New fly rod

[csoult]

Anyone have a recommendation on an inexpensive, but nice steel head/bass rod. I have never been steelhead fishing and was looking at maybe a 7wt so I could also use it for bass, but talked to a friend who said go 8 if you ever have any intention on going to NY. Ideas?

 

[jayL]

I like a 9 for kings. An 8 is doable. If you are going to double duty it with bass, I'd recommend the 8.

I use a st croix imperial that I got second hand at a great price:
http://www.stcroixrods.com/product/imperial-fly

 

[albatross]

The 9 1/2 foot 8 weight from Jay's link would be a pretty versatile rod.

I have 10 foot 7 weight for steel and a 9 foot 9 weight for kings. I've used the 9 weight for steel and it didn't feel like too much rod, so I think you could compromise on the 8 weight and be happy. I think a 9 1/2 foot rod in 8 weight would be a nice compromise.

 

[SeanC]

For the price its hard to beat the Greys GRXI series. Some of the best comp anglers in the world use these. I am a big fan of the 10' 7wt.
http://fly.greysfishing.com/en-us/products/flyfishing-rods/single-handed/grxi-plus/

 

[turkey]

I have a 10' 7wt for steelbows and I keep a 9' 9wt for salmon as well. An 8wt is a good compromise. I have actually fished with a guy that was using a 9' 5wt for steelhead...and he landed a few but it was January and they don't run like they do when the water is warmer. If it had been Oct or Nov, you'd either play the fish forever or end up with a broken 5wt.

 

[Lonewolve]

Cody,
If i can persuade you, Get your self a Switch Rod, Preferably a 8 weight, If you do go to NY and its either of the three rivers i mention..Genesee{Rochester},Black{Watertown}; or The Salmon River{ Altmar toPulaski to the Douglaston Salmon Run or DSR} and you are there from say 2nd week of September some years till 3rd week of October, get a Rod designated 9/10 weight or 8/9 weight.The Kings can be brutal on equipment and also you fish up there a hell of a lot differently than you do here in Pa for trout.A big stick will help you to get these strong fish under control and hold down yer spot.
Get a Switch Rod, buy one of the two aforementioned line weights,for legnths..a switch is generally loner than a 10 footer but shorter than a Spey.Spey rods start at 13' and go up.
Other nice thing about a switch is that you can use it one handed or two as well as it will easy to cast normal, as well as do quite a few different spey casts.The plus side to an eight weight is that you can also use it for Smallmouth and also Saltwater too.
Any questions ill be more than glad to help give me a call or pm me.
As for companies I'd suggest Tfo Deer Creek Switch is a great buy , also St Croix makes one, Redington.

http://oregonflyfishingblog.com/2009/03/25/getting-sucked-into-the-switch-rod-craze-redington-gear-review/

http://www.schmidtoutfitters.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=feature.display&feature_id=172&CFID=6464852&CFTOKEN=56482334
http://www.fliesandfins.com/postt1337.html

http://oregonflyfishingblog.com/2011/04/12/beulah-platinum-switch-rod-review/
Also
i can highly recommend Beulah they are a great rod company also.

Tight Wraps & Tight Lines
Rick Wallace

P.S. A switch is the way to go IMHO. a Spey is nice but the switch will serve you far better for what you want to do.

 

[turkey]

Switch rods are very versatile. Something to keep in mind, 2 handed rod weight ratings are different from single hand rod weight ratings. That is why so many switch/spey companys are getting away from "weights" and going to grain windows.

For instance, I have an Echo 6wt switch rod that has a grain window of 330-390gr. Its a "6wt" when it comes to 2 handed lines (i.e. skagit, scandi, switch) however if I want to cast it single hand overhead with a regular WF line, I need an 8wt line to load the 6wt rated switch. Confused yet?

The reason for the difference (someone correct me if I'm wrong) is for standard overhead casting, the entire line is aerialized, and the fore and back cast are typically overhead/off to the side. When it comes to 2 handed casts, the back cast is essentially under the rod tip, with some of the line and/or leader anchored on the water's surface, therefore a heavier line is required to unroll an efficient cast.

The Deer Creek switch 9wt actually equates to a 10wt single hander. Thats pretty heavy even for salmon. The Deer Creek 7 or 8 would probably be a little more versatile...if you wanted to go the "switch" route, but be warned, its a slippery slope...and a lot of fun.

 

[gfen]

Single handed casting a 10' rod and balanced reel all day is tiring, but doable. Single hand casting an 11'3" rod and balanced reel all day long is something else.

