need advice for a rod choice

[maik]

I am thinking about new spey rod for next year trip on Bulkley river in BC. I´ve got an advice about 7/8 weight. What do you say about Sage One 7136 or Winston IIx 13´3´´? I am from Czech republic- mid Europe- and I have no chance to try them out. We are single-handed mainly.( I have Vision Cult 6 and Sage Z Axis 8129.
thanks for yout advice. Karel (maik)

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Both good very Spey rods.....

[Mark Kranhold]

Hello Maik, I can't say much about the sage one since I have not casted one yet. I will tell you that at one of the Spey claves somebody had the 7wt sage one and then they tried out the Anderson 13'2" 7wt. Skandit and were blown away by this rod. He was going to sell the Sage so he could get the ACR skandit. I actually own this rod and love it. The skandit rod comes with to tips, one tip is a bit softer for your scandi style casting and the other tip is more of a stiffer turbo tip to throw a skagit/ heavy tips/and your neighbors cat when you want to dredge the bottom. That Winston 13'3" 7wt. is a sweet casting stick as well. Many people think that this Winston is the ultimate steelhead stick. Sorry I don't have any more info for you but I hope this helps. Good luck and take care!

[Idaho steel]

Of the two rods you mentioned, I much prefer the Winston. On the other hand, you already have a great rod in the z-axis, and you could easily fish with that and be happy...

Since you already have a couple shorter rods, I guess in your position I'd be looking to diversify a bit more.

[the_gnarwhale]

Both are very nice rods but what nobody has mentioned is the Winston is more of an 8 and will be kind of redundant with your 8129. The One is a true 7 with a flex profile similar to the 8129 but not quite as stiff. I think that 7136 would be the best for your quiver. I wouldn't put the Anderson in the same conversation as those 2.

[Willowemac]

You are good with what you have. While there are big fish in the Bulkley (my partner got a 41.5" buck in 2011), he used a Zaxis 7136. If you want a 7, consider a Meiser Highlander S 1307. That rod and the 8129 are the speys I use most in BC. I have a One 7126, which is also an option (rig it with a scandi and the 8129 with tips) which I like as well. Also, the rod I fish most in BC is a TCX 8119. It handles fish as well as a 7wt. spey, can cast any distance you need, and is light and easy to fish all day. The Bulkley is a fun dry fly river. If you fish mid-long belly rods, get a One 7136 or Meiser 13'6" 7 wt. S. If you use heads, go smaller and lighter IMO.