Coastal Steelhead Spey rod question

[BobT]

I am thinking of buying a spey rod for winter coastal steelhead. Is a 7 or 8 weight better. I was looking at the ECHO TR series. Any advice

[SFMike]

Hey Bob,
It seems like most 7-weight spey rods now can handle just about anything you're likely to catch in California. Where you might want the 8-weight is if you're throwing really heavy tips and flies. I'd say a 7 would be a more fun and versatile all-around rod, but if you want a rod just for winter fishing with heavy tips, then the 8 would be better.

The Echo TR rods are faster than the DH rods. I've only cast the DH one and really liked the slow, full-flexing action. I think that's all personal preference. See if you can cast a few rods before buying one.

Hope that helps,
mike

[Grampa Spey]

Hey Bob,
It seems like most 7-weight spey rods now can handle just about anything you're likely to catch in California. Where you might want the 8-weight is if you're throwing really heavy tips and flies. I'd say a 7 would be a more fun and versatile all-around rod, but if you want a rod just for winter fishing with heavy tips, then the 8 would be better.

See if you can cast a few rods before buying one.

Hope that helps,
mike

Probably any 7wt from 12'6" to 13'6" should work for you with maybe the exception of the Smith River.

I have a Sage Z7136, an it can handle basically any fly or sinking tip/poly leader I own. The older Sage Skagit Heads from 550-650 grain will work on this road. I have a new 550 Skagit Flight Head on the way. If it is anything like my new Skagit Flight 425 for my Z6126, it will probably become my line of choice with that rod.

The only problem with the Z7136 and probably a lot of similiar 7 weight rods, is they may be too powerful for many of our steelhead in the 6# and under weight.

Another option if you fish in smaller streams, tight casting situations or from a drift boat are the 7 wt 11' Switch rods.