[Tom Martin]

I hesitate to post this, since the temper of this board is to heap ridicule on the "great unwashed" but I have never been know for using good judgement. Just kiddiing, some took me seriously, banter here is always good. First some background.. I learned to fly fish in the mid 70s while stationed in the military in Alaska.. great time and place to learn. I then used Fenwick glass rods and old Pfleuger 149X series reels.. actually I still do use some of the rods and most of the reels, even after 35 years.. as a result I like med to med/fast action rods, don't care for the newer fast action graphites... my favorite graphites are an Orvis 8.5' 5wgt and a G-Loomis 9' 8 wgt, both with med-mf actions...

So about 3 years ago I decided to get into the spey thing, or more correctly 2H casting. I had access to a DH Echo 6 wgt and a TR Echo 7 wgt, loved the DH and not to fond of the TR, mainly the difference in actions.. I did pick up a 13' 8/9 med/fast action and learned to chunk it out there pretty good, especially with the compact scandi lines, but wanted a lighter wgt for summer runs..

While trying to decide on an Echo 6 or a TFO switch, I came across the Angler's Roost ad for a 12' 5/6 wgt IM6 rod for $99 plus shipping. I had decided that the price would indicate its probably crap, but did a web search and found some review of the blank and the rod. Blank got good reviews, especially from th GL area guys. Rod finish got some negative, but they all liked the action. So I figured, what the heck, its only $100 bucks, if I don't like it, can use it as backup or let the grandkids learn on it.. Plus I found it for $89 plus shipping or $102 total... so I pulled the trigger... I really want an Anderson or Meiser anyway and this will give me enough knowledge to decide on which wgt I really want...

Got the rod and tis about 10 times better than expectations, really nice finish, graphite reel seat, put together very well. Took it out to the lawn for some testing.. problem is I don't have spey line yet, its on the way, but had SH line to test, I plan on using it overhead casting off the beaches here.. it cast a Outbound 9 wgt beautifully, can really launch it out there, 75-80' casts not a problem.. I have a custom WF10F with tips, it was originally an SA Advantage, with most of the weight forward in the taper... its does really well both overhead and if I slow down and let the rod do the work, also with 2h spey...

I then tried my mid-spey 8/9 with tip 1 and 2 removed (400 grn) and it worked nicely,so then I put tip 2 back on... it was great, yeah it overloads the rod, but for lawn casting it worked great... then tried my windcutter 8/9/10 and it worked great also, its really heavy for this rod, but work OK as a lawn caster.. just have to remember to slow my tempo and let the rod work.. which honestly is just basic good casting sense.. I have a WC 5/6 and a Skagit 450 inbound, can't wait to try them...

This rod is definitely a med action, mid-flex rod, so it's not for everyone. You have to like the med action style and slow down and let the rod work, but if that suits your taste, its an excellent rod for the $$$. I personally think it is a great rod for me to continue my learning on and will be a nice backup if I decide to stay with this, as I am sure I will. What I was most surprised with is the way it handles the 9/10 sh lines, plus I have even cast some WF8F Indicator line on it and it does fine. It will be a good nymph stick, I think.

So if your looking for a learning stick and want to start relatively cheap... take a look at this one. I think I will get one of his 10' 2/3 wgt nymph sticks just to see how well they do for SH fishing... but my Orvis and G-Loomis uiually meet all my needs there... or I go old school and fish with the Fenwick and one of my old pfleugers, still love them and can't beat the actions...

 

[KerryS]

Nice post, with some good info.

I almost dumped it after I read the first line. Never understood the mentality of starting off a post by ripping on the membership.

 

[James Mello]

I hesitate to post this, since the temper of this board is to heap ridicule on the "great unwashed" but I have never been know for using good judgement. First some background.. I learned to fly fish in the mid 70s while stationed in the military in Alaska.. great time and place to learn. I then used Fenwick glass rods and old Pfleuger 149X series reels.. actually I still do use some of the rods and most of the reels, even after 35 years.. as a result I like med to med/fast action rods, don't care for the newer fast action graphites... my favorite graphites are an Orvis 8.5' 5wgt and a G-Loomis 9' 8 wgt, both with med-mf actions...

This is the internet, put out the great content you did and ignore the rest of the morons who would tear you down. At any rate, it's good to see there are some good lower priced options for switchers out there. In terms of bang for the buck hopefully it comes out being like the St Croix Imperial 2 handers. Great price to performance..... Please post when you get a chance to get the rod to the water. I'll be nice to see how wide a grain window this thing has when you're using water anchored casts (both sustained and touch and go).

