Spey Rod Recommendations - 7/8 weights

[pmflyfisher]

Okay I am getting ready to buy a first spey rod. Havie been researching since December and this is what I have narrowed it down to.

My requirements are this:

Cost - Less than $ 300

Steelhead and Atlantic Salmon fishing conditions: Small to medium size rivers using sinktip and floating line for winter and summer runs. Mostly sink tip fishing swinging flies though, some indicator fishing, and limited dry fly for summer runs.

Current Rods Under Consideration:

Redington Red Fly - DHRF 12' 6" - 7/8 weight

St Croix - Imperial Spey - IF 1308 - 13" 7/8 $ 230

I have not found a local fly shop here in Chicago where I can touch and feel these rods, which would make the decision easier.

If there are other manufacturers in this price range with 7/8 weights of 13-14 feet please advise.

Also any spey line multi sink tip set up recommendations would be welcome.

Thanks in advance.

:confused: :confused:

[fredaevans]

Hal, if these are your 'choices' I'd tend to lean towards the St C over the Redington.
fe

[pmflyfisher]

Fred,

Yes that is where I am leaning now.

But I am still open.

Hal

[steeliesonafly]

I too, like Fred would opt for the ST. Croix. I have the 14' 10 weight and love it. I have cast both and the Imperial does fit me much better. I like you did a lot of research and tested several and found this one to suit me best! But if you are sold on the 13' rod, it still is the better between the two.... Just my .02 But do try both if you can.... Then you be the judge!:confused:

[Steelheader69]

Did you see oon the steelheadsite about the store back in your neck of the woods tha is closing iit's doors? They had the St Croix we're looking at for 30% off. Oof course, they're sold out annd not reordering. DAMN!!!!That's $70 off. GRRRRRR.

Ii've come in consensus PM tha it's one of thebest rods in thepricerange, the SC that is. I'm buying one myself for my summerrun fishing. PM, if I find any more dealss, I'll let you know. Was gonna tell you about the store closing down, but anted to checkk first. Figures.

[pmflyfisher]

Which store was that, how could I have missed that ?

Oh well I can be patient.

[JDJones]

Since you like the St Croix rods, Check out Cabelas. They not only offer St Croix but their own brand Fish Eagle, which is very similar in action to the SC. Also, according to a freind of mine, Feather-Craft which is a subsidiary of Cabelas, has blanks that are made by SC.

JD

[juro]

Originally posted by pmflyfisher
Okay I am getting ready to buy a first spey rod. Havie been researching since December and this is what I have narrowed it down to.

My requirements are this:

Cost - Less than $ 300



My recommendation would be to spring the extra $100 and get a 2001 Sage 7136-4, discontinued with the color change for 2002 but every bit the same rod and lifetime warranty, resale value, etc. I have some contacts with overstock on these at that price, if I can just hear back from them. Willie Gunn from Scotland, myself, possible sinktip, and you could be #4 - that's all they have in stock too. Could be destiny knockin' :devil:

Good luck with your purchase in any case.

[mitch]

Juro,
What color change are you talking about WRT to the 7136-4?
I have been thinking about a good two handed casting rod for a while now. I'm just not sure about the action I would prefer in a two-handed rod. For the standard 9', I prefer the GLX. The hard part is my location. There's not a spey rod for at least 3,000 miles. Sucks to be in paradise.
Take care,
Mitch
PS. Great idea Dana to have the spey casting video clips on your web site.

[juro]

Hi mitch - long time no hear!

Sage went to a new blank design for 2001 in their traditional Spey series and the reports from Dana, Tyler, Skookum, Doublespey, etc, etc, are so positive that I am thinking about adding another to my arsenal. That color scheme lasted for one year and now they are a bronze color in 2002. This means shops are clearing out the discontinued rods in green.

If you're talking no Spey rods in 3,000 miles as a right coast thing - au contraire my freind :) I've got several with the extra grips east of the Missisippi. In fact they have seen some Nauset spray and some flats sun over the past 6 years. IMHO the faster two-handed euro rods are fit for shore fishing in surf, etc but the traditional Spey rods are out of their element in the atlantic coastal scene. Romantic thought, I courted it myself over the first few years but in the end it's the two-handed overhand rod that has a niche here but the true Spey rod is a river rod all the way, IMHO.

I ought to have a couple of euro rods ready for field testing if you are interested this summer, assuming you are still in the northeast?

