spey rods

[Bob M]

I'm mulling over a decision to get a spey rod. Have any of you folks fished with the Winston ibus series 4 pc 14' 8/9? It sells for about half of what similar rods go for and it packs down small enough for a check-through duffel I use.

Do you have any tips on spey rods, lines, etc.?

[The Ole Man]

Bob--never tried it. I've just watched--so far. I saw a guy at the Shallow Water Expo pick one up and flick out a 100'cast like it was nothing. I also watched a guy at the FFF convention in Gatlinburg casting one in his full kilt and tam regalia. The Ibis should be as good as any. Everybodys making them. I see St Croix even has Spey rods in their Imperial rod line now. Where do you plan on using it? Looks like it would be very useful when casting from the beach.

[Bob M]

I was thinking about taking it to Alaska in August.

These rods are pricey and long, even when dissasembled. Most are 3-piece and nearly twice the price of the ibis series. I was hoping to avoid an expensive mistake and have a rod that isn't tough to travel with.

...I might pass on the kilt and move immediatly to the scotch!

[sageboy]

I know nothing about spey rods other than what I read in John Gierach's article in the back of the latest issue of "Fly Rod & Reel". Good read if you are a novice. Sounds like there is quite a learning curve, even for a good fly casters.

Bob

[Flashback]

Bob,

I've got a St. Croix 9-10 wt., 3 pc.,14 ft. Spey rod matched to a Lamson 500 reel and Rio Multi Tip Spey line that I used for a week in BC for sale. Email me. Also, I will throw in a Spey Casting Video.

FB

------------------
"I have laid aside business, and gone
a-fishing."

Izaak Walton



[This message has been edited by Flashback (edited 01-09-2004).]

[Jimmy Harris]

FYI,

Unicoi Outfitters will be hosting a free Spey Casting Clinic, open to everyone, on March 13th. We'll be featuring T&T rods but will likely have some Sage and St. Croix rods there also.

[Scott Swartz]

Jimmy,

Who is teaching the spey rod clinic at Unicoi? We have a 13-1/2' spey we use at AFFS for teaching. They are really fun to cast.

Scott

[Bob M]

FYI: a few unusual tidbits picked up in case you ever go looking for one of these contraptions. Some are recent hints from the UK.

1.) Buy 3M Scotch Super 33+ Vinyl electrical tape Code # 054007-6132. Every fly shop in the UK carries this 'low adhesion' tape. It's used to tape the sections together. Start wraping from the butt and work towards the tip so a loose end doesn't interfere with the line while casting. Fail to do this, and and you will stand a better than even chance of breaking the rod on your first day, in the first hour.

2.) A 8/9 is a 'light' rod for summer and small rivers. A 9/10 is a large river winter rod.

3.) Rio Windcutter line is a good choice for starting out. The head is a little shorter than their long distance lines thus easier to cast.

4.) The multi-tip Rio lines are recomended. There is a Windcutter series. On short casts, the tip sections will rattle a bit as the pass through the guides, but otherwise it casts just fine.

5.) buy a much bigger reel than you think you will need. A spey line takes up a lot more reel than than an equivilent standard line. An 8/9 spey line requires you to buy the big honking reel. A reel for mere 10 wt line won't let you get 200 yards of backing on it. Manufacturers specs should be read with some skepticism.

6. Do not go to the fly shop at lunch 'just to price' fishing tackle. Those folks are much too helpful.

[James Buice]

I'd go to the Clinic at Unicoi, as the videos are just not enough to learn on...trust me. As for rods, the Winston is nice, but a bit slow for shooting heads. Check out the Scott Alpha series (great rods for the same price and they will handle a shooting head). For a bit more, the Sage VPS series are nice rods. The St. Croix is a great rod (had the 13' 7/8 as my first). I do think the Scott throws a bit better, however. For top of the line, however, the T&T 14' 9wt 5pc or the Scott 14'9 are the top contenders.

Email me if you have any other questions.

Hope this helps,
James

[Bob M]

Thanks!

Its on order and I'm looking forward to a test fly. The requirement to pback down to less thasn 48" was the most burdensome after price.

We'll have a Britt along in AK and I'm looking foward to further instruction. He has already committed to 'showing the Yanks a thing or two". Presently he is digesting the ecent photos of the 12' 6" bear killed last year. Final score Bear: 3, Humans: 1

Cheers
Bob

[Jimmy Harris]

Scott,

Rick Kendrick from Thomas and Thomas will be there as well as Keith Collins whom I think was born with a spey rod in his hands. Also, the inimitable John Cross will add local color.

[huntfish]

Jimmy,
I wanted to respond to this thread earlier about Keith but could not get in touch with him. Keith wasn't born with a spey rod in his hand but he did have have his left arm reduced 2 inches for castability. http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/wink.gif I hoped to make it but it appears that it's the following weekend of the new young introduction to the family. http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by huntfish (edited 01-12-2004).]

[GonetoSeed]

Bob M - this is late and sounds like you had a productive lunch http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif

Here is a site with some additional information. This Bob M specializes in spey and other two-handed rods. There is a link on the site to an article he wrote that I found very informative.
http://www.meiserflyrods.com/building_two_handed.html

For others interested in two-handers, he is now also offering ready-to-wrap kits. The handles are complete, reel seat mounted and blank spined and marked for guides. Probably not a money saver, but provides some additional options for acquiring a two-hander.
http://www.meiserflyrods.com/rodbuilder.html

I have no relationship with Bob Meiser. Just admire his work.

[Scott Swartz]

Jimmy,

What hours will the clinic run? I probably can't make it as we have a school here on the 13th but thought I'd ask anyway.

Scott