Overlining Scott Meridian 8wt?

[dirabalo]

I have decided to bring my fly gear out with me to Indonesia, and am slowly getting my things in order to be able to fish a few times out there. I recently purchased a Scott Meridian 8wt, and have been using it for Bass fishing in local reservoirs. I have it paired with a RIO outbound short 8wt floating line, and have been casting it fine, not that I have been trying to beat any records for distance here. However, when I brought up my future trip to the tropics with the folks at my local shop they said to go up a line wt to account for the Meridians stiffness. I understand the idea but am wondering if it is completely necessary when I purchase tropical/bonefish line. What do yall think?

Thanks, Eric

 

[deceiverbob]

Your Outbound Short is actually 2 line weights heavy, so going to a 9 wt bonefish line will be like going down a line size.

 

[dirabalo]

Your Outbound Short is actually 2 line weights heavy, so going to a 9 wt bonefish line will be like going down a line size.

This is some of the most distressing news I've received all year. This raises so many questions . For flats fishing would I want to be right in the margins, in terms of load weight? Also, where can I find these line weight charts, for the Meridian?

 

[boisker]

Personally i’d ignore their advice... i’d be amazed to find such a specialist company like Scott rates their rods one full line weight below what they actually are.... particularly as so many lines are actually above true to weight...
tell them to learn to cast
People often seem to think because someone works in an angling shop automatically makes their views correct or informed... some are and some not so..

In a similar vein... I was watching a review of the sage esn last night, the fella from an outfitter commented he preferred the old uplocking reel seat on the first version... wasn’t sure why they had changed it but ‘he guessed’ to make it better balanced!!! If you’re going to review a rod at least understand it... of coarse the downlocking is to help balance it, fundamentally the rod was designed to euro nymph with, the rod is held high arm out and the reel pushed to the back for balance... it ain’t rocket science!

 

[deceiverbob]

The line manufacturers sometimes make this information available on their websites. The give the grain weight for the first 30' of the line. A "typical" 8 weight line is 202-218 grains.
Rio gave a weight of 330 grains for their 8 wt Tropical Outbound Short. If you look at this chart that makes it more of an 11 weight Standard Fly Line Weight Charts . Most fly shop employees tell customers to over line faster rods like Meridian or Sage method because they don't think most customers are good enough casters to use the rods with the "correct" line

 

[dennyk]

I have the same rod and the same line. I use it for bass, carp, salmon & Steelhead. No casting issues here. If I need to cast 70-80' I've got it.

Good Luck on your trip Eric!

Denny

 

[boisker]

The line manufacturers sometimes make this information available on their websites. The give the grain weight for the first 30' of the line. A "typical" 8 weight line is 202-218 grains.
Rio gave a weight of 330 grains for their 8 wt Tropical Outbound Short. If you look at this chart that makes it more of an 11 weight Standard Fly Line Weight Charts . Most fly shop employees tell customers to over line faster rods like Meridian or Sage method because they don't think most customers are good enough casters to use the rods with the "correct" line

Perhaps the humid air changes the action of the rod sooooo much you need to overline it X2

 

[dirabalo]

Personally i’d ignore their advice... i’d be amazed to find such a specialist company like Scott rates their rods one full line weight below what they actually are.... particularly as so many lines are actually above true to weight...
tell them to learn to cast
People often seem to think because someone works in an angling shop automatically makes their views correct or informed... some are and some not so..

In a similar vein... I was watching a review of the sage esn last night, the fella from an outfitter commented he preferred the old uplocking reel seat on the first version... wasn’t sure why they had changed it but ‘he guessed’ to make it better balanced!!! If you’re going to review a rod at least understand it... of coarse the downlocking is to help balance it, fundamentally the rod was designed to euro nymph with, the rod is held high arm out and the reel pushed to the back for balance... it ain’t rocket science!

Yeah I totally get where your coming from. I do still consider myself a beginning caster, but have been able to attend casting club lessons, and seen amazing results in my loop speed and tightness. Also I might get stabbed to tell those guys to learn to cast since they were the ones to teach me

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[dirabalo]

The line manufacturers sometimes make this information available on their websites. The give the grain weight for the first 30' of the line. A "typical" 8 weight line is 202-218 grains.
Rio gave a weight of 330 grains for their 8 wt Tropical Outbound Short. If you look at this chart that makes it more of an 11 weight Standard Fly Line Weight Charts . Most fly shop employees tell customers to over line faster rods like Meridian or Sage method because they don't think most customers are good enough casters to use the rods with the "correct" line

The line I was using was actually the standard RIO outbound short floating rather than the tropical.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[dirabalo]

I have the same rod and the same line. I use it for bass, carp, salmon & Steelhead. No casting issues here. If I need to cast 70-80' I've got it.

