reels

Montana Trout Spey

Trout Spey Gear Roundup

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Ed Note: A re-post of this comprehensive Trout Spey Gear Roundup scribed by John this past month. We thought it important to post again as we now headlong into the TROUT2H Season. Swing Season has arrived! SWING SEASON 20-21 October is here, and that means we’re hearing the word “swing” around the shop more … Read more

Troutspey Reels and Running Lines

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/215113935″ video_title=”1″][vc_column_text]There is always a lot of talk about running lines for trout spey rigs around the shop. Some like mono, and some like a coated running line. I think were at about a 50/50 split among our customers and staff. In the above video Braden talks about why you should probably choose a large arbor reel for monofilament running lines, if you’re in that camp. He also goes over some of our most popular trout spey reels for both mono and coated running lines.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

2016-17 Spey Lineup – Rods and Reels

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The season is in full “swing” for the folks who enjoy swinging trout up on a two-hander. Most folks are done chasing Steelhead in the upper Columbia drainages, and big game season has just ended. The balmy autumn has plenty of folks out on the river and they are enjoying some incredible fishing. It should be “winter” fishing, but it ain’t. And that’s how it always is now.

This weekend we begin our annual free spey clinics, which involve lots of learning, fine-tuning and equipment testing. The team at Headhunters has spent the last two months playing with all the new gear for the 2016-17 swing season. Here’s our favorite stuff beginning with rods. Keep in mind that we are largely recommending accessible and affordable gear for new spey anglers, or possibly more experienced ones who aren’t sure they want to use a spey rod for trout. We also believe that while there are many great rods out there – and a few dogs – regardless of price these models hold there own.

DEMO IT BRO!

Remember that we have all of this gear and more for demo at the shop, including lines. We sell very few rods without customer having first tried them out with a variety of lines. Why would you not! Please stop by and let us show you the different options available.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

RODS

We’ve really made a move from the 6 and 7 weight trout/steelhead combo rods that we’ve used in past years, to full blown ultra-light “troutspey” sticks. At least when we’re fishing for trout. The newest arrival is the ECHO TR Trout, which has very quickly become the staff and customer favorite. The Trout models are additions to the revamped TR Series that has been tremendously popular over the years. Two models – an 11′ #3 and 11’3″ #4 – pretty much cover everything you’ll need for trout in the Rockies. The action is perfect and adapts to a wide variety of lines and casts. The grain window is large, allowing you to fine tune the rod to your casting style. It throws Skagit and Scandi lines equally well, and as we use both here on the Missouri that is a very important attribute. So far we’ve thrown OPST Cammondo heads, Airflo Scout heads, Scientific Angler Adapt lines, and Airflo and RIO Scandi Compacts, and liked them all. Tim Rajeff decided on the 11′-11″3″ range as the sweet spot, and we agree. The new army green gloss finish with orange trim is sweet. We love the skinny grip which keeps that “trout rod” feeling in your hand and makes it easier to use the rod tip to give action to the fly. It will also be more comfortable for women and younger anglers. Best of all the price – $375 – is unbeatable and we feel these rods compete with any rod at any price. Not saying they’re necessarily better, but I would take this series anywhere in the world (and have!). Kudos to ECHO for bringing us a fantastic Troutspey rod at an inclusive price. We’re also continuing to carry the 12’6″ #6 and 13′ #7 models for Summer and winter Steelhead. We also love the 12’6″ #6 on the Missouri for big runs and long casts with a Scandi head. If you’re looking for an affordable first rod the you won’t outgrow, this is it.

The Sage ONE Trout Spey remains in our lineup, and is another popular – but much more expensive – troutspey rod. With a very specific action built around the matching Skagit Trout head, the Sage ONE Trout Spey is a rod thats a little more dialed-in for it’s intended purpose. The 10′ 9″ #2 is designed for swinging small soft hackles on light tippets. The 11′ #3 will easily push streamers up to a weighted #4, and is designed to fish heavier tips. Both have a specifically designed Skagit action. When we grab these we know where we are going and what we are throwing. If sustained anchor Skagit casting for trout (or other resident species) is your thing, these rods may be for you. Beautiful finish and hardware, and loads of Sage technology inside. While we wouldn’t necessarily say the action is better than some of our other favorites, it definitely is unique among troutspey rods. If it fits your style you’ll love it. At $950 you will need to. We highly recommend the RIO Skagit Trout that designer Mike McCune created for these rods. If not, the OPST Commando is another recommendation.

Orvis doesn’t drop down to the true Trout Spey sizes at #2-4, but their Clearwater Spey Rods are very popular with our staff and customers for summer and winter Steelhead, and the 12′ #5 and 12’6″ #6 are fantastic dual purpose heavy trout and light Steelhead rods. They posesses an all-purpose action similar to the Echo TR, but we think it leans a little more to the right – the Skagit side of things, that is. When ECHO revamped the TR line this year, they eliminated the 12′ #5, which leaves the Clearwater as our only 5 weight spey. This is an excellent rod and an overlooked line weight. I would have no problem throwing this for light summer Steelhead on the Grande Ronde or smaller coastal rivers. And if you really want to dredge the Missouri or Yellowstone with heavy tips and larger Galloup-esque streamers, this might be the perfect tool. The 12′ 6′ #6 is a great Summer Steelhead rod and works for trout when needed, and the 13′ #7 is a rod we commonly sell to those headed to the Olympic Peninsula for winter fishing.

Sage has too many offerings in the spey rod category, and we’ve chosen to stick with the Sage METHOD for an advanced do everything Steelhead rod. We loved it’s predecessor the TCX, and while the METHOD is not quite as powerful, it’s a lot easier on your shoulders. These are fast action rods that throw Scandi heads like a laser and you can overload with a heavy Skagit head to fish long tips and massive intruders.

The ECHO Glass Switch and Spey series have always been a staff favorite, and most customers appreciate these easy casters. The price is pretty sweet too at $279-299. I’ve owned quite a few 7 weight two-handers but right now the Echo 12′ 9″ #7 glass is the only one in my quiver. While some folks view it as a novelty, I would have no problem bringing this to BC as a dedicated sink tip rod. If you’re looking for a spey rod for the Missouri – but you might make a trip to the Ronde – the 12′ 4″ #6 is an ideal choice. The lighter 3 and 4 weight switch rods are a blast for trout and the soft tip sticks light biting fish. You really can’t go wrong at this price. They’re cool retro paint job and surprising performance will keep them in your quiver for years. They are a touch heavier than graphite rods, and while bigger, stronger casters won’t really notice, smaller folks and women tend to not like these rods.[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”20855″ align=”center”][vc_column_text]

REELS

Many of our customers are new to two-handed fishing, and as you can see from our rod selection we like to keep things real – and affordable – for anglers who want to ease into the game. And we don’t feel you need to buy a rod for $1000 when there are plenty of less expensive rods that perform equally well. The same goes for reels, though we find that many of our customers like to spend a little more on a reel than a rod. Probably due to the fact that a good reel should last you for the rest of your life, and possibly a good portion of someone else’s. You’re also likely to move that reel between rods. We don’t care either way. We want the sport to be approachable to every person that walks in our shop, and an inexpensive reel can help that happen.

The Hatch Outdoors Finatic is my personal favorite for two-handed outfits, whether it’s for Cutthroat on the Blackfoot or Dean River Steelhead. Some folks find them a little heavy for their dainty dry fly outfit, and they are. But that tiny bit of extra weight balances perfectly on spey rods. We love the fact that they come in both mid and large arbor versions, and we use the mid-arbor versions exclusively for all spey rods. We are constantly changing lines and that extra depth accommodates more systems in more sizes. There is something about the Hatch drag that I prefer for swinging the fly. It behaves perfectly on both light takes from cold winter trout and shitty hatchery Steelhead, and on blistering smashes from wild BC hens and early fall Browns on the Mo’. The mid-arbor 5plus ($500) pretty much covers everything in the “troutspey” universe, and the mid-arbor 7plus ($600) handles all of my Steelhead rigs except for big long-belly rods like a 14′ #9. They are not cheap, but they aren’t ridiculous either. They are bulletproof and can transfer to the Salt. Like I said, it’s all I use.

