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Fly Fishing with Doug Macnair
A Product Update: Son of Horse^©

By Doug Macnair

 

Those of you who follow this column will recall that I had lots of good things to say about the G. Loomis Mega Taper, 8’ 6", GLX 10/11-weight in an article, "A Rod called Horse." I was so impressed with its performance under adverse conditions, I selected G. Loomis for a second go around, this time the lightest member of the GLX Mega Taper family, an 8-1/2 foot dual-rated 6/7-weight traveler, known as the 3-piece FR1026/7-3 Mega.

 

It tickles me to have made such an intelligent decision. As it turns out, the 6/7 Mega Taper is one tough rod. I personally believe it is ideally configured for fishing the salt with a lighter line or, for that matter, anywhere lifting power is required. "Son of Horse," as I've come to call the rod, weighs in at 4 ounces (4.02 according to G. Loomis). Most of you will agree, 4 ounces seems more fitting for a trout rod than one suited for the salt.

 

Seemingly, G. Loomis and I operate on the same wavelength, especially when it comes to throwing fly lines with a fly rod. The dual rating, 6/7 for the 3 Mega, makes line selection easy. For close to midrange casting, go with the heavier weight. It loads quickly, enabling you to get on target without more than one false cast, if that. Where distance is important, go with the lighter line option. Developing the highest possible line speed, a really good weight-forward 6 optimizes your ability to reach out and touch someone, even in the face of a moderate breeze.

 

Light in weight and extremely accurate because of its slightly shorter length, Son of Horse is a delight to cast, provided you can handle a fast action. For my dime, a fast action is a mandate for the salt, and this one is truly fast! Think of it as a six-shooter that's apt to make you the fastest gun in the West (or, for that matter, in the East). Don't be surprised if this rod doesn't enable you to do some things you've never done before in the way of distance casting with a fairly light line, and under adverse conditions!

 

I have long argued that fly fishers should equip themselves with line and rod suitable for the worse adversary they expect to meet. In fishing the salt, this is likely to be none other than Mr. Wind. All too often, he can be found huffing and puffing his way around our coastal waters. When up and about, Mr. Wind is apt to be sufficient in strength to defeat the fly cast. That's why there isn't a doubt in my mind that Mr. Wind is, in fact, the Number One Enemy of all fly fishers.

 

If wind is the #1 on the enemy’s list, why is it so many fly fishers sally forth ill equipped to do battle with him? The answer eludes me, for when ill equipped his victory over the fly fisher is inevitable. To me, the Mr. Wind's argument reeks with logic: If I can prevent fly fishers from getting the fly to the fish, they cannot catch fish! Fighting the wind when ill equipped sort of reminds me of a knight-errant doing battle with a dragon without shield, lance and sword -- armed instead with a cheap pocketknife made in China etched with the name, "Slick Willie."

 

I've always wondered if the reason many of us seem to go forward against the wind armed with the wrong rod and the wrong line is simply the result of trying to avoid weight. Is it as simple as this -- nothing more than an attempt to keep the system "light?" After all, the total weight of the system - the actual weight of rod, reel, backing, and line - can become too much, given a long day on the water. Perhaps this explains why so many of us stoically face defeat in the face of a breeze.

 

It’s a fact: waving a rod through the air that weighs too much for its 9-foot length can become very tiring. When the combined weight of rod, reel, backing, and line reaches 14 to 16 or more ounces, fly fishing becomes anything but a gentle art; think of it, instead, as an exercise in upper body strength. Not so with the 3 Mega 6/7. Marry it to a lightweight fly reel, and you will significantly lighten the load.

 

Of course, there is always the factor of stolid thinking by some fly fishers, especially those who somehow "know" that a 9-foot rod casts "further" than a rod of lesser length. They sort of remind me of the Dodo bird, a bird not known for its fly casting expertise (or anything else, for that matter). It is a good thing that the great Lee Wulff didn't "know" he needed a 9-foot rod to go fly fishing; otherwise, he would never have been able to chase the Atlantic salmon casting 80 or more feet using a 6 1/2 foot stick. I think those fly fishers who keep an open mind will learn something: a slightly shorter rod with a different taper can cast even further than the best of the "niners." The intervening variable, of course, is the fly fisher, his casting stroke, and the line he selects.

 

The G. Loomis 6/7 3 Mega might just prove to be the answer to your weight dilemma. The rod weighs so little, it's hard to conjure up a rig that will weight too much, regardless of reel, line and backing. And what a deal you will be getting -- the lifting power is outstanding, the best I've ever encountered in any 6/7-weight rod. Son of Horse is a great light rod for fishing the salt or for those trophy bass lurking in nearby freshwater. I’ll go one step further: It is my favorite rod for any of these chores. What more can I say?

 

If you are heading for the Caribbean to chase permit and bones, think about taking along Son of Horse as a trusted companion. However, with its very fast action, let me recommend going to the grass for practice long before the trip -- practice that calls for throwing both lines suggested by the rod's rating. Don't be surprised if Son of Horse requires a modification to timing your stroke, especially if you plan to master the rod's true capabilities.

 

I don't think I will ever understand why some will not heed the mandate for practice. I simply know that ever so many will not! Several years ago I had a couple of clients who wanted to perfect their distance casting techniques before heading out on a very expensive trip chasing bones and permit in the Caribbean. When they arrived for their clinic, I learned they were planning to leave the following day. Both gentlemen were equipped with soft rods and had learned to cast in the best traditions of the "book-under-the-arm" technique. Folks, I must tell you … I cannot perform miracles. A 30- to 40-foot cast might be great along a small stream, but it isn't worth a damn on the flats with a wind!

 

For more information about the Mega Taper series: contact G. Loomis, 1359 Down River Drive, Woodland, WA 98674. Telephone: 1-800-662-8818.

 

 

 © Copyright: Douglas G. Macnair, 1999-2008

 

 

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