I'm after a new pike line as the scierra pike line I use has too much memory but I can't decide to overline by a line weight or not, my rod is an airflo Bluetooth 8/9 and I'm currently using a wf9.

My casting isn't great with 6"+ flies so would stepping up to a wf10 help or would it overload my rod and prove a wasted purchase?

Maybe it's just the memory in my line that's preventing it from shooting efficiently and a better 9wt would do.

Opinions appreciated

I recently bought a used #9 cortland 444 pike line, and the difference it made on a 9ft #9 rod increased my range by about 30%, I also in my limited ability managed a modicum of accuracy, tight against the far bank, into holes etc..

To be fair, the lines before were mill ends, in 9,10 and 11. The cortland has quite a short belly, this helped me alot as the canal I fish is tight for space.

If you are anywhere in Cheshire you are welcome to a trial.

You could also try and knock the front end off a heavier 'standard' line, mill ends at 4 quid a pop, what is there to loose!

Over lining is an option but be careful ! Reason I say be careful is that some lines are already way over the rating on the box , what I mean is you need to know the grain weight for the head of the line . A good example ( using my poor memory ) is the Rio Outbound short , the head weight on the #10 for example comes in @ around #12.5 I think it is .

So point being there is no need to over line with the Rio but some lines may well come in at the true atfm rating and you would do no harm to go up one or 2 weights .

But you need to also take into account does the whole line sink at the same rate as the head ?? In other words if you are using a line where the whole line sinks @ 7 ips you could end up with a big weight of line out of the rod tip if you arialize ( sp ? ) a lot of line ..

With some lines , using the Rio again as an example only the head ( 30 feet in these lines ) has the sinking part built in with either floating or inter running lines behind the heads and because you are only ever going to have the head plus maybe couple of feet out of the rod tip the line weight will not go up much past #12.5 for the #10 line ..

Hope you can follow that as I am $hit at explaining

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Cheers Danny

Co-Founder of S.S.F.D 2010

Some good points there sweeny, those £10 digital scales in sainsburys might have to go in the trolley....

Another point, and I'll stand to be corrected, but casting big 6"+ flies is graft, full stop. Maybe your rod is a bit more 8 than 9 ? As I understand it, if you want to move big flies with big air resistance, you need to be be in the heavier line weights?

Correct ! BUT it is also to to with the head length and weight distribution along that head and the front taper as well , a long drawn out front taper will not cope well with getting the flies out and turned over .

On lines that are designed to get big flies out and over the weight is really pushed up to the front of the line by use of short head and aggressive front taper .

There are lines that are level headed with no taper eg . the Rio custom cuts T11 , T14 etc .. Yes these get the flies out well but you do get a bit of "dumping" on the cast .

At the end of the day it is the same as lines for trout in that there are many lines for many jobs with there being cross overs of 2 lines that are different but will do a close enough job to the next line .

You need to work out how many lines you are willing to buy and most importantly what you require the lines to do for you ....

I also stand to be corrected in anything a say as I am just a learner myself

__________________
Your fish ----> ><((((º> My fish ----> ><(((((((((º>
__________________

Cheers Danny

Co-Founder of S.S.F.D 2010

Thanks for the replies fellas maybe I should just go for a quality wf9, is there much difference between the Cortland 444 pike and Rio pike in terms of performance?

I don't fish anywhere deep enough to need a sinking line and the deepest I fish would probably be 6' deep so I'm hoping I can cover that with a floating line and a sinking leader if required as I only have the 1 spool for my reel

I think the problem I had with mill ends was I couldnt get enough out on the rear chuck to load the rod due to space limitations, and generally being chuff at casting.

Sweeney is your man, my short pike fishing career consists of a total of a 1lb perch, and that took the fly at my feet.

Yes a quality line will help and yes for sure go atleast #9 if your rod is 8/9 . As for which line ?? Having not used/cast either of the above lines I don't feel I can comment on that . I have used the Rio Outbound Short , Guideline , and John Norris Big Fly .
Some lines are better suited to some rods and others to others and some people may like a particular line while others don't ...

If I were you and could stretch to it I would get another spool and get 2 lines , either a floater , inter , or inter head with floating running line and the second line would be one that sinks at 3 ips . 90 % of my fishing is done with a 3 ips no matter what the depth I am over . As long as your fly is at eye line or above the Pike they can see it and if in the mood will come up for the fly . I have had them come up 15/20 feet to the surface to hit flies ( The lake is a clear as tap water though ). If your fly is below the fish they will have trouble seeing it !

I don't think I can really help much more , I hope the above is of some use though .....


This comes back to the point about short head lines , they are designed for one shot load and shoot type casting , minimal false casting , short amount of line in the air .

The chances are that your mill ends where only standard WF lines just in the heavier line weight and this would mean the profile is wrong for the large flies . Wrong profile line will not turn over and extend properly making it hard to load the rod .

__________________
Your fish ----> ><((((º> My fish ----> ><(((((((((º>
__________________

Cheers Danny

Co-Founder of S.S.F.D 2010

I am just in the process of making up some shooting heads, I bought an 11weight DT line measured 35ft head and cut it, I am off to see a friend tonight to join them together so will report back when this is done??

Rich.

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Mart
I have the Rio short sink tip - which I believe will suit your purpose, especially as you mention no deeper than 6 feet.

The other option I would consider is the same line in a floater - then get some add on polyleader type jobbies that you can loop to loop onto your floating Rio short. I would go for the Salmon grade ones to give a stronger core - trout ones may be less strong.

Bought my Rio's (at a good price) from "Pikeshack" - Given your 8/9 rod, if you purchase the Rio short, remember to order a 9 - but you will be overlining your rod slightly as the 9 is manufactured at approx a 10.4.

HTH .... Tony