Answers by Capt. Greg Rahe, Key West

Walter & Group:

Answers from Greg Rahe which bring out a couple of other points. My comments in RED CAPS :-

Capt. Greg Rahe

http://www.flyfishingkeywest.com

(305) 923-4369

FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor

FFF Certified Fly Fishing Guide

From: Gordon Hill [mailto:masterstudy@xxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 8:33 PM
To: Greg Rahe
Subject: New questions

1.) Your student is looking over some fly lines at a local fly shop. He picks up one labelled, as follows: WF 9 S, DENSITY COMPENSATED. He wants to know what that means. What do you tell him ?

The fly line has a gradual coating density to help it sink uniformly and keep a straight line connection between the angler and the fish. YES.

2.) He, now, asks you what is meant by the additional label, "CLASS VI". How do you inform him ?

A system used by some to denote how fast a line sinks. VI would be very fast…around 8 ips. YES. (CLOSER TO 6 IPS)

3.) He looks at another brand with the label: WF9S, DENSITY COMPENSATED,"TYPE 6". What is the difference between this one and the one in 2.) ?

4.) Finally, he picks up one labelled: SWTB 9 I . What in the world is this line ? (Hint: It's manufactured by Scientific Anglers and marketed by Royal Wulff Products.)

Saltwater Taper 9 weight intermediate sink YES. SPECIFICALLY A TRIANGLE TAPER MADE FOR SALT WATER AND MARKETED BY ROYAL WULFF PRODUCTS AS THE, "BERMUDA TRIANGLE TAPER". IT IS SEMI-CLEAR (TRANSLUSCENT) WITH A LIGHT BLUISH TINT.

5.) Name one advantage and one disadvantage of fly lines with a core made of gel-spun fibers called, SPECTRA.

Very strong but no stretch on big fish. TRUE. THESE LINES ARE GOOD FOR DISTANCE CASTING. SOME FEEL A BETTER SENSE OF HOOKUP. A BIG DISADVANTAGE IS THAT IF YOU GET A TWIST OR KINK IN THE LINE, YOU CAN'T STRETCH IT OUT. ALSO, THE COATINGS ON THESE LINES ARE HARD TO BOND TO THE SPECTRA. (SAME WITH KEVLAR (DUPONT'S ARAMID)).

6.) You are about to try a new experimental fly line with a very "stretchy", elastic core. It is a wt. forward long belly line. You dig back into information on similar lines from an article in the Loop a few years ago.

WINTER, 2002 "HOW DOES LINE STRETCH AFFECT THE CAST?" No help and in fact may be disruptive to the caster’s cadence. CORRECT. ( YOU ARE REFERRING TO THAT ISSUE OF THE LOOP .)

7) Your student says she's read that it is not a good idea to use a nail knot to attach the butt section of her leader to her new clear tip fly line.

No…I’ve used nail knots on my SA sink and int lines for15 years and have never had one fail on a tarpon. However, since it is howling 30 kts outside and I have some old lines, I’ll test their failing point today.

YOU RAISE A GOOD POINT HERE, GREG. THESE PARTICULAR CLEAR LINES ARE SA SPECIALTY SALT WATER LINES MADE WITH A BRAIDED MONOFILAMENT CORE RATHER THAN THE UNBRAIDED STRAIGHT MONOFILAMENT CORES FOR MOST CLEAR LINES. YOUR NAIL KNOT WILL HOLD JUST FINE WHICH IS WHY IT DIDN'T FAIL IN YOUR 15 YEARS OF TARPON GUIDING AT KEY WEST.

THE COATING TENDS TO PULL OFF ON CLEAR LINES WITH UNBRAIDED (SMOOTH) MONO CORES USED FOR SOME FRESH WATER LINES WHEN A NAIL KNOT CONNECTION IS USED.

Whip a loop in the end of the fly line or fold it back and make two nail knots YES. ALSO, THE WHIPPED LOOP POPULARIZED BY LEFTY.

9.) Your student wants to know of a connection to be used between the leader and the fly line which will yield the least bulk and minimum disturbance on the water for a super delicate presentation. What do you teach him ?

Nail knot GOOD ONE, ESPECIALLY IF SMALL DIAMETER/HARD MONO IS USED FOR THE BUTT SECTION OF THE LEADER. EVEN SMALLER CONNECTION = NEEDLE KNOT. MOST OF THESE DO INCLUDE A NAIL KNOT . DIFFERENCE IS THAT WHEN COMBINED WITH THE NEEDLE TECHNIQUE, THE LEADER PULLS STRAIGHT IN LINE WITH THE LINE AS THE LOOP STRAIGHTENS FOR A STRAIGHT LAYOUT PRESENTATION. SINCE MOST DELICATE PRESENTATIONS INCLUDE A SLACK LEADER LAYOUT, THAT WON'T MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE.

I'VE WITNESSED THE USE OF A TECHNIQUE FOR THE NEEDLE KNOT CONNECTION IN WHICH A THIN DIAMETER HARD MONO BUTT SECTION IS THREADED THROUGH THE END OF THE FLY LINE AND SUPER-GLUED IN PLACE WITH NO KNOT AT ALL. (I'VE NEVER TRIED THAT. MAY BE OK TO TRUST IT FOR USE WITH SUPER LIGHT TIPPETS.)

10) What choices of connection might you consider between your fly line and the butt section of your leader to fish for large tarpon with a 12 wt. outfit and a 20 lb. class tippet ? (YOU ANSWERED THAT IN # 7.)