[sgellert]

Hi there
For a Skeena trip in August, I'd like to bring a skagit head to accompany my Guideline Multitip line, mostly to be able to handle bigger flies and/or deeper water, if need be.
The rod is the Guideline NT8, 12' 9", #8/9.

At the moment I'm considering these lines :
Airflo Skagit Compact 2.0 Skagit Compact G2 | Airflo USA it seems to be discontinued, but can get it here in Denmark
Rio Skagit Max https://www.rioproducts.com/products/skagit-max (normal length)
Rio Gamechanger https://www.rioproducts.com/products/intouch-skagit-max-gamechanger in FHI version

Any advice is welcome.

 

[dustybinns]

540gr f.i.s.t. goes well on that rod,they are very good lines for BC.Cheers Dusty.

 

[sgellert]

Thanks for the suggestion dustybinns.
I'm a little concerned about the lack of flexibility of having a permanent sinktip on the FIST.
I'm kinda leaning towards the Airflo Skagit Compact G2 in 570 grains, with some 10ft FLOTips.
Mistpool has the head for just 40 EUR, which is a very nice price.

 

[dustybinns]

Thanks for the suggestion dustybinns.
I'm a little concerned about the lack of flexibility of having a permanent sinktip on the FIST.
I'm kinda leaning towards the Airflo Skagit Compact G2 in 570 grains, with some 10ft FLOTips.
Mistpool has the head for just 40 EUR, which is a very nice price.

Quote :I'm a little concerned about the lack of flexibility of having a permanent sinktip on the FIST.:Not trying to sound to smart, but is that not the reason you fish with a skagit line?Actually the f .i .s t .line will single spay very nicely,look it up on Youtube ,there a few good videos .The 540 gr on your rod is not heavy ,it will s/spey with ease ,with 10' or 15' t tips.I think any of the lines you mentioned will do,the rio game changer is similar to the f.i.s.t.,in some configurations,not sure i have no experience with it .Happy hunting,it's part of the fun,though often expensive.Cheers Dusty.

 

[Neil W]

I have fished skagits quite a bit and in my experience lining a rod depends on what tips you will be casting and what casts you will be using. I tended to use the water bourne casts as I was taught by an American guide in Argentina. The Snap T and perry poke are great casts once you get to know them but the rod needs to be loaded appropriately. Because we were regularly using T14 and even T18 the skagits I used on a Sage One 8126 (8wt)was either an airflo compact 570, the same in an intermediate (which seems to have been discontinued) or a Rio Max short 625. Both these lines were great with these water bourne casts and using big flies and big tips. For my 14ft 9wt I was using a 660 Airflo compact. You could not however single spey these lines. The lower you go in weight the more you can use your single spey/ touch and go casts.
The Americans seem to line their rods with skagits on the heavy side. For instance I had a 7wt sage rod with a 510 skagit which I thought was just right. The guide said it needed a 540 and this was backed up by a few US reviews.
My next purchase will be the Rio Game changer FHI as I like the fact it slows the swing and allows tips and the fly to sink deeper. I would get this in a 600 for my Sage igniter 8136. The FIST line also has great reviews and would definitely help get you deeper.
If I don't need such depth I tend to use the Rio VT and the 15' tips that come with it. This is a great combination unless the wind really gets up when a skagit is great.

 

[Neil W]

I just checked the Rio recommendations for your rod. They don't have the NT8 but do have the LPxe 8/9 rod and recommend the 550 Skagit if you like a light outfit or the 570 for a heavier load to the rod. My preference based on my rods would be the 570 but it is very much down to what you like

 

[sgellert]

Thank you very much to both of you for the input, much appreciated.
I ended up ordering the Airflo Skagit Compact G2 in 570 grains.
@Neil yeah I found the Rio guide as well, thats how I decided on 570 grains
I'm still very much a novice into flyfishing for salmon, so I think it will be a good starting point, w/o the "fancy" sinktip etc.

 

[Neil W]

There are lots of videos on you tube about casting including skagits. I find the Rio Simon Gawesworth ones very useful. The 570 should be a good match

 

[dustybinns]

Nt8

Great choice of rod ,great fun to cast,it loves the BC waters, and pulls tips all day long.Cheers John.

