I'm in the market for an 8wt 10' rod for steelhead....my 7wt just doesn't have the power that i need to make long casts with big flies. I have lots of high dollar equipment that I'm happy with, but I'm thinking of going the cheap route and getting Redington cps or cpx. People say that they are as good as many high dollar rods. What do you guys think. I'm open to higher priced suggestions too. While I'm at it, what about reels and lines to match that rod? Any info would be helpful as I'm a trout angler; this is only my second season steelheading.
-Pit
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Fly Fishing is not a choice, it's a necessity. My ex girlfriends just couldn't understand that!
Pit, the Sage Z-Axis 8100-4 (8wt 10ft) is a awesome single-handed gun for steelhead, as is the Sage TCX 7100 (ultra fast action) over lined to an 8wt (Rio Salmon & Steelhead taper) . Though, you might also consider a "switch" rod, as in the Sage 7110-4 (7wt 11ft) which can be used as single-hand or two-handed. Easier transition from single to Spey casting technique and the line configuration is not as overwhelmingly difficult to match to the rod or understand, as can be with full Spey rigs.
AbelBoy is right though, if you are considering really long casts that will require extensive mending techniques, a full Spey rod will do the trick. Make sure you get setup properly though with the appropriate line. The learning curve is a little longer, but definitely gets you the distance you'll need for rivers like the Deshutes, BC rivers and other more substantial waters. For our Cali coastal waters the abobve rods will cover you nicely.
Lots of good choices on relevant reels... Galvin Torque or perhaps the Hatch 7plus? Remember, you need good brakes for steelhead, so don't cheap out too much on the reel.
If you are looking for an 8 wt. rod the redingtons are not bad. If your gonna swing for steelhead get a shooting head. 300 grain intermediate. That setup will get you going. It's funny you bring up those rods because I just switched my avatar. That fish was taken on an 8 wt. CPS which Fly rod and reel magazine gave the Kudo award for best rod in the 300$ class a few years ago. The CPX is supposedly a more "fishable" rod whatever that means. If I am not mistaken most 10 footers are a little softer than their 9 ft. counterparts. You should really check out the Echo 10 footers. For less than 200$ you could have a sweet stick. Here's my buddy David releasing a sweet coastal hen last year in early March. Rock those neos buddy!!!
-- Edited by CJ on Tuesday 6th of April 2010 12:25:40 PM
have you thought about a 11ft 8wt switch, its an extra foot, and you can do everything with it. Redington has a good 8wt switch rod its the cpx 8wt is 11'3", redington also has the 10ft 8wt in both the cpx and rs4 models. either way you cant go wrong with redington. also TFO has a few options as well. in 10ft 8wt you have the Professional series and the Jim Teeny. The TFO Deer Creek Switch rod is really nice too. I was using the 7wt deer creek switch this steelhead season and never put it down. Also you cant go wrong with sage. but all depends on how much you want spend.
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Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.
Sorry for the delay. My 7wt has a shooting head which the fly shop set me up with. I use it for swinging flies on coastal streams, but recently I've been tying big heavy flies for steelhead. The rod just falls short of the mark with big tungston flies. As for nymphing I use an 8wt floating line on my 7wt and it works well; thinking of going to a 9wt line. So to answer your question I will be using it for swinging large flies on coastal streams and valley rivers, and ocational nymphing with a floating line. Thanks for everones input. -Pit
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Fly Fishing is not a choice, it's a necessity. My ex girlfriends just couldn't understand that!
I could see a 7 weight on being weak on casting weighed down flies. Even with the best shooting head setup that is uplined two line sizes, you could have issues. That's where a good 8 weight could come into play.
If you want to bomb distances with those flies, I would learn how to Spey cast Skagit style. A 13' to 13'6" 7 weight Spey rod with a 525 to 550 grain Skagit type shooting head with the appropriate sinking tip could get that fly out 90' or more with very little effort. I'm sure that there is someone in the forum who might own what of these setups who can attest to this.
