Some common reoccurring questions that has been sent in by a number of 'about to buy' viewers from Australia and New Zealand.

However the questions answer a number of viewer's questions and so it should be made public to help all, whether they buy a Talon Double Handed Fly Rod or anything from me, Aussiefly, Talon RA or Talon.

The rods, Wong Wods, Double Rods, Real Rods or Horsepower Rods.

The questions,
In your readings and thoughts, what would you consider an all rounder two hander? I know this is very difficult to answer, but I am leading towards an 8 weight 12 or 13 footer. The next rod needs to be lighter than the 10/11 and I would prefer it to be able to throw Overhead in the salt and Spey in the rivers for trout.

So I need to look for something that does one really well and the other at a pinch, hence I'm leading towards an 8, but a 7 might be the go as well. Just interested in views to help me narrow my choices. Oh yes, still don't know if I should go Spey or Overhead taper.

The answers,
Too many things to answer, we will just have to work through these things as I go along? And I will try and no confuse anyone, including myself, here.

First there isn't a magic one size fits all, the equation is even worst than for those little things, those single handed rods.

And I 'think' this is because the lines change the applications even more than for 9footers-(9f) applications. With the more I fish and cast, the more the lines change, sounds a bit odd, but thats how its working out.

Why, example - I am using a full floating line by simply adding different sink tips the line changes so much and the ability to handle wind, example with my 10/11 - 15ft, I can add a fluorocarbon tip the fly line to have the fly cruise just under the surface to a 200grain - 2.5meter tip that pulls the 'lot' all the way down.

But what about if we add these tips to the 4 or 5 other lines types with their ends... and then include leaders, its endless.

A 8w 13-14ft, sounds good BUT what for and under what conditions are you intending to fish ? Then, what type of 8, a 7/8 or 8/9 ?

From fishing and casting from both ends of these magical sticks, a 10/11 to a 7/8-12ft, my thinking is leaning towards the following, as a all round stick for here in Australia and maybe New Zealand, however it maybe all very wrong as time will tell.

From the top downwards. 7/8w 12ft, anyless in size, no, because then you are falling back to what a very good 6 or less in single hand can do in the right hands, ...in the correct hands and the correct rod,,,,later, if I don't forget.

This rod, 7/8w 12ft, can do most things. From fishing flat surf to lakes and rivers with flies up to 2/0 with the correct leader to dry fly in rivers !. ( but here unless the fish are over 2 pound, they are hopeless, too much rod power.

Super light, cheap rod, compact when in 4 sections for travel and importantly can use cheap a small reel and can catch, handle most of the average fish caught, thats fish under 3kgs/6.5 pound.

Because its great fun and easy to cast, its a perfect Ladies rod or for the kids and for anybody with a eye hand coordinating problem or a problem with their arms or hands, eg a breast removal or a hear attack.

The well constructed Overhead Double (OH) rod will have enough power left in the butt section to fight, capture and release fish quickly, these factors may not be as efficient in a Spey (SR)rod or feel like they have after coming from a good 9 footer.

Casting range, here I am using what I call, the lazy cast range, its the average cast without effort for a good caster or for a beginner.

Casting range, around 80/90 feet Overhead cast, Roll cast 60/70 feet, Single Spey cast 75feet.

The OH rod can be more versatile than the SR here in Australia because we don't have big swift flowing rivers to enable the clever use of Spey casts and now I realize that a OH cast will do most things in this country with distance the greatest requirement, hence the Shooting Head, and this is another set of questions and answers required... But not today.

And with the Scan type of heads we can OH cast as well as S cast, with OH Rods, that are truly designed for this purpose, that's OH casting in the field, which is different to Tournament casting and their rods.

The failing of these little OH rods is wind. A 10knt breeze into your face with a Roll cast or Single Spey cast is very limited, to distances of around 30/40 feet, which after enjoying the freedom of casting where you want is boring.

Now the main differences between increasing rod sizes in length and weight, are the ability to penetrate the wind, to increase the cast distance in both OH an S, to fight larger fish ?? and to cast multi larger flies AND the thrill of horsepower in your rod... errr, rewrite that again !

As a suggestion, a perfect collection of rods would be a 7/8 - 12ft, 8/9 - 13ft and a big gun, a 10/11 - 15ft. A 10/11 15ft, isn't out of place with little fish, because of the distance cast, the beating the wind factor and importantly multi flies, which drive predators into attack mode, just try 3 gurglers in line and watch the splash factor, which of course is noise to those fish ears.

 

 

Question, Still don't know if I should go Spey or Overhead taper.

The answers.
The hardest question of all.
There are, without naming anybody or companies, people pushing rods that do both, equally as well. And this in completely impossible, or as common street talk would say, 'bullshit'.

Now what has happened in the trade is, to put it bluntly, some, well most brands have been caught out, without a suitable Double Overhead rod in their range !

They haven't been listening to the public, and their demands, and following of this fairly new sport of Overhead Casting with a Double Hander, most just thought the Scandinavians would keep it to themselves, like they have for over the last 40 years, but the big names in rods got it wrong, very wrong, hence the nasty stuff when someone corrects them or asks questions about which taper is your Double Handed Rod, a Spey, Euro or pure Overhead. So please ask, then ask to see the Double rod bent, as this will start to reveal the rod's true nature. Or better still, if you cannot get a clear straight answer, try another shop.

The facts are, a Spey rod isn't very good at Overhead Casting.
And lacks the butt power for fish capture quickly or it may feel that way to a single handed caster.

The pure Overhead Casting rod is average at Spey Casting.
Still can cast very useable Spey distances.

The Euro taper as its called, tries to be all things to all men, and therefore is JUST average at both Spey and Overhead.

The above is for Mr or Mrs Average caster, not, for some experts in casting, who cast cast anything, anywhere.

These are the reasons why I believe the true Overhead rod is ideal for this county, Australia and for New Zealand and maybe in your country.
The Overhead Casting Double Handed Rod is perfect for our Saltwater fishing and Bass including deep water fishing in impoundment's.

Lake trout fishing. The light Overhead Double, the 7/8w 12 footers, are very suitable for lake trout fishing with the 8/9w 13 footer for those long, normally out of reach casts, and windy day casts.

Page 2

Australian Yellow Belly on a Talon WMD 7/8w 12foot Double

Australian Bass, 53cm, on a Talon WMD 7/8w 12 foot Double

For a larger/image picture, please click

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Leaders for Double Handed Rods, Overhead casting
Talon Rods
Talon Reels
Talon Double Rods
Talon RA Double Overhead Rods
Talon RA Range of Overhead casting rods
Talon Advanced Running/Hauling lines
How to casting Double Overheads
Introduction to Double Overhead Rods

Common Questions and Answers about casting Doubles Overhead Rods page 2

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