Summer spey rods

So,

I recently mentioned the little spey poles.  Let’s cut to the chase. Right now I am fishing the 12 ft 5 weight echo Dec Hogan.  If you are going to spey fish for summer runs just go out and buy one.  For a line the compact Skagit seemed a little aggressive to me, a tad short, a tad heavy.  Maybe a slightly longer skagit or a short scandie?  I am running a Beulah Tonic on mine right now, but it is not quite perfect either, and I do want perfect.

My goal for this rod is a light crisp dry fly line AND a line that will throw an airflow extra super fast sinking steelhead leader.  All the lines mentioned will do both, I just haven’t been able to pick a favorite yet. I will keep you posted.

The thing to remember is that just a few years ago these rods were practically useless because no one made a line for them that really worked.  Now the trick is sorting through all the great lines to find the one that works best for you, its not a bad problem to have, especially when you recall that spey lines used to cost over $100.00 (and sucked) and now are closer to $50.00

Baggo with steelhead

For a fishing report, there has been fishing, and catching of chromie bright steelhead.  The other day I watched a long slow wake across a glassy tailout terminate in a giant sucking foamy boil as a 10 plus pound steel head did his best impersonation of a stupid snook in response to a skated dry fly ( if you don’t get this reference you MUST go snook fishing, talk to Rooster at the stone fly inn)

Yesterday I saw tide fresh steelhead glom swung fly’s, and attack strike indicators with glee.  The fishing has not been hand over fist by any means, more slow and steady with good quality fish, great weather and relaxing quite days.

More on the spey pole topic to come.

Jim Kerr Raincoast guides