New 8/9 spey rod, need line rec

[Jake Smulkowski]

Hey there, folks...

I am just finishing up on building a 13' Batson Rainshadow 8/9 spey rod, and I'm very excited to use it. Here is my situation: I plan on spending most of my meager discretionary income on gas this fall/winter, for using this spey rod and a single hander on the Clearwater. I read some of the recs for good cheap reels - I have searched around to no avail looking for a good cheap line for a beginner...does anyone have a recomendation? Or maybe a used line that might fit my purposes that they would be willing to sell? I think the line would only need to last this season until I can upgrade it. My understanding with the Batson rods is that they can benefit from being "lined up" one size, so it seems like a 9/10 might fit the bill?

Thanks for the help, looking forward to the new addiction!

Jake

[Scott Behn]

nothing

[Scott Behn]

Well basically any new spey line that is a full floater is going to run you about 65-75 bucks no matter what the brand. As far what grain weight would be best for you I would contact Kristen and Ron (AATF). They might have something for you to try or contact Poppy at Red Shed in Peck and he'll be able to help you out tremendously and especially since he is in your neck of the woods.

:cool:

[halcyon]

You really should cast the rod with different lines until you find the right match and then you can watch the classifieds on the Speypages for used lines until you find the one you need at a price you are willing to pay. Another thought is to contact your local spey shop (where you can try different lines) and see if they have a demo or used "shop" line they would sell at a used price.

Spey rods are not like one-hand rods, each rod has a very narrow window of grain weight it will cast extremely well and you need to find that weight range for your rod. And this range is particular to each individual rod in many cases and not a line or model or maker. So do your line test casting homework and get the correct line.

Regards,

[fredaevans]

Is the rod a 12-6 or 13 footer? Ask as a friend just got his 'custom' 12-6 for a 7/8 and we ran several lines through it just yesterday. The best match up was a 8/9 Airflo. Worst was a Hardy 8/9 Mach II.
Fred

Edit: the 12-6 appeared to require a short WF line of about 550 grains (skagit/skandi head) to really zip line out.

[Banzai]

Jake. I have also built that 13 footer and have had good results with a Cortland 9/10 WF floating(tri-color Spey) in 280 gr that I cut and looped for tips. Also fair was the Rio 9/10 WF Mid-Spey w/tips. Haven't tried a Skagit type on it yet, but I think it would be a boomer.