Two that I really like, but don't own because... Well, I've got a 7 wt (sage 7136-4 brownie), two 9 wts (sage 9140-4 brownie, and sage 9126-3 aka the Chum-Spankin' Stick!), and a 10 wt (scott 1510-4 howitzer!) are the Redington DFRs and the Thomas and Thomas. Both are on the fast end of the scale, and besides being absolutely Fugly, the Redington DFRs my be my favorites. Frankly I would trade all but the 12.5 foot sages, but I'm tired and lazy...
Two 2 handers seldom mentioned...
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Of course they don't qualify as seldom mentioned but the Dec Hogan FlyLogic rods have piqued my interest. I watched Tyler booming out crazy casts on the T with one last fall.
Spoke with some anglers from Scotland who swear by the Daiwas. They sent me a video of salmon fishing with Spey rods but my VCR can't play the format for some reason. (BTW - anyone know how I can view these tapes?)
Never heard of a bamboo Spey rod, although Smitty of the Rod Builder's Workshop pointed out some old European wooden twohanders in a book. Of particular interest was the handle configuration of one of the overhand rods. We adopted it into the handle of a prototype 2-hander for saltwater flyfishing in big surf.
I wonder if the old s-glass would make a nice Spey rod... maybe a little soft but I'm sure the material could be made with high enough modulus to perform the cast and what a sweet motion it would offer for DT floaters maybe...
Spoke with some anglers from Scotland who swear by the Daiwas. They sent me a video of salmon fishing with Spey rods but my VCR can't play the format for some reason. (BTW - anyone know how I can view these tapes?)
Never heard of a bamboo Spey rod, although Smitty of the Rod Builder's Workshop pointed out some old European wooden twohanders in a book. Of particular interest was the handle configuration of one of the overhand rods. We adopted it into the handle of a prototype 2-hander for saltwater flyfishing in big surf.
I wonder if the old s-glass would make a nice Spey rod... maybe a little soft but I'm sure the material could be made with high enough modulus to perform the cast and what a sweet motion it would offer for DT floaters maybe...
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Ah yes, "we're a small but mighty group." Probably has to do with the average cost of a good Spey rod. But we do three casts/drifts to each single hander. Think this may be why we hook 'more' fish? As an old friend used to say: "you can't catch fish if you're hook isn't in the water." Lee was right and that's (and some obvious things) is the major wonder of spey rods. You're fishing more, casting less.
There are some very good monderate price rods out there (good reels are God forsaken in price to handle a 10/11 RIO tri-tip's, etc.) but you can pay up and up. Hardy's big gun is about $1500 US, St. Croix is $275 so you've got a real range. But figure you'll still drop between $500-$800 for one of the better brands of rods. Just a choice from there as to 'traditional actions' vs. Euro Actions. The first is far easier to cast, the second will throw tips and heavy flys just beyond tomorrow. Flow or Rocket? Probably why I'm getting my 7th spey rod in a couple of days.
Different fishing conditions; a huge chuck to get to the holding water; how heavy a tip/fly(s) are you throwing. Expensive (and I do love my wife) but beats blowing 5 grand on a trip to Europe.
If you're a spey caster, or what to join a major 'on line' group then International Spey Casting on msn.ca (Canada) is your place of choice. Almost 300 folk world-wide (and I do mean from all around the world) regularly contribute to the Board.
fe
There are some very good monderate price rods out there (good reels are God forsaken in price to handle a 10/11 RIO tri-tip's, etc.) but you can pay up and up. Hardy's big gun is about $1500 US, St. Croix is $275 so you've got a real range. But figure you'll still drop between $500-$800 for one of the better brands of rods. Just a choice from there as to 'traditional actions' vs. Euro Actions. The first is far easier to cast, the second will throw tips and heavy flys just beyond tomorrow. Flow or Rocket? Probably why I'm getting my 7th spey rod in a couple of days.
Different fishing conditions; a huge chuck to get to the holding water; how heavy a tip/fly(s) are you throwing. Expensive (and I do love my wife) but beats blowing 5 grand on a trip to Europe.
