I've been fly fishing about 6 months now, putting in lots of practice and improving (mostly).

A couple of guys at the reservoir I fish recommended Airflo 40+ Expert lines, since fish are mostly out far and deep at the moment and the priority is getting out to them and working down through the water column methodically.

So I got the DI5 version, but I'm struggling with it a bit, since I have trouble controlling the amount of line I need aerialised in order to get the running line to the rod tip. It seems to end up wrapped round me or the rod!

I'd say about one in five or six cast it 'comes together' and I can get out to 70-80ft - about 10-15ft more than I'm casting with a standard WF (although I can cast way more consistently with the WF).

Am I right in thinking these lines are primarily intended for 'fast', 'tippy' rods and mine - a 9"6' Grey's GS 7 weight - is a slower mid/tip action? Would that be a problem?

Would there be any advantage in shortening the head of line?

My plan was to identify what feels like the 'sweet spot', measure back to the running line, then take that measurement off the tip.

All advice received with thanks!

It wouldn't work like that as the head profile isn't uniform. It is head weight that is most important rather than head length so you would be cutting off a length of line that is a different thickness to the length you are measuring (hope that makes sense!) Sounds to me as if the rod isn't up to the job; however the 40+ lines can be tricky to cast (long heads with very advanced forward taper), you might do better with an alternative line rather than buying a new rod.

PS they aren't called expert for nothing...

Hi FB I am no expert but I have been casting 30 years and there are more qualified on the forum who will also help. I can however put most WF lines I use out with good turn over.

I have the Airflo 40+ DI5 WF8 that I use on a 10' Greys GRXI and of all my set ups it is one of the easiest I have ever used to achieve good distance with very little effort.

Your post mentions having the running line (mine is flo red) outside the tip ring when aerialising line for me would be a big No No ! I have always aimed to find the sweet spot with the last few feet of the head within the rings of the rod. I thing allowing the head completely off the rod causes collapsing, poor loop formation and would wear the line out prematurely.

Six months into the job I wouldn't start hacking good lines up but rather working on technique through practice. Have you had someone video you while you are casting ? Try it if not you will soon see the problems !

__________________
ランカシャー·ラッズの

basically you cant trim the head of a WF line as you suggest, as the have both a front taper and a rear taper that are needed for the line to perform as required. If you take the length you want of the tip as you suggest you will destroy the front taper of the line and it will ruin any chance you have of presenting you flies properly.

When you say that you on the occasions you get the cast right you are casing it further than a standard WF are both lines the same density? The reason that I ask is a Di5 will always cast further than a floating line of the same weight because the Di5 is thinner so has less air resistance.

Also I doubt its is down to the action of the different rods, as long as the rod is not to slow in its action a Mid-tip should be fine.

__________________
Frank Williams APGAI

See Classified for;

Flouro Drop Style Indicators ¦ French/Czech nymphing leaders ¦ Hi-Vis tippet for indicators ¦
Kamoufil leader material ¦
Stroft ABR & GTM

Sponsored Kilimanjaro climb

If memory serves the 40+ range are significantly heavier than AFTMA standard, in which case regardless of the tippines/action your rod it may lack the power to comfortably carry the whole head plus some of the running line. Agree with tupps that you should in any event be shooting as soon as you get the running line past the tip, and for distance maximising your line speed in the penultimate and final haul - a timing issue tho' Frank can attest to my lack of expertise in that department! If an overweight line is part of the problem tupps suggestion of shooting before you get the full head airborne would be well worth a try

The 40+ Extreme has a far shorter head and would suit you better as you would not need to aerlise as much line before the shoot.

I have used a 40+ for a couple of years and you shouldnt need to aerialize too much line to get it to work , its not the most delicate of line to use, I use mine on a 4wt 9ft rod when there's a hash of wind,you should only take it in past the join and cast with 2 false casts , but its practice , easker1

Many, many thanks for the useful comments

I've done some dry practice in the park with the 40+ and got a bit better at controlling things (although i always seem to do better in the absence of water and fish!)

I guess if I was going to cut the head down I'd have to cut at the existing join, trim from the rear of the head and then join again, as with a standard shooting head when adjusting to rod and personal preference.

I think the best thing though, is to find myself a casting instructor and - amongst my other multiple faults - have them take a look at me chucking the 40+.

I think got to a point where some expert observation is what I'd get most out of ...

Thanks again - I really appreciate your answers!