[Hamish Young]

The #7 and #8 lines have no issues with a wide variety of sized Salmon flies (with polyleaders attached) so I would think it's plausible that they would cope with some Pike flies.

H

[Rob Brownfield]

Hmmm...I tried some heavy, very heavy trout streamers on the 6 weight...does it, and does it well using a spey/role cast, BUT, normally when Pike fishing you retrieve to your feet rather than having a length of line out and spey/rolling from a distance.

Many Pike take within a rod length and it is important to get that fly in close. Spey casting you lose 30 feet of retrieve.

I am now using a Cortland Rocket Taper Pike fly line, which is rather good. I also have Rio Outbounds in Intermediate and Slow sink and shooting heads in float, slow and fast sink.

I use the Cortland for 90% of my fishing.

So, although the SLX will deliver the flies, I just think its development as a spey line means its limited for stillwater Pike.

[arog]

Well I got 6/7 airflo rod from their fly fishing kit, so I can use #7 weight fly line. But how about normal overhead casting? Does it works well? By the way, I should mention the fact that I almost always fishing in river. So spey line would be better, because I don't have enough place behind me.

[Ben Dixon]

The SLX is not developed solely as a Spey line, it works well with any cast but it's rear weight bias makes it a good Spey line.  Anything other than a front weighted line will struggle with what you are looking for Rob, the Outbound short would be about the best I know of solely for pikying on still water with over head casts.

Cheers

Ben

[Rob Brownfield]

Anything other than a front weighted line will struggle with what you are looking for Rob,

I am not looking for anything Ben, I already have

[Hamish Young]

Having just returned from a week in Assynt (more on that another time) I can report back on how the SLX #4wt behaved as a 'loch' line on my Helios 10' #4wt.

Awesome - pure and simple, coped with all wind conditions and flies of my ....errrr...... 'usual' size and others in more sensible sizes.

If you can find a better line I'd be very surprised indeed, simply makes the whole experience even more pleasurable 

Excellent 

H

[Mike Barrio]

Cool, thanks for the feedback Hamish

Cheers
Mike

[Marc Fauvet]

Awesome - pure and simple, coped with all wind conditions and flies of my ....errrr...... 'usual' size and others in more sensible sizes.

If you can find a better line I'd be very surprised indeed, simply makes the whole experience even more pleasurable 

Excellent 

 

couldn't agree more. my 4wt was a real treat to use last week in norther sweden. 

cheers,
marc

[Loxiafan]

Away to take plunge on an SLX #4. You guys that have both Olive and Orange what is your preference and experience of the bright Orange line in a river fishing situation re putting fish down or not  ? I'd normally go with Olive but I am considering the Orange to help improve my casting (by being easier to see esp. when casting ). Reading what Ben said earlier about Orange lines not spooking fish makes sense and tbh if it is good enough for him !

I suppose I could buy one of each 

Lindsay

[Mike Barrio]

Hi Lindsay

I've been experimenting with this for years, I don't think that the colour of a fly line makes any difference to the fish whatsoever

Confidence catches fish! ...... and the only time that the colour of a line makes any difference in my experience, is when an angler thinks it does and loses confidence

Best wishes
Mike

[Loxiafan]

I've been experimenting with this for years, I don't think that the colour of a fly line makes any difference to the fish whatsoever

Confidence catches fish! ...... and the only time that the colour of a line makes any difference in my experience, is when an angler thinks it does and loses confidence

Cheers Mike,

My confidence is lacking in the casting dept. so anything that helps me tweak that is paramount ! Used to fish a bright Yellow Airflo years ago and can't recall it impacting negatively but didn't fish dries in those hedonistic days.

At this time of year I am fishing in darkness so line colour is probaby not important, but the Orange Line will be great practising on grass.

Will order an Orange SLX.

Cheers,

Lindsay

[Loxiafan]

Hi Mike,

Got the #4 Orange SLX through this moring, very fast service as always !  I think the different colours marking the head and running line will really help me too. Had a shot of Ben's on Saturday and like it. Your Mallard WF has been doing the biz last few nights for me too.

Now I need to go see a man about a spare spool for my Hydros II !

Cheers,

Lindsay

[Jonathan Kerr]

Hi all, are any of you willing to share what leader configurations you are using with the slx?
Like everyone else I love the line and use it for pretty much all my river, loch and sea fishing on my 6wt tcx.
I'm currently using it with 5ft airflo poly leaders and then attaching a two fly or single fly straight fluoro leader to it. Turn over is good , but Those poly leaders arenT the most durable and im wondering if their is a better way...

J

[Ben Dixon]

I use a 6' 1X Orvis tapered leader which is looped at the thin end and nail knotted to the line.  At the fly end I use build whatever I need for dries on the river, usually 4' of 3x then 3' of 4x then 2' of 5x in fair wind conditions.  This will vary depnding upon pool / wind size of fly etc.

For lochs with traditionals I will use the same tapered leader and usually level 3x to give an overall leader length of about 14'.

Cheers

Ben

[Jonathan Kerr]

Thanks for that Ben. I'll give those Orvis tapered leaders a shot. I found this link online which I think is the ones you mean?...

http://www.orvis.co.uk/store/product.aspx?pf_id=0714

J

[Ben Dixon]

Yup, they're the ones.

CHeers

Ben

[Rob Brownfield]

Thanks for that Ben. I'll give those Orvis tapered leaders a shot. I found this link online which I think is the ones you mean?...

http://www.orvis.co.uk/store/product.aspx?pf_id=0714

J

Or use Mikes tapered leaders

[Loxiafan]

I use a 6' 1X Orvis tapered leader which is looped at the thin end and nail knotted to the line.  At the fly end I use build whatever I need for dries on the river, usually 4' of 3x then 3' of 4x then 2' of 5x in fair wind conditions.  This will vary depnding upon pool / wind size of fly etc.

Hi Ben,

What kind of leader setup would you recommend for me on the 4 wt ?

Cheers,

Lindsay

[Ben Dixon]

Hi Lindsay,

I'd still stick to something fairly chunky as the SLX likes something to turn over.  Something with a butt of about 0.024 or 0.025" and about 6' in length tapered to 2X then build from there as above.

I do the above as  I nail knot the leader on, if I used loops I would change tapered leader for different set ups.

Cheers

Ben

[Loxiafan]

Cheers Ben. I am finding nail knotted leaders are working better for me than the loops. Do you use a loop at the termination of the tapered leader (then tie the tippet on to this) ?

Cheers,

Lindsay

[Ben Dixon]

Hi Lindsay,

I perfection loop the end of the tapered then perfection loop the tippet and loop to loop them together, rest of the leader is put together with 3 turn water knots.

Cheers

Ben

[Loxiafan]

Cheers Ben, will give that a try.

Lindsay

[Loxiafan]

Barrio SLX #4  R-O-C-K-S !! 

Orange colour no spooky the fish either  See Don thread for SLX 'christening' ! Confidence remains high 

Lindsay

[Mike Barrio]

Hi folks
The Barrio SLX is now available in WF3F in both orange and olive head versions

Best wishes
Mike

[Kevin Muir]

Hi Mike

The #3 SLX arrived  on Monday, super fast service as usual.

I will get it spooled tonight and be able to get out at the weekend for a quick play with it.

Thanks

Kev.