You might have asked if there is anyone out there that loves their children, and if so, why? Everyone will have their favorite. Without knowing your budget, looking for new, used or either, target species, weight, etc answers will be all over the place. Personally, I prefer longer rods for scandi, maybe I'm just fooling myself but a longer rod feels like it does better bringing the line around on a single spey cast, and longer means more tip speed so if done right, more distance, all other things being equal.

There are many good manufacturers and you should do well with any reputable name in my opinion. Setting it up with the right line and learning to use it will be worth more than the actual rod selection. No amount of money can buy a good cast, you have to earn that and even a crappy rod in good hands will outcast a premium rod in inept hands. I assume you have looked at some options by now, and if you can cast a few it will help. Many seem to like the slower action spey rods but I have a few I would classify as faster and I like them just as much, but I think they are little harder to master.

As for reels, decent reels sized to the rod will get the job done. Steelhead aren't bonefish or tarpon that will run deep into the backing every time you connect. I prefer a drag, others love their clickers. Make sure it is big enough for the bulk of line. Most, including me, like a large diameter to give you a faster retrieve, but without any price range or size rod nothing specific can be recommended. I have had good service from many brands, Galvin, Tibor, Nautilus, Ross and others have all served me well.

A decent rod/reel setup should be able to deliver good results either scandi or skagit and from what I have seen, all good manufacturers give you the recommended grain window for both types of line to get you started.

Lastly, you can analyze this to death but there is no singularly right answer.

 

Appreciate the advice!

 

Scandi lines / techniques don’t go inherently farther. For the same initial line speed (leaving the rod tip), you can add distance with a heavier and/or longer line. A good next step is a 13‘ 7wt with a 45-50’ line

 

I think the jump from switch rod and skagit head to a 45' scandi will be problematic. A rod in the 13' range sounds good but a 32-35' scandi is going to be much more manageable, at least in my experience, or are you thinking 45-50' scandi head and leader combined, if so, I agree.

 

On a 13’ rod, a typical floating scandi line (32-35’) is the same length as a skagit setup (20-25’ skagit head + 10-13’ tips = 30-38’). A longer line is needed to move the dial, especially if fishing bigger water.

 

I'd go 13-14 ft, seven or eight weight depending on the size of the fish and the river. I'd suggest a Bridge Tributary line, which is essentially a longer scandi. It'll take a little while to transition your casting movement, but should be worth the effort. I'd suggest a lesson just to help get the feel of the new rig, the changes required from what you're accustomed to.

 

Thank you! River is the Columbia which is quite massive, so probably 8wt makes sense.

Lesson is definitely a good idea.

 

Then I'g go with a 14ft 8 wt. The Tributary is an excellent longer scandi, and will help with a transition to a full mid spey if you decide to keep lengthening things out.

 

Transitioning from a Skagit setup to a Scandi setup was a challenge for me because I tried to do it with the same sustained-anchor casts that I had learned and become proficient with. Once I learned the basics of and started concentrating on touch-and-go style casts, it's like a light turned on.

Not that you can't snapT a Scandi, but keep in mind that the longer the lines get, the more you have to adapt/change the actual method for delivering the fly.

13' 7wt. rod with a 480 SA "butter" Scandi line and a 12' leader is a good place to start. Small fly.

As far as rod action, that doesn't matter nearly as much as the person holding the rod.

 

Transitioning from a Skagit setup to a Scandi setup was a challenge for me because I tried to do it with the same sustained-anchor casts that I had learned and become proficient with. Once I learned the basics of and started concentrating on touch-and-go style casts, it's like a light turned on.

Not that you can't snapT a Scandi, but keep in mind that the longer the lines get, the more you have to adapt/change the actual method for delivering the fly.

13' 7wt. rod with a 480 SA "butter" Scandi line and a 12' leader is a good place to start. Small fly.

As far as rod action, that doesn't matter nearly as much as the person holding the rod.

Thanks mate, what was your main reason to transition from skagit to scandi?

 

I'd like to know what you intend to fish for. If steelhead, a 7 weight or 7/8 should do the trick. If chinook (kings in Alaska, i think you need a 9 weight, since even an 8 weight will not stop or turn big king salmon determined to return to the ocean. Until the last year, all my rods were 4 piece. My two most recent spey rods are 6 piece, for ease of travel.

 

Primarily the rod would be for steelhead/large rainbows. (But I’ll likely end up using it for kings as well, just not nearly as often.)

6 piece is not something I had considered, thanks for mentioning

 

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