Yes, you can two-hand overhead or do spey casting, and is supposedly much easier (I couldn't figure it out and stopped caring). But, single handing a switch rod for a day isn't much fun. That extra foot or more and the associated reel weight really does a number to you.

 

[jayL]

Agreed with the above. If you're feeling fiddly, go ahead and jump into the world of switch/spey. If you're looking for a rod to fish the way you know how to fish, get a 9' one hander and call it a day.

I'm fiddly, but never saw the appeal, personally.

 

[pcray1231]

Cody,

I'm not pushing you away from the 8's and 9's. That'd truly be the way to go if you have thoughts of NY. For PA steel and bass, I think a 7 wt is optimal. And I happen to have a perty good one available. Been unable to move it on the swap forum for a while now.

Sage Fli. 9 ft 7 wt. Made a very good steelhead rod for me. Lightly used, maybe 6 or 7 times. Would give you a good price.

Just an option for ya.

 

[csoult]

How much?

 

[Lonewolve]

Cody, They also make switch lines now
if i may heres "The Place" i deal with for all things Spey
http://www.redshedflyshop.com/

Ask for Poppy if you call he can help you also look at this heres an interview
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1266794/poppys_red_shed/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0nWBeq7-28
^ this is my favorite


http://www.beulahflyrods.com/


http://www.rajeffsports.com/

http://meiserflyrods.com/
^ this guy is at the pinnacle

http://www.kiene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15057
A few links here to get yer intrest

http://www.templeforkflyrods.com/products/rods/switch.html

i could go on an on..lol

I do the Trout Spey thing, but a Switch will get ya the best of both worlds, and when you are starting out with a great floating line, you can always get some Airflo Polyleaders and then have versatility from floating to dredging all with a floating line an various leaders.
IMHO this is the way to go between Great Lakes Tribs of a scale ..Like i previously mentioned as well as Cattaraugurus Creek Ny's best Erie Trib and one that has water where a single hander will severely limit you,also you can uise it in Saltwater, as well as for Smallmouth/Trout on the Susky , up at Warren on the Alleghany,,The Delaware {East ,West,branches as well as main stem} for Trout/Shad/Stripers/Smallmouth, the Lehigh for Trout/Smallies. You could take it to Curwensville and fish for Bass,as well as Parker dam,Prince Gallitzin,Raystown for Stripers and Bass.the list goes on an on.
Tight Wraps & Tight Lines
Rick Wallace
P.S. I'll be back out After i get back from the Salmon river for Fall Turkey ,Blast an cast will be in session..if you want i can let ya try a Trout Spey Cody.

 

[Lonewolve]

Cody,
Also the Pa tribs may have a bunch of Steelhead in them ,but Ny has us in Spades for size especially Lake Ontario Tribs, numbers of big Salmonids there far out weigh the Erie Tribs,maybe when i come ut we can do a daytrip to Erie, and go Steelhunting.
As for Trophy Brown Trout, Pa has a few years to even get into that aura.
Ny has been stocking Cattaraugurus Creek for 8 years with their Lake run Specials and last time i fished the Catt i was catching steelies and the guy below me caught a respectable hen weighing 11 pounds, they killed her for eggs , they were using spawn sacks,and for steelhead ...fresh brown trout eggs are the finest bait a guy with a center pin/noodle rod or spinning rod can use.
Erie has nice fish don't get me wrong, but if i can catch anywhere on a great day ..say 10-20 steelhead some weighing as much as 20 pounds and some weighing as lil as 3-5 pounds,as well as catching Skamania steelhead,fall run/winter run steelies,Pacific Salmon ..Chinooks{ Kings} any where from Jack in size to 33-35 pounds,Cohos{ Silver Salmon},Atlantic Salmon {makin a slow comeback}the occasional Lake Trout believe it or not, not to mention for the past five years Ny has ramped up its Lake run Brown Trout on the Salmon River and it is seeing decent returns as well as good reproduction.IMHO how can you go worng and when the Salmon are in you can catch any or all the above in a single trip.
Tight Wraps & Tight Lines
Rick Wallace
P.S. every year there is a "Spey Clave " on the Salmon river, you can try out alll the rods and lines and reels as well as watch demonstrations as well as get tips and pointers on casting rigging ect.
http://speynation.com/
heres something to peruse

 

[mcwillja]

csoult,

A very nice affordable steelhead rod for NY is the 10 foot echo ion. I prefer the 7 wt. for steelies.

 

[jdaddy]

mcwillja wrote:
csoult,

A very nice affordable steelhead rod for NY is the 10 foot echo ion. I prefer the 7 wt. for steelies.

They have a mess of those on sale at Cabelas in Hamburg.