Need spey setup advice

[StiffLegged Van Rossi]

I am going to buy myself a spey rod for Christmas as I have been wanting one for years. I would like some advice on the rod/reel/line setup. Also, do I need some kind of shooting heads? I am thinking of a 13ft CND or Beaulah . Money is an object, so would like to keep the rod under 400 clams. Total setup under $700. I would be mostly targeting Dechutes redsides and summer/winter steelhead. Could I get away with a 6wt or should it be 7 or 8? Reason I would like to go smaller is that I don't want a 8wt for a 12 inch trout but don't want to hook a 25 lb steelhead and have the pole break. Thanks!

PS Anyone know of Spey classes around Portland/Vancouver area?

[FLGator]

Don't think you'll have any issue getting set up with an entire well balanced outfit to meet your needs. I highly recommend getting in touch with Poppy at the Red Shed Fly Shop and having him set you up. Finest service in the entire business.

One other thing to consider. Before buying this set up, figure out what you're going to do the most and buy the ideal set up for that specific application. Trying to find one rod to do it all from swinging soft hackels for redsides to winter swinging with 15' of T14 and 5" Intruders is going to leave you frustrated.

If you're mostly swinging for steelhead, something in the 13-14' 7/8 wt range would be ideal for your application (think wind). Also, talk with Poppy regarding the Echo Dec Hogan signature rods and the TFO Deer Creek rods. They both might be of interest and will fall well within your price range. There are many options regarding line systems and all have their pros and cons. Take a look at the speypages and dig around a little regarding the different styles (Skagit, Scando and traditional short, mid and long bellies, etc.). For fishing, personally I think you'd be well served with either a short head multi tip line system (Airflow Delta, Rio Windcutter etc.) or a single running line paired with a Scando set up for floating line applications and a Skagit head for tip work.

[FT]

TFO's Deer Creek series, ECHO, St. Croix, and Redington all have very nice casting 2-handed rods for under $400.00. Since you want to have an "all around" rod, you really ought to go with an 8 or 9 wt. of 13'-14' long. In other words, you are looking to get the "do everything" 2-hand rod, and just like the 9'-10' 5 or 6wt single-hand "all round, do everything" rod, it will be a bit heavy for smaller summer fish, and a bit light for the largest winter fish and kings. However, the 8 or 9 wt 2-hander will do both. Granted it is going to be a bit heavy for small summer fish and a bit light for large winter fish and kings, but it will be able to do both.

The Greased Line Shoppe in Vancouver, WA, Kaufmann's in Tigard, OR, and especially The Fly Shop in Welches, OR will have what you are looking for. Plus all of them can provide good, solid casting instruction so you can get off on the right foot.

If you don't have to get the rod at Christmas and can wait until after the Sandy, OR Spey Clave in May, it would be a good thing for you. The reason I mention this is the Sandy Spey Clave has some of the world's best spey casters and instructors at it each year, most of the 2-hand (or spey rod) rod manufacturers (and most of the rods they make), and the line manufacturer's spey lines there. Plus, you get to cast the rods and get some instruction and pointers from all the very experienced, good spey casters present. Since this will be your first 2-handed rod, I highly recommend you go to it first, try several different makes of rods in the 13'-14' 8 or 9 wt size, and then narrow your selection down based upon which rod felt best to you within your price range. This will keep you from making a mistake and getting a rod ill suited to you.

If you really need to get the spey set-up for Christmas, I think your best bet would be to go see the guys in Welches, OR. Second best would be the folks at the Greased Line Shoppe there in Vancouver, WA. Third best would to talk to Mike at the Red Shed and have him send a rod to you on approval. You might also get in touch with Bob Meiser (he and Mike Kinney designed the TFO Deer Creek Series) and see what he recommends you look at.

[StiffLegged Van Rossi]

Thanks everyone. This is great advise. Sounds like my assumption was right that I need more than 1 spey rod. For now, I will concentrate on a steelhead spey rod and continue with my 4wt 9' for any trout fishing.

[DoubleL]

In reality you will always "need" more than one rod of any kind. At least I do. :D

For myself, a 7/8 two-handed rod is ideal for the steelhead rivers we have in NW Oregon and SW Washington. Generally, rods in this size have enough backbone to cover bigger water and windy conditions like on the Deschutes as well as handle the occasional big steelhead, but are matched well to the average 8-10 pound fish we have. They also allow for a range of delivery methods like skagit, scando, etc.

I fully agree with a bit of advice I heard Ed Ward give to pick one style and stick with it until proficient before branching out to other styles. IMHO I think for someone starting out, a mutli-tip windcutter or delta is ideal because it can cover a lot of fishing conditions while allowing the beginner to work on mastering the principles.

All in all, one of the best things you can do is to call Poppy at the Red Shed.

[speyfisher]

In reality you will always "need" more than one rod of any kind. At least I do. :D

For myself, a 7/8 two-handed rod is ideal for the steelhead rivers we have in NW Oregon and SW Washington. Generally, rods in this size have enough backbone to cover bigger water and windy conditions like on the Deschutes as well as handle the occasional big steelhead, but are matched well to the average 8-10 pound fish we have. They also allow for a range of delivery methods like skagit, scando, etc.

I fully agree with a bit of advice I heard Ed Ward give to pick one style and stick with it until proficient before branching out to other styles. IMHO I think for someone starting out, a mutli-tip windcutter or delta is ideal because it can cover a lot of fishing conditions while allowing the beginner to work on mastering the principles.

All i all, one of the best things you can do is to call Poppy at the Red Shed.

Do that first! Start with style of casting. Skagit Can throw anything from small top water flies to half a critter. Easiest style to learn from scratch. Lines: Skagit head, running line, a couple of tips. Rod: 13' 7/8 wt. CND's are nice. But above your price range. Forget St. Croix, better stuff out there for you money. Like Echo or TFO. Talk to Poppy.

[Doug Jowett]

I have been very pleased with Cortland's Endurance series, 5 piece Spey/Double handed rods at a price of $199 using there Short Belly, multi-tip Spey lines. The loop to loop connection of intermediate and two sink tips is very convenient for quick changes of line on stream. The rods are a great value and function very well. As for reels, make certain to purchase on large enough to accommodate the bulk of Spey lines. Your life will never be the same when you switch to the other side - Spey Rods rule. :cool:

[Jumbo]

Sage VT2 7130
Rio Skagit 500 (or so) tips, etc.
a lesson from Charles St Pierre at NW Speycasting.

and you are golden

[Steelie Mike]

Since I know the rivers you are going to be fishing locally, I would recommend a 7 or 8 wt rod between 12-13 feet long. I would not recommend a 6 wt for a beginner, especially if you want to fish the windy Deschutes. However a six weight will still be too big for trout. Echo, Beulah and Redington are great companies. Echo Rods are Tim Rajeff project and based here in Vancouver too. Put an Okuma Integrity and a line on it and you will be under your money limit.

[Red Shed]

Echo Rods are Tim Rajeff project and based here in Vancouver too. Put an Okuma Integrity and a line on it and you will be under your money limit


Actually an Echo 13'-7/8 coupled with a Delta Multi tip line, loaded on a Lamson Radius 4 reel along with 150yds of 30# backing, leader, line dressing, and a spey casting dvd can be had for $550.00 shipped to his door.

[SteelieD]

Actually an Echo 13'-7/8 coupled with a Delta Multi tip line, loaded on a Lamson Radius 4 reel along with 150yds of 30# backing, leader, line dressing, and a spey casting dvd can be had for $550.00 shipped to his door.

Hey Poppy. I'll be calling you soon!!!:thumb: