Beulah alternative

Emel,

Let me preface this with the statement that I am new to this sport and, you might say, a spey short busser. But after spending time at Sandy with Travis (thanks to Mr. Berry), and having some time at home to practice, I'm at least moving up to the front of the bus. I think it was Travis's kind words ( like #$%^ and [email protected]$#diot), and self-esteem enhancing teaching style that are making the difference. He must have been a kindergarten teach in a past life.

I did spend a fair amount of time with the Onyx 14' 8wt and the 13'7" 7wt. at Sandy. While I have not cast anything in the Beulah Classic or Platinum series I can say that the Onyx's were super smooth, really damp, and easy to cast.

I have owned a Winston BIIx and a couple of Thomas & Thomas rods. I really disliked the winston because it felt like the tip and the but were moving at different rates. Tough, for me at least, to get them working together. The Thomas's were just too fast and unforgiving. Spectacular when you got it right, not so much when you didn't. The Onyx was much more in the middle, not so opinionated but fully capable of anything the Winston or Thomas's could do.

Right now I'm playing with an Anderson 1215 Nova that I really like. Great little stick and very easy to get along with. Of the rod's I've owned I would say that the Onyx's were most like this little Anderson Nova. None of the extreme personality and action style that you either love or hate. Now, if I could just get Mr. Berry to take some time to relax, slow down, cuddle up to a few beers, maybe watch an episode or two of Archer, and send up an Onyx 13'1" 6wt (I'd pay shipping both ways!) I could give you a detailed review of that rods casting personality and how it fights a fish. Hope there was something useful in there for you.

CT

Beulah

I own some Platinum speys had the chance to test some of the Onyx speys a few months back. As I understand it the Onyx are a bit more regressed than Platinums, but in terms of feel; they are light, crisp, bend down enough for good feel, have good components, well built, and service is great.
I would use the longer ones to throw longer lines and shorter(13' ish and under) more for Skagit/ Scandi all rounders. They should handle a lot of lines, just up to you to dial it to ur liking. IMO u can't go wrong with a Beulah, they're great rods... And I've spent plenty of time with the high end customs too.
I respect all of these rod builders and they're craft, and Beulah is no exception.

The Platinums are great, if you don't want the latest and greatest and want to save a few bucks. I personally think the 7132 is a sweetheart. Well balanced and light for many steelhead applications. May be a bit light if you encounter king salmon into the 20lb range and the largest of steelhead in heavy flow, but it's handled them. I also don't use it for the heaviest work. Get an 8 for that. I like to line it on the lighter side of beulah recs. ie light 7 wt.

Good luck and have fun in your quest!