reccomendation for the Snoqualmie / SKy

[sano2b8]

Life long single handed guy here, and I live in Carnation WA, so fishing the Snoqualmie is where I do 90% of my fishing. I am thinking about taking the Spey rod plunge and thinking about a 13 foot WInston BIIX for an 8. I have a Tibor Gulfstream already and will pair the two. Is 13 feet enough or should I go to 14 feet?

I am the kind of guy that has too many rods, so I don't see myself trying to get a single rod to cover all situations, if I get into this, I'll pick up others. But for starters, will this be cool?

Thanks,

sano2b8

[sano2b8]

sorry, this is a Steelhead rod, i won't be using this for kings / chums etc. It will also be predominantly a winter rod, as I can reach most of the water i want to fish when the river is lower in the summer.

thanks,

sano2b8

[sano2b8]

sorry, this is a Steelhead rod, i won't be using this for kings / chums etc. It will also be predominantly a winter rod, as I can reach most of the water i want to fish when the river is lower in the summer.

thanks,

sano2b8

[FLGator]

Head over to River Run Angler's (http://www.speyshop.com/) day on the river and see if you can try one. Aaron may have one in the try rack. If not, still one of the best spey shops around and you'd be able to get your hands on some great combinations and some great instruction...free.

Chris

[dsteady]

I heartily second FLGator's advice. Get over to Aaron's and try out at least a few rods before commiting to one. Your first experience with spey casting can really be influenced for better or for worse by the rod/line you select. The Winston probably isn't a bad choice (I've never cast it), but cast it against some other stuff too. I don't think the 13' length is an issue. For years I cast a 1308 Fly Logic, and I caught a lot of fish on it too. If you think you might use the Skagit style lines then a 13' rod can be ideal.

By the way, it's worth getting some instruction too. Aaron's a good resource for this, and so is the saurday morning Spey gathering at the Tolt.

Have fun.
Daniel

[Salmo_g]

Sano2b8,

I've never heard any negative comments about that Winston, and I like it, altho I don't have one - too many already. Given your location, you should take advantage of Aaron's Saturday morning clinics as the others have already posted. Lots of toys to try out, and an abundance of good information.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

[fredaevans]

Another vote for getting yourself over to Aaron's shop and 'test driving' a few different rod/line combinations (the reel you've got would be perfect for almost any choice). There (not an orig. thought here) are no 'bad rods' or 'bad line,' but there are really bad combinations of one to the other.

I've lines that 'zing' on one 7wt and are a complete flop on another due to the difference in rod action/design. The major difference (leaving line/rod out of this for the moment) is the shorter rod may be the better choice if 'fishing close' is a frequent need. The longer rod if fishing farther out is a primary factor.

Yes, you can cast long on a short rod, and short on a long rod ... but no where near as well/easily. And the choice of line config. really comes into play here big time.

As to your choice of line weights, good on you. I think you'll find an "8" to be a good middle ground for either "normal water conditions" winter or summer work (first rod purchase).

Edit: should have added. The average 8wt rod will handle one hell of a big fish, regardless of what type, in a river.

[Hal Eckert]

ll find an "8" to be a good middle ground for either "normal water conditions" winter or summer work (first rod purchase).

Edit: should have added. The average 8wt rod will handle one hell of a big fish, regardless of what type, in a river.

Mr. Evans your are correct an 8 wgt can land a big fish like this Michigan King salmon years ago, but my arem was ready to fall off, this fish was 35 lbs at least, and I look foreard to the day I am retired too and can write long leisurely responses on myltiple boards through out the day.

:thumb: :p :beer1: :cool:

BG

P.S. Thata a wild salmon not stocked many rivers in Michigan have wild populations since the 70s.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/eckhal1/IMG_00992.jpg

[sano2b8]

thank you all for helping out. I have stopped by Aaron's shop a couple of times and he is a gentleman. He actually called around for me before we picked up our home as we were worried about flooding and called neighbors in the local area. I'll stop by tomorrow and check it out.

thanks everyone,

sano2b8