[watersprite]

Early this coming year I will be looking at "true" 7 wt. spey rods to purchase. And by "true" 7 wt. I mean - not an eight weight, although a 6/7 wt. might work out for the summer steelhead fishery. If comparisons could be made on the differing actions using the Sage 9140-4 Green's action as the standard, it would be very valuable towards my comprehension and search.

Thanks.

ws

 

[SSPey]

I can't discern any "truth" to rated line weights in spey rods. I have experience with the green Sage 7136. It has a similar overall feel as the green Sage 9140-4. To my tastes, it takes lines one weight down from the 9140-4, so if that rod is a true 9 weight (to you) then the 7136 might classify as a true 8 weight.

hope that helps.

Steve

 

[flytyer]

Watersprite,

I think that the T&T 1307 is a true 7 weight. It is a wonderful casting rod with the 6/7 MidSpey. It is the 7 weight 2-hander that I plan on purchasing.

If you want to spend less, the 13 ft St. Croix (the rod I bought for my 15 year old's birthday last May) is not a bad 7 weight. I like it with the 6/7 MidSpey as well.

Then there is the Sage 12 1/2 ft 6/7. Slower than the T&T and it doesn't have the same authority and strength in the butt as the T&T; nontheless, it is a nice light rod.

I have cast the G.Loomis Trilogy 13 ft 7/8 and it is also a nice 7 weight. I liked it with the 6/7 MidSpey too. It is slower than the GLX and T&T, but it has the typical Loomis characteristic of progressive loading down the blank the more you push the rod.

The Redington 13 ft 8 weight is also a nice rod with the 6/7 Mid Spey.

And you always have the Sage 7136, which in my opinion is really a 7 weight. A slow rod for sure, but it does cast a 7 weight 6/7 MidSpey nicely. I have cast Bob Arnold's 7136 many times. It is too slow for me (and my Loomis 13 ft GLX 8/9 is too fast for his tastes) but it is a nice rod if I remember to slow down and not force it.

I also view the 7141 Sage as a true 7 weight and have cast it with 6/7/8 Windcutters, 7/8/9 Windcutters, 8/910 Windcutters, 6/7 MidSpeys, and 7/8 MidSpeys on the insistence of several folks I know who have this rod and use the above lines on it, I liked it best with the 6/7 MidSpey. My wife, who has just learned to spey cast this year, likes this 7141 Sage with the 6/7 MidSpey too. She wants one for her birthday in August.

 

[watersprite]

Please feel free to correct any erroneous assumptions...

Ideally, I would like to pick up a 7 wt. for my son first. I have been favoring the Sage 7136 believing it to be comparable in action to the Sage 9140 greeny that I now own and which my son is very fond of. For myself I have been thinking of the Sage 7141, a rod whose action is more in line with the Orvis 1409 (tip flex rating of 12) spey rod I am currently using and like, or so I assume.

Anyhow, since my son's rod comes first I have ruled out the T&T believing it to be too fast for his liking. Since I know next to nothing on the other choices available, therein lies the problem and the need for your comments, etc.

One last thing - for the most part I don't envision using sink tips with these rods, just your usual riffled hitch and such on or near the surface. Well, maybe a sinking leader on rare occasion.

Again, thanks...

ws

 

[JGS]

T&T 7 wt.

I am fairly new to the spey game and recently had the same search criteria. I cast the T&T, Scott 1287, Sage 7136, Sage 7141, Winston DB and Winston LT. I personally decided upon the T&T and have not suffered from its fast action. I really enjoy the rod and think it handles wind, tips and my inexeperience well. I would highly recommend the rod, but I have already purchased a Sage 6126 for those days when it is a little too much.

 

[nevada caster]

true 7 wt

I use the T&T 1307 as my 7 wt. I think that the MS6/7 matches it perfectly, and I would not dream of using a heavier or lighter line on it.
I like to say that my Sage 6126 is my 6 wt rod, but the only line I have ever tossed on it is the same MS 6/7. I don't have anything lighter!! However, my gut guess is that a lighter line would suit it better.

 

[flytyer]

Watersprite,

The Sage 7136 is a real slow and gentle rod, much different really than the Sage 9140. I faced a similar problem last April/May when I was looking for a rod for my 15 year old's 15th birthday in May. I settled on the St. Crois 13 ft. 7/8 because it was only going to be used with floating line his first year spey casting, and because it has a pleasant action that is a little on the fast side of medium. the Sage 7136 is actually a harder rod to master because you have to gently load it and remember to slow everything down or you overload the rod and the cast collapses.

