As a continuing thread on this fab line from Airflo.
Bandit is piquing interest not just in the UK, but now also from our American friends.
I was asked if I had any more points to add, on using Bandit here in the UK, since my first outing at the beginning of October. So here it is?*
Taper & Profile
One of the biggest benefits Bandit offers, is it's profile. The 50ft long head on this line, is nicely balanced by the 24ft rear taper. This slows the draw on the cast, by dissipating the casting energy down through the running. Very much like Rangefinder, with it's huge 65ft head, that ripped any running you had on the floor, through the rod rings and out onto the water. *
You can cast all this out and it's aerodynamics highlight the cast, by allowing very smooth flowing loops, that just carry your rig/cast to long distances. Ridge technology helps reduce friction at the rod tip, for slick quiet shooting.
Colour & Banding
Olive is a very pleasing colour to the eye. They say green shades offer a much more subtle colour to watch, as it's a natural hue. I can't argue with that philosophy.*
This shade when cast is a great blend against backdrop colours, as we fish mostly with trees or grass behind us. To help break up the line profile in the air, Airflo added dark banding in the first 12ft. This makes for a great camouflage, where spooky trout occupy crystal clear water, such as in NZ where this line was originally constructed for. In most cases, these fish have seen a lot of flies and fly lines. So I'm guessing they see a flashy colour in their periphery, then associate this with something they didn't like. They then take to the fin and disappear.
A brilliant side effect of adding this banding, is that we now have a permanent bite indicator fixed into the fly line. Casting out your offerings, you can see the effect a fish taking your flies has, by watching these bands for any stops, pulls, plucks, jagging and where the line just pauses then continues on track.
As with any take or suspicion of a take, you should always strike. Don't lift the rod to do it though, as you'll lift your flies out of that critical taking zone. Instead chop your line hand down, then if you feel resistance, draw the rod tip round to lock up. Easy!*
Heavy flies and thicker tippets.
Most folk fish heavy flies, at some point during their fishing trip. Once the sun starts to creep over the horizon, the fish will notice it's effect. Having no eye lids, their option is to drop to depth away from the harsh light.
Reaching these Trout with thicker tippets of flourocarbon is one option we have. Fishing heavier flies is another, without having to change to a different density fly line.
When fishing heavy flies, we have to endure the line tip sinking out of sight and drawing the front taper down into the water. As we retrieve, we draw our line up slightly in the water column. Super Dri technology incorporates properties that see fly lines recover to the surface, much faster than some competitor lines. Having this characteristic can pay big dividends is maintaining contacting with your leader and flies, by reducing the drawn down effect. For us this floatation is just another feature, that makes Super Dri so effective in the manufacture of floating fly lines.
When fishing Bandit with heavy flies, the leader draws the line tip under, but is also does something else too? The colour change points between the Olive and the dark bands become slightly translucent. These offer up a much more visual focus area, to concentrate on spotting those hits. It can reduce your lead in time on reacting to takes, by 100ths of a second, which can make all the difference between having a wet net and a dry one!
Power core*
Airflo have used XT cores on Sixth Sense lines for over 10 years, with a huge success rate in feeling the hit. Bandit offers up the same "feelability". So those long casts that your firing out have a meaning. * By making the connection, to those takes at long distance, a much more viable option. After all, if you can get your flies out there, you should be able to hook up, or it's a pointless exercise, isn't it??
Sales info on Bandit and the whole Super Dri range, is available at
Fishtec or
airflofishing. Check these out at your leisure.
Best regards
Stuart;-)
