Chris,

 

Check out George Daniels book Dynamic Nymphing.  It's a great primer on techniques for tight line and even suspension nymphing.  he also posted a recipe for a leader that he uses for both suspension and tight line techniques. This allows him to fish different styles without changing out leaders:

 

http://www.tcoflyfishing.com/TCO_Fly_Fishing_View_From_The_Staff4.cfm %20

 

I've just got a Cabellas 1104 CZN rod. It's FANTASTIC!  

Dan

I haven't fished with any of the Streamflex yet. I've got the 11' 3wt on my wish list though.

I've been using some of the long rod and light line Euro techniques in the last four years and I find that I'm applying these techniques more and more in my everyday fishing. Lately I've been using the Hardy Zenith 10' 4wt and I've been very pleased with it. No problems putting the beans to any of the big Putah fish so far. I don't know how much technology has trickled down into the Streamflex line of rods from the Zenith line, but I'm gonna find out soon enough.

New rod technologies are allowing us to go longer and lighter with our rod choices and still have the power to put the beans to a very respectable fish. I've landed several large trout up to 24" on a Tenkara Rod with the tip section that is about the diameter of the graphite in a #2 pencil (thats about .6mm) and with 6.5X Trouthunter tippet. These have been enlightening ah ha moments that led me to realize that extra rod length can be a major asset while fighting fish and protecting light tippets.

Hi Otter,

I've met you a few times before. A couple of times at Putah and once at the Lower Stan. Yep you called it, I'm the guy that also fishes those tenkara rods.

The Euro Line that I've been using is only available at one place. It's a Rio line but it's an Blue Quill Anglers exclusive. They don't even have a box for it yet, so it's pretty new stuff. You can find it here http://www.bluequillangler.com/Products/Fly-Lines_2/Ultimate-European-Nymphing-Fly-Line-by-RIO#.Uo69nMQWLa0

Here's their entire Euro Section http://www.bluequillangler.com/Products/Czech-Nymphing Go to their "Knowlege" section. They have some great primers in there.

This is the place that I shop for most of my Euro type supplies. Good guys over there. The leaders that I'm fishing with most often are known as "Hybrid Leaders" because they are a blend between a Czech and Spanish leader. Czech being short, only about 3/4 rod length and Spanish being long 18' to sometimes 30'. A hybrid is in between. I use the Czech leaders and French coil setups too, and I hardly ever use the spanish leaders because they are soooo long and I haven't found the need for them.

http://www.bluequillangler.com/Products/Leaders-and-Tippet/Steve-Parrotts-Hybrid-Czech-Nymphing-Leader-126-5X#.Uo7Gd8QWLa0

 

I make my own and they're usually about 12' to 15'. I start with a standard 2x or 3x tapered leader thats either 7.5' or 9.0' depending on desired length and stealth needed. On the end of that I will place a tippet ring and usually a straight inline sighter (Jan Siman or the new Umpqua Bi-Colored tippet) of the same size or one size smaller than the end of the leader (usually 2x or 3x 18"-24" long) and another tippet ring at the end of the sighter. From there I use straight tippet to the nymphs 4x 5x or 6x from 3' to 6' is my standard depending on depth and speed of the water. You'll have to play with it a bit to get used to what works for you, but it's not very complicated. I just have trouble writing it all down. 

 http://www.bluequillangler.com/Products/Indicators-Sighters/Jan-Siman-Bi-Colored-Indicator-Material#.Uo7G4cQWLa0

The cool thing about this setup is the Rio line! It is so thin and light that it acts like the leader it's self. Coupled with a hybrid leader you will be able to fish in tight like a Czech setup and if you need to reach the other side of a run, just strip out more of the Rio line and make the cast. You'll have a duel sighter setup because the line has a bright tip and you have the inline sighter on your leader too. The line as mentioned is so light that it won't sag into the tongue in the middle of the run allowing an excellent drift on the other side of the bank and use the duel sighters for better line tracking and strike detection.

Just one caveat though. It's great at one thing, Euro and tightline nymphing. It's not a good indicator line because it doesn't have the mass to propel the heavy rig through a roll cast. And just the same it isn't a dry fly line either for the same reason. Not enough mass to carry a cast much distance through the air. You can do them both but it pretty much falls short at both.

I hope that helps. Sorry it was so long. I'm just stoked about this new line.