Skagit / ology
By George Cook
Nearly two years have past since the introduction of the vaunted Skagit line. However, despite its effectiveness and popularity, misconception, confusion and lack of overall clarity of the use of Skagit lines remains. The following is a short but specific conversation regarding the history and usage of Skagit lines in the worldwide spey fishing theater.
History: Beginning in the 1990's many of today's most recognizable spey authorities independently were developing Skagit type lines. Noted casters and anglers such as Ed Ward, Mike Kinney, Scott O'Donnell, Mike McCune and Scott Howell, among others, were at the forefront of the Skagit revolution. Along the banks of northwest rivers coupled with late nights in the depths of fly tying rooms of The Pacific Northwest the chop shop artist and line theologists were hard at work developing what would become today's Skagit lines. Some would cut and splice their way, others would utilize bumped up Windcutter bodies to perfect the craft. The shorter belly approach was underway. The day had come to maximize the spey rod for winter conditions with large outsized flies. The use of northwest hybrid and Skagit casts such as the Snap Tee (Circle Spey), Perry Poke, Snap Zee and Wombat, as well as the Double Spey, lent themselves to the shorter belly approach. Today the Skagit line approach is "the" approach to sinking line endeavors worldwide. Be it kings in Alaska to sea run browns of the Rio Grande, from The Umpqua to The Babine, and all points in between. The Skagit line has become the omnipresent tool. Originally developed purely as a sink tip line, The Skagit line also is an incredibly effective full floating line particularly on 12' to 13' 9" rods. To be sure, the spey caster will endure a greater level of stripping of line to recast (applies to all Skagit lines versus long belly lines) but the reward is an undeniable highly energized long and straight cast.
Usage: Specific Skagit line size (grain weight) match-ups come with a degree of variability coupled with angler opinion. Line speed versus load, moderate versus fast action all add up to a witch's brew of variables that must be fleshed out to any given rod regardless of manufacturer. The great casters often find themselves 50 to 100 grains apart on any given rod. Continued...
