ECHO Shadow

[David L. Darnell]

would it be possible for someone to supply a picture of the grip on this rod ?

I handled and cast a Greys Streamflex 9'0" #5 yesterday, was impressed with this rod, but I'm looking for 10' and up, got plenty of the "shorter" rods.

Thanks,

DD

[Magnet]

Hi David.
Welcome to the site. I'll try to get a picture up of the two rods side by side so you can reference them together.

[Magnet]

The black rod is the Echo PE shadow 10ft 6 inch 3 wt.
The other is the Greys Streamflex 10 ft 3 wt

[David L. Darnell]

Thanks for the pictures, I've cast lots of flyrods since I picked up this way of life back in 1974. Owned more than I should I liked the Streamflex more than I figured I would. My dealer has lots of rods in stock, Sage, Loomis, ECHO but they don't have this model. I'd like to cast it before I say order me one.

What does it compare to that I might be aware of ?

[AaronJasper]

It's slightly more mid flex than the 10 foot 4 weight Z Axis.

Pete's ECHO rod is a whole different animal. I really can't compare that rod to anything.

Also, note the shorter handle on the ECHO. Shorter handle means more reach as there is more "usuable" rod blank.

[Magnet]

One more thought on the Echo shadow rod. In my opinion, this is not a rod I feel comfortable with fighting larger trout. If one fishes in a river with smaller than 15 inch fish it is great. I was observing a friend handle a 20 plus inch brown with the shadow 10-6- and the rod looked straight except for the upper 1/3 which was bent completely in a U shape during the end game. I wish I could have taken a picture of it. It was amazing that thing didn't break. Just my novice opinion.

[David L. Darnell]

Would you purchase the Streamflex for "ordinary" nymph and midge work on a middle Tennessee tailwater ? I fish a 9'0" #5 SP and a 8'9" #3 SLT, 99% of the time on my tailwater (Elk River). Playing with the idea of a longer rod, probably just a case of wanting another rod syndrome.

[AaronJasper]

The 10 foot 4 weight would be perfect for those tailwater streams there. I fished them with ten foot 4 and 5 weights.

The 4 weight has a similar action to the XP. You can fish 6X with this rod. If you had to go lower, you might lose some fish. There really is no "perfect" long rod for small flies and fine tippets. When you go with a more crisp and faster action rod you run the risk of causing too much shock and breaking the tippet. With a slower action rod, you might not be able to drive the hook deep into the fish as you would with a faster action rod. So it's a preference thing when it comes to the rod. I like to use a faster more responsive rod.

I can assure you that it's a great deal different than the 8'9" 3 weight that you have. Secondly, at $300, it's a purchase that you won't regret.

[catchm]

Can anyone comment on the action of the 10' 3wt rod? I have the 10 1/2' 3wt, are they similar in action? I fished my rod twice and I find it awkward, the rod hardly bends below the top 1/3. Perhaps I'm just too used to my Streamflex 10' 3 & 4wt rods.

[AaronJasper]

There are two reasons for the rod feeling strange.

1. The grip on the rod is short when compared to other rods. Now, this is not a bad thing a it allows for more available reach. The downsize is that without a heavy enough reel to compensate for the additional franction of an ounce, the rod feels very tip heavy.

2. The graphite in the rod is comprised to two different types. The rod dampens much differently in the two sections. This is different than a rod that is made up of all the same modulus graphite. The tip is an entirely different rod than the lower two thirds.

The three weight feels much different than the other two rods in the same series for this reason. The 10 foot three weight is much more responsive throughout the entire rod due to the loss of six inches of rod. This is very similar to the difference in crispness as you go from a rod that is 8'6" to 9' to 10' in length. The rods generally get slower as they get longer. Remember, generally when referring to this rule