But not everyone wants or needs to spend half-a-grand on a reel, and Orvis has a couple of different offerings that we really, really like. For the last few years, we’ve sold a bunch of the Orvis Battenkill Spey, big click drag reels reminiscent of older Hardy designs in size IV and V. These are excellent matchups for the #6 and #7 Clearwater rods, and they ooze old school on the ECHO Glass #6 and #7. The Battenkill V is a great choice for long belly 8 and 9 weight rods, and will hold a tremendous amount of line. The good news is that the aesthetics, clickity noise, and price are excellent at $139-149. The bad news is that the jump down to the Battenkill III is a quantum leap in size. It’s too small for even the lightest troutspey rods. Fortunately…

This fall Orvis released the new Battenkill Disc Reels (we will get them in the online store soon), featuring a drag similar to the popular Hydros series, but with the old-timey design of the Battenkill spey. Really blocky and smooth. The drag is smooth as well, and the transition into the smaller sizes is much more uniform. And with a standard/mid arbor design you can fit a wide variety of lines on them. These reels will be an excellent choices for a budget/performance spey rods at $159-189. I believe these may end up being our most popular troutspey reels.

And a third reel from Orvis we recommend for spey is the recently introduced Orvis Hydros SL large and wide arbor reel. This reel was expected to make a big splash this season with it’s tremendous drag, tough as nails build, huge retrieval rate and great price at $198-239. Two things have hindered sales in the trout world. First, it’s what I would call a too-large-arbor reel. It’s just too big and I’m talking from an aesthetic standpoint. It kinda looks like a trailer winch on your 4 weight. It’s also a very heavy reel. Too heavy for it’s recommended line size. WAIT… Guess which two reel attributes most two-handed anglers appreciate in a reel? They like them heavy, to balance out long rods, and they like a quick retrieval rate for fighting a fish with a long line, and finishing up at the end of a run. The super large arbor also prevents your shooting line from coiling as badly as a smaller arbor. The drag is a little heavy for some, though it’s highly regarded in the Saltwater. This of course won’t matter for spey unless you are swinging tiny soft hackles on 4x. I think this may be one of the better spey reels on the market for both trout and Salmon/Steelhead swingers. and at a little over $200 is represents a fantastic value for performance.

Our easiest-on-the-wallet spey reel is the ECHO Ion, which we’ve sold for years. These reels are ugly. These reels have a weird compressed o-ring system for securing the spool. These reels are heavy. The paint chips off these reels in a hurry. WAIT… these reels are tough. These reels have never failed that I’ve heard of. These reels are $79-99. Yes, they are that inexpensive, and yes they will not let you down. Probably our most popular spey reel for beginners and for good reason.

And if you want to go the other way and spend more on a reel than I have on several vehicles, you can opt for an Abel Super Series reel. Solid, heavy reels with cork drags, Abels are considered heirloom reels. While there is no one attribute I find in them that makes them particularly great spey reels, the paint job on this one reminds me of BC, which reminds me of some of my greatest Steelhead days ever…

OTHER REELS

Of course there are many other fine reels out there. If your looking to line up a troutspey rod in the 2-5 weight range, you probably have a reel lying around, or you can stick to other brands like Galvan or Nautilus, both of which might be a little on the light side for optimum balance with a spey rod. If you are building a rig for Steelhead we highly recommend the above reels, or going with a heavier Saltwater reel, though they can be overkill and expensive.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

You’ll Also Need a Reel…

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Spey rods garner all the attention when it comes to gear, but we get just as many questions about the right reel, and what budget reels are available for a new spey set-up. We posted some information on our current Spey rod lineup the other day, and I thought we should add some information on reels for those rods. Or any rods.

SPEY REEL BASICS

First off, you need to get the right size reel. The general rule is to go up 1 reel size, which often equates to 2 line sizes in Spey sized reels. In other words, you generally don’t use a 6 weight reel on a 6 weight spey rod, you use an 8. For example, I use a Hatch 7plus (7/8/9) on my 6 weight Spey rod and a Hatch 5plus (5/6/7) on my 4 weight outfit. So, for a 4 weight, we use a #6 reel, for a 6 weight a #8, and so on. The only weird one is the 5 weight spey. There really are not a lot of #7 reels out there, so you usually need to find a big #6. Most 8 weight reels are little big and heavy for a nice light 5 weight spey.

The move to short shooting heads have lessened the importance of reel capacity, but it still is something to consider. If you’re going to rig a shooting head system or “switch” style line like a Wulff Ambush, you don’t need to worry too much about extra capacity. Most models should hold more than enough backing along with your shooting line and head. Using Hatch as an example again, if a reel manufacturer offers reels in “mid-arbor” and “large-arbor”, get the mid. It will be a deeper spool with more capacity.

