Stillwater Fly Shop offers Scandinavian, Skagit, Traditional Spey and Switch Lines. But which to choose?
Switch Lines are short two-handed Spey lines designed specifically for use with switch rods. They are available with long or short heads and are easy to cast in tight spaces with obstructions.
The most important question when deciding upon the proper Spey line is "What is your casting skill?" Honesty and a little bit of pride swallowing is needed to truly select the right line for yourself. Consider the relationship between head length and rod length. A long ratio is harder to cast, requires more room and less line to strip. A short ratio is easier to cast and ideal in small rivers with obstructions. Following are the basic differences between these three types of Spey lines that may assist you to make an informed line decision.
Traditional Spey Lines usually have a long head length, often greater than 50' with an integrated running line. Traditional Spey lines like the Rio Power Spey Fly Line lets the angler strip less line in-between each cast. This makes casting these lines much a much more efficient fishing experience. This is the main advantage over the Scandinavian and Skagit type of lines. Simply stated, the better the caster you are, the longer the head length of line you will be able to cast. Sinking tips and heavy flies are much more difficult to cast on Traditional Spey Lines.
Scandinavian Spey Lines typically have shooting heads with long front tapers, which are very enjoyable to cast. Short heads, usually no longer than three times the length of the rod are the median for Scandinavian lines. This characteristic makes “Scandi” lines easier to cast than Traditional Spey lines and a great choice for smaller rivers and tight casting situations. Tight loops are assured with the longer tapers of Scandis making them the ideal choice for fishing normal sized flies and unweighted flies on two-handed rods.
Skagit Spey Lines commonly have a head length of less than three times the rod length. Generally, Skagit lines need a front tip added before they are ready to fish. Adding a floating or sinking tip usually makes other two-handed lines more difficult to cast. However, this is the opposite for Skagit lines because they lift weight very easily. Large flies and heavy tips can be casted more efficiently than when using other types of line. The same applies for the heaviest sink tips, making Skagit lines perfect for winter steelhead in the coldest streams. The Skagit line is a great line for beginners due to the short head length. The downside is the splashy presentation and the large amount of line that has to be stripped in prior to each cast.
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