I think it depends entirely on what species of fish you're after. You would be fine with a 4wt for most trout but if you're fishing for chinook you might want a 9 or 10wt. Versatility really only applies to what you're fishing for, longer rods are better for longer casts. Guess versatility is something you'll have to decide for yourself based on the fishery you intend to use it on.

Welcome to the forum!

 

Yes this!

I started with fishing with my first spey rod: 8wt - 13'6" for salt water use and winter steelhead.
Then I got a 7wt - 11'6" for summer steelhead, pink salmon & bay/estuary use.
Next was the 10wt - 15' for kings and big game.
Then recently I got into fresh water fishing: 4wt - 11' trout spey and 5wt - 10' trout switch.

Don't know if I need a 9wt, 6wt, or 3wt to cover all the weights - yet....

But I think I have covered most species ???

 

Thanks!

 

7 wt. Too much for a lot, not enough for some, just right for a few. All around it's like a .270 or 30-06.

 

That's easy, if you have 2 trout speys, 2 7wts, 2 8wts, and a couple switches you'll be pretty versatile. That's why everybody says 7 or 8, they're not taking about wt, but number of rods

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Thanks

 

It's like everything else. It depends on your plans and location. I personally, have 3, 6 wt. and 3, 7 wt. It just happened. My favorite is a 7 wt. Burkheimer which I fish summer or winter. It's 13'4". I also have some 12'6" rods that are nice as well. I would fish them anywhere for summer steelhead. Bigger fish, Meiser 10'6" 8/9 switch. Trout, 11', 3 wt. etc. Bigger river with big fish, 9 wt., 14' long. You sort of collect, at least that what I tell my wife.

 

I started off with a 7wt, a couple years later I have add a 3/4wt trout spey, 6 wt switch and a 8/9 wt Spey. Those rods cover everything I fish for.

You sort of collect, at least that what I tell my wife.

Funny..... I tell my wife that's it's like golfing, golfer don't just use one club. So my 4 spey rods compared to 13+ golf clubs is way better!!! I don't mention price comparison though!

 

8 wt. 13'-16'. My preference is 15' 8wt.

 

My first rod was as Meiser MKS 13' 6" 7/8...it's my all-around rod. I use it summer and winter for steelhead. Like many have already suggested, two handed rods are like singles; you need the right tool for the job. I have a 4 weight for trout, a Burkie 12'7" 7 weight for smaller rivers and summer runs, a Burkie 13'9" 8 that is my go-to winter rod, and a Burkie 15' 2" 8 weight for big rivers like the Clearwater. People tend to go lighter for summer rods and heavier for winter...YMMV.

 

Thanks!

 

This somewhat depends on the size of the rivers you are going to fish. However, a 13'-14' 7 wt (or 6/7/8) or 8 wt (or 7/8/9) will let you fish both summer and winter. The 7 wt would be very nice for summer runs, but a little light for most winter run fishing. the 8 wt would be a little heavy for most rivers for summer runs, but about right for most winter run fishing (that is unless you are fishing large rivers like Idaho's Clearwater, the Thompson, Skagit, etc.). The 13'-14' 7 wt or 8 wt 2-handers are similar to a 9' 5 wt or 6 wt single-hand rod. A little heavy for some stuff, a little light for others, and way too light if you are targeting chinook.

 

Was this about steelhead?

 

Winter or summer?

 

3 rivers around me and I fish just fine with 2 rods 6120-4 and a 8134-4 and that goes for summer, fall, winter and I sleep in the spring

 

It's like everything else. It depends on your plans and location. I personally, have 3, 6 wt. and 3, 7 wt. It just happened. My favorite is a 7 wt. Burkheimer which I fish summer or winter. It's 13'4". I also have some 12'6" rods that are nice as well. I would fish them anywhere for summer steelhead. Bigger fish, Meiser 10'6" 8/9 switch. Trout, 11', 3 wt. etc. Bigger river with big fish, 9 wt., 14' long. You sort of collect, at least that what I tell my wife.

Thank u for the info ,I live in Kennewick and looking for a at of a Spey rod to fish here . My 9/10 at is to stout for this area.
Maybe a 6wt would be fun for the bass here .?

 

For bass, I'd say a 4wt switch rod - handles a large range of fish - browns, SRC, bass, pike, mountain whites....
Unless the bass was large like a summer steelhead, the 4wt spey rod will act like a 6/7wt single hander...
I love my 11'6" Hydrogen 4wt spey rod....

 

Thank u

 

I have a ton of fun with my 7wt. Beulah Onyx on the sound fishing for resident coho. I've hooked numerous large sea runs as well. I really like fishing the sound this way because it easy for me to throw a ton of line/ get the streamer far out there from the beach. I can't do the 70 ft .casts with my 6wt single hand rod that the rest of the pro's on the forum can . I got it with the intent of hunting summer kings, but turns out in the summer I have wayyyyyy too much fun on the mt. creeks hooking micro-trout with my 3wt.