Introducing: OPST Commando Heads
When a fly line is designed by the Skagit Master, Ed Ward, it’s going to create a buzz with those who know spey. I’m going to make a prediction that it won’t be long before these lines change the thinking of fly fishing anglers across multiple disciplines. The OPST Commando Heads are touted to be excellent lines for single hand, switch and two hand casting applications. They will work with any rod matched to the correct grain window. That means you don’t need a spey rod or even a switch rod to begin fishing them.
Commando Heads are shooting heads. Outside of spey casters, many fly anglers using single hand rods, really don’t understand the shooting head concept. There are some old school steelhead and streamer guys that have been making their own shooting head systems for many years, but anglers new to the sport have so many conventional fly line choices, that shooting head systems are not in the mainstream. Commando Heads will change that. The shooting head concept is alive and well and now has a line designed specifically for the application. Commando Heads were intended for sustained anchor, water based, Skagit style casts. With the correct grain weight and length, these principles will work on any rod. These heads will also work for basic roll casts and even overhead casts. They are going to open avenues of casting technique that will be a revelation for many anglers.
I can regurgitate the details, but its best to read what Ed Ward and Jerry French have to say to get a true feeling for what these lines are capable of. OPST Commando Heads
Here are a couple videos showing the Commando Heads in action. The first one demonstrates how diversely fishable the heads are.
While the footage on the following video was taken on the Kanektok River in Alaska, anglers will quickly realize that these lines will do equally well in Montana, Idaho, Washington, or any waters they choose to fish.
I recently loaded up my favorite trout spey rod with a Commando Head. Based on the OPST Commando Head chart, the 225 grain seemed like the correct choice. I’ve currently been fishing a 275 Scandi, a 320 grain Scandi Short Versi Tip and a 325 grain Switch Chucker, so that’s a much lighter recommendation. Because I like to be able to throw full 10’ sink tips, I went with a 250 grain Commando.
I added a 10’ type 3 sink tip and a Polar Minnow with 3/16" dumbbell eyes to the 250 and let it go. In short, it was spot on. I had no problem lifting the tip and heavy eyed fly and I particularly like how the head would aerialize on a long cast. I could probably drop to the 225 with a poly leader, but I like throwing full tips, so the 250 seemed like the way to go. While it is 75 grains lighter than the Switch Chucker I’ve been throwing with the same tip, it balanced and cast efficiently. It was a joy to throw. I’m betting The Commando Head is going to find a home on my trout spey rod for the foreseeable future. Now I’m eager to try the Commando Heads on some single hand rods. Stay tuned.