 

[Rennie]

Excuse me if I chirp in, but just about the only thing Skagity wise I know for sure is that Guideline Rods and Skagit lines aren't always that well suited.
I've one or two LPXe's and I wouldn't use them with a Skagit approach.I've the 13fter mentioned and wouldn't go near it with a 550gr Skagit.In fact the only rod that I do tread the path of a Skagit outfit with is my 13ft 7ins 9/10 Reaction and I use and was recommended a 550 gr Skagit on that by Guideline themselves.
I've swapped an e mail or two with Guideline and Leif whatshisface and their line of thinking is with Guideline rods and the Skagit approach you need to be looking at "Touch n Go" casts and a line+tip within the rods casting grain weight, in fact rather like a conventional multi tip line being honest.
I can't 100% state which tips one could confidently use Skagitwise, but the Guideline Skagit Kit came with 15ft of T18 and I've had a cast or two with that on my 13ft 7 Reaction with the 550 Skagit and while the 15ft T14 was better, the rod coped ok.
NT8's are real cool rods and not exactly cheap, I'd feel 100% confident in using any multi tip type of tip on one coupled to a poly as well if needs be, I regularly use a 15ft type 6 tip and 10ft 6.5 ips Poly too, however I'd do carefull homework for the 100% Skagit approach!.
Pedro.

 

[dustybinns]

Nt8

You would be hard pressed to break the Nt8 in a fishing situation Pedro,,they are the strongest rods guideline have made to date,and just made for pulling heavy tips.I am not saying they are the best rod for skagit lines,but they do a very decent job.Yes i have seen a few guideline rods break,also sage ,hardy even B&W,you hit any rod in the wrong place with those dumbbells and they will break.I very rarely fish skagit lines,i prefer multi tips lines from nextcast,but as long as you don't overload rods and have decent technique,things should be ok.I used to fish a skagit line on the older much noted for breaking 14'8 F version Lecie,shows you how lucky i am.?Cheers Dusty.

 

[Zamora]

If you have 9 or 10g scandi tips, one solution could be to buy a 400gr or 425gr Rio Skagit Gamechanger (or Airflo fist) F/I/S3 and use the scandi tips with it. With S7 you should get deep enough and you would have a bit shorter line to cast. That combination has worked excellently well with many rods and larger flies.

 

[sgellert]

Is the reason for concern with the Guideline rod / Skagit combo that the rod will break, or that it will performing poorly ?
I'll most likely primarily use the GL Multi Tip kit, the Skagit is a fallback, if the kit isn't heavy enough deep water/big flies.

 

[Neil W]

It may be worth asking guideline. I do know people who used various guideline rods in South America with skagits and don't remember any breakages

Is the reason for concern with the Guideline rod / Skagit combo that the rod will break, or that it will performing poorly ?
I'll most likely primarily use the GL Multi Tip kit, the Skagit is a fallback, if the kit isn't heavy enough deep water/big flies.

 

[dustybinns]

Nt8

Don't worry about the rod breaking,or performing,they are great rods.I fished this rod with a 570gr f.i.s.t. and 10' of t18 in BC for the last 3years ,but i preferred the 540gr,i always fish on the light side,we are all different in what we like .Cheers Dusty.

 

[sgellert]

Don't worry about the rod breaking,or performing,they are great rods.I fished this rod with a 570gr f.i.s.t. and 10' of t18 in BC for the last 3years ,but i preferred the 540gr,i always fish on the light side,we are all different in what we like .Cheers Dusty.

Thanks dusty, this makes me sleep better
Also, one of the guys I met there this fall used this exact rod, and was really happy about it.
I was throwing spoons on that trip and actually broke 3 rods ! (One in a cast, one a guide broke on a snag and last one had a car accident)
So if the NT8 breaks, its pretty unlikely being caused by the skagit head

 

[simoncassidy]

A little away from the topic,but anyone used the Airflo FIST on the 15ft 9" #10/11 NT8? Just bought one and have tried a 600gr FIST with a 15ft Sink tip which seemed light. Will be using it with 18ft T18 tip which might wake it up or do I need a heavier FIST?

 

[Zamora]

Simon, I think you need at least 700-720gr if using t-tips. But you could try that 600gr with (GL 9g) scandi tips, with s3/s5 it might become really good one.

 

[Neil W]

I have on occasion used a skagit on my 15ft 10wt sage one. A 660 was the lightest that seemed ok but the airflo 720 was better for me. Personally I prefer skagits on shorter rods but no reason they won’t work on the guideline IMO

 

[dustybinns]

A little away from the topic,but anyone used the Airflo FIST on the 15ft 9" #10/11 NT8? Just bought one and have tried a 600gr FIST with a 15ft Sink tip which seemed light. Will be using it with 18ft T18 tip which might wake it up or do I need a heavier FIST?

I made the mistake of going a bit heavy with Nt8 simon,it kills the action of the rod,it's because it feels so strong.I fish 570g f.i.s.t. off the 13'9" 9/10 which is on the light side,the 10/11 would take 630gr or tops 660gr,thats if they all go up 30gr increments at a time.I think 630gr with the heavy tips would be a good fit.Cheers Dusty.