Skagit Extreme With Integrated Tip

/in /by

Had a chance to fish a new line yesterday.  A float line Skagit with an Integrated Tip.  SA developed this line to eliminate the loop between the Skagit and your sinking line.  This Skagit line comes with a 12 foot section of T-12 seemlessly blended (no loops).  In addition the running line is integrated as well, no more loops getting caught in the guides of the rod. This line is one of the finest casting lines in the Skagit format that I’ve had a chance to play with.  But how does it fish?

While most of you know I love the Intermediate Skagit Extreme Head from SA.  The Intermediate line truly changed the game on the Manistee River when it comes to swinging flies for steelhead.  (and yes I have run the other companies lines, and no they don’t compare)  So I was a little hesitant to change back to a floating line.  But as I could quickly see, if you want to catch more fish you need to have the ability to adjust your flies speed and depth for each run’s current conditions.  The SA Integrated line is perfect for those slower pools, the same pools that winter steelhead love to sit in.  The floating section of the line allows your fly to swing through the pool, the integrated sink-tip is a smooth transition giving your fly more life as it swings through the pool.  As I mentioned before this line is a casters dream.  With no hinges and no loops, the line just bombes out there.

As is true with any other type of fishing, there is no perfect lure for every situation.  And for a fly angler there is no one line (let’s just talk spey here) that is perfect for every run that you can possible fish in a days time.  Now I know that you just can’t go buy multiple set up’s, but if the budget allows for a new line, this SA Integrated Line is another step forward in better spey lines by SA, and this line is fishy to say the least.  As winter clogs along, steelhead move into slower pools the floating line with the Integrated tip is the line for me. Still my favorite is the Intermediate Extreme, but having the ability to change as conditions call for it is nice.  If you want to cast this line before you buy it, just let me know.  I’ll be carrying it in my boat the rest of this steelhead season.

JR

Phil C. with a winter buck caught on the Skagit Extreme w/ Integrated Tip

 

Mother Nature still has mysteries for us to solve

/in /by

photo courtesy of Outdoor Blog

Check out this mystery fish caught in Hawaii, say this post this morning and love it that Mother Nature still has fish underneath her sleeve that we have no idea what they are.

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/50584/
giant+headless+fish+at+center+of+intriguing+mystery+off+kona+hawaii/

Last Fish of 2012, can’t wait for 2013

/2 Comments/in , /by

Thank you to everybody that follows Mangled Fly Media blog, Happy New Year.  Have some exciting things that I plan to post, and show in 2013.  Thank you for a great year.  Picture below was caught yesterday and did not think about until just now, but this LRB was the last fish caught in 2012 by MFM.

Happy New Year!

michigan lake run brown

Titan Taper now in a New Color

/in /by
Titan Taper

Smallmouth and Musky Favorite!

The Titan Taper has been a standard line in my boat for a couple years, and now that it’s coming out in a new color, I have a list of waters that are going to get the Titan treatment. Thank you SA!

This heavily weight forward fly line has been so good in the boat and from shore. If you are fishing large wind resistant flies, like bass poppers or 6-10″ Musky Flies this line works awesome. With it’s thin running line and textured surface you will be able to deliver your flies to the furthest target. The Titan now comes in sunset / willow which features a willow head to sneak up on wary fish and sunset running line to sight the direction of your cast.

The new Titan is available in 6-10 weight which is perfect for midwest waters.

 

December streamer’s keep on rolling

/in /by

Thank you to the SA Extreme Intermediate Skagit more and more people are enjoying streamer fishing for steelhead.  The line has changed the way I teach and as we all know the end result is the pull.  When you get the pull you build the confidence.  When you land more fish more people want to try.  Thank you SA.  Pictured is Becky A. with her first steelhead from the Big Manistee, she was streamer fishing in mid December.

Picture of the Day- Playing with Saturation

/in /by

I’m not one that plays too often with photoshop to distort or alter my pictures too often.  But playing with the Saturation of a photo taking out or highlighting colors is another form of art.  Here is Dan C. with his first steelhead caught on a streamer.  In Lightroom I zapped out all the colors except blue to hight light the bright sunny winter day and his blue patagonia jacket.  My picture of the day as another steelhead comes to the big ugly streamer pattern.

Streamers still rocking in December

/in /by

Still have a whole bunch of confidence for the big ugly flies to work in the cold weather, as the season progresses the cold water will so down the response to the swung fly, but currently things are still rocking.  As I was witness to a fish “almost” taking one of my spey outfits.  Thank goodness we had a tight grip on the rod.  Thinking about investing in a bungee cord type of device to secure the rod to the caster.  Look for it online or at your local fly shop.  Gotta love that pull when the tug like that!  Get out and cast before liquid turns to solid.

Steelhead transition – Pic of the Day

/in , /by

With the start of December we are starting to get into the big bad winter bucks.  The time of year where we have a chance at some of the biggest steelhead of the year.  Winter bucks will start to display red checks and strips, and with hopefully some winter back drop.  Photo’s can just jump out.  With a hazy,wet, damp, blur your lens kind of day yesterday, this photo turned out best if we made it black and white.  Winston from Ontario, Canada with a great fish that ran us all over the river.

Wild Lake Superior Steelhead

/in , /by

Had a chance to test out some new equipment this past week with Capt. Brad Petzke of Rivers North Guide Service and watched/filmed him as he hooked in to this beautiful wild Lake Superior Steelhead. 

Underwater Steelhead – Pic of the Day

/in , /by

Erik Rambo shot a video of a cool release shot of a steelhead swimming away along the sand in the lower river.  This video was shot this week in the high sun so we had good light and low clear water provides for a perfect effect. Took the video and converted it to a jpeg and found this shot that is hard to get with just a camera.  Thank you Erik.