If you're a spey caster, or what to join a major 'on line' group then International Spey Casting on msn.ca (Canada) is your place of choice. Almost 300 folk world-wide (and I do mean from all around the world) regularly contribute to the Board.
fe
Fred my man, you ain't kidding about reels! If I use my 10/11 accelerator, I can either use a pate tarpon with Maybe 100 yards of 35lb Gelspun, or a monstrously huge Abel 4.5N (standard spool version of what the young fellas know as the super 12 in large arbor stylie) that I used to use on Yellowfin Tuna before I became Mister Mom and figured out that meant I don't get vacations anymore! And that's with 30 to 50 feet of the running line cut off!!!!! The Pate reels are a real bargain in the high end market, but they still ain't cheap, and I feel like a "reel" poser swinging the Abel around on a river... There is no good solution...
A Ross Canyon would be another choice and they arent as expensive as the Abels and the Tibors and in my opinions they are of similiar quality. Including, an EXCELLENT warranty.
The Canyon 8 will hold 450 yds of 30# backing when loaded with a #14 line. And if that is too big they make a size smaller that will fill with 325 yds of #30 backing when filled with a #12 line. The smaller one is around $450 and the larger version is just a tad over $500.
The Canyon 8 will hold 450 yds of 30# backing when loaded with a #14 line. And if that is too big they make a size smaller that will fill with 325 yds of #30 backing when filled with a #12 line. The smaller one is around $450 and the larger version is just a tad over $500.
Juro-
I was so happy to find that 9140-4 Brownie blank. I was almost postive we didnt have any but Sunday I went digging around and uncovered one, Hell I think there might be another somewhere in that shop.
I picked that Hardy up in a hartbeat!! It was too good of a price...
I was so happy to find that 9140-4 Brownie blank. I was almost postive we didnt have any but Sunday I went digging around and uncovered one, Hell I think there might be another somewhere in that shop.
I picked that Hardy up in a hartbeat!! It was too good of a price...
NrthFrk16 (10-30-2001 11:38 p.m.):
The Canyon 8 will hold 450 yds of 30# backing when loaded with a #14 line.
Howdy NorthFork. The Abel 4.5N is supposed to hold 600 yds with the same lineBig game lines (13 to 16 wt.) are generally short (27 to 35 feet) heavy bellies and then 50 to 70 feet of running line. Casting a 14 wt. rod is a special treat you have to experience "in the field" to truly appreciate! Out of the box the rios are 54, 65, or 100 feet of belly "two sizes heavier than the nominal listing", and then a silly amount of skinny running line! The biggest favor rio could do for the angling public is to provide a list of big game reels and a legitimate approximation of how much backing you can squeeze in with the line out of the box, with 30 feet cut off, and with 50 feet cut off. I've loaded too many hundreds of reels, and the phrase "Your Backing may vary" is more true with some companies than others. I dare anyone to get 300 yds of 30 pound with a 12 wt. line on a Pate Tarpon! Still my favorite reel in the world though... Especially with the solid spool... Mmmmmm... Solid spool... Aaaaaahhh!
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Your right about having to cut some of the running line off, or going to a fairly short shot of backing to get the larger size RIO's on to a lot of reels. The RIO spey lines are a minimum of 120 feet long (vs. 90 for a 'standard' line) out to 150 foot in total length.
Not sure why over 120 foot as you'd have to have the timing of an Olympian, the rod lenth of a tree, and the arm strengh of a weight lifter to get that much 10-12 wt grains airborne. There are folks (one's nick name is "long cast Steve" who can do this cast after beautiful cast. For most of us the cast really have 70 to 90 foot airborne (dry lines) plus 12 to 17 feet of leader. So the 120 feet of main line I understand, but 150 foot?
On with the rant: Another thing I think we get fiddled with is the amount of backing we're advised to have on a reel. In salt applications, wide slow moving waters, you're in a boat and can chase the bloody thing. So lots of backing could come into play.
In normal river fishing condtions, if Mr Fish has out 120 foot of fly line, plus leader, plus only 30 yards of backing that fellow is over 200 foot away, new gets another 30 yards .... and still moving .... and well on his way to spooling you. Math says he's at least a full football field away and "still going and going, and going..." Probably why I only use 20# backing and never over 12-15 # main line tippet(Max. Ultra Clear, like who doesn't?) for leader material. At least this way I'm not putting a $70 to $120 fly line 'on the line' when I hook a salmon.
