spey rods

[nutman]

the longer rods get the more the nose or the tip will have a tendency to drop . What are you going to use the rod for cezch nymphing? or for larger fishing ?
the weight will depend on the feel of the rod in your hand .if it is two light the tip will want to drop forward all the time when you cast . So you want the reel to be heavy enough to make it feel like the tip is going to bounce back up . Are you looking at the tfo two hander ? In this weight range There is no need for a large arbor reel either .A mid arbor ,or even a regular old fly reel would be fine . These rods can handle larger fish then a single handed rod .

[kyle]

nutman,

I'm planning on using the rod really just to fool around with and get a feel for spey casting. I will use it for nymphing but I am primarily a dry fly fisherman (the way I was taught) that's why i'm looking for a four weight so I can do both. And I think I'll end up with the Echo because of the softer action so I can fish dries with lighter tippets. But I'm not entirely sure yet? But as far as reels go I'm considering a few different reels, the orvis Battenkil mid arbor, Lamson Radius, ross evolution, or a Tenton tioga. I have used all of these reels and love them all, which of these would you reccomend?

[FK]

Kyle,

You do realize the DH rods have a differnt line weight rating than the traditional rods?

A 11ft 4wt switch rod will cast a WF6F long belly AFTMA line.

A 12ft 5wt DH will cast a WF7F or WF8F long belly AFTMA line.

The ECHO Dec Hogan 5122-4 will cast a 300 grain Skagit line or a 4/5 Windcutter (320 grain head).

Read the Rio Products site for more info. on Spey lines and their rod ratings vs. traditional AFTMA lines for single handed rods.

http://www.rioproducts.com/page.php?recKey=9

Regards,
FK

[nutman]

this is the most confusing part of spey rods , I just got a whole how to deal on it from the rio rep .They need to standardize this for people .It only makes sense to have it ,make sense to the consumer .There are a lot of options here .for large water fishing in the winter stick to skagit it is the most versitle .For smaller streams Id go with and afs shooting head for floating head .Trout on the east coast are rarely fished with sinking lines .the skagit is for shooting lig water and you may have some near you .The afs is a wind cutting super fast line .It can have a intermideate line attacted to get the fly down deeper if you are nymphing .
The skagit will handle sink tips and a floating line ,but wount mend as well as a afs .The afs will not work well with a sink tip .
There are things called cheaters for spey rods but they are only recommended for rods 13 ft and above .A twelve foot rod could use a two foot cheater but it isnt really needed .
I would think you would want a floating set up unless tou are fishing in deep water .
From the sounds of it you guys got hit with the rains heavy Id try a sink tip in that type of situation if the water was high for a long time .

[kyle]

nutman,

yes I would love to set it up with a floating line only because I would like to fish the hendricksons, isonichias, and other major big fly hatches. But I would also like to use it for nymphing (what little I do). Does this narrow down my options?? any specific brand reccomendations now??

thanks, kyle

[AaronJasper]

I have a Winston Vapor 12' 6" 6/7 wt that I used for indicator nymphing a few times. A friend sent me a Windcutter 7 weight and the rod and line match up great. I am going to be upgrading the rod soon to a, what looks like a Winston BIIMX. I have heard a lot of good things from a lot of people about them. I don't recall how much the Vapors retail for. I do know that its a far cry from some of the others.

[alanb_ct]

On Aaron's recommendation, I just bought the Winston Vapor and it cost $425. It's an excellent value and I like it so far. I think it is suitable for big river or high water indicator nymphing.

[FK]

The Winston Vapor 12'6" is rated 6/7 (spey line rating) and takes a 350 grain Skagit and 5/6 or 6/7/8 Windcutter (depending upon you casting style). The rod appears to be just right for our smaller river and nymph fishing.

The Winston BIIx 12'6" labeled 6/7 is stiffer,,, it takes a 400 grain Skagit and 6/7/8/ or 7/8/9 Windcutter.

I have the Sage 12'6" 5wt (spey) Z-Axis and it takes a 4/5 Windcutter line, a fun rod to toss larger streamers and weighted flys or a sink tip in high water. I use the Rio Versileader Kit with 5 tips of varying sink rate in a wallet,,,, loop them on the floating line and you have instant sink tip line,,, quick change for depth experimenting.

Regards,
FK

[kyle]

I have a few Winstons ( a IIt and a LT five piece) they make a wonderful rod, definatly one of the best out there. But I have never tried the vapor what is the action like on the vapor two handed??

-kyle

[Gregorygob]

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