Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

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Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby collinet » Mon Jun 15, 2009 6:14 pm

Just bought this board. I've been surfing about 2 years but only a handful of times a year so I'm still a beginner. I'm moving closer to the Florida east coast for college so I figured I would buy myself a board for that reason. Ive heard so much about the retro fish shape and it's wave-catching abilities for a shortboard that i figured it was the perfect style board for me and for the Florida east coast's usually small conditions. I weigh about 160 pounds and I feel like a 6'6 is a couple inches too big but I thought it's better to be safe than sorry. What do you think? I'm really excited, the board is still in the mail.

Scroll down for pictures...
Last edited by collinet on Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby kitesurfer » Tue Jun 16, 2009 6:59 am

Any retro fish in my opinion over 6 ft 2 is too big. I'm 77kg so heavier than you, probably surf a simillar amount and ride a 5ft10 retro twin but also have no probs riding a 5ft8 retro quad either. But that said im sure it will surf fine.

KS
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Re: Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby Bewilderbeast » Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:51 am

Would that be my 5' 8" retro quad that you couldn't ride for s**t!! :P
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Re: Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby kitesurfer » Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:09 pm

Bewilderbeast wrote:Would that be my 5' 8" retro quad that you couldn't ride for s**t!! :P



LOL no that would be another 5ft 8 fish you haven't seen yet! :wink: Honest guv!

KS
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Re: Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby trifish » Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:38 pm

A 6'6" retro is to big if you intend to surf it like a fish. They are best surfed close to your height. If your looking for a different shape alternative to a longboard then a large fish like that is fine, but just understand it will not surf like a short fish does but more like a funboard at that point. Also they have tons of float, and i mean ALOOOT. I was worried about going to short when i picked mine up so I went for a 5'11 (im 5'9" 180lb) and the board floats me twice as much as my 6'3" shorty did. Now after learning it I wish I would of went with a 5'8" or 5'9".

A few notes worth noting just so you know what to expect...
*they catch waves easy and draw out long smooth turns
*tricky on steep waves, I have to take off on most steep waves in a angle.
*fast and fun
*have little glide (meaning the second you stop paddling the board with stop immediately due to short length)
*duckdiving them can be tuff.

That being said I think its easier to ride my thruster (more stable and slower), but I always have more fun on my retro. Very fun design with the twin fin setup. Also all retro fish boards are not created equal like most boards. A great fish shouldnt feel to corky even though it has alot of volume. Pavel, Hanel, Mabile, Zippi, Christenson to name a few of the well known fish shapers. Mines a Gary Hanel Twin and would highly recommend him.
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Re: Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby kitesurfer » Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:05 am

trifish wrote:A 6'6" retro is to big if you intend to surf it like a fish. They are best surfed close to your height. If your looking for a different shape alternative to a longboard then a large fish like that is fine, but just understand it will not surf like a short fish does but more like a funboard at that point. Also they have tons of float, and i mean ALOOOT.

A few notes worth noting just so you know what to expect...
*they catch waves easy and draw out long smooth turns
*tricky on steep waves, I have to take off on most steep waves in a angle.
*fast and fun
*have little glide (meaning the second you stop paddling the board with stop immediately due to short length)
*duckdiving them can be tuff.



Absolutely spot on, couldn't agree more. Although i made my 5ft 10 is 3inches thick and does have more glide than you'd expect from most retro fishes.

KS
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Re: Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby drowningbitbybit » Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:13 am

kitesurfer wrote: my 5ft 10 is 3inches thick


...And surfs like an air-bed :twisted:
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Re: Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby trifish » Thu Jun 18, 2009 2:36 pm

^^ Air bed has a little more control and better hold in the larger waves. :lol:

This video always gets me pumped to hop on my twin fin. Guy makes it look really easy in this small tiny crap. http://www.proctorsurf.com/Surf-Boards/Twin-Fang
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Re: Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby collinet » Thu Jun 18, 2009 2:55 pm

Ok, thanks for the honest feedback guys, like i said im still a beginner and this definetly wont be my first fish that I buy. I think ill get really good at riding my 6'6 then decide whether I want to sell and go shorter or not. Going to like a 5'10 or a 6'0 to me was too big of a jump, i learned on a 7'2 funshape. I tried riding a 6'0 shortboard once in like 5 footers and i couldn't for the life of me get up once. Had a horrible time and that experience kinda scared me away from shorter boards lol. I know a fish is different but I've never ridden a twin fin retro before. So again its like a starter board for me.
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Re: Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby collinet » Thu Jun 18, 2009 3:42 pm

