Talk me in to (or out of ) a trout spey rod

[bigslackwater]

First I'll mention that I build my own rods, so I'm looking for a project. I already have a 10'8" 7wt switch rod. It's nice for steelhead at Erie, and Smallmouth on the Susquehanna and Potomac but it feels like a big rod for both of those applications. After half a day of fishing with the switch rod, I usually got back to a regular fly rod. I have an interest in building and fishing a trout spey rod, perhaps something in the 11' 3 or 4wt range. I live in south central PA. In all honesty we don't have a lot of water that this particular rod and style of fishing would be useful. Still, I want one! Does anyone have experience using a trout spey rod?

 

[whheff]

I have a 10'8" 5wt that I had built. I have used it a few times to swing streamers and it is fun to cast. I took it to the Lehigh and Delaware and l like it on those bigger waters. I think it would be good on smaller streams too but I have not tried it them.
my 2 cents

 

[CRB]

Line ratings of spay/swich are 2-3 wts lighter than actual lines the rod could cast.
7wt swich/spay would be a 9-10 wt.
A 4 wt spay would = a 6wt.

 

[redietz]

They're not just for large rivers. I use mine when the Gunpowder is too deep for safe wading. I can step maybe a foot or two into the stream and not have to worry about a backcast.

They're also fun to use for smallmouth.

 

[teedee]

I use an 11’ 4” “Spey” 4wt often. I fish the Lehigh and Delaware and enjoy using it on occasion. It’s handy in areas with little back cast room. Just another tool to enjoy fishing.

 

[krayfish2]

It will be tough to sell after you decide you hate it in 6 months 😁

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

(Not an expert opinion.)
My casting abilities could never be referred to as "epic", so I've learned that good drifts are more important - to me. I no longer feel the need to reach all the way across a river, but that may have more to do with my personal preference to getting close and fishing a dry fly.
As you mentioned that you (bigslackwater) build your own rods, just make the one you want. You can always sell/trade it later if field-tests are less than satisfactory.

 

[bigslackwater]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm going to try it.