated.

Thanks!

katsfood - 12 June 2010 06:27 PM

I am hoping to get some info on setting up my fly rods for the salt. I have been fishing freshwater, mainly moving, for awhile but am new to the salt. The two rods I am currently setting up are both Sage XI2’s - one is an 8 weight and one a 6 weight. Both are 9 feet. I will mainly be fishing in Southern California between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. The spots I will mainly be fishing in are the surf, from jetties, from a kayak around the kelp beds, and occasionally from a boat.

My first question is in regards to the general line I would usually be using, especially in the surf. I am thinking of setting up both rods with Rio Outbound or a similar line. Working off of the specifications for the Rio Outbound line should I be getting an intermediate head with a floating running line for the surf? Or should I be getting a faster sinking head (faster than intermediate at least) and an intermediate running line? I know that depends probably on how quickly the grades under the water drop off and what depth the fish usually hold at and what I am fishing for. I know that you want at least part of the line to sink in order to not get washed back in the surf as much but is an intermediate head fast enough sinking for getting down in the surf and is it right then to have the running line be floating?

My next question is regarding shooting heads. I am also planning on setting up both of those same XI2 rods with shooting heads, probably the Orvis Wonderline head system or the Rio Riomax system. I may be fishing more in the surf than anywhere else since it is easiest to get to and am wondering what weight of shooting head over my rod’s specified line weight I should be getting. I have heard of going one line weight up and I have heard of going two line weights up. Both rods are fairly fast and stiff. Does going up one line weight with the shooting heads give enough extra weight to load fast rods and to get the head moving with so little weighted line to work with? Or would you recommend going up two line weights? If you did go up two line weights are there any negative aspects to that? I’ll be using a variety of heads - intermediate, sinking, fast sinking, etc…

While you are at it any recommendations on backing for salt would be apprecated as well.

Comments or recommendations would be highly appreciated.

Thanks!

Katsfood,

This site is mainly for fishing outside the surf, the two sites you want to post this question in are either garybulla.com, or fliflicker.com. Both sites have a lot of really good surf fly-fishermen, and Gary is actually located in the region you are talking about fishing.

The little surf fly-fishing I’ve done recently has all been sight casting to corbina in ankle- to calf-deep water, and I’ve been using a floating line with a 12’ leader.

I do think you’ll be better off overall with the Rio Outbound Short fly line instead of the Outbound. The Outbound is a 37’ head, which is a bit long for even experienced casters. The OBS is a true 30’ head, and has already had the weight adjusted for overlining, ie. buy an 8wt OBS for an 8wt rod (it weighs 315 gr for the head, which is 10wt +/-)

As for backing, I think most people are going for Spectra 30 - 50lb Spectra, but for the uses you’re talking about, you can get away with regular 30lb dacron or Micron braid.

Definitely go up two line weights with the shooting heads and those rods will easily handle 30ft heads 3 line wts heavier than the rods rating.  If you only go up 1 line size on the shooting head you will not be loading the rod optimally.  If you look at integrated lines, line manufacturers usually recommend something with a head weight of about 300 grains for an 8wt rod.  This is a bit heavier than a 10wt head.  I typically use 8wt shooting heads on my 6wt rods and 10wt shooting heads on my 8wt rods, whether they be medium fast or fast action rods.  For integrated lines (shooting head and shooting line integrated together by the factory)  I usually use 200-250 grain lines on my 6wt and 300-350 grain lines on my 8wts.  The exception would be the Rio Outbound Short which is already heavier than a a normal flyline by about 2 line weights.    By the way, I concur with Drydocked on the choice of the Outbound Short over the Outbound.  The other line that I really like is the Scientific Anglers Streamer express.

For the surfzone I use a line with an intermediate running line or shooting line and a fast sinking head most of the time, using intermediate heads only when the surf is low or the gradient is gradual.  I prefer interchangeable shooting heads for the surf because I can change heads as conditions change. Some people prefer integrated lines.

I use 30lb dacron backing on most of my saltwater reels though I have do have some set up with spectra backing.  Dacron is easier to handle and less costly.  Its all I use on my 8wt and lighter setups.

Thanks for your help guys. Thanks too for the recommendation on the Rio short version and the geat info on shooting head weights.

Thanks,

Daniel