[coug]

Seen this touched on in other threads but thought I would start a new one. I have been looking for a two-hander for trout water in our area. I usually camp for 3-4 weeks on my favorite cutthroat stream during summer and get up every morning and practice with my two-hand rods. I always use a streamer and end up catching a few fish each morning. My 7 and 8 wts are way overkill so have been looking for a much lighter two-hander. So what rods are out there for trout? I have seen the Meiser 3-4-5 and of course Gary Anderson's gorgeous rods. What is everyone else using for a very light two hander?

 

[Lawrence S]

Trout Spey

There are many. What would you like to spend? There are several good light rods at various price points.

Lawrence S

 

[fatman]

Echo Glass

I am waiting with baited breath for the 3wt switch to hit.

Those who have cast it at demo's say it's very light; should be super for swinging soft hackles on smaller waters for avg sized trout.

 

[mikeb90]

Anglers Roost 12' 2/3 IM6

If you're on a budget and you don't mind doing a little rod building, I would buy the Anglers Roost 12' 2/3 (IM6) blank for $30. If you don't have time to build up a stick, like myself, buy the whole rod (it comes with a single hand grip) and do some handle surgery. I ordered a nice spey grip kit from mudhole and pieced the rod with the new grip for under $150. Anglers roost makes some nice sticks for an even better price. I have also tried the 11' 2/3 (Good for very small trout, true 2/3 weight), the 11' 3/4 (also lightweight, soft action) but the action on the 12' 2/3 is sweet. Handles 240-260 skagit, 210-220 scandi, which I think is perfect for almost any trout situation. The rod doubles over with a good size trout but has a strong butt that could handle most fish up to 10lbs.

 

[coug]

I am waiting with baited breath for the 3wt switch to hit.

Those who have cast it at demo's say it's very light; should be super for swinging soft hackles on smaller waters for avg sized trout.

Is this from Meiser?

 

[coug]

There are many. What would you like to spend? There are several good light rods at various price points.

Lawrence S

I worry more about quality than anything else.

 

[Olddoc]

The Winston Micro Speys are the real deal. I have the 4 weight and it casts the Airflo Scandi 270 like a dream.

 

[Peteo]

Yes, the Winston micro-speys are the real deal. I cast one this spring and they are very nice. Bob Meiser also has some nice little trout Speys, some which aren't listed on his website including new lines of ultra light switches and light speys. Call him and ask about them if you are interested. I cast the new green 10' 2/4 at the Sandy Speyclave and it was fantastic. It has a 200 to 300 grain window and seemed to have the fish fighting power equal to about a SH 4 weight.

 

[middlecalf]

I'm kind of partial to this sort of thing

 

[FKrow]

I am not presenting myself as any sort of expert,,, only a retired old guy who enjoys experimenting with light line spey rods.

My personal collection:

Sage - very light weight and smooth casting with quick recovery.
4116 ONE - excellent casting rod with 270-280gr Scandi lines.
5116 ONE - also nice casting rod with 300-320gr Scandi lines.
5126 ONE - preferred giving better line control for longer casts.
5119 TCX - absolute canon for distance with 300-320gr Scandi lines.
5120 Graphite IIIe- the original light trout spey rod,,, still great casting with 300gr Scandi or 350gr Skagit Flight and 375gr Skagit Short.

Thomas & Thomas - excellent design and comfortable to cast all day
DNA 1195 - very smooth casting with reserve power 320gr RIO Scandi Short and 375gr Skagit Short
_____________

Custom made rods, projects in progress for this spring.

Thomas & Thomas LPS II, 9' 4wt with custom cork from a T&T Switch rod.
Completed and tested with various lines.

Thomas & Thomas Paradigm 9' 4wt 3-pc, stiffer tip wrt the LPS II, should be better performing rod. In progress.

Sage ESN 2100 with 4" longer blank making it 10'4" (custom ordered from Sage). In progress.
I own and have single hand spey cast the factory ESN 2100 and it has excellent potential.

__________________

I also have in my collection these imported rods which are heavier in swing weight and do not cast as well as the USA made rods however, they are less than 1/2 the retail price and fish well.

TFO
4110 Deer Creek - the original short light trout rod that is still a contender with 240gr Scandi lines

Echo
SR 3106 - nice casting rod with 240gr Scandi
TR 4120 - likes 270-280gr Scandi, I prefer this new rod to the older DH series.
TR 5120 - likes 300-310gr Scandi

Mystic
4113 - Rather soft tip, likes 210gr Scandi best

Redington
4109 Prospector - great with 240gr Scandi

__________________
Rods previously owned and sold off:
Sage
5110 Z-Axis - like it best with RIO Steelhead Scandi 280gr
5126 Z-Axis - nice casting however, the 5126 ONE is superior.

TFO -- 5126 Deer Creek - great low budget rod, friends have landed smaller steelhead with this rod.

Mystic -- 3113 - Very soft tip and felt over lined with 210gr Scandi

Echo -- DH 4119 - mislabeled rod, likes 300-310ge Scandi best, nice casting rod. Several friends like and use this rod for trout.

____________
I have cast most of the current light trout rods including:

Winston - the new MS series 3, 4 & 5 wt, very soft rods, required underlining.
I found timing difficult with this series and line section is presently limited.

Echo = 10'6" Glass spey/switch rod, very nice casting with great potential, labeled 175-200gr window, Airflo will have new lines shortly for this rod. Tested it with RIO Scandi 210gr and it felt rather heavy, cannot wait for the new 175gr Airflo line.

Anderson - labeled 3wt, provided with 280gr line from the manuf.

Meiser - similar to above with rod label and actual line weight somewhat heavier.


Regards,
FK

 

[DWFII]

I am not presenting myself as any sort of expert,,, only a retired old guy who enjoys experimenting with light line spey rods.

TFO
4110 Deer Creek - the original short light trout rod that is still a contender with 240gr Scandi lines

Regards,
FK

I have that rod. It's also sweet with an Ambush 7wt.I'm mostly using skagit casts.

Love it on the Metolius.

 

[Cold]

Meiser 10024-4 is awesome for trout . Casts like a dream and sings with a 237 grain sgs scandi .

 

[fatman]

Is this from Meiser?

It will be marketed by Echo (Rajeff Sports) Don't know of Bob's involvement or not.

 

[FKrow]

I have that rod. It's also sweet with an Ambush 7wt.I'm mostly using skagit casts.

Love it on the Metolius.

I agree, the Ambush 7wt @ 265gr balances very well on the rod.
We also use a 10' Polyleader when casting streamers in shallow riffles and pocket water.

Regards,
FK