So many good rods out there in pretty much every price range, ask 100 guys this question and you'll get 200 answers.

Also really comes down to the lines, fly sizes, and the individual caster, but I do think you're making the right choice with getting an 8. The 7 is nice on smaller water, and plenty useable on bigger water (my 7 also is a backup pike rod and I can cast 8-10" stuff well consistently 80' with an OBS, though I'll pick up my 9wt every time if I can for pike stuff), the 8 is a great choice for throwing doubles, more easily throwing pretty much everything, and fishing other roles.

The only thing I would recommend, is get an imported rod with an easy to deal with, no BS warranty that doesn't have a high fee. Big weighted streamers, multiple shot nymph rigs, big fish...more likely to result in a break than other pursuits. My friend fishes TFO rods, and he's broken 3 of them, but he always gets a new rod back within a week of sending it in.

 

ask 100 guys this question and you'll get 200 answers.

Pretty much sums in up right there...so here's my two (or three)

being as I don't really fish graphite, mine are all glass. I used to mostly use one of the first generation Blue Halos...I've since sold it though so now it's usually my Fisher 8'6" 6/7 coupled with an OPST head. My Steffen 6wt is ok for smaller streamers (as in under 3") but it struggles with larger streamers. I recently picked up a Berkley Curt Gowdy 6/7, which I'm really growing to love for this type of fishing. It'll turn over virtually anything with an OPST head (currently using a 200gr, but looking to go a little heavier) and fishes really well with the Airflo Streamer Short. I thought it would have more limitations with single-hand spey casting since it's only 7'6", but it works great & has the backbone to turn large fish quick.

 

If you want a good streamer rod that can nymph well, one of the more moderate action rods might be better. Something like a B3X or an Accel. I have a Gvx 8wt that fits the bill.

Maybe a closeout Hardy Jet?

 

Just beat me to the GVX 8wt...Not a rocket but pitches a weighted #4 without much thought. Getting ready to build an Xi3 7wt; hoping to have it done before a trip to Yellowstone Lake next month...Should be an interesting comparison.

 

Also...Cabelas still has some 9' 8wt VXPs that might be worth a look...

 

Scott E2 7wt

 

Any Sage pulse fans out there? Wondering myself.

 

One thing to consider regardless of what you get is to look at the size of the stripping guides.
That is what I dislike most about my current sticks, how small the guides are.
The first stripping guide is where most of your tangles in the running line will get caught.
With bigger guides, some of the tangles will shoot through or straighten themselves out.
Good luck,
SF

 

Stonefish makes a good point. Have always been displeased by the sage 6 weights..... one small stripping guide on all rods except their SW series. 16-to 12 stripping guide combo size minimum for 7 weight.

 

Which brands lean toward larger stripping guides?

 

Scott has large guides.
Some of the Hardy rods do as well as the new Redington Predator just to name a few.
I'm sure there are others that folks will chime in on.
SF

 

My 697 Sage Z-Axis has tiny stripping guides and it's a pain in the but when shooting lots of line. The Salt, Xi3, and other SW rods from them have nice big guides. The guides on my Redington rods (RS4, CPS) are certainly bigger. I think even my 5wt BVK has bigger guides. It's a bigger deal if you're using a stripping basket IMO, but something to think about when looking at rods.

 

Sage has held true to using smaller guides on their 6s, even when most other mfg'ers both domestic and foreign use bigger guides on their 6s....Sage must think they have them fooled...or something. Many really like the TCR, TCX, and Method for SW applications but the biggest complaint I have read against them are the small guides.

 

Yep, combine small guides with a mono core line and you've created the perfect recipe for a lot of cussing......
SF

 

I've never had a non-saltwater Sage in 7+ weight. Do they have bigger guides?

 

Yes the SW sages have bigger guides

 

You can see stripping guides and snakes are larger on their salt series compared to others, not sure why they do one less snake on their SW series. Think they started that with the Xi2



Sage Salt 890-4
GUIDE SIZE SPACING (does not include tip)
no.-size-distance
1- 3 6
2- 3 12-5/16
3 -3 19-7/8
4- 3 28-1/8
5 -3 36-5/8
6 -4 45-3/8
7- 5 54-7/16
8- 12J 64-9/16
9 -20J 77


Sage Method and X 890-4
GUIDE SIZE SPACING
no.-size-distance
1 -2 4-3/16
2 -2 8-7/8
3- 2 14-1/4
4 -2 20-5/8
5- 2 28
6- 2 36-1/8
7- 3 45
8- 4 54-11/16
9 -12J 66-7/16
10- 16J 79-5/16

 

I have no affiliation (mods, if this is against the rules, delete the link), but here's a rod that really would be the perfect streamer rod...at an amazing price too! Hell, even the name of the rod is "Streamer Special"...If I currently had the coin for this, it would no longer be available.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-Tom-...4-Piece-Fiberglass-Fly-Rod-/132184790594?hash=item1ec6d3d642:g:T9MAAOSwDmBY4TUs

 

Speaking of small guides...are those stripping guides really small or is it just me? Cool Rod though.

