New Zpey Fusion Extended
13.01.2010
Longer shooting heads for double handed fly fishing
The right shooting head for the right fly fisher
Choosing the right lines for double handed fly fishing for salmon, sea trout, steelhead or other species, you should always involve terms like fly casting skills and topography:
Last year (2009) Zpey gave you an amazing shooting head concept with the smallest loops ever made, the first ever with up to 3 densities, a complete poly leader system and with fantastic casting abilities:
“ZPEY FUSION”
This year we preset you with a system of longer shooting heads that could be customized to individual preferences based on advice found on www.zpey.com :
“ZPEY FUSION EXTENDED”
Last year we gave you Zpey Fusion. A fantastic loop to loop system including shooting heads, poly leaders and running lines equipped with the smallest and softest loops the fly fishing world had ever seen. The shooting heads came with up to three different densities in the same line and became an immediate success. We sold literally thousands of shooting heads, poly leaders and running lines throughout 2009.
In Zpey System, however, we have a policy of never becoming too satisfied with past accomplishments. The same way of thinking might be even more important in my other job as responsible for the physical training of different Olympic sports at the Norwegian Olympic Training Centre. One of our mantras is:
“What’s good enough today, won’t be good enough tomorrow”.
Fusion Extended
After the success with the initial “Fusion” concept, we decided to literally take this concept one step further with longer shooting heads without loops and with a maximum of two densities. “Fusion Extended” is made for experienced fly casters, wide rivers, wild and deep rivers (where heavy sinking lines are absolutely necessary) and we know these lines will fulfil your wildest dreams of wonderful casting experiences, of longer casts, of more accurate presentations, of turning over big flies and of taking those flies down to desired depths as efficiently as possible.
“Fusion Extended” is longer and heavier than the original “Fusion”
You have already noticed that these shooting heads come in lengths between 12,5 and 14 meters and in weights between 35 and 46 grams, based on different weight classes and densities. In the table at the end of this article you will find all the detailed information you need about these lines.
We designed these lines with long front tapers so that it would not be necessary to use poly leaders. This is also the reason why these lines are heavier than the original “Fusion” ones (where the weight of the poly leader is added to the weight of the shooting head).
Another reason for longer and heavier shooting heads is the possibility to customize (cut) the line to desired lengths and weights to fit different rods or individual fly casting / fly fishing philosophies. On our web pages - www.zpey.com - we will provide simple and effective cutting advice for those of you interested in customizing your Fusion Extended shooting heads.
Narrow and effective loops with almost no effort and with lower hand strategies
We knew that longer shooting heads would make it easier for experienced casters to present medium long and long casts to difficult fish and still turn the fly over. If we tapered these lines in the right way, with long front tapers and thin tips, they would turn over more slowly and thus make it easier to present narrow loops with a minimum of effort (of course based on lower hand superiority and bent Zpey handles).
We also made the front tapers with a 3 meter level part, to delay the speed of the turnover of the loop. This will make the loop more stable and ensure longer casts.
Fantastic sinking capabilities
The floating and the intermediate versions of these shooting heads are half a meter longer than the three double density sinking versions. These two lines will cast pretty similarly apart from the fact that the intermediate will be a little bit heavier to lift from the water, but might give you an extra meter or two because of the lower diameter (less air resistance).
When we designed the double density sinking lines, we still wanted to ensure good casting capabilities and so we kept the long and delicately tapered fronts. The same design also makes it easier to turn over even big and heavy flies. We also prolonged the frontal density (the heaviest sinking part of the line) to 6 meters to increase the sinking capabilities of these lines. This means that a Sink 1-2 line will have a sink 2 front of 6 meters, a Sink 3-4 will have a front sink 4 part of 6 meter and that a Sink 6-7 will have a sink 7 front of 6 meters.
We have also made sure that these lines have enough Tungsten in them to sink according to their sink rates.
To give you an example of how serious we are, our Swedish Zpey Team members (Jimk and Chrille) risked their lives to make sure that the last prototype really performed as expected. They went to one of the big Swedish salmon rivers in minus 28 degrees Celsius (minus 18,4 Fahrenheit), defied a sinister layer near the bank to get close to running water and stood there for two freezing hours testing shooting heads. They came back ecstatic (and not only to find themselves still alive) because these lines not only casted good, but also sank as they should and turned over even enormous flies better than any line they had tried before.
