小さいファクトリーながらこの釣りの探求を続けてきたロッドビルダーがいる。R.B.Meiserである。カスタムのビルダーは世界中にいるけれど、コスメティックとアクションでスティールヘッド専攻の釣師に評価が高い1本と言っていいと思う。

そのMeiserが、スティールヘッドとスペイフィッシングのエキスパートであるMike Kinneyとコラボレートして、そのノウハウをスペイロッドという形に仕上げたのがMKS。（Mike KinneyはTrey Combsの本にもスペイロッドでキャストしている写真があり、ずいぶん昔からスペイの開拓者の一人として西海岸では存在し、それでいてオレがオレがと言うよりはメジャーになることを潔しとしないような雰囲気の釣り人である。）

これはもう、私にとってはグッとこないワケがないのである。西海岸のスティールヘッドシーンでは伝説の一人、マイク・キニーのノウハウとひらめきをコラボレートさせて完成したとあるMKSはカナダの釣りでいつもそばにいなくてはならないモノになっている。（Meiserの日本語版簡易カタログはコチラのリンクで）

当サイト内でもたびたび話しているように、私は14フィートを好んで使う。以前使っていたB&Wやマイケルエバンスの15フィートが自分のスタイルにはどうしても長く、強く感じられて、セージのトラディショナル14フィートに切り替えてから方向性は明らかになった。

<The MKS>

The MKS 13'6" 8/9 is a fast/medium fast recovery, progressive action rod, with regressed butt taper.

This means that they are rather stiff tipped, with a taper that progresses uniformally well into the top 2/3 of the rod, then regresses (or slows) into the bottom third....Still overall she still feels like a progressive action rod.

The 13’6” MKS is an all purpose rod meant to easily deliver a wide variety of line systems; from Skagits to 85' long bellied floating lines like the Carron Jetstreams. But they are especially effective with sustained anchor line management, for the angler that prefers to fish the shorter bellied shooting head line systems with interchangeable sink tips like the Rio Skagits or the shorter bellied Rio Windcutters.

Full line load can be felt well into the grip. And with shooting heads, she is best managed with very compact low hand, underhand power stroke. She prefers minimal power by the caster to perform her best deliveries.

f longer bellies are desired, you can high hand ~ low hand to increase the hand spread for greater distance, and lengthen the stroke.

It has a 300 grain ~ grain window so is easily an 8/9/10 wt rod. Grain window from 550 to 850 grains.

She will easily manage large Steelhead, or Salmon into the 30 pound plus range.

<The Highlander>

Another rod you may wish to consider would be the 13'6" Highlander 8/9 wt.

It is a fast recovery, progressive action, progressive tapered rod with a bit softer top 2/3s then the MKS rod. In other words: It's taper and flex are more uniform from tip to butt, yet full line load will be felt well into the lower end.

As the MKS rod, the Highlander will have a similar grain window so too is easily an 8/9/10 rod. She will easily deliver the same line systems, but will be allowed to do so for the angler that will prefer a bit of a faster recovery.

The Highlander may be preferred by the caster that will wish to power the delivery with a more aggressive cast.

You will notice that all of the rods below will have grain window recommendation tables. Both the MKS and Highlander rods will achieve equal line speeds and distances, but will do so in a different fashion. The casting preference of which is entirely up to the angler.

I can say that many of my anglers that will be required to deliver extreme sink tip systems (such as T-14 from 10’ to 24” in length) utilizing short belly shooting heads like the Rio Skagits, or the Rio WCs looped to BIG BOY tips…. While fishing large to medium sized rivers (like those of the Skeena system) will prefer the MKS rod.

They will prefer this rod because they know that because of the rods taper, she will deliver the sink tip shooting line systems as effectively as they will longer belly floating Spey lines with tips.

…And most importantly: Will do so with minimal casting effort regardless of the river’s color or flow conditions.

The MKS rod will be inherently far less tiring to the angler after a full day on the water then would be a very fast recovery progressive tapered rod like the Sage Euro or especially the Sage TCR.

The 13’6” and 14’0” Highlander rods will basically accomplish the same goals as the MKS rod…..

But (as with any faster recovery true progressive tapered rod) will require a faster, more agressive stroke to achieve the same line speed as the MKS rods would achieve while utilizing a much more relaxed and compact under hand powered stroke.

To campare:

The Sage 9140 Traditional (for example) has a regressed butt taper with a progressive action similar to the MKS rod…..

Therefore the MKS rod will feel very much like the Sage 9140 in flex load. But the MKS rod has a much faster recovery, and overall will deliver with much more authority then will any of the Sage Traditionals.

The Sage Euros and TCR rods are true progressive tapers, with progressive actions: Both much “stiffer” rods then the Traditionals. The Highlanders are more like the Sage Euro in feel. But will still flex more easily into the butt. The Highlanders are not anywhere near as stiff as the TCRs nor will we ever want them to be…

To summarize:

If you do like the relaxed progressive feel of your 9140 Sage Traditional, but wished that it had a slightly faster recovery and a more aggressive delivery, I’d suggest either the MKS 13’6” 8/9 or the 14’0” MKS 9/10.

If you like the faster recovery, slightly stiffer butt feel of the Sage Euro, Then I’d suggest either the Highlander 13’6” 8/9 or the 14’0” 8/9.

Any of these rods would be superb rods for the Skeena system in all river conditions.

The CAST:

The 13689 is a VERY powerful rod that will only need a minimal amount of expended power on the part of the caster to deliver. Try to be very economic with you casting motions. Use low hand/under hand power as much as possible with a two hand even push.

Most importantly:

Stop the rod tip crisply high at the tree line. Try not to drop the rod tip at the shot. Always stop the rod tip high (70 to 90 degrees) at the shot, then drop the rod tip down into the shooting running line.

Utilize an even low hand/underhand power with the upper hand only aiding in a slight push and the direction of the rod tip. DO NOT overpower the top hand.

The rod wants to do all of the work for you. So let it・;^)・!!