[flytyer]

There are several of us who use 16 ft or longer 10/11 rods for winter fishing or for Thompson River fishing. And we fish them all day long with the big long-bely lines without killing ourselfs. Some of us are over 6' and weigh in the 225 to 250 lb area and others are of average height. These rods are not just for tournament casting, they are very fine fishing tools.

There are quite a few rods available now that are 16'+ that can be fished with the big long-belly lines, and they are available in all actions from slow to medium to fast. I like fast rods so I have a T&T 1611, Kush likes a bit slower and more progressive rod so he fishes a CND Thompson Specialist (16'7"), Fred likes a more traditional, slower, progressive rod and he fishes a B&W 18'.

You have a number of fine 16'+ rods to choose from. Just pick the type of action you like, and then get the rod. T&T, Sage, B&W, Clan, and CND come to mind as makers of these rods. Robert Meiser, as he posted elsewhere in the forums, is working on the design for a 17' rod of this type as well. Remember to use a reel with some weight to it to ballance the extra length of the 16'+ rods, otherwise they will feel tip heavy and tire you quickly.

 

[flytyer]

Kush,

I didn't know that you were also looking for a rod over 17' that was lighter and faster than the Scottish rods for fishing, and not just tournament casting. Perhaps you will bring it down to one of Speybum's mini-claves this winter so some of the rest of us can give it a go.

Speybum,

It seems that you were right about several rod makers working on rods over 17' for those of us looking for long, large line rods for fishing. Meiser is working on one and now CND is working on one. Perhaps we have truly entered into the "golden age" of spey!

Now we need some good, light, fast 15' 8/9 rods. I get more dissatisfied with my 13' 8/9 GLX all the time because its length makes it far more work to fish with a long-belly line.