To put things in perspective about the video, I asked Ben for a casting lesson to improve my double haul as it was to be honest very underpowered and not very effective. Crap timing and a long way from being smooth and in any form of control would have summed up my double haul before the lesson started.
We met up and he gave me his teaching rod and line to work with, boy was this a steep learning curve, I knew the basics of the haul, the how and why but making the cast properly seemed a long long way off when I started to cast his rod. After a couple of hours of fairly intensive work (sore arm), it was time to pick up my own rod. everything started to click into place after lots of "less power comments" everything started to get a bit better. Still not spot on yet, but heading in the right direction. Thanks for the casting lesson Ben the difference in my haul before and after the lesson was dramatic.
The combination of the rod and the new SLX line is just spot on, the turnover for roll casts and "NORMAL range" fishing casts, ie shortish casts of 20 to 50 feet required almost no effort and the presentation is great. This outfit was a Christmas present from me to me, a #6 tip flex Helios, not cheap but what a rod. I tried the Access and also the tip flex Helios for a #5 line. After a brief play with the #6 Helios in the park at Banchory I hated the rod, really did not gell with it at all. I like the #5 much better but that was probably because it was a bit softer, I have a softer #5 rod so after a bit of discussion and another play with the #6 I decided to heed the advice and bought the #6 Helios. Am I glad I did, oh yes.
After casting the line for a week or so, I can only confirm what has been said above, a fantastic line Mike, I will be getting other sizes when they are released.
All the best for the 2012 season.
Kev.