WTB: low end spey outfit

[mtlhead]

I've had my share of the big boy's toys and just can't afford to buy the fancy stuff at this point in life. I would love to find a rod similar to my old 7136 sage, but I need to buy it as a package with a reel and line too. It doesn't matter if it's an old back up rig or one that has been repaired (or needs to be repaired), just gotta' be inexpensive. Anything in the 13' to 14'6" in a 7-8wt range, euro or trad will work for me.
Bryan

[FLGator]

Here's an idea: www.redshedflyshop.com/PACKAGES.html

One of these would get you back into the spey game for a fair price...plus, Poppy offers the best service in the business.

Take care,
Chris

[halcyon]

You have mail :p

[Sloan Craven]

I would second the REd Shed. He also has some used stuff that's pretty nice too.

Additionally, there might be some of those discontinued Sage's floating around.

[mtlhead]

I guess I should add that my budget is around $250, just don't have the extra $$ to buy anything new

[John Hicks]

Or you could be lucky like me and find a guy on the net that just had a kid and needs to thin his rod rack down. I just picked up a Sage 9141 Euro for a song. This has been my dream rod, and now it is mine.

[John Hicks]

Bryan, Try the Speypages.com classifieds. They generally have some great stuff for cheap.

[Red Shed]

I guess I should add that my budget is around $250,

I've got an experienced 15' St Croix. I'll add a new Okuma 10/11 Integrity with a demo line matched to the rod and ship it to you for your $250.00.
I'll even include some 30# backing and a 15' knotless leader.

[Hal Eckert]

Looks like a great deal to me that St Croix new was about $ 270 as I recall.

:thumb:

BG

[fredaevans]

I may be repeating myself (or someone else) but think TWICE before you purchase a FIRST ROD over 14 foot and a 9wt. Almost any rod over that is a big water rod and not for a 'newbie' to learn on. It will grind you down PDQ.

Remember, you have to learn how to comfortably cast a 2-hander before you can 'comfortably' fish with same. Trust me on this one ... I've got ... well a lot!:eek: of 'spey rods.' 90% of the time, Summer or Winter fishing, I'll rarely even pull out a 9wt, or a 15' foot rod. Both are for chucking heavy lines, BIG flies (think Intruder sized here) and will tire you out quickly.

For most fishing conditions I've found that an "all day rod" will be 13-14 foot and usually a 7 or 8wt. The difference/choice has to do with the size/weight of the flies/tips I'll be chucking out over the water. Which is why I usually have two (or three) rods rigged all the time.

One will be a 7wt with a full dry line, and 8wt rigged with either a tip or sinking leader (RIO, Airflo, etc.), and, if a third, a 14' 9wt (big water) with a full or intermediate sinking line (such as the Ian Gordon's). Each has it's seperate applications .. sometimes even on the same stretch of beach.:ray1:

[mtlhead]

I may be repeating myself (or someone else) but think TWICE before you purchase a FIRST ROD over 14 foot and a 9wt. Almost any rod over that is a big water rod and not for a 'newbie' to learn on. It will grind you down PDQ.

.:ray1:
This will not be the rod that I "cut my teeth on", that happened a number of years ago. I'm re-entering the world of spey, as you can see I'm looking for an "all day" type of rod. I remember my first season on a 8150 brownie, and yes, my arse was kicked thuroughly each day using it as the only rod I brought many days.
My casting will need refinement (once again), but having logged countless hundreds of hours on big sticks I'm sure all has not been lost.
I do thank you for your input though, I really valued it in the past on this topic (spey) and sure I will continue to do so in the future as well.
Bryan:cool:

[Hal Eckert]

I may be repeating myself (or someone else) but think TWICE before you purchase a FIRST ROD over 14 foot and a 9wt. Almost any rod over that is a big water rod and not for a 'newbie' to learn on. It will grind you down PDQ.


So what did that 18 footer do to you Fred ? Wore you down didn't it is it in the trash pile now ? Just wondering from afar....

:p :beer2: :confused:

BG

[fredaevans]

So what did that 18 footer do to you Fred ? Wore you down didn't it is it in the trash pile now ? Just wondering from afar....

:p :beer2: :confused:

BG

The "Big Stick" is sitting in its rod tube .. and has been for at least the past three years. At 175 pounds you hold this thing out level to the ground and you tip over.:hmmm: Good news Brian, if you're used to casting long rods JUMP on Poppy's deal. Dollar wise it's very good, and he's a top end seller into the PNW spey market.
Fred

[Old Man]

That could be a good deal but with back problems that Brian has it could wear him out real quick. I had one of thos big St Croix sticks and it almost killed me. The 14'er. Sold it and quit pretending I could spey cast that rod.

Jim

[Sloan Craven]

That could be a good deal but with back problems that Brian has it could wear him out real quick. I had one of thos big St Croix sticks and it almost killed me. The 14'er. Sold it and quit pretending I could spey cast that rod.

Jim
I got that rod, and I think it performs better than the price.But if you're looking for a small rod that aint the one.

[Red Shed]

I don't disagree with anything Fred or Jim Swan has to say on BIG rods. I myself like a 14' model now that I'm approching my golden years.

That being said I think the naysayers are missing the point completely in that mtlhead would like to get another spey rod and doesn't have a lot of coin. I will have to say I can very much appreciate his position. I can tell you that the outfit I posted above is one Hell of a lot better then what I started with. Unfortunately the experienced spey rod market is not really overflowing with smaller/lighter tackle.