 

if youre looking not to break the bank. echo ion. great rod for under 200 and i honestly have no complaints.

 

yeah, they are. I've personally never been a fan of the agate...looks cool (and classic), but I like larger & more functional.

 

What type of streamers are we talking here, Mickey Finn or Zoo Cougar?

 

Often big heavy articulated sculpins etc.

 

I have to say my go to for Bow River Bruisers is either a 7100 or 8100 Sage RPL which make bank pounding streamers effortless all-day long!

 

I would agree! My go-to streamer rod is a 790 VPS, which was made on the same blanks as the older RPLs. Throws heavier sink tips with large streamers no problem. As long as I dial it in right, the rod seems to do the work for me.

 

(Edit of my earlier post after rereading the first post on thread). So many variables - super subjective. Type of water? Windy? What kind of heavier rods do you enjoy casting? What constitutes big browns (MT big, or sea run big, etc)? Need to throw something else on the rod in a pinch or is this all- streamer all the time? The list goes on.

If I got a phone call from a buddy and he said he was picking me up in front of my house in 5 minutes to go after "big browns" - and I could only bring one rod and didn't have any other context - I'd probably lean Orvis H2 7 or 8 wt. YMMV

 

The question was about our favorite rod for throwing streamers for big browns; I rarely fish browns but do spend a lot of time throwing streams for the bull trout of my home waters. Those bulls behave much the same as larger browns and the fishing for them is even more streamer dependent. For approximate 25 years my Sage 596 RPL+ has served me well and handle both the full range of browns encounters as well as some significant by catch.

Curt

 

I have a Winston b3X for this. Its very nice as a middle-ground rod. Not overly stiff, but decent performance and very fun to fight a fish on even when they aren't massive. You can find a new/new-ish one on auction sites cheap as Winston's above 6wt aren't in high demand. I throw big stuff with it. Get the right line for that and you'll have a better time. Rio Big Nasty does the job and shoots big bugs. I can also see where a "bomb" rod like an NRX would be awesome too though for sure. I enjoy Winston's a lot, though for a 7wt at the same price...I'd probably lean towards the NRX for this specialized, throw big and long purpose. Also a Sage XP is a fantastic 7wt. TFO BVK's seemed targeted for this job as well, though they are fragile to a degree and can tend break...but like someone else mentioned, they get replaced pretty dang easily! I'd be super interested in trying out a Fenwick Aetos. Apparently their performance is pretty sweet for this stuff and you can't beat that cheap of a price. I haven't cast one yet, just saw some surprising reviews...and I really loved the moderate FMG a LOT.

 

Loop's new Q series is worth a look. https://www.looptackle.com/products/rods/q-series/

 

Who carries Loop in Seattle area?

 

Looks like the Evening Hatch is the closest.

 

If it's just me or someone I'm confident isn't going to nail the rod with a cone head or dumbbell eyes I throw a 7 weight B3x and it tosses junk very nicely. Big guides and a nice action. Otherwise I use and have others throw an Echo3s 7 weight, which is a great streamer rod as well. Sometimes I'all throw a 6 or an 8 weight, but that has more to do with what line and fly I'm using than what I am fishing for.

 

Seems like I have unconsciously focused on streamer rods in the last couple years. Many years back, when you could still find them, I picked up a Sage 697-4 XP. A few years back I got into glass and after some decent rods picked up a Graywolf built Epic 686 with saltwater components including oversized strippers. That's a sweetheart! Then, on a lark (and as I was interested in 7s) I picked up here a T&T Paradigm 790-3. I love it. Has just enough speed and a ton of soul. Never had (or seen) a T&T before. I can tell you without question, they are a stunning build for factory. Every bit as good as S and W.
But, what I find often is like Goldilocks. Love the 686 absolutely, and when you need horsepower, the T&T delivers but is fun to throw. I'm taking too long to say that the 697 XP hits the sweet spot better than dozens of rods I have tried or owned. I go back to it time and again unless conditions are fairly calm or very windy. It is dependable and usually works well.

 

I think both the 691 and 697 XP's hit the sweet pot for multi PNW fishing. MHO!