since you haven't bought any of the system yet and with so many options for line styles/ head lengths (and more coming), you might consider figuring out what size fly (length?, materials?, how heavy will the dumbell eyes, if any, be?) you'll typically be fishing in winter and how long the length of casts you realistically be making and then buying the corresponding line system before you buy the rod. a rule of thumb some friends use is: the heavier and bulkier the fly and sinktip, the shorter the head lenght you'll want to have...

anyway, take that line and cast it on a few rods to see which rod makes you work the least for the desired distance. you'll be pretty happy you did it this way, as opposed to most of us who bought a rod, then tried to force it and the line we chose to do what we wanted.

i'm sure it probably seems a bit backwards, but with so much variety and debate over fast vs. slow rods, 12' vs. 14"+ lengths, long belly lines vs. short shooting heads, 7-inch, weighted shank flies vs. the traditional 1/0 and 2/0's etc. it's worth thinking about and you're in a great place right now to really get the ideal setup for your casting style...

hope that helps...

 

Excellent advice. Something did not feel right and I think you hit the nail on the head. One problem however, how do you know the answers to the questions you raise without having the experience that comes with fishing a spey rod in different situations which is difficult to do without first having the gear.