[jdeckstar]

I was able to cast a CND Northfork Specialist Rod for the past 2 days and I really liked it alot. I tried a skagit line and a longer bellied cnd line which i found easier to cast and fish further distances without shooting line.
I am thinking the 13-3 size might be a bit on the short side and I am going to try out the Skagit size CND Specialist which is 13-9

I was wondering if any of you had thoughts on the pros/cons of the rod length and if you had only 1 rod, which size you'd pick.


jdeckstar

 

[MJC]

If I had only one two hander it would be a 14'

 

[sinktip]

If I was only interested in fishing Skagit lines in Winter and short to mid-length lines in Summer, I would go with a 13'. If I was to be throwing longer bellies though, I would go with a 15'.

 

[Hammer]

only one?

and being afoot?,,,18,,,,,,,,,,,,but i'm loving the 15 ft. length as being user frendly having enough leverage for me while maintaining a svelte' feel and covering nearly the same distance,boatspeys are shorty's and i feel so inadequate wadefishing with them after using lumber all these years:chuckle: ,,,so now that i've bashed the thread,,, buy several rods!,i won't tell your wife,christmas IS just around the bend:hihi:

 

[7141-4]

My one rod would be a 13-14' 7 or 8 wt. All things being equal I like rods a little longer. It seems to help me form a taller and thus usually larger d-loop which translates into better casts. Also doesn't hurt the mending, either.

Best piece of advice I can give is forget about the specs and try a bunch of different rods. You'll know when you find the "one". If it casts easier or better or sweeter or whatever you want to call it, who cares how long it is or what the specs are.

 

[flytyer]

A 14' 9 wt seems to me to be pretty close to the ideal compromise all-around 2-hand rod. A bit heavy for most summer steelhead, and bit light for mid-long-belly winter fishing. However, just like a 9' 5 or 6 wt for trout, it can get the job done. And at 14' it is long enough to be able to cast a long-belly lines without undue work or excellent technique.

However, to be fair, I agree completely with Sinktip with the 13' 7 or 8 wt with short to mid-belly lines and the 15' with long belly lines to be the better way to go if you can see your way to buy two rods, both of which are better suited to the task.

 

[salmo]

The great rod which handles very well dry line ( Mid Belly ca. 580-640gr), sin-tip line ( for example:WC 8/9/10) is great for Skagit lines( 670-690 gr. total, with tip) is Burkhaimer 13’ 9” wt.8 rod.
CND Solstice 14’3” wt. 8 is, in general, the longer version of the NF you have already tried.

Salmo

 

[Clydesider]

One and only......

I couldn't survive on one rod. There are times of the year when we fish 18ft with shooting heads, then 15ft for normal Spey and down to 12 ft in really low water.
I would like to see more manufacturers who offer "one " rod with interchangeable combinations offering for example a 13 and 15 ft option, or a 12 and 14.
Dont know why this isn't so more often.
Mike

 

[JDJones]

rod size vs. fish size vs. fly size

TIp has the right idea. Longer rods for casting long belly lines. Shorter rods for casting mid, short, Skagit, & Scando head lines. Having said that, I feel that most 14 & 15 foot rods are too much rod for the average size steelhead. I could be wrong. The rod makers keep coming out with longer, lighter rated rods.

Then there is the question of whether or not you will be using sink tips. Small low water style flies or half an animal big stuff.

I find pleasure in fishing (casting) low water & skater type flies on long belly lines. But I'm also lazy. When it comes to fishing sink tips and or large flies, I go to Skagit type lines.

IMHO: the Skagit speacialist is a pretty beefy stick. The North Fork is offered in two different lengths. I would not hesitate choosing the 13'-3" if that is what you liked.

Whatever rod you choose, you might even set it up with shooting heads. You could loop to loop any length/type head to a running line. Short head Skagit line. Long head line for greased line work. Or anything in between.

 

[Ol Rich]

Get to the Spey Fair next Sat. & Sun. in Carnation. You can try MANY rods and lines and get opinions from some very skilled casters/fisherpersons.

Rich

 

[highlander2]

I am with Mike on this! Instead of just one rod how about being able to change out differernt sections to increase or decrease length. Being able to switch from a 15' to an 18' by changing out the butt section would be awsome, I can see this happening in the near future.

 

[Gillie]

Carron already makes a rod with multiple components that can be switched around. You can change length and action.

Good luck affording it :Eyecrazy: :Eyecrazy:

Gillie