I’m not just saying this because Maxcatch sent me a free rod to try. I’m saying this because I saw This Video. The guy is obviously a seasoned Scandi Caster and he loved the rod judging from his comments below the video.
So, when Maxcatch ask me about making some videos for them, I told them I was interested in the rod.
Fast forward to when it showed up on my door. I lined it with a 225 grain OPST Commando head which was pretty good on the rod and a place to start.
My favorite line on the rod was a home- made 235 grain, 11′ shooting head I chopped off a 510 grain Rage compact. I love chopping Airflo lines because they are the easiest to weld using my daughters hair flattening thingy and clear shrink tube.
This head literally jumped off the rod. Literally. I think its because Airflo installs tiny legs on their shooting heads.
I had Varivas Airs running line, 25lb test on a reel that was not caged. This shooting head shoots like a mutha, but it is so fine that if you do get a tangle its a mess.
I somehow managed to produce the mother of all tangles while a was casting much further than necessary. I decided to chop the mess and granny knot it so I could continue fishing, but when I did, I let go of the wrong end and lost the entire running line, head a sink tip in the river.
So I’m working on coming up with another 11′ head for the brush patch in my backyard where a river with big trout sometimes manages an appearance behind the boulders in the overbearing riparian jungle.
In the meantime a 225 grain Commando is fine for the lower river. A 250 might just be the ticket, but I don’t have one at the moment. A 275 Commando Groove absolutely flies on this thing but It has the feel of old time Skagit whereas it really loads the rod but I would rather not attempt touch and go casting at that weight.
I love doing snake rolls with this thing so I’m still experimenting with buying and chopping different heads to replace my beloved Chopped 11′ 235 grain zinger. With this combo a moderate sink tip with little Skulpzilla flew like a bullet.
The more I do this stuff, the more I am absolutely convinced that getting the perfect line / rod match is paramount! Paramount I tell ya. I did order a Rio Skagit Max Trout Spey at 11” 250 grains. But 250 grains at such a short shooting head might be just a tad too much. We shall see.
