mtskibum16
Life of the Party
Makes sense. I noticed they were a good bit heavier than the average nymphing line most companies offer. Airflo's nymph line is pretty close though and I've always been happy with their lines at listed weight.
Streamer/Nymph Line Recs
- Thread starter mtskibum16
- Start date
Porter2
Legend
Good News and Wood River System outside Dillingham. Early-mid August This was a while back. The wood river system was full of sockeye, rainbow, and silver at this time. I used a 6 weight sink tip III, short leader and lightly weighted fly. Good match but the 6 weight, I had two at the time a 691 XP and a Marryat and both were under gunned for the silvers. 7-8 be my choice. Some we caught were 15-16 lbs. silvers and fresh. Put a hurt on the 6.
Good news lake started off with the 5 and 6 weight with floaters 8-9 leaders and semi heavy weighted flies. The waters were not to deep as you could easily see the bottom in most sections of the crystal clear waters. I want to say the river was approximately 80 miles and we took 7 days to float it down in to Goodnews Bay. The first two days was mostly 5-6 action with the sockeye and healthy stout rainbows. Dollies anytime, they were everywhere and ranged in the 12-20” mark. On third day we ran into some silvers and many were bright… the 5-6 in my opinion was to little of a rod. I was hearing things from my rod like fibers breaking and ripping. Just a weird sound as it was put to the test. My experience was the silvers when stung by the hook head for the fast water and damn fast…it’s not quite like Washington and Oregon. They have a WILD fire in them. Anyways as we got lower in the river system and continually hit silvers we were all on 8-9 weights. Floaters with added sink tips or sink tip 2-3 types. So many flies worked… the fun one is a mouse pattern, hit the bank and let it drop in and skate it. Oh!!
. 28” RB first time within a couple seconds. But for silvers and at least this year these were the top dog flies. They were called space creatures. The two on top. The purple and green was the best but black and orange wasn’t bad. Flesh flies got the attention of the Dollies… Flash flies were good for the silvers too. Like mentioned before almost anything but keep in water. The fish are hungrier than the bears. Oh the bears. They can give you a John Candy moment…“Bear... bear... Big Bear... big bear !!!!
Good news lake started off with the 5 and 6 weight with floaters 8-9 leaders and semi heavy weighted flies. The waters were not to deep as you could easily see the bottom in most sections of the crystal clear waters. I want to say the river was approximately 80 miles and we took 7 days to float it down in to Goodnews Bay. The first two days was mostly 5-6 action with the sockeye and healthy stout rainbows. Dollies anytime, they were everywhere and ranged in the 12-20” mark. On third day we ran into some silvers and many were bright… the 5-6 in my opinion was to little of a rod. I was hearing things from my rod like fibers breaking and ripping. Just a weird sound as it was put to the test. My experience was the silvers when stung by the hook head for the fast water and damn fast…it’s not quite like Washington and Oregon. They have a WILD fire in them. Anyways as we got lower in the river system and continually hit silvers we were all on 8-9 weights. Floaters with added sink tips or sink tip 2-3 types. So many flies worked… the fun one is a mouse pattern, hit the bank and let it drop in and skate it. Oh!!
. 28” RB first time within a couple seconds. But for silvers and at least this year these were the top dog flies. They were called space creatures. The two on top. The purple and green was the best but black and orange wasn’t bad. Flesh flies got the attention of the Dollies… Flash flies were good for the silvers too. Like mentioned before almost anything but keep in water. The fish are hungrier than the bears. Oh the bears. They can give you a John Candy moment…“Bear... bear... Big Bear... big bear !!!!
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Not these days tho !!!
mtskibum16
Life of the Party
@Porter2 yeah I feel the 7wt is still probably a bit under-appreciated - I know I haven't used them much. Seems like a good size for the bigger flies when targeting rainbow up there. Figure we'll be on the 8wts when targeting coho. Hoping for some mouse action, although I've heard by late August the fish may be zeroed in on flesh and eggs. I'll give it a go though. I really like those top two flies! Quick and easy to tie! I keep hearing pink pink pink for coho.
Yes, in general, they match pretty well. The rods you normally over line you might still want to consider it, but I only over line my winston alpha, because that rod loves a lot more weight than it's listed for.
mtskibum16
Life of the Party
Part of the problem I have is all the 6wts I’m planning to take I’ve only used like OBS or 40+ lines on. Scott Meridian, Sage Xi3, Echo 3S in order of fast and powerful to less so. The Xi3 and Meridian both cast a 6wt 40+ really nice but those are even heavier. A shooting head just casts way different though so not an apples to apples comparison for head weight. I’m thinking I’ll just get the 6wt line though.
If it helps, I'm lined per rod weight on XP and Z axis. The Winston though, comes alive with a little extra weight.
