Skagit Fly Lines by EF

The design of a fly-line taper is often born of necessity, fuelled by the fly-fisher’s need to optimise fly presentation for a particular species. This is never truer than in the development of Skagit fly lines for the new Skagit-style casting techniques used originally by steelhead anglers in the Pacific north-west of North America and now being increasingly adopted by Atlantic salmon-fishers.  As salmon-fishers one of the most important decisions we make is at what depth we should present our fly in relation to the water conditions. The main factors to consider when deciding which line to use for any given day are not only water height and temperature, but also the surrounding casting environment. To cover such a cross-section of possible conditions, consider investing in this new line system that offers not only great water coverage, but a spectrum of depth options to present your fly.

What is Skagit casting?

In the early 1990s steelhead anglers on Washington’s Skagit River developed a style of casting that could not only cover large sections of this vast river, but, equally importantly, sink a weighted fly quickly in powerful currents. The term “Skagit casting” soon became universal to describe the new casting technique. In its simplest terms, the style of casting is basically an adaptation of traditional speycasting principles utilising heavy, short-headed lines with fast-sinking tips. During the casting cycle, the technique relies on a concept called a “sustained anchor” to load the rod for the forward delivery of the cast. In all forms of speycasting there are two categories of cast – “momentary anchor” casts and “sustained anchor” casts. The momentary category includes casts like the single spey and snake roll that have brief contact with the water to “anchor” the aerialised loop prior to the forward delivery. Once the line has been redirected from downstream and momentarily positioned with the tail of the fly-line pointing towards the direction of the new cast, the caster must implement the forward delivery to correctly time the cast.

The sustained-anchor category includes casts such as the double spey, snap T, circle cast and the wonderfully named perry poke!  These casts all have one common denominator: how the D-loop is set up prior to the forward cast. Unlike the single spey or the snake roll, in which the line is jumped or spiralled into position in one movement to form the casting loop, these casts form the D-loop with the line gripped in the water. Depending on the particular cast, a selection of moves are performed to position the head, sinking tip and fly upstream or downstream of the caster. The caster then uses the resistance of the surface tension to load the rod as the casting loop is formed. The instant the loop is formed, the caster must begin the forward delivery before the fast sinking tip begins to re-sink.

What is a Skagit line?

Initially lines were made from homemade shooting heads, but as Skagit casting became more popular throughout the Pacific north-west, fly-line manufacturers identified an opportunity to produce manufactured weight-forward lines. A Skagit line is heavier than a conventional salmon line, with a short floating main belly and a selection of interchangeable tips of various sink rates from full floating to super-fast sink rates of eight inches per second (8IPS) and below.  Although the lines are sold as a kit which usually includes four manufactured 15ft tips, it’s also possible to buy just the floating Skagit head with integrated running line and customise your own sinking tips relevant to your fishing practices.  If you make or purchase your own tips, it’s worth noting the overall length of the head, including whatever tip you choose, is typically about three to three and a half times the length of the rod –about 45 ft for a 15 ft rod.  The heavy floating head is highly effective at turning over heavy flies at long distances and has become the weapon of choice for many anglers.

Do I need a specialist rod?

Although the preferred action for casting with a Skagit line is relatively slower rather than faster to cope with the heavy line, any good-quality rod will cast perfectly well. However, manufacturers have responded to the increased awareness of this style of casting by producing specific Skagit rods designed to work in synergy with the lines. As for power application, short, powerful forward casts can be risky with such heavy lines due to the resistance from water tension overloading the strength in the rod blank. This type of forward delivery can result in broken rods. Due to the Skagit lines weighing twice as much as other fly-lines for a given rating, power on the forward delivery tends to be applied with a longer, smooth stroke to load the rod deep into the butt section. Think of the line almost like a projectile and stop the rod on the forward delivery with a high trajectory to get maximum distance.

What line rating do I need to match my rod?

Like more conventional fly lines, match your Skagit line weight to the corresponding line rating of your rod i.e. 10wt line for a 10wt rod.  Some line manufacturers class the weight of their Skagit lines in grains as well as the standard designated number system.  The gain weight classification is basically the head weight of the fly line.  The corresponding grain weights to line weights conversation are as follows: 450 grain: 7/8wt, 550 grain: 8/9wt, 650 grains: 9/10wt and 750 grain: 10/11wt.

What are the advantages of using a Skagit line?

The advantages are twofold. First, with correct technique these heavy weight-forward lines can be cast good distances with relative ease. This makes effective water coverage an obtainable goal for all levels of fly-caster. Due to their short head length it is also possible to cast well in confined areas when close to overhanging trees or steep banks, where the angler might struggle to form a D-loop with a longer-head spey line.

The other major advantage is controlling the depth at which the fly swings through the stream. Due to the weight in the main floating belly, Skagit lines will turn over very fast-sinking tips and weighted flies with ease. This allows effective water coverage on rivers in spate or with a normally powerful current. By changing the sinking rate of the tip as well as the length of the leader and the weight of the fly, the angler can present the fly at a broad range of depths. With the bulk of the fly-line floating on the surface, by mending the line as it swings through the stream it’s possible to accurately control the speed of the fly.

It’s worth noting that as well as being useful for fishing where space is limited, these lines can be effective when fishing from a boat on some of the big rivers such as the Tweed and the Tay. Using a downwind sustained anchor cast like a double spey, the angler can enjoy all the above mentioned benefits, while sitting down.

What are the disadvantages of using Skagit lines?

With relatively short heads between 40 ft and 50 ft, the weight-forward profile of the lines means that the angler must manage large amounts of thin running line when casting for distance. As with a shooting-head system, the line must be retrieved so that the rear taper of the head is in, or close to, the rod tip before making the next cast. If too much running line is left overhanging from the rod tip, the thin line will simply not have enough weight and energy to turn over the head, sinking tip and heavy fly. With the need to strip a large amount of running line in before each cast, another associated issue is managing the line as it is shooting through the rod rings. Good line management is very important to avoid the line tangling or bunching as it travels through the rod rings. Taking into account that Skagit fly-lines were developed to cast heavy flies long distances and get them swimming deep within a few seconds of landing on the water, the only other disadvantage is that the unfolding line can sometimes land on the water with a bit of a splash!

Are Skagit lines effective for salmon fishing?

An ever-increasing number of salmon anglers are purchasing Skagit lines – not to replace all other line profiles, but to complement their fly presentation throughout the season. Skagit lines are most effective in the UK in the early or latter part of the season when rivers are high and water temperatures are hovering around the low 40 degs F. Salmon are reluctant to move far to intercept flies in cold water. Armed with a selection of sink tips ranging from 3 IPS to 9 IPS, anglers can offer flies within the salmon’s taking “window” in cold water. Interestingly, some salmon anglers are now leaving the spinning gear or their full sinking lines at home in favour of using Skagit lines during the colder months of the season.

Summary

Look upon a Skagit line system as a worthwhile addition to your fly-line armoury. Although it is not a set-up for all seasons, there is no doubt that these lines are user-friendly and work well with a variety of different double-handed rods. They are excellent for depth control and when long casts are needed in confined spaces. Once you have invested in your Skagit system, seriously consider visiting a qualified casting instructor to get an insight into the Skagit concept and the various casts. This is money well spent and will soon have you enjoying a new approach to fly-fishing for salmon.