Just "re-found" your vids. Going through a bunch today - THIS one caught my eye ! Growing Up on 1960's Long Island, surf fishing was NOT done with Fly. BIG spin surf rods were the norm. However, I soon learned the Fly Game in Freshwater during that same time. Fast forward 50 years (71) with 20 of them in the NAVY; up and down the East Coast, I Quickly Learned the Fly-Salt-Game. While Stationed on Washington State's Whidbey Island (Puget Sound) I was introduced to the 2-Hander for Steelhead on (of all places !) the SKAGIT RIVER. You're "Skagit Setup" DOES Absolutely NEED a TIP of some kind - Floating, Intermediate or Sink Type - in order to take MAX. Advantage of that "system" ! Back "in the day" (1998 - 2002) "WE" were Building Our Skagit Lines one at a time; experimenting all the while. Pro-Guides like Dec Hogan and Mike Ward started all That. Two-Hand Integrated Lines have come a long way and Eliminate all those loop to loop connections (or knot to knot if you did that). I'm moving back to the East Coast, most likely becoming a "Snow Bird" (Long Island / Florida) in about 10 weeks. Point is, I'm be "Back in the @-Hand Game as well - Beulah OPAL 7/8 Surf Fly Rod. But I've been a Sage Guy most of my life, now with two 9ft. Payload's -7wt and 9wt. ! THAT will be my arsenal to start. *What REEL you using on the 2-Hander? Another Abel?
Louis, thanks for sharing your story! It must be awesome to look back and see how different parts of your life determined how you might fish moving forward. It's awesome to read about for sure! And I'm a total noob to the 2-hand game, so I should've said to take my observation with a grain of salt. I appreciate you sharing your expertise. I'm cheap and lazy, so I go with what I've got. I had to tweak my cast a bit without the tip, but I found a point where what I had worked well. No doubt, it could've been better. But man I was launching it. Gotta love that about the 2 hander. As I said, I'm a rookie to two handers. I just learned about integrated lines this past month. I am going to try one out soon. It's currently one hand season for me though. Mostly fishing the surf now. If you're ever in the Hamptons, I'd love to have you join me for a session. If you leave your email here, I'll reach out. This reel is a hatch. I just splurged on a 2 hand setup one day. Reel's awesome though. So is the rod. Only good things to say. Mine's a 10wt. Little heavy for today's fishery, unless you're targeting large specifically. These gator bluefish probably qualify, but the setup sure whooped this one!
@@SouthForkSalt - NO WORRY young man; I do not "sit and judge" ! It's clear to Me that you will continue to Improve and remember, Like Golf, Every "Shot" (Cast) is its OWN Thing. Never get upset or angry at "shitty casts," for again, like in Golf, IT WILL Ruin Your Day ! Having a 10wt, can never be a bad judgement call, for you never know, if blind casting, WHAT may lurk in the Dark, haha ! There have been a couple (or so) times where I WAS "underpowered" and it's not a pleasant thing, for You, Your equipment OR the Fish. I won't share my email "in public," but I will do my best to Look You Up when I do Rekindle old memories of the South Shore and Montauk. Perhaps near Summer of next year when once again I know it will be TOO HOT for this old body to tolerate (oh the humidity!) in Florida, if my Navy memory serves me well ! ! ! Love the Vids, I'll be watching for the next couple months then I'll need to UnPlug for the Trip to Florida . . . MY Recommendation for Salty Fly Lines would be AirFlo AND Monic - ironically both are now in Colorado, though AirFlo still manufactures Our Lines in the U.K. ! All the Others use a PVC derivative, bad for the environment and not very durable by comparison . . . just my 2-cents !
I did not. I think i was only using 20 pound fluoro here. I got cut off a few fish later. wised up and tied on 60 fluoro. most often, 60lb is enough to prevent a cutoff. but i don't mind losing some flies.
@@SouthForkSalt Thanks for the response and great info! I have always wanted to fly fish the northeastern seaboard for albies, bluefish, and stripers. Definitely on my bucket list.