If you are planning on rigging up with a mid or long-belly line, then you do need to consider the capacity of the reel. These lines are long and thick, and can take up a tremendous amount of space. If you’re planning on fishing for Steelhead on rivers like the Dean or Thompson – where fish can go well into your backing – then you should take careful consideration of your reels capacity, and in some cases you may end up 2 reels sizes above your rod weight (10 weight reel on a #7, for example).

Speaking of weight, a few years ago there was a big push to use extra heavy reels on Spey rods. The reason for this was to properly balance long rods (13′-15′), as well as helping create a “fulcrum” for a push-pull style stroke. Some reel companies even produced beastly “under machined” reels, or additional weights that could be added! I never bought into this, and I don’t think very many other anglers are still using overweight reels.  This was definitely born from over-analysis. And as rods get shorter and shorter each year, balance becomes less of an issue.

Underhanded scnadi-style casters (like me) don’t want a heavy reel, they want it light. Or just regular reel weight reel. And if you make a large investment in an 8 weight Hatch, Abel or Nautilus, you are likely thinking that you can use it on a Bonefish trip as well. And you don’t want it heavy for that. So if you “hear” that you’re supposed to get a super heavy reel, just ignore it.

THE BEAUTY OF TROUTSPEY

You can use any old trout reel! If you’re rigging up a 3 or 4 weight spey rod, you’ll simply use the same 5 or 6 weight reel you already use for trout fishing. You probably have an extra laying around. And if not you have all the choices in the world, as nearly every fly reel made is made in a 5/6 model. A Galvan Torque would make an excellent troutspey reel! When I rigged up my new 4 weight ECHO TR, I spooled up some 50 lb. OPST Lazer shooting line right onto my Hatch 5 plus with no backing. Perfect. Having said that, most of the reels listed below are for larger 6 weight and up spey outfits.

OUR REELS

We like to stress that there are some great budget spey rods out there, and thankfully there are also a couple of great budget reels for them. Unsurprisingly, our two best selling spey reels are produced by the same two companies that make our best selling budget spey rods. ECHO and Orvis.

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ECHO ION $79-99

That’s not a typo. Yes, you can buy a big fly reel with a consistent, smooth and reliable drag for less than $100 dollars. We’ve been using and selling these reels for years, and I don’t recall seeing one fail. They get dinged up. The paint chips off if you bang them around the drift boat. They’re not the prettiest things out there. But they can fight. I see a lot of these that look abused, and I think that tells you who buys them. People who fish.

The ION has proven itself all over the spey world… AK,BC, winter fish, summer fish. It works and is used by many guides who appreciate the combo of reliability and price. And the larger sizes really are designed as Spey reels, the sizing is perfect. We sell tons of the 6/7 and 7/9 sizes. They are perfect for 90% of the rods that leave the shop. The 6/7 is also a great single handed streamer fishing reel. These reels have a very strong drag, and they are even used for King Salmon fishing in Alaska. No-brainer.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][us_image image=”8100″][vc_btn title=”BUY” size=”lg” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fstaging.headhuntersflyshop.com%2Fwp%2Fproduct%2Fecho-ion-reel%2F||”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

ORVIS BATTENKILL SPEY $139-149

Orvis introduced this reel a couple of years ago, and it immediately caught the eye of myself, and many other old Hardy users. It has a big, beefy click and pawl drag. 90’s technology. 1890’s. I love it and it’s loudness. Not all click/pawl drags have enough power to slow down a big, wild Steelhead, but this one does. The appearance is wide and blocky with a solid backplate. It really doesn’t look much like the wimpy little single handed versions.

The Battenkill Spey will cost you less than $150, seems pretty tough thus far, and has big capacity like reels from 3 decades ago. The strong click drag also means that reeling in your line is less smooth than with a disc-drag reel. If you’re one of those people who like to slap-spin their line in, you won’t like this one. We also wish it came in a III.5 for our 3/4/5 weight rigs. The existing III is most definitely a single handed reel. the IV is perfect for your 6 or 7 weight rig, and the size V is one of the best deals in a fully dedicated Steelhead reel at 8/9 or even 10 weights. Does anyone use those anymore?