Good Luck on your trip Eric!

Denny

Thanks man, its going to be family trip with a with a side of fishing. My meridian has been such a wonderful to rod to fish on and a huge upgrade to my old Redington Gen 1. I' m looking for good spots to try carp fishing near me to practice up for the flats.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[sweetandsalt]

I don't own a Meridian but I have cast and fished a few. One I fished belonging to a Florida guide was loaded with an Outbound Short and I detested it. I have cast the 8-weight and it is a very fine saltwater rod. My speculation is a RIO Bonefish #8 would be just right for it. Most potent rods can easily handle an overweighting as they reach down lower into the mid and butt for more juice but it is a sensation I dislike as the all important tip dulls during this exercise. Especially on a rod like the Scott which has a bit softer tip than most saltwater designed rods in its class like NRX, Exocett and the several Sages.

If I may recommend two things; a. call Scott Customer Service, tell them you are going flats fishing and ask their line suggestion (and then report back to us) and b. once you get a flats line, rig it up and practice as much as you can. There is a long running thread going under Saltwater Articles about Flats Fly Lines.

 

[Greyling]

Jim Bartschi said true to weight.
YouTube

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[sweetandsalt]

Bartschi is the man who would know. He is the Scott's President and rod designer and also a flats fishing aficionado. There are several tropical flats intended lines falling within the #8 grain weight window. RIO's Bonefish, I favor the new DirectCore version, SA's Amplitude Bonefish, Cortland's Liquid Crystal Blue and brand new Tropic Plus Bonefish which I have yet to use but it is the next flats line I'm getting, are all top contenders.

 

[deceiverbob]

The line I was using was actually the standard RIO outbound short floating rather than the tropical.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

I only saw weights given for the tropical version, but the tapers and weights are probably similar the main difference between tropical and cold weather lines is the stiffness of the core material.
The OBS is a shooting head with attached running line. Usually shooting are up-sized a line weight or two

 

[dirabalo]

Jim Bartschi said true to weight.
YouTube

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Thanks for the link. Lots of good stuff there.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[dirabalo]

Bartschi is the man who would know. He is the Scott's President and rod designer and also a flats fishing aficionado. There are several tropical flats intended lines falling within the #8 grain weight window. RIO's Bonefish, I favor the new ConnectCore version, SA's Amplitude Bonefish, Cortland's Liquid Crystal Blue and brand new Tropic Plus Bonefish which I have yet to use but it is the next flats line I'm getting, are all top contenders.

Have you had any success with the flats pro or the stealth tip lines?

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[sweetandsalt]

Please scroll down in this Fly Line category and you will find an extensive thread about RIO Flats Pro. In short, yes this is a great fly line BUT it is also a full size heavy. Certain rods, Sage SALT (HD) were designed around this line and for them it is perfect but for you to put an 8-weight FP on your Scott would essentially be putting 9-wieght line on it. Therefore, I recommend the RIO DirectCore Bonefish, the same advanced technology in a taper and grain weight right for your Meridian.

 

[dennyk]

Thanks man, its going to be family trip with a with a side of fishing. My meridian has been such a wonderful to rod to fish on and a huge upgrade to my old Redington Gen 1. I' m looking for good spots to try carp fishing near me to practice up for the flats.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

I upgraded from a Scott A4-I agree!

Denny

 

[dirabalo]

Going to pick up the Directcore Bonefish line. Any other lines y'all recommend for the tropics to have with me? Also maybe a warm freshwater line

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[scotty macfly]

Personally i’d ignore their advice... i’d be amazed to find such a specialist company like Scott rates their rods one full line weight below what they actually are.... particularly as so many lines are actually above true to weight...
tell them to learn to cast
People often seem to think because someone works in an angling shop automatically makes their views correct or informed... some are and some not so..

In a similar vein... I was watching a review of the sage esn last night, the fella from an outfitter commented he preferred the old uplocking reel seat on the first version... wasn’t sure why they had changed it but ‘he guessed’ to make it better balanced!!! If you’re going to review a rod at least understand it... of coarse the downlocking is to help balance it, fundamentally the rod was designed to euro nymph with, the rod is held high arm out and the reel pushed to the back for balance... it ain’t rocket science!

Yes! Tell it like it is brother!

I agree with boisker on this matter. No one knows their rods better than the manufacturer.