Line for a Echo2 Spey 7wt

[Rev Trout]

A friend just gave me a new 12 ft 4" 7wt Echo2 Spey Rod. I have never done this before and don't want to tie up to much money to get started. I fish most trout on the Yakima. I'm wading and could maybe use this rod to cast to hard to reach spots(?). Cabelas has a good price on a 7/8 Airflo Delta Spey Fly Line ($35). Is this a good line for the money (and this rod) to get started and learn to spey fish? I read most of the treads and it seems like it might work.

Thanks from a Spey Newbie

[Sloan Craven]

If you don't want to tie up too much money, the best thing for you to do would be to send that rod to me! Especially since once you get the hang of it you'll be hooked.
Seriously though, I think that the 7/8 line may be as good as it gets. I think you definitely want an airflo line for the rod , no matter which weight you get, since Rajeff designed both that rod and that fly line. You may actually want to contact Echo. Or Jay Johnson (on this board) (to my understanding ) has intimate knowledge of the Rajeff Sports product line.
This rod isn't a classic spey rod as it is scandi design. But it will be much more versatile, which you may want as your only two hander. You should be able to cast far, or short, overhead cast, or spey cast. It should be good on wider stretches of the Yak as well as summer steel and surf casting.

[Matt Burke]

Just some 25# slickshooter fer a couple bucks and then a $40 Skagit head, I'm guessing around the 400 to 500 grain range of weight fer that rod and I'll bet you could be tossing overhead 100 feet in a couple minutes. Hell, I'll meet you down at Ben Howard this Sunday and show you how. I don't know anything about running a spey line through that rod. Just overheading a two handed with a shooting head and thin ass running line. I sure would like to run Mr. Rajeff's Echo 2 through it's paces and make it groan and sweat.

[Red Shed]

The 7/8 Delta will work quite well on that rod. The two different tips will also give you a much wider grain window when choosing lines.

Matt has it right on for a scandi head. The Airflo 7/8 Scandi head (450grns) casts great on that rod.

[Rev Trout]

Thanks for the help guys. I'm on the road and it is going to be a few days before I can play with this thing.

Joe