All around spey for good price?

matt95 · 10-12-2009, 09:23 PM

Hey,

I have a nice 8wt single handed rod but want to try the spey set-up. Just wondering if the Orvis shooting star is a good model for the price. Also what would the best all around wt class be. I'd be fishing for summer/winter steelies and possibly salmon(coho,pinks,etc.) I also need a reel and wanted here suggestions on those too. I will most likely be casting skagit style. Are RIO lines a good option?

Thanks in advance for the suggestions guys.

-mat

surfnfish · 10-14-2009, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt95

Hey,

I have a nice 8wt single handed rod but want to try the spey set-up. Just wondering if the Orvis shooting star is a good model for the price. Also what would the best all around wt class be. I'd be fishing for summer/winter steelies and possibly salmon(coho,pinks,etc.) I also need a reel and wanted here suggestions on those too. I will most likely be casting skagit style. Are RIO lines a good option?

Thanks in advance for the suggestions guys.

-mat

Can't go wrong with TFO Deer Creek spey rods for the price, and a great first rod is the 13' 7/8. And you'll want a decent sized large arbor reel to hold the backing, shooting line, and heads. The weight of the reel is important to counterbalance the tip heavy nature of spey rods.

Put a 510 gr compact skagit head on that 7/8 along with a few T-8 and T-14 tips, and you've got winter covered. Pick up a floating tip in the spring along with a light and intermediate tip, and you'll have summer covered.

Suggest a casting lesson or two. Free lessons are available every Sat. morning at the west Salem waterfront park at 8:30 am, weather permitting, given by a great group of guys.

I'll PM you with some reel suggestions/sources.

steel_beaver · 10-14-2009, 07:25 AM

ECHO and Reddington are pretty decent for the money as well. I agree that 7/8 wt is probably the best all around size. If you plan on fishing for Chinook you might want to go heavier. I haven't tried the Orvis rods but I'm sure someone else will chime in.

Good Luck

stillinscrubs · 10-14-2009, 11:11 AM

I second the Deer creek rods. I have a 13'6" 8/9 but I got to cast the 13' 7/8 while doing a 3 day class with Mike. The 7/8 is great, I am trying to find a way to justify buying one.

Go cast one.

Oh and customer service from TFO is outstanding in my experience. NO BS.

Scrubs

matt95 · 10-15-2009, 09:30 AM

Thanks I'll look into the TFO rods. would an 8/9 be good enough for smaller chinook and steelhead?thanks

mat

Patrick · 10-15-2009, 01:11 PM

I have an 8/9 albright that I like. A bit on the heavy side for steelhead. Could easily handle small chinook. On sale right now:

<Link removed by moderator>

Put the 9/10 GP reel on it for another $45 and all you need is a line. You will be fishing for under $300.

Patrick

hooksetter1 · 10-15-2009, 01:43 PM

I've got a TFO Pro. 12'6" 8wt I picked up from Etamaman on Westfly, and it's a CANNON with a 600grn skagit head. I just saw another on the craig's list, and for this price it's definitely worth checking on.

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/spo/1419876213.html

If you want to stick to heads and not full lines the 12'6" - 13' length is great, and even better if you fish any medium-small water (think coastal tributaries). Just need some running line, a Skagit head with some different lengths of T-14 and an AFS with a few poly-leaders and you're set year round.

matt95 · 10-15-2009, 07:11 PM

OK, I guess the best option is the TFO deer creek.

Now thats settled. It turns out that TFO works best for me because theres a dealer here that is pretty reasonable in pricing on the already reasonable prices

. Now all I need to know is, what would be a good reel for the 7/8? People have suggested Lamson, and GP. What are some other good brands/models that are reasonably priced but good quality?

Thnx,
matt

Skunked · 10-15-2009, 07:12 PM

I'm a big fan of echo rods for the money

Anderson Custom Rods explorer series is a little more (about $400ish I think) but very nice for the money.

Check speypages . com for good deals on used gear

stillinscrubs · 10-15-2009, 08:34 PM

As to a starter reel. This is only a suggestion and is sacrilige to many in spey.....but I like the two Pfleuger presidents 2012 that I have. They hold a ton of line, have a drag, and can be palmed easily. Also if you take a look around you can find them new for around $120-150 and used for much less.