I consider it to be a true 7 weight and that is why I lined it with the 6/7/8 Windcutter for him. It is a rod that will serve your son for many years before he starts feeling the difference between it and the top line rods you and I prefer. In another year I will get the 6/7 MidSpey for my son to use on this rod. I will also most probably get this same 13 ft. St. Croix for my now 11 year old if not this summer next summer for his birthday in August.

For myself, I am going to get the T&T 1307 because I like its nice crisp and somewhat faster action. I have a strong suspician that my wife is going to like the T&T better than the Sage 7141 that she has adked me to think about getting for her. I wonder how long I will be able to keep her from trying it after I get one.

Both the Sage 7141 and the T&T cast fine with 6 weight sink tips nor larger than type 6 RIO. HOwever, since they are 7 weight rods I probable will never use any tip faster than a type III 6 weight, and it would be rare that I would use a sink tip on these rods anyway. They really are light summer fish rods for floating line work on steelhead less than 10 pounds.

 

[inland]

True 7 Wt?

Watersprite,

If you are looking for a true 7 weight, what do you classify as 7wt? A spey rod that throws a 7 wt double taper? The reason I ask, I have been on the same quest for about 5 years now. Almost every rod that you have been given advice will throw a '6/7' spey line- but there is no way it will throw a 'true' 7 wt line in single hander terms.

For my efforts, I have caught enough steelhead with the heavy tackle. In fact, the lighter the better. If by chance a steelhead hands me my butt, SO BE IT- it makes for nice drinking stories. What the hell do I care? We are fishing for migrating rainbows that average between 7#'s and 12#'s. Out of that bunch, MAYBE 20% of them have some zip, for heaven's sakes, let the fish have a chance! After handling Atlantics, larger than ANY STEELHEAD THAT SWIMS, on so called 'light' spey rods I am more than willing to take my chances and 'bring the game on'.

So, in my travels, there are two rods I can think of that will qualify this category- the Lamiglass 6/7 and the old Winston LT 6/7. Either of these rods will fall into the range that you are asking. If you are looking for a rod that will fall into the 'psuedo spey' 7 wt range- Burk 7137-3, T&T 1307, Scott 1287, Sage 6126, Sage 7136, etc, etc, etc. While each of the latter rods listed, and some I missed, are exceptional spey rods, they all throw lines in the 450 to 550 grain range- no where near a 'true' 7 wt.

William

 

[watersprite]

Okay, toss out the "true" 7 wt. moniker and use instead "light spey". A spey rod any sensible person would not line with an 8 wt. and up. For that matter, throw out the new Sage 5 wt. (ultra light spey?), also.*

So let's say a 6/7 wt. light spey rod for a surface oriented, summer fishery on, at most, a medium size stream/river system. Suited to those "half pounders" and Pinks where a "medium spey" in the 8/9 wts. is too much rod.

ws

* And Cabela's little 11'3" 6 wt., described elsewhere on this forum as a "hand and a half". Kinda cool looking little stick in it's own right and cheap enough to get and play with. But that's another thread, entirely.

 

[sinktip]

Watersprite,

My thoughts on a few of the options you have heard about. I have spent a short amount of time casting the St. Croix, a decent number of hours on the 7136 and I own the T & T. All I would say fit the bill as far as a light spey. For the money the St. Croix is hard to beat. It would rank third though if I was to rate them form best to worst.

Flytyer is right about the 7136 being a slow action rod. It is a nice rod to cast though with a 6/7 line. It is also capable of throwing tips if needed. I persoally have thrown 15' type VI Rio tips on it and while a bit sluggish, it handled them fine. The advantage with the 7136 is there are a lot of them out there and you could probably pick up one used fairly reasonably. I can't compare it to the green 9140 but would say it is a slightly faster version of the old brown 9140. All in all a very serviceable rod.

The 1307-3 T&T is an awesome stcik. It is far and away the best casting 7 weight I have tried. While I agree it is a little faster actioned, I think this is somewhat relative. It is crisp but not stiff. I like it for its ability to tip cast out to 60-70'. If you need to shoot out close to 100', it has the backbone to do that as well. In my experience, the traditional actioned rods like the 7136 do not handle the wrist only tip cast nearly as well. The downside is price and the fact there are fewer out there to pick up secondhand.

As for lines, the 6/7 Midspey is a good choice. There is no need for these light speys to go with a long bellied line. While I like the 6/7 on the T&T, my favorite line is the 6/7 Delta Long. I was lucky to get a pre-production model but I think they are out there in the stores by now. Just about the same length as the Midspey but I think it shoots a little better and prefer the running line over the Rio. Both are very good lines though and won't let you down.

Tight lines -- sinktip

 

[fredaevans]

My .02 cents on this is if the 'standard' is a "true"

7wt go for the 'old' sage 7136-4. This is a 'real' 7wt spey rod; the green is a stiffer blank and handles more like a light 8wt rod. Both are fund to cast, but the 'greenie' will handle larger fish with ease.

