I got to use the new Spey rod on the weekend and as promised here are my thoughts.
Firstly not having had any lessons on spey casting I do not know if I am doing it right, but even if I am not I have to say the rod made up for it. I even hooked the shrubbery on the far bank twice and that is a very long cast! I was useing a Sciera brand Spey line which I believe are actualy made by Rio, it worked just fine.
Anyway to cut a long story short I found the spey rod fairly easy to cast but you do have to be carefull with mending or you tend to mend a hell of lot further than intended.
I even managed to hook a few fish with the spey rod while I was realy only having a play to see how it went.
I will probably not use the spey rod again untill next winter on the Tongariro when I will try to get some lessons. We are on the brink of summer so I will be mostly fishing the #5 9ft Sage XP for the next 5 months.
I will let you know how I go with the spay rod once I have had some lessons.
All the best.
Mike.