Colour “code” BLUE
To make things easier for you, we decided that all of our lines, except for the Sink 6-7, should be blue. Different kinds of blue, of course, and in the double density sinking lines only the rear part will be blue (once again with the exception of the Sink 6-7), but blue nevertheless. Here’s the simple version:
Here are the details:
Zpey Fusion Extended
We have already had our first experience with the finished Fusion Extended shooting heads. We envy you yours.
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Longer shooting heads for double handed fly fishing
- Three different weight classes: 8/9, 9/10 and 10/11
- Five different densities: Float, Intermediate, Sink 1-2, Sink 3-4 and Sink 6-7
- Lengths: 12,5 - 14 meters
- Weights: 35 – 46 grams
- No poly leaders necessary: Long front tapers and initially heavy lines
- Ready for customizing: No loops. Cutting advice on www.zpey.com
- Delicately tapered: Carefully tapered for narrow loops and good turnover
- Specially designed front tapers: Level step and triangular cones
- Very good sinking qualities: The sinking lines really sink as they should.
- 6 meter front part of sinking lines: On the S 1-2, the sink 2 front part is 6 meters long, on the S 3-4, the sink 4 front part is 6 meters long etc.
- Colour “code”: BLUE: All lines are made in shades of blue (see table)
The right shooting head for the right fly fisher
Choosing the right lines for double handed fly fishing for salmon, sea trout, steelhead or other species, you should always involve terms like fly casting skills and topography:
- Beginners (and fly fishers struggling with their casting) should always start their fly fishing careers with short shooting heads. Too long heads are hard to control and will often result in fly casting techniques based on compensation (too much force).
- If you only fish small rivers or waters where vegetation prevents you from having too much line outside the tip of the rod, you should also choose a short shooting head, no matter your casting skills.
- BUT, if you have climbed the first few steps of the fly casting ladder with normal success and feel comfortable with a slightly longer line and you often fish wider rivers, “Zpey Fusion Extended” is the perfect shooting head for you.
Last year (2009) Zpey gave you an amazing shooting head concept with the smallest loops ever made, the first ever with up to 3 densities, a complete poly leader system and with fantastic casting abilities:
“ZPEY FUSION”
This year we preset you with a system of longer shooting heads that could be customized to individual preferences based on advice found on www.zpey.com :
“ZPEY FUSION EXTENDED”
Last year we gave you Zpey Fusion. A fantastic loop to loop system including shooting heads, poly leaders and running lines equipped with the smallest and softest loops the fly fishing world had ever seen. The shooting heads came with up to three different densities in the same line and became an immediate success. We sold literally thousands of shooting heads, poly leaders and running lines throughout 2009.
In Zpey System, however, we have a policy of never becoming too satisfied with past accomplishments. The same way of thinking might be even more important in my other job as responsible for the physical training of different Olympic sports at the Norwegian Olympic Training Centre. One of our mantras is:
“What’s good enough today, won’t be good enough tomorrow”.
Fusion Extended
After the success with the initial “Fusion” concept, we decided to literally take this concept one step further with longer shooting heads without loops and with a maximum of two densities. “Fusion Extended” is made for experienced fly casters, wide rivers, wild and deep rivers (where heavy sinking lines are absolutely necessary) and we know these lines will fulfil your wildest dreams of wonderful casting experiences, of longer casts, of more accurate presentations, of turning over big flies and of taking those flies down to desired depths as efficiently as possible.
“Fusion Extended” is longer and heavier than the original “Fusion”
You have already noticed that these shooting heads come in lengths between 12,5 and 14 meters and in weights between 35 and 46 grams, based on different weight classes and densities. In the table at the end of this article you will find all the detailed information you need about these lines.
We designed these lines with long front tapers so that it would not be necessary to use poly leaders. This is also the reason why these lines are heavier than the original “Fusion” ones (where the weight of the poly leader is added to the weight of the shooting head).
Another reason for longer and heavier shooting heads is the possibility to customize (cut) the line to desired lengths and weights to fit different rods or individual fly casting / fly fishing philosophies. On our web pages - www.zpey.com - we will provide simple and effective cutting advice for those of you interested in customizing your Fusion Extended shooting heads.
Narrow and effective loops with almost no effort and with lower hand strategies
We knew that longer shooting heads would make it easier for experienced casters to present medium long and long casts to difficult fish and still turn the fly over. If we tapered these lines in the right way, with long front tapers and thin tips, they would turn over more slowly and thus make it easier to present narrow loops with a minimum of effort (of course based on lower hand superiority and bent Zpey handles).
We also made the front tapers with a 3 meter level part, to delay the speed of the turnover of the loop. This will make the loop more stable and ensure longer casts.
Fantastic sinking capabilities
The floating and the intermediate versions of these shooting heads are half a meter longer than the three double density sinking versions. These two lines will cast pretty similarly apart from the fact that the intermediate will be a little bit heavier to lift from the water, but might give you an extra meter or two because of the lower diameter (less air resistance).
When we designed the double density sinking lines, we still wanted to ensure good casting capabilities and so we kept the long and delicately tapered fronts. The same design also makes it easier to turn over even big and heavy flies. We also prolonged the frontal density (the heaviest sinking part of the line) to 6 meters to increase the sinking capabilities of these lines. This means that a Sink 1-2 line will have a sink 2 front of 6 meters, a Sink 3-4 will have a front sink 4 part of 6 meter and that a Sink 6-7 will have a sink 7 front of 6 meters.
We have also made sure that these lines have enough Tungsten in them to sink according to their sink rates.
To give you an example of how serious we are, our Swedish Zpey Team members (Jimk and Chrille) risked their lives to make sure that the last prototype really performed as expected. They went to one of the big Swedish salmon rivers in minus 28 degrees Celsius (minus 18,4 Fahrenheit), defied a sinister layer near the bank to get close to running water and stood there for two freezing hours testing shooting heads. They came back ecstatic (and not only to find themselves still alive) because these lines not only casted good, but also sank as they should and turned over even enormous flies better than any line they had tried before.
Colour “code” BLUE
To make things easier for you, we decided that all of our lines, except for the Sink 6-7, should be blue. Different kinds of blue, of course, and in the double density sinking lines only the rear part will be blue (once again with the exception of the Sink 6-7), but blue nevertheless. Here’s the simple version:
- The Floating line is Light Blue (the same Light Blue as the new single hand Long Belly line “Zpey Silence”)
- The Intermediate line is a shade bluer with an almost translucent quality
- The Sink 1-2 has a rear part that is darker blue than the Intermediate and a front that is brown
- The Sink 3-4 has a rear part in a shade of blue even darker again and a front that is dark brown
- The Sink 6-7 is all black
Here are the details:
Zpey Fusion Extended
| Name | Length | Weight | Colour front | Colour rear |
| Extended – # 8/9 Float (low float) | 13 meters | 35 grams | Light blue | Light blue |
| Extended – # 8/9 Intermediate | 13 meters | 35 grams | Darker light blue | Darker light blue |
| Extended – # 8/9 Sink 1-2 | 12,5 meters | 35 grams | Brown | Blue |
| Extended – # 8/9 Sink 3-4 | 12,5 meters | 35 grams | Dark Brown | Dark Blue |
| Extended – # 8/9 Sink 6-7 | 12,5 meters | 35 grams | Black | Black |
| Extended – # 9/10 Float (low float) | 13,5 meters | 39 grams | Light blue | Light blue |
| Extended – # 9/10 Intermediate | 13,5 meters | 39 grams | Darker light blue | Darker light blue |
| Extended – # 9/10 Sink 1-2 | 13 meters | 40 grams | Brown Blue | Brown Blue |
| Extended – # 9/10 Sink 3-4 | 13 meters | 40 grams | Dark Brown | Dark Blue |
| Extended – # 9/10 Sink 6-7 | 13 meters | 40 grams | Black | Black |
| Extended – # 10/11 Float (low float) | 14 meters | 44 grams | Light blue | Light blue |
| Extended – # 10/11 Intermediate | 14 meters | 44 grams | Darker light blue | Darker light blue |
| Extended – # 10/11 Sink 1-2 | 13,5 meters | 46 grams | Brown | Blue |
| Extended – # 10/11 Sink 3-4 | 13,5 meters | 46 grams | Dark Brown | Dark Blue |
| Extended – # 10/11 Sink 6-7 | 13,5 meters | 46 grams | Black | Black |
We have already had our first experience with the finished Fusion Extended shooting heads. We envy you yours.
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