Scrubs

kigercreek · 10-15-2009, 08:47 PM

Check out the Albright reels. No longer sold by dealers, but direct from to the consumer online. I handled them for a couple of years prior to them pulling away from dealers, and I was impressed by the quality for the $$. They are made by the former/original Redington owner.

Hunt-man · 10-16-2009, 07:14 AM

TFO has a $100.00 reel, Prisim 10/11. A bit big for 7/8 but it should be fine. I ordered a Prism in the next size down, it is way smaller, about the same as a Ross CLA 4.

matt95 · 10-16-2009, 07:16 PM

Alright guys thanks. All these reels are rated for single handed rods though. If they are rated for a single hander, what would be the right size for the 7/8 spey?
thanks
mat

matt95 · 10-16-2009, 07:25 PM

Also, is the RIO skagit line w/ differing tips a good choice of line?

mat

Maupinate · 10-16-2009, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt95

Also, is the RIO skagit line w/ differing tips a good choice of line?

mat

No
Go with a Skagit head with the grain weight to match your rod. You can attach a length of T11,T14 or T17 sinking head accordingly for how fast you want you fly to sink.
Then I would suggest you buy a floating Vision custom head from the fly shop in Maupin who will cut it to suit your rods grain weight specs. The Vision line is to use for waking or skating flies.
Good Luck!

Maupinate · 10-16-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt95

Alright guys thanks. All these reels are rated for single handed rods though. If they are rated for a single hander, what would be the right size for the 7/8 spey?
thanks
mat

Probably an 11 or 12 weight rated reel. Teton/Tioga makes a very serviceable and sturdy reel for spey applications.
It's machined from bar stock aluminum and MADE IN THE USA

Hunt-man · 10-17-2009, 06:33 AM

I like the RIO AFS heads on a shooting line better than my skagit line. I run a versileader as a sink tip. That TFO reel is huge and would be fine.

kilchisfisher · 10-17-2009, 08:44 AM

I'd like to thank the OP and those contributing to this thread. As one who is thinking seriously on a Spey rod I'm taking notes! Keep it up.

matt95 · 10-17-2009, 10:17 AM

OK,
so the best bet for line would probably get an airflo ridge running line,w/ airflo compact skagit head and then sink tips and floating tips? And the TFO 10/11 weight would be good for the 7/8 deer creek?

thanks guys sorry Im such a newbie.

matt

matt95 · 10-17-2009, 10:18 AM

sry meant 10/11 weight reel.

matt

Maupinate · 10-17-2009, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt95

sry meant 10/11 weight reel.

matt

See how it balances your rod. You need a reel that will hold at least 150 yards of 30lb. Dacron backing.
I like the Rio running line better than the Airflo but that is just personal preference.
There is also wide and narrow arbor reels to think about also.
You can find Lamson Velocity 4" reels on ebay for around $100 and they are also made in the USA.
The best advice is also to consider spey casting lessons. You cannot learn much with simply casting on the grass.

matt95 · 10-17-2009, 02:59 PM

Ok thanks. I will look into the Lamson Velocity reels. What are the names of the Rio running line?

matt

Hunt-man · 10-17-2009, 03:25 PM

Ok here is my suggestion:

TFO Deer Creek 5/6 Spey Rod, light any good for fish up to 20lbs.
Reel? TFO 7/8 reel, should be enough room or get a Ross CLA 5.
Line: RIO AFS Head 7/8 weight 460 grains, you'll be able to feel it load and it cast great. RIO shooting line .030 diameter. Some backing.

The TFO 10/11 is big a bit too big for this rod. You can get a bigger rod but I like feeling the fish and lower weight rod. My favorite Deschutes River rod.

Total price, just about $570.00

Maupinate · 10-17-2009, 03:31 PM

Go with the American made reels I suggested because they are a much better value than the TFOs. They are close to the same price also so which had you rather have? American made or Asian made?

