From the posts I read, you are getting lots of advice that is clustered
together and I cannot determine a consensus. So if I were in your shoes,
I'd do one or all of the following:
1. Hire a guide to take you to one of your favorite places and have him
bring along those rods and tapers to field test. If he will, have him load
the lines on identical reels to eliminate that variable.
2. Solicit your favorite fly shop to provide you with several identical
demo rods/reels loaded with the various lines and go fishing on your lake
with the fly shop owner.
3. Convince BOTH guide AND fly shop owner to go fishing with you on your
favorite lake and bring along their rod/reel/fly line combinations. You
might have to agree to buy a new rod and reel but if you get exactly what
you want, it's a win/win deal for you, the guide and the fly shop owner.

If you are lucky enough to get option 3 on the water, I'll bet you learn
enough tips about fishing your favorite lake to make the trip "The Trip Of a
Lifetime." On subsequent trips alone back on your favorite lake, betcha
you'll have lots of good memories that make whatever you wound up paying
priceless.

If you choose to do this, give us some feedback. Good luck.
John


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"Larry L" wrote in message
...
I fish two or three places, Hebgen gulpers, Davis Lake damsel hatch, and
others similar, where I have yet to feel I've "solved" the casting
requirements of the situation. Specifically, you have a long line out on
the water and want to pick it up and lay it down quickly in a new direction
to cover a riser that has cruised into range. All stripping in of line
to get to the 'head," and false casting use up valuable time ..... cover
these fish quickly and you've got him ... take a while and you probably
guessed wrong on where he was headed. I need to be able to pick up a long
floating line off a stillwater and maximize my minimal abilities doing so.

My question, as my post season tackle check shows my lake floating line
cracked and ready for replacement, is there a specialty taper available
that will help in this situation?

For kickboating stillwaters, I, usually, fish an 25++ year old Scott 10ft
5wt that is lovely for the work, in general, and I have a wide variety of
lines for it. But it's rather slow in action ... maybe one of the
'modern' broomstick rods would be best for this special situation? I
doubt I'll invest in a special rod, but if I did, what 5wt rod would be
best, period ? best for the buck? is the TFO 5wt TICR suitable?