Switch rod, help needed: Beulah vs. Echo

[Dane0001]

Good day to all you fly fishermen and women.

I am looking to purchase a switch rod and wanted to get some opinions. I am looking at getting either the Echo 8wt or the Beulah 8/9wt. I am trying to decide between the two as the z-axis price tag is a little too large to swallow.

I will be using this rod primarily for winter steelhead but also as an all around salmon/steelhead rod. I will be using either a skagit or scani shooting head. If anyone has experience with either rod or an opinion on the subject would be greatly appreciated

Thank you for your time,
Dane

[JRV]

Personaly I would lean toward the Beulah, I have an 8 weight single handed rod from them that I love. It will come with an extra tip, that is nice to have. I would think it will be a little faster than the echo, the echo's that I have cast are a fair amount slower than my single handed beulah. :twocents:

[Carp4Fun]

If you're primarily going for spey casting, I'd go with the Echo. They're basically miniature spey rods, whereas the beulah is more of a true switch rod and balanced for overhead casting and spey.

[gustav]

I was looking at both of those rods and ended up going with the Reddington CPX 7wt switch. I did cast the Beulah and liked it, and I have an Echo full 8wt Spey rod and love it.

It would be hard to go wrong with any of these. I purchased the Reddington at Caddis Fly because they had it on sale for $225. This is one sweet rod; the thing that really made this rod into a rocket is the Skagit Short line that I got to go with it. I got the Rio 425 grain Skagit Short. I found that the Skagit Shorts were made for the switch rods and really make these rods perform great.

Once I got the rod I e-mailed Reddington to make sure I had the right line for the rod and they were very helpful. Now if I just had more time to get out and fish more.

[surfnfish]

Good day to all you fly fishermen and women.

I am looking to purchase a switch rod and wanted to get some opinions. I am looking at getting either the Echo 8wt or the Beulah 8/9wt. I am trying to decide between the two as the z-axis price tag is a little too large to swallow.

I will be using this rod primarily for winter steelhead but also as an all around salmon/steelhead rod. I will be using either a skagit or scani shooting head. If anyone has experience with either rod or an opinion on the subject would be greatly appreciated

Thank you for your time,
Dane


Suggest also look at the TFO Deer Creek Switch Rods, which were designed by Mesiner...great rod series..I love my 9 wt. which I use for chinooks and winter steelhead..

[mrett]

Recently traveled the same path,cast multiple rods and ended up with the
TFO Deer Crk Switch Rod!. Great Value,works with one or two hands.
All seem to be a little picky on line selections,

Good luck and enjoy

[C-lice]

I was looking at both of those rods and ended up going with the Reddington CPX 7wt switch. I did cast the Beulah and liked it, and I have an Echo full 8wt Spey rod and love it.

It would be hard to go wrong with any of these. I purchased the Reddington at Caddis Fly because they had it on sale for $225. This is one sweet rod; the thing that really made this rod into a rocket is the Skagit Short line that I got to go with it. I got the Rio 425 grain Skagit Short. I found that the Skagit Shorts were made for the switch rods and really make these rods perform great.

Once I got the rod I e-mailed Reddington to make sure I had the right line for the rod and they were very helpful. Now if I just had more time to get out and fish more.

I hate to hijack, but maybe the original poster will find your answer helpful as well...

Does the line behind the head on the scandi have enough mass to mend all the way down to the leader on longer casts? Seems like the switch might not move line as efficiently on a long-distance mend.

[gustav]

I have a skagit and a short belly on my regular 13ft spey so I do not have a regular line to compare my switch with; but the compact skagit that is on my switch is harder to mend, but not much. I have only fished it 3 times so far; this is a new purchase for me and I'm still getting used to it.

The cast is quite a bit different as well; there is so much weight in the front of the line it is closer to casting than flyfishing. I have used it in tight quarters and it works great; the smaller the d loop, the better. But it is not a good looking cast; maybe it is just me.

So far I love the setup; once I was able to figure the rod out, I was amazed at how far the rod will cast. I'm even considering getting a short for my regular rod.

[SSPey]

Does the line behind the head on the scandi have enough mass to mend all the way down to the leader on longer casts? Seems like the switch might not move line as efficiently on a long-distance mend.


there are plusses and minuses that relate more to the line than the rod.

on the minus side, you are exactly correct - running lines and shooting heads don't mend down to the fly as well as a full line (all other things being equal).

on the plus side, the swing of a shooting head can be slowed nicely by steering the rear of the head, especially where current flows evenly. You can't mend down to the fly as well, but because heads are shorter, they're less subject to interfering currents. They can be held in slots, and backed down slicks, with just the short head in contact with the water as the running line is held high above.

[Bighorn12]

I own rods from both manufacturers and have been pleased with both, so I don't think you'd go wrong with either. However, for a winter steelhead rod with a short skagit head, I'd lean toward the Echo. The action of the Beulah 8/9 if faster than I like for skagit work, although I loved the rod with a Scandi line and smaller to medium sized flies. If I was going to be doing overhead work and spey casts occasionally, the Beulah would work great. If I wanted to throw big flies with heavy tips, I'd want the length and action of the Echo with a short heavy grain skagit head. It really depends on what rivers you fish and what methods you employ. I'd definitly cast both and go with your gut. Don at River City carries both rod manufacturers and is a great guy. Make sure you cast the lines / line set-ups you intend to use if you test drive.

Good luck.

Good day to all you fly fishermen and women.

I am looking to purchase a switch rod and wanted to get some opinions. I am looking at getting either the Echo 8wt or the Beulah 8/9wt. I am trying to decide between the two as the z-axis price tag is a little too large to swallow.

I will be using this rod primarily for winter steelhead but also as an all around salmon/steelhead rod. I will be using either a skagit or scani shooting head. If anyone has experience with either rod or an opinion on the subject would be greatly appreciated

Thank you for your time,
Dane