Forecast Spey Blanks

[Charles Sullivan]

I'm curious to hear from the others who have built or bought the forescast spey's. The kits are going up in price at Hook and Hackle after the first of the year. I'm thinking of purchasing the 13 foot 8/9 to build before they do. They are the only spey I've ever known. Due to their inexpensive price, I'm sure that I'm not the only spey newbie to have purchased one.

I cast my 11-6 6/7 this week with a SA 7 shorthead line. I cut 15 feet off the end and looped on a homemade compensator tip and a type IV sink tip. It really shot the line well. It is also a handsome blue rod, all decked out with red and white wraps. I'm sure Teddy ballgame would approve.
I became an OK spey caster with the 14 foot 9/10 last winter. The fish weren't all that impressed though.

How have you all liked or disliked them.

Papelbon,
cds

[Rich McCauley]

The 11' 6" rocks. The others ..... well let's just say my enthusiasm drops with every increase in length. I have 2 of the 11'6" as its nice to have a true backup and at the price ... I sold my 12'6" and have cast the others.

[Bert Kinghorn]

McCauley knows!

[Banzai]

I have built the 13' 8/9 for my first spey rod and like it immensely. It's a fine tool and very forgiving of a beginner like myself.

[James Mello]

I would have to respectfully disagree with Banzai on the 13' 8/9.... I think the rod is one of Jekle and Hyde.. The rod loaded well with the floater Windcutter 8/9/10 and a Delta Spey 9/10. Casting was nice, and things worked out well, and the rod was a bit slow, but still peppy enough. But the moment the tips went on, it was *much* harder to throw decent loops and things started to feel sluggish. Mind you this is with the *exact* say amount of grain loading. When I went to a Skagit style system, all hell broke loose and even very good casters I know could only make weak splashy casts with it. All in all I would say it's a pretty darn good (especially for the price!) dry line rod, but as you add tips, it's appeal drops off pretty quick.

[Riane]

I have the 11'6 that I built in July and I like it. I used the SA short head 7/8, and now a Skagit 450. I am still looking for the right combination with sinktips- I think the 27' Skagit plus 15' sinktip is too long of a head. Looking to build a shorter head with about the same grain weight. Other than that I really like it, it even has some backbone for larger fish. In addition to summer steelhead, it handled a few fresh chum, and even a chinook (which I didn't bring to hand- declared a draw). No winter steel on it yet.

[Banzai]

James, you may be correct on the Jekyll/Hyde nature of the 13 footer. I've only used a Cortland 9 wt "tri-color" Spey floater on it. My satisfaction with this set up may change as my technique improves and I begin to tackle some larger/deeper water with heavy tips or a Skagit type rig.