Actually, is a 6'2 a good compromise? because isle makes the same board in a 6'2, and im thinking i could try and see if theyll exchange it.
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Re: Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby trifish » Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:48 pm

you will prob have more fun and benefit from catching the extra waves on the 6'6". It will turn better then your 7'2" and be a bit faster. I would stick with it until your ready to make the leap to the right size for ya and use it as a step down board. When I first got into fish boards I started on a 6'8" and after getting good with that i dropped down to the 5'11". It makes the jump easier. Stick with the one you ordered for now and enjoy it. The more waves you can catch right now the better.
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Re: Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby collinet » Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:18 pm

Ok, thanks so much for your help advice trifish! That just made me feel better, I'm so excited, it comes in tomorrow, and on saturday im gonna try and surf some huge 2 footers lol when I go to visit my dad (lives in melbourne, FL) for the fathers day weekend.
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Re: Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby drowningbitbybit » Thu Jun 18, 2009 8:23 pm

Actually, yes, sorry, forgot to comment on the board - I was too busy taking the pi$$ out of kitey :wink: :lol:

I reckon you'll have a blast on that 6'6.
Ive got a 6'6 hybrid fish (so more like a shortboard, and not retro, but still good for this comparison) which is my board for small days as it'll catch anything and can be a lot of fun. 8)

Have a good time with your new board. Nothing like paddling out with a brand new stick underneath you :D
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Re: Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby collinet » Fri Jun 19, 2009 4:49 am

Ok so ill post a pic when it comes in :mrgreen: :D
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Re: Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby esonscar » Sat Jun 20, 2009 7:01 pm

collinet wrote:Just bought this board. I've been surfing about 2 years but only a handful of times a year so I'm still a beginner. I'm moving closer to the Florida east coast for college so I figured I would buy myself a board for that reason. I’ve heard so much about the retro fish shape and it's wave-catching abilities for a shortboard that i figured it was the perfect style board for me and for the Florida east coast's usually small conditions. I weigh about 160 pounds and I feel like a 6'6 is a couple inches too big but I thought it's better to be safe than sorry. What do you think? I'm really excited, the board is still in the mail.


My $0.02 - 6'6" good, 6'8" getting long : so .....

Ride the living crap outta that 6'6" board at any wave condition and any height. A good surfer can actually surf any board and thrash the crap out of it on any wave any time, so learn to ride the board you have bought and surf it until it glows white hot in the water 8) !

It is after this (you nail your first real board) you should go for a mega custom - so for now just go for it on your board as often as possible.

I have scars from paddling in a wetsuit for sooo long (my skin got worn through on a neoprene crease)and scars from getting hit by my board too. I also have dents in my leg muscles from the impacts I got as I surfed bigger hollower waves :shock: !

Just surf that board untill you can't surf any more - then keep on surfing !
Trust me, we here have all been there !

GO FOR IT :P
Last edited by esonscar on Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby collinet » Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:52 pm

Ok sorry I didnt post as soon as I got the board, but I've surfed on it two separate days now and I love this thing! All I can say is wow... I dont think I could have gotten a more perfect board for me and my current skill level. The thing catches ANYTHING as long as the wave is breaking no matter how small! It manuevers well and is very stable. This board has gotten my confidence in my own surfing to go up so much! The waves really suck in Florida right now, and Ive made the most out of what little crap weve had the past couple days with this board. I can't wait until we actually have good conditions to go out in, Ill have so much fun! Thanks everyone for your responses!

:party: :goingsurfing:

Heres a couple pics...

Image
Image
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Re: Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby esonscar » Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:28 pm

Whoooeee !

How is this for an idea - have a fin box put in the middle so you have a twin / adjustable trifin !
Different size and style center fins are easily obtainable, adjustable and you can even make your own fins to experiment with in the future !
Ridiculous fun !
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Re: Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby collinet » Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:21 pm

that sounds pretty fun, maybe in august or september when the waves are better here lol
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Re: Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby collinet » Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:26 pm

Oh and I went surfing again 2 days ago and was catching 1-2 foot wind swell choppy crap on the florida gulf coast and it was still fun! lol
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Re: Isle poly 6'6 retro fish double stringer

Postby jb987 » Sun Jul 19, 2009 3:04 am

collinet wrote:Oh and I went surfing again 2 days ago and was catching 1-2 foot wind swell choppy crap on the florida gulf coast and it was still fun! lol
That's neat. I haven't tried an Isle board before. When I have a chance to, I think I will. Wanted to tell you that some surf shops rent boards, so that you can try out a few different ones to see the difference. I think you will enjoy the fish. It is a fun board. I'd bet I would be having more fun if I got one instead of the 8' longboard! Was thinking that I could use the longboard as a lounge chair in the swimming pool if I put a waterproof pillow on it....but that is after I get another board. Here fishy, fish!
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