[Whiskey Dick]

I was reading the thread on the Abel reel for XLT lines and i have a question for all of you who use the XLT and Grand Spey lines, Which reels do you use for these lines and what type and how much backing do you have behind these lines?. thanks in advance, Happy New Year, brian

 

[fredaevans]

Brian, for the 10, and up's you'll need a huge reel

(May be a tad off on the reel numbers as I'm at the office) For my largest XLT's, and for testing the GrandSpey's I use a 12-13 Redington small arbor reels. 'Small vs. Large arbor' as you need every bit of space to get the line and 150 yards of 30# backing. Both lines consume a copious amount of reel space due to their size. GrandSpey more so than the xlt.

For the 8/9 xlt (and similar GS) the 9-10 Redington would hold the line and 130-150 yards of 30# backing. I'll recheck the reel sizes when I get home and update/correct this.
fae

 

[Willie Gunn]

Hi,
For the Grand Spey 10/11 I put in on a Hardy Cascapedia which was previously lined with a Rio Accelerator 10/11. It just fitted where as the accelerator had room to spare. The Cascapedia is a huge reel.

Malcolm

 

[Ol Rich]

8/9 XLT

I have my 8/9 XLT on a Teton #12. The fly shop spooled on the backing and I don't remember how much they got on but they said it was plenty. Love the reel.

Rich

 

[flytyer]

I have my 10/11 GrandSpey spooled onto a Redington AS 13/14 (the small arbor reel) and it has 230 yards of 30# backing. This reel is rated for a 14 weight line and 450 yards of 30# backing. As Fred has posted, it takes a large reel with a lot of capacity to hold these lines, and the GrandSpey uses up even a bit more space than the XLT.

I would not put the 9/10 GrandSpey on a reel rated for less than a 12 weight line and 300 or more yards of 30# backing. The XLT would be similiar. This would get you around 175 yards of 30# backing give or take 30 yards.

The 8/9 GrandSpey, which I will be using this coming summer, is going to be put on a Redington AS 11/12 (small arbor) reel that I own. this reel is rated for a 12 weight plus 350 yards of 30# backing. It would fit nicely on the Redington 9/10 (small arbor) with about 140 yards of 30# backing as Fred has already posted.

These lines take up a lot of space on a reel and they do not cast well beyond 70 to 80 feet unless you are using them on a 15 ft. or lolnger rod. They really come into their own with the longer rods. And keep in mind that unless you have learned how to cast a RIO MidSpey, SA Mastery Spey, SA Tri-Tip Spey, or double taper spey line over 85 feet, the XLT and GrandSpey will beat you up.

It is critical with both of them for long casting to have the "D" loop formed properly and that you are also able to keep 90 feet of belly aerialized, or else you are going to be very disappointed and frustrated. These lines really are for advanced spey casters. And I love my 10/11 GrandSpey' but I am fully aware that it is not for everyone. In fact, I would never recommend a person using one of these lines unless he has been spey casting for several years.

 

[SpeyFitter]

A match made in heaven

On my Loop Evotec 9thirteen I have a Rio Grandspey 8/9 and 182 yards of 50 pound test Gel Spun Poly (GSP) and it fits perfectly.

 

[Dana]

I use my big capacity reels for these lines: a Loop Evotec HD 11fourteen (200 yards 50# gsp), a Waterworks F4 (200 yards 30# dacron), and a Ross Saltwater V (150 yards 30# dacron).

 

[Rick J]

Dana -Ross SW V?

Dana - I note you talk about the Ross SW V and curious what line you have on it? I have a couple of them and had the 8/9 Accelerator on it with not much problem. Odd that the Ross BG 8 has a higher rated capacity (14 wt +450 yds) than the SW V (12 wt + 475 yds) but I could not get a 8/9 xlt on that reel without going to spectron. Have not tried spooling up the line on the SW V..
Best regards,
Rick J

 

[Dana]

Hi Rick!

I used the SW V with the 9/10 XLT and 8/9 GrandSpey, while kush had the 9/10 GrandSpey on his this fall. These reels have also been the traditional homes for our Speydriver extended belly lines since 1997.

 

[Guest]

My XLT 8/9 is on a C.A. Harris Solitude VI. I managed to get about 190yds of 30# on with it. My 9/10 Grandspey is on a Spey spool for the Charlton 8550C. I didn't do a good job of measuring on this one, but I believe I got between 175-200yds of 30#.

 

[nevada caster]

waterworks reels

I put the GS 8/9 on my Waterworks 3.5 and it barely fit with NO backing. I put the 9/10 on my WW4.0 and it fit, but just barely, with 300 yds of Micronite backing

 

[NrthFrk16]

Abel Super 12...200 yds of #30 GSP (SA XTS to be exact)...8/9 Grandspey.

 

[JDJones]

XLT lines

I have an 8/9 XLT line on a Bauer M7. Not really sure how much backing as I have switched things around two or three times, but it holds a lot of 30# dacron.

Same deal with an XLT 7/8 on a Bauer M5.

 

[Green Butt]

Anybody know if the Grandspey 10/11 will fit on the Tioga 12?
Thanks
GB

 

[flytyer]

The 10/11 GrandSpey of a Tioga 12 will probably fit with maybe room for 15 yards of backing. You simply need to have a huge capacity reel to use with the 10/11 GrandSpey in order to have a decent amount of backing. One must really think in term of reels that will hold 14 weight lines with 400+ yards of 30 lb dacron to have a reel that will hold the 10/11 GrandSpey and 175 or more yards of 30 lb dacron. Remember that 100 feet of 11/12 weight belly eats up reel spce in a hurry.

 

[JGrice]

Hello,

I have the Rio Grand Spey 8/9 rigged up on a Bauer MX6 with 250+ yards of backing, the capacity on the MX6 is rated higher (WF12+(450yds.30#) than the M7 WF12+(325yds.30#)
I plan on getting the the 10/11 Grand Spey and I will be interested to see how that fits. John

 

[Rick J]

To JGrice - what type of backing are you using. I have the Ross BG 8 rated at 14 wt +450 yds and I had to go to spectron (200 yds) for my XLT 9/10. From what I am hearing the XLT's do not take up as much room as the GS's so makes me curious

 

[JGrice]

Hello Rick,

I am using standard 30# Cortland micron backing with the Grand Spey 8/9, to be used with a T&T 15' 9WT. and a GLX 13' 8WT. I noticed you are using the 9/10 which I have not tried yet but I am sure it takes up a lot more room. These lines need a serious reel! John

 

[JGrice]

Rick,

I need to pay better attention, I reread your post and you are using the 9/10 XLT so I don't no how that compares to the 8/9 Grand Spey, but I know the larger Rio GS lines will start to get tight on my MX6.

 

[Green Butt]

I have the 8/9 Grandspey on a Hardy Ultralight disc /Salmon with 110 yds of gelspun. I could put alot more backing on but only had this much on hand and wanted to use the line too much to wait. It would probably hold another 75-100 yds. Sure do like the line.
The reel is rated for WF10+ 300yds backing