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Handline + Spinners


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Home Forums Off Piste Fishing & Tenkara Handline + Spinners

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Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 15 total)
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  • #1222248
    Steve .
    Member

    @pappekak

    Locale: Tralfamadore

    Has anyone used a handline such as the Streamlines Tidelands with spinners?

    Wondering how hard it is to get the spinners to work properly while manually wrapping the line on the spool.

    #1381613
    Gene .
    Member

    @tracker

    Locale: New England

    Yes, the caution is that if you have'nt fished like this before there is the chance of injury from getting a line wrap on a finger or wrist. Use care, and start out fishing for small fish until you get it. I've used a Streamlines since they first came on the market. Rod and reel fishing just seems like more fun though when you get into larger fish/different styles IME. You can fish with flies on a bubble float, but it's not the same as the enjoyment you get from a 5w rod and technique.

    #1381627
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Steve,

    I’ve used this system with spinners and dry flies effectively in the Sierras. Like most things all it take is a practice and a little patience.

    Regards

    #1381646
    David Stenberg
    BPL Member

    @dstenberg1

    Locale: South

    Roger,
    Did you have fun in the Sierras with a handline? I will be hiking with two non-fishers and would like to use something that is quick and can be used at a moment's notice. The handline is also attractive because of the weight. Did you think it is worth it or is it too frustrating to use? Did you wish you had a rod and reel instead?

    #1491773
    Amy Reid
    BPL Member

    @marmot8

    Locale: central Sierra

    Roger, Can you elaborate a little more about using the Streamline handline with dry flies and your setup? I am waiting for mine to arrive and talked to a local fly fishing shop about a setup. I was thinking about using a clear bubble float for some weight, a barrel spinner, leader and dry fly. I'll be fishing the JMT in August but want to get the hang of my system before then. Any advice is welcome! Thanks,

    #1491964
    Aaron Lastname
    Member

    @cloudveil9

    A fly rod only weighs about 3 ounces ;)

    #1491982
    cary bertoncini
    Spectator

    @cbert

    Locale: N. California

    and dap the fly into pools

    or feed it down in the current a little with dry or nymphs

    #1492042
    Amy Reid
    BPL Member

    @marmot8

    Locale: central Sierra

    Yes, but fishing isn't my main focus. And then I'd need a reel, and other misc. gear, adding to the weight. And its expensive. The Streamline handline (www.streamlines.com) is less than $20. I can cast it, so its got a bit more flexibility than tying a line to a stick or a pole.

    Plus, it won't get in my way. The idea of bringing rod & tackle along sounds like a fuss and more bother than it's worth (to me). But a small, self-contained handline and a few flies, … that I can wrap my mind around. Plus it sounds like a fun challenge to master the handline.

    I know, I know, this sounds like blasphemy to folks who thrive on fishing!

    I am more looking for advice on handline technique or setup of a dry fly system. Since there was a mention of someone having used a handline in the Sierra, I thought I'd ask.

    Right now, I'm researching. I want to put a kit together, see how successful I am and then decide if I want to add the ounces later.

    #1492933
    Daniel White
    Member

    @wvlawyer

    Locale: Wasatch Front

    For what it's worth, Aaron's right, you can get a pretty lightweight fly rod. After that, the line will add some extra weight, but you really don't need a reel. I fell on a trip once and snapped my fly rod about six inches above the handle. I just stuck the reel in my pocket and held the rod above the break and kept casting and catching fish.

    The lightest set up that I see from this is something like the lightweight plastic spool that a fly line comes on when you buy it. You could pretty much keep this in a pocket and play out what you need to cast. Then you just pull the line in, rather than reel it. Won't work well for large fish, but for small mountain lakes or streams, should be fine.

    I haven't done the math, but I doubt this adds too much extra weight. This would still be more expensive than the handline and if fishing isn't your main focus, then probably not for you. However, I'm sure it will work a lot better.

    #1493774
    Taylor Ginther
    Member

    @tippet

    Locale: San Diego

    yes I suppose technically you could catch a fish or two with a handline. I'd be interested to hear that turns out for you. For now, I'll stick with a rod/reel though.

    #1493862
    Aaron Lastname
    Member

    @cloudveil9

    Like Daniel said, you don't need a reel to flyfish. I know for a fact that my fly rod weighs just under 3 ounces, I can't imagine that my fly line weighs much more. Maybe I'll weigh it tonight but I think you could get a complete flyfishing setup under 8oz if you were willing to sacrifice a few gizmos…Maybe less.

    #1494223
    Amy Reid
    BPL Member

    @marmot8

    Locale: central Sierra

    I received my handline earlier this week and will start testing out tackle systems as soon as I can. So far it seems pretty easy to use and I'm looking forward to developing a technique with it. I'll report back later what worked and how I do after I give it some true trials in the field. I'll start with a bubble float, barrel swivel, leader & dry fly. Thanks for the input.

    #1494225
    Joe Clement
    BPL Member

    @skinewmexico

    Locale: Southwest

    No, but I've fished a lot in Mexico like that, but wrapped the line around a beer bottle. We were bait fishing though.

    #1496148
    scri bbles
    BPL Member

    @scribbles

    Locale: Atlanta, GA

    Please keep us updated. I am definitely interested in how this works out…

    #1531251
    Todd Forbes
    Member

    @tf

    When I was in Carmen a while back I saw the locals fish like this, they were fishing in the Gulf of Mexico with cut bait and used a beer can for a reel. You also see a lot of our "guest workers" down on the Gulf Coast fish like this and they do catch fish.

    You could use your Foster's beer can mug as a reel and have a truly lightweight duel peice of equipment!

    I will be using a Tenkara rod in the Weimanuche Wilderness Are next week and it was hard enough for me to accept not having a reel but this is intresting!

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 15 total)
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