I took the plunge!

I used to flyfish quite a bit, but left it when I stopped trout fishing.  I tried a big 8 wt for stripers at mendo and although I got blanked, I was addicted.  New rod and reel will be here in a few days...CAN'T WAIT!!!!

I love to spend money! I just wish I had more!

Good for you Sean... I have brought my 8 wt with me on many occasions but never seem to break it out.  I may have to give it a shot this year as well... maybe at BAMIII.

I too used to fly fish like crazy when I was younger, but since I moved out here, I haven't done much of it. 

EK

Lets do this!  It had a blast with Juan and Josh...a new challenge.  Line management on the yak is not that ez.

I ordered this rod in # 1084...http://www.redington.com/prod.php?k=50169&p=RDT5-2007T015&u=CPS

and this reel...

http://www.redington.com/prod.php?k=46435&p=RDT5-3016R001&u=Titanium%20CDL

Fanciest rig in my whole arsenal.  Thought it would be fun for dodos in baja too.

Nice! Can't wait to see you hook up with that bad boy.

I used to flyfish quite a bit, but left it when I stopped trout fishing.  I tried a big 8 wt for stripers at mendo and although I got blanked, I was addicted.  New rod and reel will be here in a few days...CAN'T WAIT!!!!

I just picked up an 8 weight, too, with sinking line.  All my previous experience was with trout on ultralight rigs and floating line. Quite a workout casting this rig, but not as hard as the 10 weight I tried out. It should be a lot easier to use it on the kayak than it was in the surf.

Sounds like an 8 weight partay!

I have used my 6# for everything and have had decent success. Blues and Blacks are the bomb with this set up. Haven't hooked anything over 20# on it and have walked my @ss off up and down river with salmon.
I built a Sage 389 LL and matched it with an Orvis CFO III. The 3 weight was a lot of fun with trout but WAY too fragile for me. Broke the top half on a bass in the weeds. Bought a new blank and fixed that. Broke the bottom half when I put my rod off to the side ona stream to get a drink of water. I slipped and as I caught myself I ended up karate chopping right through the bottom half. Fixed that with the other half of the replacement blank. Went fishing in WA and somehow my friend broke both the bottom and top halves while boarding the boat. That was it for me and the light weigt rod.

slipped and as I caught myself I ended up karate chopping right through the bottom half.

That would ruin a day....bummer

I have a well worn old 5/6 myself that I used to use a lot.  In 1991 I used it to fish coastal cutts for a little ove 80 days in a row...the only upside to being young and unemployed.

I tried hucking big striper flies with it last fall and it simply didn't work well for me.  Sitting so low to the water it was hard to pick the line up off of the water and then it would wilt under the weight of the heavy flies.  The 10' long heavier rod made it much much easier and a lot more fun.  I will however keep my little 5/6 forever.

Sean my son and I have fished for striper's with fly rods in the Delta for a couple of years only one time in a kayak it was easer then I had thought. I toss LC13 lead core line with a 8wt rod, a lot of fun when you  hooked up  , hope to see you at BAMIII  .

Pat R

Glad you've joined the party!
I've been flyfishing from a kayak for nearly 10 years now. Started out in the Delta chasing stripers, and  I think that's still my favorite.
But I've logged way more rockfish than stripers. Got my first vermillion yesterday - about 7 lbs, caught on a surf candy using a 9 wt TFO.
pindo124

Glad you've joined the party!
I've been flyfishing from a kayak for nearly 10 years now. Started out in the Delta chasing stripers, and  I think that's still my favorite.
But I've logged way more rockfish than stripers. Got my first vermillion yesterday - about 7 lbs, caught on a surf candy using a 9 wt TFO.
pindo124

Like this?

http://www.stripersurf.com/FG_SurfCandy.html

Pindo124 that surf candy looks sweet must have been a thrill catchting that Rockey. Do you think the striper's in lake Mendo would go for your basic clouser that you would use in the Delta.

Pat R

Really Kool.

  I was just up in Seattle and My Brother and Cousin are sick Flyfishermen...

  I could not believe the set up my cousin had, Beautiful 9wt, that must have gone over $2k

 Really like that set up you've chosen Scaw, much more reasonable,

 Hope to join the club soon, I have 3 different light set ups, but have always been a Hack @ it..

 I was saving the fly thing for my old age....

 I think it's time has come   ............  Danglin

It was fate! I also have a fly fishing past (although very short) and had a lot of fun w/ it. When I ran into this thread I remembered some fond memories w/ my dad. I just happened to be in Joe's today (NW Big 5-like store) looking @ camping equipment and they had 1 Redington Crosswater #8 outfit left on sale. It was a sign so I picked it up along w/ some clousers. I'll try it out for Salmon tomorrow.. This is gonna be fun!!

Z

Do you think the striper's in lake Mendo would go for your basic clouser that you would use in the Delta..

SurfingMarmot got Stripers consistently @ Forebay when they wouldn't bite on lures. Sure it would be the same for Mendo.