In my opinion a 15' spey rod is much better then no spey rod.

[Sloan Craven]

In my opinion a 15' spey rod is much better then no spey rod.


Amen to that... That is a screaming deal for that rod.
I was jusat saying that if someone is looker for a lighter rod, that rod ain't it. I really am fond of the St. Croix 15'. We shared many hours on the water together. I've eaten many meals with her draped across my lap while watching the river. We've traveled many miles up and down rivers together. She was the first rod I cast and the first double -handed rod that I caught a fish with. She reminds me of when I used to stomp up and down the Clearwater. We've shared laughs, and tears. But petite, she is not.

[Hal Eckert]

14 foot 9 wgt is the longest I have a need for and yes after a long day on the river throwing heavy sink tips you are a little tired. St Croix makes a nice rod for the money I have not seen the new St Croix spey models yet though has anyone an opinion on those ? They are more expensive than the older st croixs which were all under $ 300 new.

:beer2:

BG

[flybill]

14 foot 9 wgt is the longest I have a need for and yes after a long day on the river throwing heavy sink tips you are a little tired. St Croix makes a nice rod for the money I have not seen the new St Croix spey models yet though has anyone an opinion on those ? They are more expensive than the older st croixs which were all under $ 300 new.

:beer2:

BG

The new St. Croix's are pretty nice! I played with a few at the Clearwater Clave last year and hung out with the St. Croix rep for a few days. Definitely nice sticks and much lighter than previous models. I also really liked the smaller handles on the rods as well as the action. They were setup with Windcutter's if I remember correctly and cast pretty well with them. I would definitely like to try them with some other lines though, especially the new CND lines and see how they cast.

Unfortunately I haven't tried them since, since I didn't see them at the Sandy this year. There are two different lines, but I think they're in the $400 - $500 price range, maybe a bit more. Will have to check to be sure.

All in all though, a good line to check out and nothing like the older heavier sticks that I think of when I think back to other ones I have tried.

[Red Shed]

They were setup with Windcutter's if I remember correctly and cast pretty

I doubt the St Croix rods at the Clearwater Spey Clave were set up with WindCutters as the St Croix rep for Idaho sells SA lines.

I have a Ultra 4 piece 14'-8/9 and 15'-9/10 demo rods here as well as a 3 piece Avid 14'-9/10. These rods are pretty nice and cast quite well when matched with the proper line.

[flybill]

I doubt the St Croix rods at the Clearwater Spey Clave were set up with WindCutters as the St Croix rep for Idaho sells SA lines.


I honestly can't remember, since I tried so much while I was over there and I think the awesome homemade cookies made me forget! :clown:

He might have had them set up with the SA Short Head lines or one of the other SA lines. I tried so many combinations while I was there and at the Sandy! I may have to take you up on your demo in mid September and bring them back when I come out to your clave.

Bill :cool:

[Red Shed]

I think the awesome homemade cookies made me forget!

Mrs. Red Shed is getting ready to start making cookies again. She says she is making a least 600 for this years event.

[GPDD]

I just posted a spey rod in the classified section. It is a G loomis 13' 9/10 IMX. Great easy casting rod. It would be a good beginner rod. You can feel it load and unload, which helps with the timing. I don't know if this is what you are looking for but there are pictures of the rod there.
Mike

[mtlhead]

Well I broke down (both enotionally and financially) and found a good deal on a 7136-4 greenie over on Dana's site. My old 7136 was a early model graphite III brownie, with my only complaint being that it was too soft for my taste. I also scored a old style Lamson V3.5 that I'll pick up tomorrow, and I still have an old Wolf TT 8wt spey line from my 8150 brownie.

I did end up over budget, but I'm still only into the whole system for $450 and got what I really wanted in the first place. Now It's time to get buisy and back up to speed on my casting, Since the Jacks (silvers) have started showing I'm just in time! BTW, thanks FE for refreshing my mind about Dana's page. It's amazing how much we can forget in such a short amount of time, and the older I get the worse it is.

[Red Shed]

Very Cool! In my opinion you have a great rod.

[Brent Comer]

Red Shed: I'll be there to help with the cookies. :)

Bill, I think the 14' St. Croix I cast at the Clearwater last year had an S/A short head on it.

Mrs. Red Shed is getting ready to start making cookies again. She says she is making a least 600 for this years event.

[Red Shed]

Red Shed: I'll be there to help with the cookies.


Howdy Brent, We are looking forward to seeing you. This afternoon we moved a little gray shed close to the Red Shed. The gray shed is Josh's new warehouse. Now we have a place for all the rod tubes and other stuff that filled my office to overflowing. We are thinking about putting a roof between the two building so you guys have a shady place to share a toast and
tell lies. :cool:

[Scott Behn]

Heh Mike when is the clave over there anyways???

:cool:

[Red Shed]

Sept, 23, 2006 at the Lenore rest area/park which is adjacent to the Clearwater and 28mi. east of Lewiston.

[Brent Comer]

I'm looking forward to it. :cool:

Let the single-malt flow....

Howdy Brent, We are looking forward to seeing you. This afternoon we moved a little gray shed close to the Red Shed. The gray shed is Josh's new warehouse. Now we have a place for all the rod tubes and other stuff that filled my office to overflowing. We are thinking about putting a roof between the two building so you guys have a shady place to share a toast and
tell lies. :cool: