Gear Review: OPST Commando Head and Lazar Running Line
North 40 Fly Shop reviews the new OPST Commando Head and Lazar running line.
OPST Commando + Lazar Running Line... A Match made for the Swing
It was a pleasure to fish with the new OPST Commando Head and Lazar running line during a recent outing. I took my 7 weight to a section of the CDA river that I remembered having had trouble casting heavy streamers from the bank due to the bushes behind me. I started at the top of this run and two-stepped my way down.
My first cast was a little quick, as I was anticipating the shorter stroke, and I blew my anchor point. My second cast left me with nothing but smiles, launching my tungsten streamer to the far bank. Thinking it might have been a fluke, I stripped in the laser line, which had a great feel, through my fingers. As the running line piled up around my legs, it opened up on the water and floated well. With my next single-hand cast, the laser running line severed my pointer finger completely off as it rocketed through the guides of my rod.
Just kidding, but I've never seen a mono running line rip through my guides and out of the end of my rod like that before. The true beauty of the Commando head is how easy it is to cast in difficult scenarios.
A couple more casts and I was completely sold! A few more after that and I felt the rewarding grab of a trout.Although there are a lot of advantages, there are also a couple disadvantages to the Commando Skagit head line. It's not for everyone.   If you need a delicate presentation where you fish, the Commando line might be a bit much. I definitely spooked some trout with my skagi bombs hitting the water. Also if dead drifting is your game, mono running lines are never easy to mend.
All-in-all I had a great day on the river with OPST lines. I would recommend it to anybody that wants to try something new on your single hand, switch , or two hand fly rod. OPST will give you more options on how you can fish your local rivers. It will also change your plan of attack on how you can present your fly.
-Nick, Ponderay North 40 Fly Shop Manager
OPST Gear Fanboy, Fred Telleen
I will admit that I love new gear and I often get excited about new innovations. Some innovations are simply tweaks and others significantly change how I approach fly fishing. The OPST heads will significantly change fly fishing for those anglers who are willing to give them a try. If you already utilize Skagit casting with switch and spey rods, then they will diversify your arsenal. If you have never tried Skagit casting because you’ve been limited by your equipment, then that barrier is gone.
I’ve used a 250 grain OPST Commando head in conjunction with the 25# Lazar Line during my last 4 jaunts on the water. I’ve run the head with a 10’ Type 3 tip and with an 11’ custom tapered Maxima Leader. I’ve tried it on 9’, 10’ 6" and 11’ 6" rods. It’s workable on all of them, though I honestly think the 9’ single hand application is the most unique and fun.Commando heads are a joy to cast and so far, I’ve experienced successful outings with them. In the past, I’ve used a variety of lines for single hand spey applications with varying success. Commando heads are "Pure Skagit". They will load your rod with very little effort for maximum output.
On my trout spey set ups, I prefer using #25 mono running line. The thinner mono is easily carried by the shorter lighter heads. It seemed only natural to fish the Commando Head with a new Lazar Line. My initial take is that the Lazar line is excellent stuff. It slides though the guides like oil and remains tangle free. We’ll see how it holds up after a year, but with its 50 meter length, I will likely cut it back a bit and be casting on fresh running line.
-Fred Telleen, Great Falls Fly Shop Manager
OPST Commando + Lazar Line Gear Review: Beyond the Hype
I have been in the business of selling fly fishing products, in the retail realm, for the past 16 years. I have to say during that time there have been a few products that weren’t just hype and actually changed the game of fly fishing.
With new hyped-up products emerging each year to help companies’ bottom line, it is sometimes hard to wade your way through the brown, soupy water. Sometimes your waders aren’t tall enough. Recently, I skeptically started researching OPST’s new Commando heads and Lazar running lines. Watching the videos of professional casters making professional casts didn’t really do anything for me. Most of those guys can throw a lazer with nothing more than a piece of 0x and a tenkara rod. It wasn’t until fall rolled around that I demoed a 250 Grain OPST Commando head, with 10 feet of T-8, on a Loop 690-4 Cross S1.
When I first picked up the package, I found I was over-casting the entire set up. The combo of this line with a decent size streamer loaded the rod perfectly and was actually an extreme pleasure to fish. Slowing down my cast to more of a Skagit style timing helped my greatly. Tight, consistent loops cut through the wind and rain and the Lazar line had enough feel to detect even light grabs by smaller trout and flew through the guides after a quick stretch before fishing.I have not yet thrown the Commando heads on a short spey or switch rod, however, I bet they will perform flawless.
After spending the day fishing this set up, I am now sold on OPST’s system. Their lines for single hand spey casting are second to none. It is a perfect setup for swinging tight banks. Be sure to try one out whenever you can-it will surely become a quick favorite in your arsenal.
-Calvin Fuller, Field Manager, North 40 Fly Shop