[mitch]

Juro,
Thanks for the reminder to update my profile!
I finished up schools in RI last April, had some more in VA until June, then met up with my current ship, USS CHOSIN (CG-65) in sunny Bahrain. My wife, 2 boys, and now our 2-week old daughter now reside in Honolulu, HI and will be here until mid-2004. I'm hoping that everything goes well and to return to Newport for 2 years following this tour.
I've been out about a dozen times since November targeting bonefish on the flats by the Air Force base and have landed 2 porcupine fish and foul-hooked a ray. On a positive side, they were caught on my flies :cool:
In about two weeks I turn 30 and thought a two-handed rod might be nice. It might give me a chance to work some of the areas where I don't have a prayer for a back-cast and wading is out of the question. The idea of cutting up bait and just flinging it out there and just waiting for the little bell at the end of the rod to ring (like the way 99.9% of the islanders fish) isn't exactly my idea of fishing.
I should have listened closer to the salesman who sold me my first fly rod. "They're like potato chips...no one can have just one."
Aloha.

[pmflyfisher]

Juro,

Might be interested in the discontinued Sage model, I guess you are saying the price would be around $ 400 ?

Will be making the purchase no later than mid march .

I checked out the 7136-4 2001 sage looks like it is the lightest spey rod made by sage and would be good for dry fly, but how about small to mid size rivers using sink tips ? That is what most of my fishing is here in the Midwest. Maybe I should be looking in the 8/9 weight range instead of 7/8 weight.

Wish I could get a few of these into my hand and test on the river, would make decisions much easier.

Hal

[loco_alto]

Fred's gonna flog me for this :tsk_tsk: , but I regularly use the newer Sage 7136-4 with 18' of 8 weight, type 6 tip. Effortless out to 60', and 20' more possible if using a Windcutter (which I don't usually do).

When I know the fish are bigger or the water more powerful, I use a different rod.

[kush]

pmflyfisher,

I will concur with Juro on the 7136, however, I might even suggest you check around for the older original 7136 - you might find a really good deal. I presently use this rod as a dryline rod, but I know it handles tips well.
Another option that will probably fit your needs are the Loop Colour Series, the Black and Yellow rods would be within your price range and the Green a bit more. I have fished the 10 wt yellow extensively - it is a favourite, and the Black once both are sweet rods. Dana has the 13 1/2 foot 8wt Green, but I have not yet got to try it as HE"S always using it! If you can find some they may be woth a look. You could also go the the Speypages site and find the link to Loop Rods for info.

[pmflyfisher]

Thanks for all of your comments

Peter, Yes you are right about the Muskegon, and would be one of the rivers I would use it on.

Have been looking at the Daiwas online and Fred Evans just bought an 18 footer attesting they are a very well made rod.

Will consider all input and then take the leap.

Hard to do though when you cannot touch and feel them.

Hal

[pmflyfisher]

What is the advantage or disadvantage of 3 or 4 piece fly rod ?

Other than breaking down smaller for travel but more ferrules to come lose etc..

I have 8 single hand, two piece fly rods now.

Thanks

Hal

[pmflyfisher]

Was thinking

Juro, do you or any one else use your light spey rods for light saltwater fly fishing such as bones, school stripers, small tarpon, snook, etc.. ?

Might be looking for a 8/9 weight instead of 7/8 weight then.

Can't think why you could not use a spey rod for salt water

[juro]

I've posted this several times but once more for good measure - I started using spey rods and euro twohanders in the salt about 7 years ago. I found that Spey rods belong on salmon and steelhead rivers and euro 2hnd rods are excellent for big surf conditions.

This is what my experimentation produced; that's not to say you might find a way to apply it. If you search around you will find posts where I went into it in excruciating detail ;)

[pmflyfisher]

Juro, thanks I will go with your on the river and ocean experience.

Forget the use for saltwater also.

Will go with the 7/8 weight for steelhead/salmon less than 15 pounds on smaller rivers.

Now which one is still the question.

Hal

[Barry]

I'm a Big Fan of the 13' St.Croix and I use mine a lot. However,
If you are going to be throwing tips I would point you towards a different rod. The 13' SC is a delightful dry line rod but it does not handle tips as well as I would like. The 14' SC is a different story. It handles them quite well. Perhaps you should look at the Loop Yellow line. It should fit your price range and match the style of fishing that you perfer.

Never thought that I wouldn't recommend my FAVORITE spey rod to someone but I guess there's a 1st time for everything.

Barry

[mnakic]

I'm selling my IF 1308 13' 7/8 rod. I purchased this rod 3 years ago for $240 and I'm not using this rod anymore. Its a great rod and you will not be disappointed. if you are interested in buying this rod please call me at (616)633-9462 or e-mail me at mnakic@sbcgolbal.net with a reasonable offer.


Thanks, Muris