Rio Outbound Spey Line

[daiben]

For the last 6 seasons, I've been using this line on my 13ft Double Hander. It's a great line to cast and I find it's short 36 ft head ideal for casting when wading deep with a short rod or when room behind is restricted. Unfortunately, I've discovered cracks in the head outer coating and the running line has also got sections where the inner core is exposed. It's an integrated line so it's only disadvantage is that the head isn't interchangeable.
I'm now looking for a replacement but want a set up with separate Interchangeable Short Head and Running Line. My casting style is traditional Spey so I'm wondering if a short Scandi Head would be a suitable replacement. Any feedback would be appreciated.

As for the Running Line, this is something new again:-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFbINWaJ6WY#action=share

I remember a time when you had only Silk Lines and if you greased them they floated and if you didn't they sank !!

Then we had Aircel(floating) or Wetcel(sinking). We've come a long way since then. Thankfully.

[sewinboy]

You could try RIOs AFS heads, as they are the non integrated version of the RIOs outbound.  I believe they are offered in different densities, but the floater has a very strong following and a reputation for excellent presentation. 

While I always carry a floating AFS, I never get round to using them, as I’m always using guideline triple densities in high water.  I rate these lines as they sink tip first and are available in a very wide range of sink rates.  The earlier shooting heads I bought such as Mackenzie, sunk butt first.  Even the intermediate had a butt on it that sunk like a stone.

For running line, I use Airflow super dry ridged running line.  It has a large loop at the front and a darkened section to measure your overhang. Yo can pick them up for sale at about £20. I don’t think you need anything super duper for a running line.

If you want, we could meet up on Llandeilo and you could try all the above items.

[daiben]

I use a Rio AFS set up on my 15ft rod. I agree that I could use their Short Head on my 13 footer but it's not as short as the Scandi Head.
They also do a Scandi 3D line but the write up on it suggests that it's best used when fishing very deep.? Thanks for your offer Sewinboy.
I also use an Airflo Delta Spey 8/9 long bellied line with an integrated Ridge running line. Excellent presentation.
I always use Polyleaders on a Floating Head rather than use a different density head.

[purplepig]

Daiben I’ve just replaced mine on a Thomas and Thomas 13footer with a Rio Scandi versitip - it is the nuts guts. Effortless to cast and the best thing I’ve bought for a long time. I used to have a spey line and this makes it look archaic. You have to buy a running core line + the Versi tip -it was 200 all in from sport fish with some discount. The tips are great when a flood is receding as you can play with depths easily

[daiben]

Sewinboy and Purplepig,
Thanks for your suggestions. I am currently leaning towards the Standard Scandi Versitip set up as opposed to the Short Scandi. My 13 footer AFTM is 8/9 and the Outbound Spey line is 8/9 and 520gr/34gm. The nearest Scandi weight to that is their #8 at 510gr/33gm so I'm guessing that's the one to choose.

[henben]

I have used a Rio AFS 8/9 on my Loomis NRX 13. ft rod for many years. It comes with a range of tips in a pouch. I rarely use anything except the intermediate tip and sometimes the floater in low water. My castiong is almost entirely left and right single spey - with the occasional double Spey when my shoulder starts to give out!

Last season I noticed that the plastic was coming off the running line so I bought a Rio replacement line and looped it in. This was a mistake as it just kinks up all the time between the reel and the first ring. My yellow shooting head is also now starting to coil. Having said that, it still gets the fly out there but only with some fiddling.

It's time for a change as my line has been there for some 5 years at least. The £200 price tag is however a bit alarming as I first bought my AFS for £75!

Anyway I need to do something, so this thread has been most informative and useful.

[daiben]

Yes I agree about that £200 price tag. It does warrant some further questions to ask myself.
1. Does the Outbound Spey Line do what I ask? i.e. allow me to do traditional Spey casting with a short Double Hander when wading deep and/or with restricted room behind me? Answer - Yes
2. Am I happy with its performance i.e. good fly presentation with minimal surface disturbance ? Answer - Yes
3.Is casting distance an issue? Answer-No, I only use my 13ft. rod on the narrower upper sections of a river.
4.Is the Outbound Spey Line still available from Rio? Answer-Yes
5.Is my 13 footer my 'go to' rod? Answer- No. I always use my 15ft Guideline XPLE with the Rio AFS Shooting Head Kit whenever possible.
6. At a price of £89, is a life expectancy of 6 years acceptable? Answer-Yes

Conclusion I'll probably do a like for like replacement. The only change would be to replace my current Airflo Polyleaders with the Rio 6ft Versileaders.

Sewinboy and purplepig, thanks once again. Your suggestions have made me look closely at all the options available and helped me in deciding which one to choose. No doubt, when my Rio AFS is due for replacement, there will be new options available and worth considering.

[leominster]

Further to your discussion over fly lines I was looking for a replacement 8 weight floating line for casting multiple waddingtons up to 45mm  talked to 
Gary Pearson at Turralls who import Cortland line he sent me a salmon steelhead speciality series works really well  available up to 10 weight grain weight 330 i think they do sinking version  about £ 60 from flieson line but check out cortland salmon lines