G. Loomis Streamdance Actions & Recommendations

THE STREAMDANCE ACTIONS

PRESENTATION actions, available in both the GLX and the Metolius rod lines, have a softer flex and load easily. Available in 3 & $-piece configurations, depending on rod length, they are ideal for spring creeks and flatwater or tailwater rivers where short accurate casts with fin, super-light tippets and tiny flies are key to consistent success. Fly casters that prefer using a slower, smoother power casting stroke, that ends in to the lower 1/3 of the rod, will love these rods. It’s a “hi-tech” solution to a wonderful segment of the flyfishing market, meaning slow and smooth no longer equals soft and sluggish.

HIGH LINE SPEED actions, also available in both the GLX and the Metolius rod lines, offer much greater versatility. They are moderately stiff with all but one having fast tapers, giving anglers extended casting distance with a soft enough tip to cast well at short distances. They generate higher line speeds to help deliver casts into windy conditions. HLS rods were designed for the caster who tends to punch the cast and wants the fly to go straight to the target..a “stroke of power and performance”.

THE MAX LINE SPEED available only in the GLX edition, is ideal for those aggressive casters that demand fast casting cycle time. It’s powerfully stiff with a fast taper. Fishing streams out of a boat, where quick and accurate casts are require to hit every pocket, is where this specialty rod will shine. It gives you MAX distance and MAX line speed to cut into the stiffest breeze. A great solution for long range nymphing with a strike indicator system, these 4-piece 9’ rods, for #4, 5, or 6 wt lines transmit a wonderful feeling of dynamic loading and total control.

THE TROUT SPEY available only in the Metolius series, is a 13’4” 3pc ultra-lightweight, two-handed rod designed for big-water trout fishing. Many salmon and steelhead anglers have learned about the incredible advantages of two-hand rods for both casting efficiency and line-mending control. When the conditions won’t allow a long back-cast, the spey rod is the answer. This StreamDance Metolius version is delightfully “powered down” to provide a smooth presentation, even when the river says “No Way!”

RECOMMENDATIONS

Small Spring Creeks & Brooks
Fishing small spring creeks and brooks is always a joy, enhanced when using rods that load short, in the 15 to 35 foot ranges. Line speed should be slower for delicate and accurate presentations of the very tiniest of dry flies and nymphs. Models to try:
StreamDance GLX - Presentation: (8'0" #2 - 3pc) (7'9" #3 - 3pc) (7'9" #4 - 3pc)
StreamDance METOLIUS - Presentation: (7'0" #3 - 3pc) (8'0" #3 - 3pc)

Medium Spring Creeks & Small Streams
Small streams and medium-size spring creeks often challenge you to extend casts approaching 45 feet. Slightly longer rod lengths help make casting tasks and line control mends easier. Light lines in sizes # 3 and # 4 are the norm when the utmost in accuracy and presentation is needed, using flies from #14 down to #24, with 5x to 8x tippets. Models to try:
StreamDance GLX - Presentation: (8'8" #3 - 3pc) (7'9" #4 - 3pc) (8'6" #4 - 4pc)
StreamDance GLX - High Line Speed: (8'6" #4 - 4pc)
StreamDance METOLIUS - High Line Speed: (8'6" #4 - 4pc)

Large Spring Creeks & Slow Water
Standing in the relative openness of large spring creeks or slow moving bodies of water exposes you to spooking fish. Longer range, soft presentation casts become a must under these conditions. Delicacy and accuracy are still at a premium, but there needs to be enough power to turn over longer leaders with a wide range of fly sizes. These same conditions are also found in early morning, fishing on ponds with trout sipping emergers. Models to try:
StreamDance GLX - Presentation: (9'0" #4 - 4pc) (9'0" #5 - 4pc)
StreamDance GLX - High Line Speed: (9'0" #4 - 4pc) StreamDance METOLIUS - High Line Speed: (9'0" #4 - 4pc)

Small Streams & Fast Water
Early season high water, causes small creeks to flow much faster than later in the year. Often at these times, weighted nymphs are the ticket to success, and it is helpful to have a small rod with enough backbone to punch out these small weighted flies. Also, for casting dries on windy days, a faster tempo casting cycle will keep the fly on the water more minutes of the day. Models to try:
StreamDance GLX - High Line Speed: (8'3" #3 - 3pc) StreamDance METOLIUS - High Line Speed: (8'0" #4 - 3pc) (9'0" #4 - 3pc)

Medium Streams & Fast Water / Large Spring Creeks and Wind
When the wind picks up, take command on larger spring creeks with tighter loops, increased control, and more accurate casts. The slightly more powerful designs within the High Line Speed range deliver it all in 8 and 9-foot lengths with #4 and #5 lines, which are increasingly becoming the most dominant player in this environment. Models to try:
StreamDance GLX - High Line Speed: (8'6" #4 - 4pc) (9'0" #4 - 4pc) (8'6" #5 - 4pc)
StreamDance Metolius - High Line Speed: (8'6" #4 - 4pc) (9'0" #4 - 4pc) (8'6" #5 - 4pc)

Large Rivers, Lakes & All Weather
Big dries, weighted flies, streamers, multi flies, long leaders, strike indicators, sink tips, split shot, are all buggers to cast, even without much wind. Add long casts from float tubes and that's why you need some extra horsepower. And should all the stars and mayflies align, and the conditions get calm, you'll want fine diameter tips that can still protect light tippets and offer trout fishing versatility. Models to try:
StreamDance GLX - High Line Speed: (9'0" #5 - 4pc) (9'0" #6 - 4pc) (9'6" #5 - 4pc) (10'0" #5 - 4pc) (9'6" #6 - 4pc) (10'0" #6 - 4pc)
StreamDance Metolius - High Line Speed: (9'0" #5 - 4pc) (9'0" #6 - 4pc)

Strong Wind & Technical Pocket Water
When big winds find you on the water, you need a cast that slices through it like a hot knife through butter. Often times, the fast and frantic situation of casting streams to the band out of a drift boat is made easier with a rod that allows you to react quickly. The faster you can false cast to reposition the fly, the more consistently you’ll keep it in the zone, usually just inches from shore. Also, when chucking weighted nymphs a long way with what amounts to a cotton ball for a strike indicator, you’ll need power to spare. Models to try:
StreamDance GLX - Max Line Speed: (9'0" #5 - 4pc) (9'0" #6 - 4pc)

Difficult Back Drops & Technical Current Approaches
The bushes are just behind you. The fish are 60 feet out. What do you do? Roll out a single or double spey cast and you cover the spot, then mend, extending your drift to the confluence of the next river system. You'll need to manage long leaders and nymph patterns in deep water spots, and push out large dries like stoneflies and hoppers, yet still enjoy catching 12-inch rainbows without breaking light tippet. Steelhead and salmon anglers have been using the long rod for years, eliminating false casts, keeping the fly in the water where it needs to be, not in the air. And the 13'4" #5/6 StreamDance Spey is so light, an 18-incher will feel like a 10lb summer run steelhead feels on your 8 weight. Isaac Walton would be jealous. Model to try:
StreamDance Metolius - Trout Spey: (13'4" #5/6 3 pc)