Not sure why over 120 foot as you'd have to have the timing of an Olympian, the rod lenth of a tree, and the arm strengh of a weight lifter to get that much 10-12 wt grains airborne. There are folks (one's nick name is "long cast Steve" who can do this cast after beautiful cast. For most of us the cast really have 70 to 90 foot airborne (dry lines) plus 12 to 17 feet of leader. So the 120 feet of main line I understand, but 150 foot?
On with the rant: Another thing I think we get fiddled with is the amount of backing we're advised to have on a reel. In salt applications, wide slow moving waters, you're in a boat and can chase the bloody thing. So lots of backing could come into play.
In normal river fishing condtions, if Mr Fish has out 120 foot of fly line, plus leader, plus only 30 yards of backing that fellow is over 200 foot away, new gets another 30 yards .... and still moving .... and well on his way to spooling you. Math says he's at least a full football field away and "still going and going, and going..." Probably why I only use 20# backing and never over 12-15 # main line tippet(Max. Ultra Clear, like who doesn't?) for leader material. At least this way I'm not putting a $70 to $120 fly line 'on the line' when I hook a salmon.
Fred,
The "standard" long rod DT's are usually about 120'. Rio's line lengths vary greatly and Mid spey's from 110'-140', accls from 120 - 150' and WC 110-135.
These all vary with line weights. The assumption by the line manufactures is that the lighter weight rods will be shorter therefore the caster will not be able to easily
lift as much line. I just replaced the backing on a Hardy Marquis Salmon for a trip. I got a "custom" line consisting of 28' front taper from a TT, 15' from a SA
Salmon spey DT 10', and 45' from a SA Salmon Spey DT 11, I got 250yrd of 30# with no problem.
The "standard" long rod DT's are usually about 120'. Rio's line lengths vary greatly and Mid spey's from 110'-140', accls from 120 - 150' and WC 110-135.
These all vary with line weights. The assumption by the line manufactures is that the lighter weight rods will be shorter therefore the caster will not be able to easily
lift as much line. I just replaced the backing on a Hardy Marquis Salmon for a trip. I got a "custom" line consisting of 28' front taper from a TT, 15' from a SA
Salmon spey DT 10', and 45' from a SA Salmon Spey DT 11, I got 250yrd of 30# with no problem.
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Ryan, as in most things there are very much 'exceptions to the rule.' The Thompson, Skagit/Saul are two that come quickly to mind. Fish run very large, and you run very fast. How are you at 'rock hopping?' You'll find out on the Thompson.
This is the main stick that many of the rivers of fame and fortune flow into so ....... worth the trip.
This is the main stick that many of the rivers of fame and fortune flow into so ....... worth the trip.
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First off. Juro. I know exactly the problem youu're haviing with video tapes. I brought baack some videos I haad from being an exchange student in Germany many years ago. Since they usse a different power system you'll need to have it transfered into our systems. Go to a local camera shop or electronics store and they can either do it for you or tell you who can fixx the video to plaay on our formats.
I'm very new to the two hander game. Didn't care much for the Loomis I had, but love he St Croix I bought hand in hand with the Loomis. Looking once Ii master the speycast in buying aa 13' 7/8 wt for summerruns.
I have a variety of reels. Have an older Martin 12D saltwater reel with floating drag tha's tremendous. Have a ton of older pfluegers on my old Fenwicks (still have my old antique gear from when i first started yeears ago), a nice older Daiwa fly reel, some sth's, and soome SA system 2's. Most of my reels have abouut 150-200 yards of backing. Hhaave never been spooled, but haave been close. It is funny how far oof liine capacities vary. Wouldn't it be nice if they went universal????
I'm very new to the two hander game. Didn't care much for the Loomis I had, but love he St Croix I bought hand in hand with the Loomis. Looking once Ii master the speycast in buying aa 13' 7/8 wt for summerruns.
I have a variety of reels. Have an older Martin 12D saltwater reel with floating drag tha's tremendous. Have a ton of older pfluegers on my old Fenwicks (still have my old antique gear from when i first started yeears ago), a nice older Daiwa fly reel, some sth's, and soome SA system 2's. Most of my reels have abouut 150-200 yards of backing. Hhaave never been spooled, but haave been close. It is funny how far oof liine capacities vary. Wouldn't it be nice if they went universal????
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