PacificCoastSteel · 10-17-2009, 04:03 PM

a 5/6 might be a really fun rod, but an all around rod should be able to throw 10' of t14 with a weighted intruder or some other 4+ inch fly...

all around rod is a 13' 7wt. or "7/8"

get the 5/6 or a switch as your 2nd rod... don't worry - there will be more two handers in your future...

i think for the $ you can't go wrong with the Echo Dec Hogan or Tim Rajeff rods, or the Deer Creek from TFO... both around $350 - i think both companies have rods at around the 300 price point too

airflo is making some really nice lines lately... i like the ridgeline running line alot, their skagit heads and hear great things about the delta. would like to try the 40+ on my switches. also like the Rio AFS for surface stuff

for tips i like a polyleader or versaleader or a chunk of t14

i don't know much about cheap reels... i've seen the okuma helios and it looks good for under $200...

i don't like orvis... but i like their large arbor batenkill's new design and at $240 its a supernice lightweight machined reel with a pretty ironclad reputation behind it...

all my stuff has galvan and lamson on it

mtalmadgeoregon · 10-17-2009, 07:39 PM

The Battinkills large arbors are alot of reel for the money, and fairly smooth. I really like the Lambson reels for the money as well.

Maupinate · 10-17-2009, 08:45 PM

Quote:

a 5/6 might be a really fun rod, but an all around rod should be able to throw 10' of t14 with a weighted intruder or some other 4+ inch fly...

all around rod is a 13' 7wt. or "7/8"

Absolutely!

Another thing to remember is if you decide to move up to a better quality rod and need to sell your TFO you will be lucky to get half of what you paid for it.

PacificCoastSteel · 10-17-2009, 09:11 PM

i own a 13' 6" 7wt z axis, a 11' 7wt z axis, a 13' 7wt vt2, and a 10'8" rainshadow switch... i've casted many other rods at the ~$800 including the winston bIIx and some burkies...

i can honestly say that i will end up buying the aforementioned TFO and/or Echo rods in the future to add to my collection

everyone could use an extra spey rod - and these rods cannot be beat for the price...

yea i'll get more high end stuff too, but these are a good value for a true lifetime rod - i dont see either of these companies going away any time soon...

matt95 · 10-17-2009, 09:40 PM

OK, thanks everyone.

What weight running line should I get? 20lb or 30lb? Floating or Sinking?

Thanks
matt

Maupinate · 10-17-2009, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt95

OK, thanks everyone.

What weight running line should I get? 20lb or 30lb? Floating or Sinking?

Thanks
matt

Do you mean backing?
I run 30 lb.

Lymanator · 10-18-2009, 12:00 AM

I haven't found much difference between the 20 and 30# running line so I just use the 30. Every running line I've used has been floating. I don't think there is a "sinking" running line but I could be wrong. Mono type running lines like amnesia I guess don't technically float. The advantage of those is better shooting distance but I prefer the manageability of a floating line.

matt95 · 10-18-2009, 09:36 AM

Thanks,
Well I looked at the Airflo ridge tactical running line and it said floating or intermediate. So I guess the intermediate is more like mono then. Thanks for all the recommendations. I'll probably get the deer creek and Lamson reel with RIO running line and Airflo heads. Thanx again everyone for your input.

matt

Maupinate · 10-18-2009, 10:47 AM

Good luck Matt

kilchisfisher · 10-18-2009, 02:47 PM

How about giving us an update when you get it all together? I'd like to see what you end up with and hear how it works out.

matt95 · 10-18-2009, 02:55 PM

Ok guys will do. Thanks for all the info youve supplied me with. I hope this thread helps others who want to get into spey fishing too. Hopefully I'll be letting you know how the settup works soon

. Thanks again.

matt

surfnfish · 10-18-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt95

Thanks,
Well I looked at the Airflo ridge tactical running line and it said floating or intermediate. So I guess the intermediate is more like mono then. Thanks for all the recommendations. I'll probably get the deer creek and Lamson reel with RIO running line and Airflo heads. Thanx again everyone for your input.

matt

go with the #30 Ridge floating line, as the floating line allows you to mend your drift when using either using a floating Skagit or Scandi head.

usually you would only use an intermediate running line if you were also using intermediate heads,a combo that is more commonly used in overhead casting ...