Hello, I got the Albright `15’ spey 10/11 because I normally would not ever have the $ and they are deeply discounted right now. I think I am over rodded.
The lowest Spey they have for $99 is their 13’ 8/9 wt. I hope to visit the PNW some year and fish for months. Might even move to Northern CA near my son who lives alone.
Anywhoooo…I can’t buy decent parts and build a decent rod for $99. It’s a cool deal. Comes in a nice cordova covered tube with a zip lock top.
Is 8/9 perfect for the PNW or should I go smaller? Any recommendations or opinions would be greatly appreciated.
For a lot of PNW steelheaders an 8 weight, 12 to 13 foot rod is considered perfect. I use a 12’3" 8 weight rod for Skagit River winter steelhead which run to the mid teens and higher. For summer run fish I use a 12’6" 6 weight 2 hander. I like to use “Skagit” style lines which I build myself. Still this is personal preference. One of my fishing partners likes 14 to 16 foot rods with traditional DT lines.
Hi Gemrod, I am not from the PNW but I do have a 14ft 9/10 spey rod and it is an absolute canon! Remember that a Spey #8 is about the same as a single hand #10. Mind you, if you decide to fish skagit style with heavy sink tips and big flies then the rod could be excactly what you need. Plus for the price you just can’t go wrong.
Have to say I do love Spey casting, when you get the timing right the line just shoots way out.
Hope you enjoy it.
All the best.
Mike.
Gem, we talked a little in the chatroom about the Spey outfit. I got mine also because I couldn’t pass it up for the price. I think I also may have went a little big as REE said, “Senior Moment”. I did get out last week on the Wallowa just to see how it felt. Mostly it was pitiful but when it was done right it felt so good and just sailed out there. Like hitting a golf ball with the sweet spot.
My big problem right now is the set up. I got a deal on a Rio Spey WindCutter II VersiTip and with my few sweet casts it seems to be the right line for this rod. Just not sure what goes next. One of the tips, then leader, then tippet? I did use an Intermediate tip with a 12’ furled leader(sure that is too long), then about 6’ of tippet.
There is steelhead in the river so at least I wasn’t fishing dead water but with the wrong set up would probably mean the same thing. lol
Just throwing things out there to become more educated. Going to call Poppy at the Red Shed pretty soon but thought maybe could get some help here so I could have better questions for Poppy or at least know what he is talking about. Thanks for any help.
Jerry,
I am not sure you got a spey line. I know, I could go to Rio and find out…maybe…don’t think you specified the rating of your spey rod…or the wt rating of the line you got.
In my very limited exposure to it…I have been told that a Skagit head is the easiest to cast. It will not be a full line, just a head. The Spey lines are full lines. It is important to get the right set up on the rod.
With the skagit I am told you need backing, then running line, then the skagit head, then the cheater head, then the leader and then the tippet. I think you leader tippet combo was a bit too long…but I really dunno. Supposedly the skagit head and the cheater head should be 3 times the length of the rod. Or maybe the skagit head, the cheater head, and the leader. Not sure. But example would be you have a 15’ rod you need 45’ total. If you have a 30’ skagit head line then you need 15’ of cheater head.
I drove to another town where there is only one guy there trying to learn to spey cast as well. My 10/11wt fly line would not cast. Put on one of his reels with a skagit head set up and bingo! Was really fun. I am hooked for sure.
I am sure you and I will learn more. For sure visit the Spey Claves website.
It says Spey on the box and its an 8/9/10 wt line. When I concentrated it seemed to cast fine. Thought I would try this furled leader and the 12’ was the only one I had so put it on. Shortest I have is a 9’ regular leader. Will put that on next time. Think I read somewhere that they are using 5-6’ leaders for spey so will check into it.
Of course I was doing better with a short line out. When I tried a little further is when things started going haywire. I even did a pretty good Snap T couple times. lol
I’ve read some of the threads on the Spey Clave and got some info but haven’t asked anything yet. I think I will call Poppy in next couple days.
I’m sure we will learn. No place else to go but up, right? I’m sure there will be someone come on and tell me what I’m doing wrong. lol
Yea, see…I don’t have a clue how to “spey” cast with a “spey” line. Mine was loaded up with what is supposed to be easier to cast…a heavy skagit head with a cheater. All I had time to do was a few casts. But it went well with the skagit set up. All I learned, and for sure need practice was bring the line into a certain point, crossing it over to my left and the crossing back to my right…and with the fly (piece of yarn) at a certain point in the water cast forward. Worked great! The fly still in the water is the drag on the rod to load the rod. I have no clue how to do a true spey line. Sounds like you did indeed have it more difficult. I am going to set mine up with a skagit set up.
Jim
PS will probably work on you dvd’s today. Go to town tomorrow.
For Northern California, a 8/9 weight spey is a bit heavy but if it is all you have, it’ll serve. More common weight would be a 6/7 for steelhead for this area. An 8/9 would be better suited for BC.
I personally MUCH prefer throwing Scandi lines versus Skagit lines, but it all depends on what you are trying to achieve. If you do make it to the coast, try lining up a spey class. Will be worth the time/expense.
Your rod is totally wrong, and perfect ???
A 7/8 will be good for stealhead of about 15 pounds.
But for salmon that are going to be 30 -60 pounds, you probably want a 10.
Of course if you go to the umpqua you may catch a 30 pound steelhead and I think you would want at least what you have!!
Your 8/9 should serve you well for a 1 rod quiver, if you want to handle 10 pound steelies, 40 pound steelies, 70 pound kings, you are going to have to have 3 spey rods.