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a big-water cannon at a pop-gun price
design and components
test cast
 One of the great benefits of running the Spey Pages is the fact that I
get to try out a lot of tackle. These days two-handers are getting more
expensive, with all of the major players in the market redesigning their rods
marketing them as the latest and greatest. Of course, some of these high-end
rods live up to their hype; but many don't. And let's be honest here: I don't know
about you, but with a young family and a mortgage I certainly can't afford
the price tags on most of these rods; at best, I could deal with one of these
small investments once every two- to -three years. Thankfully, a few
manufacturers
are tuning into the fact that a lot of their potential Spey customers are
average people who might dream about dropping thousands each year on tackle but
realistically can barely afford to drop a few hundred. These manufacturers are
coming out with budget-priced double-handers that are within reach of most of
us.
The big "secret" of course is that many of these
budget rods were
yesterday's high-end models: the old Sage Graphite II 14ft Discovery Spey (with
a few modifications), for example, was a premium rod at one time, highly
regarded in Scandinavia. The more rods I cast the more impressed I'm becoming
with the budget two-handers, and every now and then I come across a real gem. Such
a rod is the Redington "RedFly" DHRF15010/11, everyone's big-water
cannon.
The DHRF 15010/11 is a 15ft 3-piece two-hander fo r 10/11 lines. It has a
quick, European feel to it with loads of power in the bottom end. Quality
components are used throughout but there's nothing fancy here; its elegance lies
in its simplicity and tremendous casting qualities. Sometimes with Euro-action
rods you get shorter handles but this isn't the case with the Redington: at 15in. and 7in.
respectively, the fore and rear grips are a nice, comfortable length, and the
butt cap is similar to that found on the Daiwa Alltmor. 
The reel seat is black aluminum up-locking with a sliding ring and single
locknut which performed well during tests. The guides are hard chrome. The
sanded blank is epoxy-finished in a deep blue with matching thread wraps. The
winding check was loose on the rod that I tested and it floated around a little
between the foregrip and the rod label but otherwise all components were solid
and the rod well-constructed. The rod
is delivered in a nylon rod bag and rigid cordura-covered tube and comes with a
lifetime guarantee.
line: Rio Accelerator
10/11
reel: Redington Large Arbor
Tests were conducted on the Fraser River on a wet and windy afternoon.
Initially the rod was set up with a very short (@9ft) leader which really
interfered with the casting, but once this was remedied the rod performed well
(see section on leaders for Spey casting).
Simon Gawesworth has this rod listed in his line
recommendations as working well with 9/10 lines for advanced casters or
those who like a faster action, and 10/11 lines for newer casters or those who
like a more medium action feel to a rod. For my tastes I suppose which action I
prefer generally
depends on the mood I'm in. For shorter, lighter rods
and distances out to perhaps 80ft or so I think I like a shorter, lighter rod
on the medium side of things, whereas certainly when I'm fishing big pools and looking for maximum
distance I prefer a longer, faster rod. I cast the Redington with the Rio Accelerator 10/11
and found it loaded the rod quite well. The entire head was easily lifted
and it wasn't difficult to shoot 30ft - 40ft into the cast. I would be very
comfortable with this rod on big pools like the Thompson's Graveyard where at
certain times of the day you really can't cast too far. The Redington will give
you all the power and distance you need to cover such big water.
I mostly monkeyed around with the Snake Roll and the Grant
Switch with this rod--both of which it handled with ease--but also cast the
double Spey and Snap-T. The rod liked all of these casts and its design
and action also suggest that it would be a good Underhand rod as well.
At $370 CDN it's really hard to beat this rod if you're looking for a big-water cannon at a pop-gun
price.
special thanks to Dave Lock for making this rod available
for review
reel by Loop
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