 

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HATCH FINNATIC $500-750

In my opinion Hatch Reels are the absolute perfect Spey Reel.  They lean slightly to the heavier side, which is good. They’re built like a tank, which I appreciate as I often throw my rod on the bank or in the river when landing a Steelhead or trout. And there is something about the drag that is perfect for fishing a swung fly. I swing with the line directly off the reel (no loop, thats for Kooks!), and I rely on the drag to aid in hook setting. In other words, I swing with a fairly tight drag. I want that fish to have to pull to get those first few turns off the reel, and the setting on my Hatches seems so perfect at that point in the drag (1/3rd-ish?). I sometimes end up turning the drag down after a fish is on, and I like the big drag knob with very grippy ribs when I’m wearing gloves.

The Hatch sizes and availability of deeper Mid-arbor spools are also ideal for Spey rods. I have several 7plus reels (mid-arbor) that I use on 6, 7, and even 8 weight Spey rods, and when I head to the tropics they end up on 7, 8, and 9 weight Bonefish, Redfish and Permit rods. Now that I actually own – and am not just playing with – smaller 3 and 4 weight two-handers, the Hatch 5plus is turing into the reel I’m using most often. And it’s perfect as well.

Obviously, Hatch reels are not inexpensive, but most anglers who come in our shop are aware off them and know that they are considered one of the best reels on the market. If you’re looking for a high end reel, there is no better option for your spey setup.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][us_image image=”6546″][vc_btn title=”BUY” size=”lg” align=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

ABEL CLASSIC  $450-500

Here’s some more “clickers”, this time the Classic series from Abel. These unheralded reels – many anglers are not aware of them – are super cool in  our book. Heavy duty click drags that remind me of my old Hardy St. John’s make some crazy racket when you’re hooked up, and will not overrun on a wild Coastal fish. Many clickers will. We carry a few of these sometimes. In other words we don’t always have them in stock. They’re expensive for a clicker at $480-500, but they’re inexpensive for an Abel. You’re definitely getting Abel quality and finish here, just with a simpler and louder drag.

There are only 3 sizes, the Classic, Switch and Spey. I would use the Classic on a 3, 4 maybe 5 weight two-hander. The Switch I would use on a 5, 6 maybe 7 weight spey, and the Spey on anything bigger. We like them with the solid face on the spool (you can get them ported as well), and you can order custom artwork as well. This raises the cost considerably.

If you like click & pawl reels, these are the best ones I’ve seen that are still being made. The drag is heavy, almost “rough”, but that’s how you want it when a Click & Pawl meets a big fish. As far as the cost goes, handle one for a while and you’ll really appreciate that Abel finish and craftsmanship.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][us_image image=”6904″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

NAUTILUS CCF-X2 $435-525

Nautilus is a big name in the salt, and getting bigger in spey. This is the model I would choose and it would probably be a dedicated Steelhead Reel rather than something I’d use on a lighter troutspey rig. The drag in the CCF-X2 is much larger, stronger and smoother than the FWX drag most trout anglers are familiar with. These are nice big reels with a fast rate of retrieve. This isn’t something we have loads of experience with compared to the FWX, but the few we’ve sold have received excellent reviews.

I think this would be an ideal reel for a lighter shorter rod like a 7126-4 METHOD. Nautilus reels are pretty light in weight, and you wouldn’t want to hang it on the end of a big old and slow 15 footer. Might have some balance issues there. But on a shorter, lighter, quicker rod it should balance well and give you some serious drag. It comes in 6/8 and 8/10 models. We recommend the 6/8 for 6 and 7 weight outfits, and the 8/10 for your winter Steelhead stick (8). Smaller models are not available.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][us_image image=”9963″][vc_btn title=”BUY” size=”lg” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fstaging.headhuntersflyshop.com%2Fwp%2Fproduct%2Fnautilus-ccf-x2-68-reel%2F||”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

ABEL SUPER SERIES

The Abel Super Series is legendary. When it comes to technology, most anglers either love or hate the cork drag system. It does require some occasional maintenance, but work great. Maybe not my first choice in really cold conditions. Like you’re reel is freezing up conditions. But most of the time it is an excellent performer, and you got to go with some rad paint job. Tribal Raven just screams Steelhead. So does the Steelhead skin.

The Super series are a bit narrower than many of the newer Large-arbor reels, and that’s ok. Keeps your line from stacking on one side or the other. Craftsmanship and performance are awesome, but you know your getting this for the paint job. Don’t be embarrassed by that. The finishes on the Super Series are incredibly cool. How about some Dancing Bears on your new 6 weight switch rod?

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