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[A Frayed Knot]

Picking up a spey rod next year.

What I am using now is a 11" 8wt Dragonfly Switch Rod (pretty amazing rod) and a 9" 9wt Sage single hand rod.
I tend to dedicate my single hand to fishing surf, I fish most of the big water rivers as well as smalls like Mike or Buntzen (well I consider small) I also tend to fish a lot of northern rivers as far as Barrows Alaska, but mostly Anchorage or Yukon.

So I am wondering what size/wt Spey Rod I should consider to maybe round out to cover all species, I thought about a just getting a smaller spey for trout fishing since I think the 8/9wts are probably too heavy for most the local Vancouver lakes, I have used then when I am fishing from my float tube mostly just trollin' around the drop offs.

Anyway suggestions would be great, I got a couple ideas of what I'd like but I thought I would see what everyone suggestions because I think I have a sickness, and its 2hand casting

[ajransom]

13 foot 7 weight spey rod. Great all rounder fr almost everywhere I'm BC

[A Frayed Knot]

Any particular brands that are good? People on this forum seem more tight lipped then the fish out there. Haha.

[HOOK]

Brands will depend more on what your budget is 

reasonably priced rod brands

Echo
Redington
TFO

[ajransom]

I have an Echo Dec Hogan 2 7130 and really like it. I would also look at the TFO deer creek rods, which are really nice.

Check out spey pages for all things spey. Lots of great second hand stuff too. I would ask the forum there and you will be well informed.

[A Frayed Knot]

To Hook and Ajransom.

I have heard good things about Echo surprisingly, not long after asking about brands, I found this article; http://www.deneki.com/2012/08/king-salmon-spey-rod-roundup/

Obviously I think the rods I have now are probably good enough for Chinook, but glad to hear that Echo is what has come up yet again. heh. Wish I knew about this site sooner, so I am glad to share it, they yield a lot of valuable information if you are willing to dig back a bit.

But thanks guys, I'll check out the other two rods. Unfortunately they are only looking at wts sturdy enough for Kings which are FING huge up in my fishing hole, well everythings bigger up there. Even the socks make our cohos feel like tiny rainbows. I digress though.

Thanks all for the help, I just need to figure out the right wt for my arsenal now, haha so far 7 maybe a good fit. Mean while I can try to sell off my old 2pc Fly Rod.

[ajransom]

Keep in mind a spey "weight" is not the same as a single hand rod "weight". Spey is a "grains" game, and it's mainly an issue of having a rod with a grain window that can throw big, heavy sink tips and skagit heads, that can turn over a lead eye intruder that can dredge deep in fast water (where springs and winter steelhead like to sit).

A 7 weight spey rod is a great all rounder for BC but if you going to fish for winter steelhead in nth BC (skeena etc) and Alaska for salmon, a 9 weight is probably better. Lots of guys will opt for a shorter rod for springs so you have more of a mechanical advantage when fighting those big fish.

A 7 weight spey will still turn over big flies and handle winter steelhead well, but for fish over 30lbs it will be under gunned.

If you want to get a really nice stick, look at a Meiser or Burkheimer. Those rods are really sweet.

Can't go wrong with an echo or TFO deer creek though.

Again, spey pages has a huge amount of great info and so many of the members there have lifetimes of experience with two handed rods. Certainly worth checking out. I would also but a rod second hand. For $200 to $300 for a second hand rod you are buying a lightly used $500 - $600 rod.

[HOOK]

I'm still just starting my two handed rod collection. so far in the arsenal

Spey rods

Sage 7136
Echo DH2 8133
Loop Yellow 9140

Switch rods

Meiser classic 4/5
TFO deer creek 7110

Honestly I don't see myself buying much more because these weights cover most if not all of my fishing encounters or future ones 


when your looking at rods buy within the budget you allow yourself. You really don't need to buy expensive or super expensive rods, they wont catch you more fish. Buy a decent rod, if you need a drag then get a reel with a drag that has a wide range of drag adjustment unless you like classic click/pawl style then you can find cheap old/new ones to very expensive new/old ones depending on what catches your eye. Buying second hand is a great option however its also tricky when you have aren't sure what your after 100% which is why I mentioned "actions" of different rods. You can see that all 3 of my spey rods are ones that have more of a traditional/full flex action. I like to fish Skagits and mid belly lines so these work nicely

[A Frayed Knot]

Yeah, I completely agree with both of you, I am not really interested in spending 500+ dollars on a rod.
I think length wise I am happy looking for a longer rod I am thinking around 12-14 but preferably right in the middle at 13' is plenty for around here as well as some of my other fishing holes.