I'd bet you'll love a 6wt anadro on that echo s3. That's an underrated stick that will roll cast this line well.
mtskibum16
Life of the Party
I’ve only fished it in the salt and haven’t loved it. Haven’t spent enough time looking for a line that suits though.
mtskibum16
Life of the Party
Back on my hunt after being off a while. I'm really thinking about ordering a 7wt Echo Boost Blue. I have a 7wt Streamer Max line but would like to add a floating line for streamers/flesh flies/mice. Debating primarily between a 7wt Anadro, Titan, or Airflo Streamer float. Any obvious others I should be considering?
Anadro seems to have the taper and weight to handle streamers with the added benefit of being able to mend and roll cast better.
Edit: The Titan Long actually looks like it might be the ticket. A bit heavier than the Anadro, a more aggressive front taper like the Titan, but a stretched out belly/handling section. Anyone have experience with it?
Anadro seems to have the taper and weight to handle streamers with the added benefit of being able to mend and roll cast better.
Edit: The Titan Long actually looks like it might be the ticket. A bit heavier than the Anadro, a more aggressive front taper like the Titan, but a stretched out belly/handling section. Anyone have experience with it?
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Creatch’r
Potential Spam
I’ve spent a lot of time around AK and the two most useful lines for a single hander IMO are an wulff ambush and a 40+. Both floating. I’ve never needed a sinking head and rarely if ever, needed a sink tip for stripping flies. But an ambush easily handles a light sink tip or poly leader if you feel you need it. The max tip I like on my 8wt ambush is 10’ of t8. For swinging with a spey rod, that’s different, floating skagit head and a type 3 is usually all a guy needs but be prepared for a heavier tip if need be. For longer casts and no sink tips, 40+ gets the nod, it’s a smooth line, I’m sure you’ve casted them plenty on the beach. Remember a lot of these rivers are low gradient and not very deep. If I’m not fishing wogs for coho I’m stripping lead eyed leeches on leaders 7-11’ long. There are so many aggressive fish, you will likely catch them until you are sick of it regardless of exactly what your setup is. 40+ or ambush has the guts to cast long and comfortably with a weighted bunny fly all day and won’t fold in the wind and they will toss a mouse, wog or skater great as well. I love both lines, but if I had to choose one I’d go ambush. But YMMV.
I would always have a 6/7wt rigged with a nymph taper to bobber fish a bead at all times on an Alaskan stream. All my nymph rods have airflo Kelly Galloup nymph lines and I like them a lot, if you can’t find that look at SA anadro indicator. I’ll probably be going that way myself to try one out but for now, I like how fishable and how durable the airflo is. Either way, a nymph specific taper is what you want, don’t try to bobber fish with a shooting head, you will be miserable mending that thin running line.
I would always have a 6/7wt rigged with a nymph taper to bobber fish a bead at all times on an Alaskan stream. All my nymph rods have airflo Kelly Galloup nymph lines and I like them a lot, if you can’t find that look at SA anadro indicator. I’ll probably be going that way myself to try one out but for now, I like how fishable and how durable the airflo is. Either way, a nymph specific taper is what you want, don’t try to bobber fish with a shooting head, you will be miserable mending that thin running line.
mtskibum16
Life of the Party
Good stuff man, appreciate it. I'm single hand only and have never messed around with an Ambush. I have a 6wt Anadro on the way. Was planning to grab an aggressive taper streamer type line for the 7. But now you have me questioning my 8wt lines too. Unfortunately I don't have a supply of 8wt 40+ lines and I think they are discontinued in the US. I have an intermediate OBS that would be fine for leeches and the like and a floating Airflo Striper that's more of a traditional WF taper.
It's interesting how many people are sticking with the floating line and long leaders for streamer fishing AK compared to how much of the streamer world has shifted to sinking lines. But used differently than how many might swing with sink lines. I've fished plenty of shallow saltwater and low gradient rivers with fast sink lines but you're casting out and ripping back usually. Anyways, I was planning to have both so my bases are covered and I can feel it out as we fish.
Creatch’r
Potential Spam
It’s because coho (and really all salmon in freshwater) like the fly jigging, a sinking head will present the fly more horizontal and the floating head and weighted fly will get a lot better jig on it. It’s not that it won’t work, I mean law of averages with thousands of fish around is in your favor no matter what you do. Another plus is after coho #50 for the day you can tie on a coho popper or dolly skater without needing to fully rerig. Also the floating line will give you better depth control and allow you to fish slower. Definitely gonna get more out of it IMO. My first summer in AK I ended up fishing a floating OBS the entire season (except for nymphing) despite having an army of lines with me. I caught all 5 species of salmon on that line stripping flies with no sink tips. Since then, I took the advice of another forum member and bought an Ambush and a 40+ and agree they are pretty much perfect. If you’d like to demo an 8wt ambush I can send you one to try before you go. I won’t be needing it for a while.
mtskibum16
Life of the Party
Very kind offer and appreciate the info. Makes perfect sense regarding the coho. I was primarily trying to figure out a streamer line setup for a 7wt thinking rainbows and dollys. Starting to wonder if something is needed specifically for that or just use the 8wt for everything other than nymphs/eggs/flesh and maybe targeting grayling. I'm going to shoot you a PM here in a bit. Thanks!