I have been looking at getting a spey rod. There are some areas around here that seem like a big, booming cast would be just right (tailwater below Texoma dam, stripers on the prowl) the Texas coast where the wind blows so hard so often or standing on the bank of a reservoir watching those sandies/hybrids/stripers schooling up on shad way out beyond fly range.
So would I absolutely, totally have to have to get a special spey reel or could a beginning spey caster get by just fine with a “plain” reel and line?
Well, you pretty much have to get a spey line, and they seem to run about $100. As for a reel, any reel with a really large capacity will do. I have a Tioga Magnum 12 that seems to do the trick. You could always go for a Ross or an Abel, but in that big of a size, you are going to pay an arm and a leg for it.
rrhyne56, a Rio Windcutter line, in the weight forward, will cost you around $70-$80. If you get into the multi-tips, those usually run around $150. As far as reels go, you want a reel that will hold a line weight 3 sizes larger in a standard weight forward. In other words, if your using a 9wt. spey line, you would probably want a reel that would hold a 12wt. weight forward. You also want a reel that will balance the rod your using…longer rod, heavier reel. The Tioga that was mentioned, is an excellent spey reel. Inexpensive and boomb proof. I have a Teton 10-12 Spey and an Orvis Mach 5 that I use.
If your chasing stripers, your probably looking at a 9 or 10 weight spey. There are several out there, expressly made for fishing the surf. CND & Meiser, to name a couple.
Hope that helps!