As the name suggests, Scandinavian style heads originated in Scandinavia. They are usually shooting heads with long front tapers, and they are very pleasant to cast. The heads are short - usually no longer than three times the length of the rod, thus they are much easier to cast than Spey lines, and very good for smaller rivers and tight casting situations. The main disadvantages with this type of head is that they don't cast heavy flies and fast sinking tips well, and that there is a lot of fishing time wasted at the end of each cast stripping the line back (if you make along cast!).
Skagit lines/heads are short and heavy - even shorter than Scandinavian lines in most cases; working on a ratio of less than three times the rod length. Skagit lines do need a front tip added (whether floating or sinking), and a shooting line at the back before they are ready to fish. They are the newest design of Spey line on the market and the strength of Skagit lines is that they lift weight very easily. Anyone fishing large or heavy flies will find nothing casts these easier than a Skagit line. Likewise, a fast sinking tip is far easier to cast on the end of a Skagit line than either of the other two types. Also, as Skagit heads are so short, they are the easiest of all Spey line designs to cast, and certainly the best for the tightest of back casting spaces.
Perhaps the smoothest casting floating head made! This is a full floating head, not designed for heavy sink tips, but rather for rivers like the Deschutes, Klamath, and Umpqua. It's a feat accomplished with a long front taper and modest tip diameter, making casting in tight conditions easy. Great for most floating line situations. Back this up with a small diameter running line and cap it with one of the Poly Leaders and give your dry and lighter flies a sweet ride.
All five models have huge capacity, a time-proven design and an ultra-dependable, smooth drag system to produce a fine, American-built affordable reel that is capable of handling anything. It's a fine reel and an even better value!
A bold, new, Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired porting design yields a lightweight reel while maintaining both strength and rigidity. Both the frame and the spool are each machined from a solid piece of 6061 aerospace grade aluminum alloy and are Type II anodized for a hard, durable finish.
The Bravo deserves applause for bringing top quality performance without a top-tier price tag! The handsome, super-light Bravo features a partially sealed drag and some serious style. The reel is equally at home in the salt and the fresh water and a swell choice for whatever you are planning on chasing. Check one out for your next adventure, you won't find another reel with this stopping power at this price point!
To get more information, please give us a call at 800-669-3474 during business hours any day of the week, or email us at info@theflyshop.com anytime. We can give you the answers you need, detailed explanations to questions you might have, or check on availability and confirm your reservation in minutes.