Need help picking out a 5/6 wt. Spey Rod

3446 Views 29 Replies 16 Participants Last post by clyde olson, Jul 10, 2005

Mark Vegwert

Discussion Starter · Jul 6, 2005

Hi guys:

My elbow has convinced me that it is not going to heal in time for this fall and that I need to save my elbow for saltwater trips, so it looks like I need a new spey rod. I own and have fished one of the first Sage 9140's that came out, for what 10-15 years? I have never been a fan of spey rods because I don't like the fight. After thinking about it a lot for the last year, I think the problem is that the 9140 is not a true 9 wt, but is more like my 12 wt tarpon rods. A 24"-25" one salt hatchery fish on the Deschutes will not even turn the reel handle. A 1 salt wild fish will take a little line but only 10-15'. The rod feels right for wild steelhead over 15lbs and is certainly adequate for Chinook up to 35 lbs., my largest. The other problems I have with spey rods is that they cast too far and make too much noise on flat water. I like to fish dry flies and I can't see a disco mouse in choppy water at 100'.

So here is what I would like. A true 6wt (or heavy 5wt.), 13'-14', more on the soft side (not an overhead rod) that will cast a dry line 70-80' and still has the backbone to cast a light sink tip (#II-#V) on a windcutter for late October and early November. I normally fish a 9'6wt graphite rod or an 8wt cane rod if the wind comes up, both with old Hardy & CFO click drag reels. I want to have that same feeling of not being in control when a 2 salt wild fish decides to head to the ocean. I want something that is too light to use in Canada.

Thanks for your help. I am not trying to put down spey rods. I just wanted you to understand why I prefer single-handed rods so that you could help me pick out a rod that fit my whims. Add to that, that I am 400 miles from a steelhead river and a fly shop that carries spey rods.

I have read all the old posts on this board and others, and still do not know where to start. Maybe a 5120?????? Or a Meiser 12’6” 4/5/6, or a Gary Anderson 13’ 5 or a Burkie 14’ 7???? Help!! Thanks in advance.

Mark

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MJC

· #21 · Jul 8, 2005

Living in a region that has a bit of a "spey vacuum", trying rods, usually means buying them.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, how far away is your mouse. :smokin:

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baldmountain

· #22 · Jul 8, 2005

MJC said:
Tsk, tsk, tsk, how far away is your mouse. :smokin:

Because we feel guilty about you sending rods that we probably can't buy but would LOVE to try. Juro lives close by and I would love to try a bunch of different CND rods but feel uncomfortable even asking.

I'd even be willing to buy a line to go with the trial rod knowng that it might be some time before I'm able to buy the rod to match it. (In particular a CND Atlantis 9/10. I have a real hankering to catch me a striper.

I just need to find the time to go.

)

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FLGator

· #23 · Jul 8, 2005

If you'd like to try a rod get a hold of Mike at the Red Shed (www.redshedflyshop.com) and have him send you one. He has a great selection and is more than willing to pop rods and lines in the mail for you to play with. It's no issue for him at all and part of the excellent service his shop offeres. Send him an e mail and find out if he has what you'd like to try. You'll be happy!
Chris

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baldmountain

· #24 · Jul 8, 2005

FLGator said:
It's no issue for him at all and part of the excellent service his shop offeres.

I agree. When I am ready to buy, Mike will get my business. He's been a great help.

I've been trying to support my local shop lately but they know less about Spey rods than I do. I've bought some stuff I probably shouldn't have because they didn't know to talk me out of it...

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speyman

· #25 · Jul 8, 2005

Easties

Out there on the remote East Coast don't forget the boys at Tight Lines in Pine Brook. They are sponsors and nice guys and can set you on the path faster than a jackrabbit on a date.

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Jamey McLeod

· #26 · Jul 9, 2005

FLGator said:
If you'd like to try a rod get a hold of Mike at the Red Shed (www.redshedflyshop.com) and have him send you one. He has a great selection and is more than willing to pop rods and lines in the mail for you to play with. It's no issue for him at all and part of the excellent service his shop offeres. Send him an e mail and find out if he has what you'd like to try. You'll be happy!
Chris

Yeah, I have chewed the fat with Mike a few times. I have it down to 7 rods now (5 two handers and 2 one handers, gotta love those RPL's{although if anybody out there has a 8ft6in 4 or 5wt RPL I may be interested}) , and I think that covers every fish and all the water here in western MI. Problem being, it took me two years and an amount of $$$$ that I don't even want to start adding up to get there.

The newest additions and the ones I have been after the longest, Marquis salmon #2 and #3, and a fifth of Glenfiditch that called my name tonight while grocery shopping

.

And Juro,

As for the Guinness, thats my Sept. thru late May drink. With the oppressive heat and humidity here in West MI, I find Sierra Nevada Pale Ales quench the thirst better than anything out there. Its best washed down with a bit of the Glenfiditch and a fine hand rolled Nica. from Drew Estates.

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baldmountain

· #27 · Jul 9, 2005

speyman said:
Out there on the remote East Coast don't forget the boys at Tight Lines in Pine Brook. They are sponsors and nice guys and can set you on the path faster than a jackrabbit on a date.

And don't forget Jack. He has some really cool hard to get stuff that you can't get other places.

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juro

· #28 · Jul 9, 2005

Jamey McLeod said:
And Juro,
As for the Guinness, thats my Sept. thru late May drink. With the oppressive heat and humidity here in West MI, I find Sierra Nevada Pale Ales quench the thirst better than anything out there. Its best washed down with a bit of the Glenfiditch and a fine hand rolled Nica. from Drew Estates.

Sounds very good indeed.

When the 3H (hazy,hot,humid) gets going around my neck of the woods beer is a sure thing but the salt air has put me into an agave thing lately. The saying "one tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor" seems to apply though. :roll: If not during indulgence then the next morning.

On freshwater or with anything Spey it's single malt, and the stench of a good cigar.

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Jamey McLeod

· #29 · Jul 9, 2005

baldmountain said:
And don't forget Jack. He has some really cool hard to get stuff that you can't get other places.

Just ordered a couple of the double density power tapers from him yesterday. Just need some fish in the river now.

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clyde olson

· #30 · Jul 10, 2005

CND Expert 1306("6/7")

I nearly gave up on this rod. The WC 5/6 (365 gr./46.5') I thought did not load this rod. The WC 6/7/8 (455 gr./49') seemed to do the trick for me, but using the sink tips was a little problematic. It was Jerry Swanson(Kaufmann's in Portland) who suggested two systems that to me make this rod sing (for sink tip work):
System 1: WC 789 head(245 gr./22.5') + Rio 8/9 cheater/floater (69 gr./5') +
WC 789 tips (c. 100 gr/15' + leader (10 gr./5').
Total: 424 gr./47.5'
System 2: AirFlo "40+" WF9F (370 gr./32.5') + AirFlo Polyleader (38 gr./10') +
Leader (10 gr./5').
Total: 418 gr./47.5'
System 2 really rocks! Sooo easy to pull up polyleaders and casting to 75' is pure pleasure. I could not get System 2 to handle the 15' sink tips well. I have done very little actual fishing with either system, but would agree with Mike at the Shed that this is a wonderful trout rod---and at $ 295.00, a great entry price for people interested in starting their spey journey.

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