[Allan Liddle]

Not sure about baggy breeks but Kathleen looks like she's playing a fish.
Ditto with H re the next one, wonder what the fitba players in the background made of it all though? 

[Iain Cameron]

disappointed in my failure to launch the salmon line, though not surprising as I never chuck anything double-handed overhead. ever.  Would have got better distance chucking the rod like a javelin!

I've got a couple of DT spey lines that I don't/won't use - guessing one of them could be cut and shortened to make a head that I could muck about with? Don't know length or profiles of the spey lines; came 2nd hand from Hamish with an Orvis spey reel. i've got a 14 footer, 9/10 rating.

Any hints on the best way to go about trimming a line down to size?

[Ben Dixon]

Have you got jewellers scales Iain?  Cut something to about 55 - 60' long that weighs approximately 45 - 50 grams, that would be a mximum on your rod.

Cheers

Ben

[Marc Fauvet]

Cut something to about 55 - 60' long that weighs approximately 45 - 50 grams, that would be a mximum on your rod.

good stuff from Ben.
Iain, be sure to start off on the heavier/longer side until you get it just right.
you can always cut back but you can't (easily) add line… 
cheers,
marc

btw, nice pics ! looks like it was a blast 

[Iain Cameron]

you can always cut back but you can't (easily) add line… 

thanks Ben, Marc - yes, have kitchen scales & tape measure, so that's a DIY plan for the weekend.

 if it's a DT line, ie tapered at both ends, is this the right place to cut:
   
   xxxXXX [cut here] XXXxxx
or
  xxxXXXXXX [cut here] xxx

not that it matters too much, it's not gonna be a fishing line

[Marc Fauvet]

it doesn't really matter Iain as the head will always be out of the rod tip whenever used but, splicing in the middle will make it a little easier to do. should you want to shorten it later you'll still be working with two ends of equal diameter.
btw, good on you for keeping a back taper instead of just going from a blunt, thick back of head to shooting line 
you can always reduce the taper tips as needed later.
cheers,
marc

[Marc Fauvet]

Iain, i don't know what you're familiar with but here's 3 ways to make a line connection.

no. 2 here is very good. http://www.sexyloops.com/articles/smoothconnections.shtml
(it's stronger than you need. more for fishing, but it is very smooth.

easiest and fastest (specially in the field) http://www.sexyloops.com/articles/smoothconnectionsrevisited.shtml
this one has sexy lumps !  

 

[Iain Cameron]

...you're familiar with but here's 3 ways to make a line connection.

so what you're really saying is that Gaffa tape won't work? bugger!!!

thanks, good advice on those sexy lumps pages

[Mike Barrio]

so what you're really saying is that Gaffa tape won't work? bugger!!!

    

[Marc Fauvet]

 

[Ben Dixon]

Hi Iain,

Not sure how far you want to go with this but I do the following......

Using the AFFTA standard for 30' of line make an approximation of the length you will need, this should give you just about a suitable starting point and give you an idea of weight of line you will need for the required length.  Measure the entire length of DT you have decided then wind the whole lot on to an empty line spool of known mass, pull off line until you reach the weight you are looking for.  By measuring the length of line you have pull off the spool you will know how long the head is for the weight.  Be careful how the end of the line is supported as it comes off the spool, if allowed to droop down and pull on the scale platform or is held in such a way that it is reducing pressure on the scale you will get a bum reading.

Cheers

Ben

[Mike Barrio]

I'm guessing that nobody is out doing a bit of practice today

Cheers
Mike

[Mike Barrio]

How's the DIY stuff going Iain, if you get stuck and I can help with scales etc give me a shout and I can nip over with mine

Cheers
Mike

[Iain Cameron]

How's the DIY stuff going Iain, if you get stuck and I can help with scales etc give me a shout and I can nip over with mine

hi mike - might take you up on that. Stinking with a flu bug today, so stuck at home, bored and with time to kill. Ideal for this kinda project. Have dug out some old lines and the scales and will have a go at making up the line today. We'll see how it goes. My scales are accurate-ish to about a gram or so, good enough!

thanks Ben for the guidance too - yup, dug out some empty spools, ready to go!

cheers
iain

[Iain Cameron]

my own form of OCD (Organisationally Completely Dishevelled) meant it took a while to find the old spey lines and spools.



a big box of lines/boxes/spools. some are marked with the name of line. Others... well, i guess at the time I thought I'd be able to remember which was which. nope...

[Mike Barrio]

Have fun!

[Ben Dixon]

Forecast looking good for next day which is this Sunday, cold but fairly still 

Who have we got this time?


Cheers

Ben

[Hamish Young]

Aye 

[Iain Cameron]

Aye 

aye aye

[Peter McCallum]

I'll mark, still canna cast

[Ben Dixon]

still canna cast

Doesn't usually stop you Pete 

[Eddie Sinclair]

Ben,
apologies, I will not make it as I am in Azerbaijan until the 6th of December.

Eddie

[Peter McCallum]

Ben


 :X


Thats no excuse Eddie is Azerbaijan not just west of Alford??

[Mike Barrio]

Thats no excuse Eddie is Azerbaijan not just west of Alford??

Aye, just a few miles from auchterturra

[Irvine Ross]

Sorry Ben, I will be away at a family wedding.

Should make it next moth, fingers crossed.

Irvine