A Payne in the Foothills

[Dave Westburg]

Visited a foothills lake today which has just been stocked with 900 rainbow. I fished a 9' Payne 6 weight and a wallet of wet flies. My friend Doug found fish with an 8' 4 weight rod based on a Payne Taper.



I found fish in the shallows just off the shore with an intermediate line and a size 12 marabou damsel. The Payne had a relaxed response which matched well with a slow casting stroke.




Half pound hatchery fish but surprisingly frisky in the cold water...



A nice way to start the season.

 

[mountainlake97]

Nice orvis reel matched with the bamboo rod!

 

[Dave Westburg]

Nice orvis reel matched with the bamboo rod!

The Battenkill Disc reels are workhorses. Nice tolerances, good adjustable drag,you can change from right to left-handed by simple pulling off and turning over the gear. Easy to change spools and easy to clean. I bring a 7/8 Battenkill Disc with 6 weight floating, intermediate and full sinking line spools when I'm fishing a lowland lake and don't know what line I'll need and a 5/6 Battenkill Disc with 5 weight floating, intermediate and full sinking spools when I'm fishing an unfamiliar alpine lake and don't know what line I'll need. If I know a lake well enough that I don't think I'll need to change lines I bring one of my older Farlows Grenaby reels with an intermediate line or full sinking line.

My only critique of the Battenkills is that they are older softer metal. They will warp or bend if you drop them. The newer Battenkill BBS reels are much stronger - but more expensive.