04/12/2016
I have just had the opportunity to try OPST’s Commando Head Skagit lines. I have to say that OPST’s Commando Heads are a real and significant change to fly lines and fly fishing. The versatility of these lines is unprecedented. You can overhead cast them very easily. Just lift, back cast, and shoot. Roll cast it, side cast it, or Skagit cast it, it just works. With the efficiency of casting these lines I was even able to get good distance and accuracy when casting cack-handed.
I tested a 150 grain Commando head with the 25 lb Lazar line on both a 6’6” 4 wt and a 5’3” 4 wt banty bamboo rods (that I built). The Commando head performed beautifully on both rods. I was amazed at the casts I was able to pull off once I quickly got used to how the line works. With the Commando heads I was able to drop a fly into spots that I just could not get into before and work around more obstacles than with my normal DT lines.
The real wow came when I pulled off a 65’ cast with my 5’3” banty creek rod. This is a small creek rod I made just to fit into my carry-on bag. It casts a 4 wt DT very well but the Commando head with the Lazar running line was magic on this rod.
A friend of mine who is a novice fly fisher had no problem making good roll casts in just a few tries with my 6’6” 4 wt and the Commando head setup.
I also got to try the 375 grain Commando head on an ECHO Classic 11’ 8 wt switch rod, a perfect match. The line loaded the rod very well and I was able to cast good loops just where I wanted. I found that I had to slow my cast down slightly, not over rev it or blow the anchor. When I got the timing down and put some power into it I felt like I could shoot s***t with the thing. Ok, maybe a slight exaggeration there.
OPST’s Lazar line, I think, is an integral part of the system. The Commando heads will work with other running lines but the Lazar line, unlike other lines doesn’t tangle. There’s no coiling at your feet, no rat’s nest hanging up in your stripping guide. The stuff just sails through the guides with no resistance.
The one downside I saw to the Lazar line is that it is harder to mend. However this is easily taken care of by mending as needed before the line hits the water. A very minor drawback compared to all of OPST’s benefits.