I have been studying up on the Skagit system with the help of Jeff Putnam, Mike McCune and the staff at Rio.
Rio makes Skagit lines that are just a body with running and a welded loop on the front to attach your tips. I guess they don't come with tips to keep the cost down. Rio said that many Spey casters already have tips or make their own with T14.
Skagit lines come in 4 sizes: 450, 550, 650 and 750 grains and the body with back taper is 27' on all of these.
Mike McCune advised me to get some Windcutter bodies in small size to use on the small Spey rods (#4/5) so here are the specs on some smaller lines too.
The 9/10/11 WC body is 320 grains and 23' long plus the running line.
The 10/11/12 is 378 grains and 24' long.
The 11/12/13 is 495 grain and 27.5' long. (fits between 450 and 550)
On the Rio web site is a big chart with many new Spey rod line recommendations so you can go there and find out how much weight in grains it takes to load your rod.
Then you need to make up a Skagit system where the total head is 3 to 3.5 the length of your Spey rod for balance.
We have Rio Skagit Cheater kits which come in line sizes (different weights) with a 5' and 10' looped floating section.
We also carry extra Rio looped 15' tips in size #10 (150 grains) in floating, type 3, type 6 and type 8. We can order different size(weight) 15' tips but Rio said these #10 size would work for most.
After you know your grain weight you need to calculated 3 to 3.5 times you rod length.
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Mike McCune already told me that I need an 11/12/13 WC body for my 13'3" #6 Anderson Spey rod.
So 3 times 13'3" is ~40' and 3.5 times is ~46'.
The 11/12/13 body is 27.5' plus a 15' tip is ~42' so I am in the 'ball park' without having to add a Cheater section (5' or 10').
The body is 495 grains and a #10 tip is 150 grains so I am at 645 grains.
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I would recommend that you have someone help you with this.
You can email/phone Rio or Jeff Putnam for a little advise.
Rio 208-524-7760 or general@rioproduct.com
Jeff 916/502-2037 or jeff@jpflyfishing.com
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