Got a DT#9F shakey line free with an eBay reel that I thought would convert into my 1st shooting head for my GRX 10ft #8 – nothing to lose.

(been reading http://globalflyfisher.com/fishbette...ads/index.html )

Also have 400m of Airflo Micro Poly backing (orange!) – it’s not as abrasive as normal braid etc but wondered if it would do for the running line to get me started?

get some Airflo polyshoot. brilliant.

Jim

__________________
The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Orvis shooting line is the best i have come across.

__________________
http://devonschoolofflyfishing.com/ The BEST Fly fishing tuition guiding in Devon

http://funkyflytying.co.uk

The micro backing will tangle like no tomorrow, it twists and knots on the floor when a full line is striped of when distance casting. Save yourself some serious headwork and either use only running line from a WF or purpose made stuff. I like the guideline ridged stuff made by airflo. The hollow braid backing that I use to make braided loops would work if you have any.

Ta, Lee.

Thanks guys, useful tips, I'll get something ordered to have a play about with.

Any comments on using the cut down DT#9F on the GRX 10ft#8 or should I try a different wt line?

I also have an Airflo DT#8 Inter that could be cut down for something that would sink...again not sure of the weight requirements. Do I just need to try it and see if it feels right?

For a seven weight I use DT9 and for 8 weight I use DT10.any form of braid will destroy snake rings in jig time.

Jim

__________________
The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

I've tried everything i can find...and my simple answer is it depends on what you want to achieve.

For pure distance it has to be Amnesia 20lb.....Just give it a good stretch and away you go. It's cheap £3 per 70m


Airflo Poly shoot is ok, but it's expensive £12 a spool, and because it's thicker restricts you on distance a little.(but as it's thicker it doesn't tangle as much as other products - although it still tangles)

Memery Release Mono , Black Streak, Stren, Braided Backing - Good but expensive (around £8 )in comparison to Amnesia.

Shooting head line will tangle - no matter what you use, and it always needs a good stretchn before use.

personally I use Amnesia because after it gets twisted or kinked (which happens to all shooting head running lines) after 3 or 4 trips you can bin it and use fresh....because it's so cheap ....I really wouldn't like that if it was £8 or £12 a spool.

Of course you could always buy a Airflo 40+ and have a manufactured shooting head style line...which is a cracking product.

cheers Rob

__________________
Mock me, vilify me, but don’t ignore me!

I agree with the guys above - sooner or later shooting head backing will tangle quite badly, and there is not much you can do about it.

I have tried buying dirt cheap 30lb or so mono and replacing the backing frequently, Shakespeare Aerial red sea fishing line was one. Worked OK up to a point. Lately I have followed Jim's suggestion and am trying Airfo Polyshoot (thanks Jim) and early results are quite promising.

Other than for achieving extreme distance and/or depth, shooting head applications on UK stillwaters are somewhat less popular then they were when Richard Walker and Geoff Bucknall were promoting them. Heritage flyfishers may recall the best shooting head backing ever, Don's of Edmonton's blue "Tapeworm" ie specially flattened mono. But that's not been around for years and years

__________________
"In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." - German proverb
JH based near Southampton

I got some early guideline salmon shooting head running line. shockingly bad,It was impossible to fish with.I think it was made by Airflo.the new stuff is much better.

Jim

__________________
The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Even more thanks for the advice guys.

I guess if I order some polyshoot, adding some Amnesia to the order to try it out won't break the bank.

For Jim's point about getting the line wts correct, to make my own SH line, I'd need to buy a DT#10F and not use the #DT9F I already have. That brings in to play the option to buy a "proper" SH Line.

Do I also "up" the AFTM ratings when buying a purpose made SH or keep to the matched (i.e. #8 rod / #8 SH line)?

Dave