The 'brownie' 'tain't no slouch as I've beached fall kings to about 25 #; but the rod was flat to the water during much of the tussel.
fae

 

[Rick J]

I love the Scott 1287. Not sure it is a true 7 wt but is a great light line rod. I use both the Airflo Long Delta 7 wt that I have cut back and use with tips and the 7 wt xlt for floating stuff. This rod is medium fast with a slightly soft tip. (I am not a fan of the very fast action rods) It will punch out a long line easily but will handle 30 to 50 foot casts with ease as well. It is a true joy and a superb fishing tool

 

[fredaevans]

Sigh... credit where credits due ...

He wupped my a... with this rod last time we fished together.

fae

 

[juro]

Some really great recommendations here for sure! I'll admit it took me a while to get used to my 7136-4 due to it's slow stroke during a fast rod period I was in, but with a 6/7 mid-spey and a little less hurry-up in my stroke and that combination simply ROCKS. As sinktip says it's a wide-open stroke but it sure feels good, really feels Spey.

I tried the St.Croix which is a smart rod for the money but I don't think I could give up the high-end performance which I believe is a function of the taper progression thru the blank.

If you find a 7136 and put a midspey on it you can't go wrong IMHO.

 

[speybum]

i KNOW THERE IS AN ANSWER BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHAT

I have been starring at this post of three days.
It is kind apple and oranges time.
I have been working with three 7wts. For some months.
They are the Flylogic 13ft 7wt, Scott Arc 12’8 “ for a 7wt,
and T&T 13ft for a 7wt.
I have been using three lines one 6/7 Mid-Spey, 6/7 Xlt by SA and Windcutter 6/7/8.
The Verdict is still out, I like them all.
Never could make up my mind so I guess I will have to use them all.
If you would like these are ready for you to cast at my shop.
Speybum

 

[speyrd]

Have been using a Lamiglas 12' 6" 6/7 for the past 2 summer seasons. Fish with 3 other Spey rodders that use the same rod. Easy on the pocket book, light in hand and works well with a DT7.
Leroy..............

 

[Grampa Spey]

watersprite re true 7 weights

I own both the Sage 7136-4 and the Sage 7141-4.

The Sage 7136 (brown) was my first venture into the two handed world. With the Mid Spey 6/7 with a slow stroke, you can cast dry flies and mid weight nymphs all day. It will lob a Boles Indicator with a sinking nymph 50 to 60' upstream with the MS 6/7. This will enable you to indicator/fish runs 100' long if you are standing in the middle and a few feet back to the shore. It will put dry flies out 60 to 70 feet plus the leader for hours.

With the WC 678 it does a good job with the lumilux tip and dry tip. However in heavy water, I could not cast it with the sinking tips. That meant that I could not use it during the Shad runs and if the steelhead were deep in heavy water.

I discussed this with the local Sage Rep at our fly club meeting. He recommended the Sage 7141-4, which is his favorite Spey Rod in Northern California and Southern Oregon for steelhead. It is his main rod for Shad fishing. Later in the seminar when asked the old question if you could only buy one Spey rod for N. California/Southern Oregon, which rod would it be. Without any hesitation, he said the 7141.

I had a 7141 made for me. On the advise of this Sage Rep, I used my MS 6/7 floating line and WC 678 inspite of Rio's higher line recommendation for this rod in 2002. Now in 2003 the line recos for the 7141 and the 7136 are the same. The lines worked great. I can cast the heavy tips with no problem. The 7141 will cast the WC 678 with the longer upgrade. The only problem I seem to have is breaking the tippets in the middle with the bigger fish with the 7141. The rod is stiffer than the 7136, and I have to learn to use my reel more and less rod when a big trout or good size steelhead strikes in fast water.

My 7136-4 is for sale for $350. It was fished for one season is in excellent shape. The 7136 balances perfectly with the Orvis Large Arbor ( the next to largest reel, they keep changing the numbers). The Orvis LA picks up line faster than my Loop 4. My Orvis LA is not for sale.

 

[JGS]

Grampa's 7136

Please e-mail regarding the Sage 7136.

 

[roballen]

I strongly recommend to anyone who is thinking buying another spey rod for summer work to wait until after the Spey clave on the Sandy. Don't take someones advise based on their own preference. Everyone on this board is very well intentioned and they all give great advise but you never know till you cast. There is no better opportunity in the world to try our rods than at the Spey clave.. Waiting til then would be an extremely wise move..

 

[speybum]

Do you know something we don't

roballen
Are you keeping a Secret.????? Hugh!
Is there some new rod about appear tell us please????
I hate waiting ?????
:smokin: