any suggestions?

Kevin2023 · 03-09-2008, 04:03 PM

I am looking for a good setup for steelhead and spring salmon. I'm not looking to spend more than $450. I was looking at a beulah 8 wt and an okuma integrity reel. would this be a good setup? anyone know where I can try before I buy w/o paying for a class?

Newbs · 03-09-2008, 04:29 PM

http://www.rivercityfly.com/

If you are going to spend that kind of money. Talk to these guys. They know their stuff.

blazerman · 03-10-2008, 03:50 PM

Yeah, go to River City. Don even carries Beulah and you can try that rod. That's a pretty stout, fast stick, so I would recommend trying both 8 and 9 weight lines. I've cast that rod and like it over-lined. I have 4 Beulah rods, and have been happy with all of them.

Ben

JRV · 03-10-2008, 04:12 PM

I would agree River city is a great place to go, Don is very nice and will give you a great deal on a rod and reel combo. I have bought a couple rods thier and have been more than happy when I walked away. I would highly recommend casting the rod first, if your new to fly fishing Beulah's might be a little frustrating to learn to cast with.

FLGator · 03-10-2008, 04:19 PM

Kevin,
Are you interested in a spey, switch or single handed rod?

Know the Red Shed (redshedflyshop.com) has a "test drive" program with their spey rods. With the program, if you don't like what you're testing all you're out is return shipping. River Run Anglers (speyshop.com) has a "day at the river" program where you can try a huge variety of rods and lines with instruction for free. Also, coming soon is the Sandy River Spey Clave (flyfishusa.com) where you'd be able to try just about anything, again, for free.

All three of the above shops are home grown and offer fantastic service.

blazerman · 03-10-2008, 04:52 PM

Oh. I was assuming you were asking about the 8wt 9' single-hander when I recommended over-lining it. If your asking either of the two-hander 8 wts I fish those regularly and can recommend lines.

cphatts · 03-11-2008, 05:49 AM

I've heard good things about Beulah rods, but I would not buy an Okuma reel. There are better reels in that price range...Pfluger comes to mind right off the bat.

Search the archeives here...there should be plenty of good info.

Djflyfish · 03-11-2008, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cphatts

I've heard good things about Beulah rods, but I would not buy an Okuma reel. There are better reels in that price range...Pfluger comes to mind right off the bat.

Search the archeives here...there should be plenty of good info.

Sportmans wharehouse has some good setups and affordable

Kevin2023 · 03-11-2008, 11:47 AM

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I'll try to get out to river city later this week. Blazerman, what lines do you recommend for the 2 hander 8wt incase that's what I decide to get?

blazerman · 03-11-2008, 03:59 PM

Kevin

There are 2 two-handed 8 wts, a 10'6" switch rod and a 13'6" spey rod. For summer steelhead you can't go wrong with the Beulah Elixir lines that are designed for the rods. For winter fishing, I like skagit heads and custom sink tips so I can throw big flies. I'm throwing a 420 grn compact skagit head on the 10'6", and I go back and forth between a 550 and 600 grn skagit head on the 13'6". For sink tips, I cut my own out of Rio T-11 and T-14 in various lengths between 7-12 ft, but almost always use 9ft of T-11 of the 10'6" and 9ft of T-14 on the 13'6".

jordanb38 · 03-12-2008, 10:17 PM

I bought a couple integrity reels with TFO rods that don at river city sold me, very happy, and pricing is competitive.

Kevin2023 · 03-13-2008, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordanb38

I bought a couple integrity reels with TFO rods that don at river city sold me, very happy, and pricing is competitive.

I have a TFO 10 wt lefty kreh signature w/ Okuma reel that I bought for fishing the upper Kenai when I was stationed in AK. Unfortunately I had to cancel the trip because I had to have knee surgery the day I was supposed to start my leave

. It's a little overkill for steelhead though.

nookslayer · 03-13-2008, 07:52 AM

I would look at the Beulah rods for sure and also look at the TFO Jim Teeny series in an 8wt. I have this with a Pfluger Trion reel and multi tip Airflow and it has been a solid steelhead rod. My only wish is that they made a 9'6" or 10' version. I would like to have the extra length for several reasons. Looking into a switch to cover that now. A Beulah in fact.

Kevin2023 · 03-14-2008, 02:29 PM

I hit river city after picking up my check. I was amazed at how much they have for a small shop. I tried the beulah 8wt overlined, 10' echo 8wt, WW Grigg Boron, and a few others. I decided to go with the Echo mainly due to the extra length

. I'm still going to get the beulah one day though. He gave me a deal on a reddington SL2 reel that he used for classes and he threw in backing, line, 2 sink tips, leader, tipett, and some other good stuff at no charge. walked away only spending $290. calculated the savings at $116. Anyone interested in going fishing next weekend? Not too fun to go by yourself.

nookslayer · 03-14-2008, 03:34 PM

Don is a good man. You made a good decision testing everything and choosing what felt right to you. What did you have in mind for fishing?

Kevin2023 · 03-14-2008, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nookslayer

Don is a good man. You made a good decision testing everything and choosing what felt right to you. What did you have in mind for fishing?

I know I'm going to try for steelhead. As far as location I'm open for suggestions. I've been fishing for them for about a year and a half and haven't caught one yet. Time to look for new spots.