500-550 Wintertide for tips and medium/unweighted winter flies - I dig the length of the 8/9, and it tends to handle T10 way better than slightly lower grain weights in my experience with this rod

575 Tributary for small dries - match made in heaven (until there's a breeze)

540 Airflo Scandi long for dries and wets - only test cast in still water, but feels really promising

560 Ballistic Express II - fished this a lot on the Dean with a tapered leader and dry fly and had a lot of fun

Sure wish I still had that 575 red Aero.

 

580 gr rio short head spey.

 

Hi Jimbo,

I have the 13,6' 7/8 MKX and a custom build 15' 7/8 MKS. I have also helped a friend with his 14' 7/8 MKS, these are my findings.
For modern spey casting a good starting point for the rod is a RIO Scandi body 8# with 15' tips down to S8, will handle 15' T12 without any problem even T14 will work. You can find Scandi body at least down to S4 (casts great by the way). Rio Gamechanger425 grain as scandi body from FHI to FS3S5 with similar tips also great, Same for the new Gamechanger I/S2/S3 and S3/S5/S7 at 400 grain. If you like a shorter line for a shorter rod/tight conditions use 10-12 tips instead, for longer 18' tips.

Nextcast Zone 2D 400-425 grain with 12-18 tips cast great as well, don't sink as fast as RIO at the same sinking rate is my experience.

Tight lines!

 

You're casting 400/425 grain lines on 7/8 MK rods?

 

Call Bob and get it right from DA MAN, he knows best!

 

If your issue is “getting down” and swatting noses the GF triple density will get you there without hinging. Big difference. Your swings will be slower and you’re in the strike zone longer. With a little experimenting you’ll have no issues casting . I use it in 13 to 15 foot troughs with a 4 knot current with a S5 and find salad every now and then. Personally, I won’t use a tip if deeper than 10 ft. Otherwise it’s EMT when working the column. For what it’s worth

 

Jimbo,

My two favorite winter lines are the 525 Wintertide and the 570 Zone, FF or F1 (my Zones are older and I'm not certain on the current line nomenclature). I use 15 ft replacement tips, or 12 ft tips up to T14 on the Wintertide, and up to 17 on the Zone.

The Tributary flies for a dry line.

 

all great info guys . thanks for your input .
i need to give this rod some love and dial it in 'cuz i know it has a ton of soul . as my casting gets better , i can begin to feel things that i never used to .

richard ... i need to ring you up , now that your on n the least coast .

 

Ditto on the 63 8/9. Would lead me to believe my 7/8 G+ 15 foot must pair closely to the similar MKX. Wind here and direction can be tough here. In that condition a chopped 54 can really shine over the 63 with the shorter taper on the head. No intent to hijack here

 

As a former participant in high level rifle competition, I was told and learned early that your equipment quality should always be above your abilities, never below. Confidence and knowledge that faults which may appear by inferior performance are those of the operator, not the equipment, helps and directs focus to the problem at hand. It also accelerates skill and progress. The game of Spey is no exception. It’s my belief that you buy once and buy right and in the long run you are money ahead. For what it’s worth