I am thinking of Echo DHII8133 its kind of in the middle being a 13'3'' 8w I think that should let me be able to fish here without being to heavy and still take it up north with me for the hogs. I may keep asking questions and check out that other website before I settle on something. I just know I am in the market for at least one more rod after this one and I went out this morning to test a Tenkara rod a buddy picked up at Lafarge, haha. that thing was a RIOT. If I get a trout fly rod now, it has to be that.


@HOOK
Sorry what weights are those rods? I tried to google em but for some reason I couldn't get a straight answer.

[ajransom]

You certainly won't regret a DH2. An 8 weight cover all your bases too, from what fish and locations you will be fishing.

The DH rods are great skagit rods and flex nice and deep, which is great when your learning as they are more forgiving. I fish a scandi on mine too, but I really like a skagit.

[A Frayed Knot]

Yeah, I think I am pretty happy with my choice for rod, I saw a ECHO 8w I couldn't say what model it was but it was a 13'6'' today at the store when I went in to replace my leaders ( I use a lot of nylon leads just because they actually break down unlike other leader lines) and it was a nice price sitting around 375-400.

[HOOK]

that sounds like you were looking at the Echo TR 8136. buddy of mine fishes that rod and enjoys it, I've also cast it some and while it doesn't flex as deep as the DH2 series it is a nice rod.

usually but not always the first number is the weight of the rod and then the last three are the length. 8136 (8wt 13'6" length)

7136 (7wt 13'6")
8133 (8wt 13'3")
9140 (9wt 14')

I also have owned:

Loop blue 9140
Beulah 7/8wt 12'7"
TFO 8/9wt 13'6"
Echo classic 9140
Beulah 5/6wt 10'6"
Beulah Surf 7/8wt 11'

I know I'm missing at a couple other spey rods but as you can see the two handed game is a sickness and I would consider myself slowly breaking away from being a beginner and its been almost 10yrs now since I bought my first one. In the last season or two I'm finally finding what rod actions I prefer, rod lengths and when/what type of lines to use in different situations.

honestly the biggest pain in the arse is finding a running line you really like. I have used so many different ones and think I'm settling on the Rio ConnectCore, I like its no stretch core and the fact its more like a fly line than slick mono and the fact its way easier to mend at long distances is another great thing.

If you can hit the Vedder tomorrow I will infact have either my 8133 or my 9140 (or both) with me chasing Chinook/coho and would be willing to let you have a few casts. most likely have the 8133 only

[A Frayed Knot]

I plan to go visit the Vedder actually tomorrow, I was told by a buddy the fishing should be picking up, the netters are starting to thin out. Today I had to pick up some new leader and decided to get some flies. I got a itch for some chum but I don't think they'll be ready just yet.

Mostly I wanted to get some more river casting experience. I practice on the grass at a local park. Girls seem to enjoy that...but other then that. I struggle with the weak hand casting. Which is kinda nice with the 2 hand casting, you can switch hands easily.

I try to focus on well rounded fishing gear, I think its more of a budget thing then anything, I hate knowing I have 6 rods can't use em all, and have to site there and pick one for the species at the same time, I am the kinda person if I get bored, I will change my gear up on the spot and start targeting another species..

But yes, I am looking at the Echo line spey rods I got my hands on one today at the tackle shop it was kind of a nice fit.

[ajransom]

If you post a "WTB" notice for that rod on the spey pages classifieds i think you would have a number of leads within the day.

[A Frayed Knot]

That's good to know, I am in between work at the moment (anyone hiring?) But I think thats my project for this winter is to have a new spey, and then by next summer to get myself a Tenkara for the small stream trout fishing, if we have any... anything I find looks like something I'd sooner white water kayak then fish. Ha-ha