 

[Mumbles]

I read it twice and appreciate the input.

 

[Steve Saville]

I have two nephews, ages 8 and 10 who are dying to spey fish. I considered, seriously, about dropping the $89.95 on each of them. I contacted the Angler's Roost about warranty and there is none but...the e-mail I got back said it would be replaced, no questions asked for a period of one year from purchase be it a fall or a car door. That's pretty gfood for 90 bucks but I opted instead for a Rainshadow kit for each kid to be built by flybil for a paultry fee. The rods should last a long time, given care and the kids will enjoy picking out their wrapping and the personal touches that will be added.

 

[Ernie Adams]

A medalist can be fished on spey less that 13 feet. I love those reels.

Go Sox,
cds

 

[Tom Martin]

Charles

I was thinking of using one of my 1498s they hold a ton of line, but was unsure how the drag would hold up, if I am ever lucky enough to hang into one... plus I had a couple of ALbright GPX 9/10 with extra spools available..

 

[Tom Martin]

Steve

My grandaughter fly fishes with me and I know she will want to do teh 2H thing. So that was a big deciding factor in going ahead and getting this rod. One I finally decide on what I want and upgrade, it will be a good learning rod for her. I wanted one of the rainshadow rods, but didn't know any rod-builders and was willing to make the attempt myself.

 

[Ernie Adams]

Charles

I was thinking of using one of my 1498s they hold a ton of line, but was unsure how the drag would hold up, if I am ever lucky enough to hang into one... plus I had a couple of ALbright GPX 9/10 with extra spools available..

The've been thousands of steelhead and Atlantics landed with them. TedWilliams used them for atlantics. If they are good enough for the spledid splinter then they're good enough for anyone.

Go Sox,
cds

 

[Tom Martin]

Frugal Flyfisherman - On the Water

On the water finally.. After a week of wind and rain here, finally got out to the water today to test the rod with various lines. Didn't get to moving water, but to a local lake.. so here's my report..

With the Windcutter 5/6 it is a nice performing rod. Feels light, but with the right timing it does a very good job. This will be the line I use the most on this rod... 90-100 feet casts with relative ease, my objective is not long casting anyway...

Skagit 450... I did not have my running line here, so I just used some 40lb mono and it worked well. I had it with a 12' sink tip, a custom made light tip of 100grn.... was mainly after a sink tip sustained anchor. This line cast well and got plenty of distance, with good turn over. First time I have used any skagit line, so it took some adjustment, but I liked it. Can't wait to get some running line and give it a good test..

Just for grins I tried the Windcutter 8/9/10. It really did a good job. This was on still water, mind you, so while it did feel heavy, it cast and turned over beautifully. It actually turned over the larger flies better than the 5/6, but not quite the distance and much more backcast room needed. I would probably tire a lot faster fishing this all day, but it ws fun to cast and looked pretty.

Then the Midspey 8/9.. not so good. Took a lot of timing adjustment, lot more backcast room, and just didn't feel good. After 20-30 minutes I was getting some pretty good cast, but I was glad it was just for goofing off.

I was using a pretty large fly, mostly maribou streamer of an 2/0 hook and the lines were turning it over fine. It was still water, so not a great test yet, need to get to the river this weekend. Here are my assumptions...

The 5/6 will be fine for summer with floating lines, it is 365 grn and I think just a little more weight would be better, maybe a 375 or so. I am thinking my next line is the SGS Skandit 390 head from Meiser Spey Shop, should be just right.. or a new Rio Steelhead taper... The 450 Skagit is about right, maybe cho a couple of feet get it to 420 or so...., but it feels good and I need to try it with a heavier sink tip before I do anything.

The WC 8/9/10.. nice on still water, but I bet in moving water its going to be a tug to get it into casting position, just too much drag out there... but the rod can handle it. The midspey, forget it..

So, the rod performs well, at least for me. Its a nice rod to learn on. It forces me to slow down and let the rod work, and to change my timing for different lines. I am sure there are rods that would cast better, but I like the med action and think this will be a good learning rod. IN 4 days of lawn casting and some time on the water, I am getting better with it every day. A lot more comfortable and learning how to let it load and when to release...

For the money, I am happy.