Sage Spey Suggestions

[flybum]

I'm looking for some input from you guys who are into the spey arena. I have only made two spey casts in my life and it was with a guy from the north country of England and it was with a 16' rod.....now you know the extent of my experience and knowledge.

I currently have the opportunity to get a killer deal on many Sage rod models and am thinking about getting into my first spey rod.

A couple of questions....what weight rod do you all typically use for Steelhead/Salmon, and have any of you used the Z-axis spey rods?

Any input would be welcomed.

[manchu67]

Hey man,
Tell a bit about the water you may use it most and that can help narrow things down.
I have the 9143 and it is nice smooth bigger water rod that would do well on rivers like the Mo, Jo and Big Man. It matches well with WC 890, Guideline PT 9/10 uncut, and Airflo Delta 9's and Long 8's. I am not much into skagit and have tried the 550, which was light and the 650 which was to heavy. I have a 600 head sitting in my gear bag though I have yet to try it. The CND GPS 9/10 is a sweet combo on this rod and the line I run the most on it, in the floater and intermediate.

I have cast and fish the 6126 a bit and it is nice with a 450 skagit if I remember right and the body of the WC 890. Other than those two rods I have not cast any other in the series.

They are nice rods and are not what you would call fast, but the 9143 has plenty of power to handle long lines and actually throws a Drury 9/10 s1/s2 very well.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

[chrome_dome]

If you are interested I have a 13'6" Sage Z Axis 7wt spey rod for sale in the classifieds. I also have a Ross CLA6 which is a good balance for this rod and a Skagit line setup. Contact at spemmling@yahoo.com

[flybum]

Manchu -

I appreciate your input.....currently I am totally novice when it comes to the world of spey, so a lot of what you added as far as lines and such is still a bit tough to fully grasp.

As for the water, I will be using it on smaller water than you speak of...primarily Ohio water with the Grand being the largest. I may get over into New York and PA, but that is about it. I have a fellow guide I have been talking with who is very experienced in the area of spey and he has offered some advice for our area. He recommends more of a switch rod as opposed to a longer spey......just not needed where I will be fishing. A sixty to seventy foot cast would be very long for us here.

So, I am probably going to look more seriously at what my friend recommends (Sage Z-Axis 7110-4). He says that if I pair that with a skagit style line and some other stuff, it will be ideal.

If you are interested I have a 13'6" Sage Z Axis 7wt spey rod for sale in the classifieds. I also have a Ross CLA6 which is a good balance for this rod and a Skagit line setup. Contact at spemmling@yahoo.com

Chrome_dome -

I appreciate your willingness to pass me your rod, but I can get one much cheaper than you will want to let yours go for. Best of luck in selling it. I'm sure it will be a fine addition to someone's arsenal.

So....Anyone have any experience with a Sage Z-Axis 11' 7wt (7110-4)?

[manchu67]

I have also cast and fished this rod for a short bit , not enough to form solid opinion so I would take what I have to rec for what it's worth.

I believe this was lined with either a 350 or 400 skagit with tips and it was just about perfect for swinging on the river we were on. Also, I think we had an 8 or 9 weight steelhead taper that had some of tip chopped back that worked nicely as well.

The 8 weight is a nice stick also, but I would defer to the 7 weight as I think it is a nice balance for weight and power. Call Ray Schmidts, his guides use this stick quite often and check out The Fly Fishing Shop's website as they have line recs for this rod.

Good luck and hope this helps.

[flybum]

Manchu,

thanks for the input.....good to hear from guys who have used it. I will definitely check out Schmidt's site and see what they have to say.

Flybum

[brwntrt1219]

I have some water time with the 7110. Not really a "spey"rod IMHO,but a one hander with a two handed grip. I had a demo for a bit and took it out on the flats for some carp over head casting. An 8wt Airflo Bonefish 35 dogged it out pretty bad. I do like fast rods that cast off the tip, so my opinion may be a bit skewed.

In the Z Schmaxis series the 7136 is the only shining star I have found. Vision 8/9 heads really go on that rod. It seems they took the good fast rebound qualities out of the old Euro. style rods and created the Z series.

We had the old 9141 out today with an uncut 9/10 DDC on it, BUTTER.......................9/10/11 WC, 8/9 MS, all good....... Should have never quit making that rod.

[flybum]

Brwntrt -

I appreciate your input and agree that the 7110 isn't really a spey per say....but, I want to keep it practical for the area I will be fishing. I would love to hit some big water with a long rod sometime in the future, but where I am we don't have that kind of water....Maybe the Cat in Pa, but that's about it.

So for now, I am going to go with a rod that I can play a little both ways....maybe ease into learning the world of spey. I love the flies as much as anything, so we'll see if this becomes a new obsession?

[Golden Oliver]

So for now, I am going to go with a rod that I can play a little both ways....maybe ease into learning the world of spey. I love the flies as much as anything, so we'll see if this becomes a new obsession?

It will...

[flybum]

Just a week or so ago I made arrangements to be on stream with a top notch guide and flytyer who has also become a new comrade in hitting the water. He is going to spend a day with me teaching me the world of Spey.

Ironically, today I also got an invite to a spey camp that I can't wait to participate in....

I would say that three straight days on the water with quality, even world class anglers who are experienced in the world of Spey will cut my learning curve........

I can't wait to give it a shot......Oh and GoldenOllie......your right, the obsession has already started....

[steel-ted]

Yo 'bum, a homeboy here , and for our streams the 6126-4 is just fine. Maybe a 7 if ya wanna go to bigger rivers than we have but the 6 will do just fine for our fish.I've only had it less'n a yr and the biggest fish so far was 14lbs and it was no problem even as it ripped into a heavy current....fun stuff!
BTW,the Catt is in NY,not Pa but the 6126 will take it w/ no problem. The Grand is bigger than the Catt and deeper too.
When you load up your reel put 75' of mono same lb test as your backing between backing and flyline to give you a bit more give for when a fish takers you out past your flyline. I lost several fish to hook pullouts till I did that. The dacron line core and backing have no give and when you get a full line out it has no room for forgiveness when a big fish starts yankin' it's head way out there. Been doing that w/ all my singles but did'nt do it when I loaded this one and I regretted it as I lost a coupole nice fish...good to go now,Ted