I am piecing together a spey rod and reel but dont know the best line, tips, backing setup. I am a rook spey guy and looks like I will fish a 9/10 14 footer this winter. Just going with a Flueger Trion to start. Advice on setup is appreciated and I am not the greatest line splicer in the world so keep that in mind...Thanks!

You should have 150 to 200 yards of backing (30 lbs.) on 4 to 4.5 inches reel.

Splicing is not that hard, practices on some scrap piece of line first then go for it.

That weight rod will take 630 to 720 grains approx. without seeing the rod I can’t be sure. Here is a formula for a 640 grain tip line belly section:

Reel end
22 ¾” of 10 wt.
35” of 11 wt.
160” of 14 wt.
85 ¾” of 12 wt.
86” of 11 wt.
Tip end

Then just add your sink-tips (135 to 145 grain)

Homer, your info is greatly appreciated. I am still confused a bit though, IF I buy a Rio Windcutter with interchangable tips and use the Skagit cheater would I then just use the T-14 tips you described in an earlier post?? Also, what about the running line on the Rio? Seems like everyone is using a "fine" running line in place of the out of box running line? IF I do buy the rio and use the cheater it appears I would want to buy the 10/11/12 instead of the 9/10/11 to balance out?? Thanks again.

Summerrun

Rio is coming out with a “Skagit Line” real soon!

or

SA 8/9 (650 grains) Spey Short Head (51ft. belly length) might be the ticket for you, just cut the tip section back 14 feet add loops then add those sink-tips from the other thread and your set. With the T-14 tips and this line your head length will be 47 ft.

Talk with Sparkey at Kauffmann’s about both these lines.

These two lines might be better for you just starting out with a spey rod.

well first off buying the rod first is a mistake.

you need to buy a line first!! the line determines the application not the rod..

for the typical winter steelheading you'll want a LINE!!!! that will throw a 13-15 foot 150 grain tip type 6 or type 3.. An ideal line for this is the rio windcutter 9-10-11.

Now what you'll need is a rod that will handle that line, most 14 ft 9-10's are just right

there are all kinds of lines out there for all different types of casting mostly i think what passes for fact now a days in the spey relm is personal opinion and BS.

since you are a beginner i recommend the 9-10-11 windcutter with tips then branch out from there according yo your own personal tastes.. The windcutter works perfectly right out of the box, no splicing no BS.. tie on a leader and go fishing..

Really have to agree with Rob for a beginner spey guy like I was 4 years ago, go with the Rio Windcutter and tips, it will work, I still use it. Go with this line unless you have an expert to match a custom line to the rod you choose to use for your first one.

Then branch out to other lines.

KISS - Keep it Simple Stupid, in the initial learning curve is a good MO for any new endeavor.

My 2 cents

good luck with the rod and line, and have fun thats what its all about in the end isn;t it ?

Happy holidays to all



FL

I agree that we tend to make fly fishing more complicated that it needs to be. Spey casting, even more so. If we just remember how it was with us when we first picked up that long, heavy spey rod.......
Rio made spey casting much simpler when they came out with that fat WindCutter spey line. Even the complete WindCutter without the sections cast great when you add a loop and put a type 6 sink tip. (Which you can purchase separately, I might add.)

If you can cast a friends spey rod with the set up he/she is using you can have something to compare yours with. Otherwise, get a windCutter, types 6 and 3 Rio sink tips, and go for it.

Oh yeah, you might want to rent a couple of spey casting videos.

Don

I know I've talk about this before but most Saturday down in Carnation River Run Anglers will let you try out spey rods and lines from different manufactures, you have 3 hours each Saturday and if you run out of time go back the next Saturday.

Aaron is a great guy to work with.

The Dec Hogan DVD is pretty cool and very detailed and informative on instructions,etc. Dec even lands a Nice Chrome buck while showing his technique.

The Rio Windcutter is my main line and it works flawless! I believe the Morning Hatch in Tacoma does demos on reel/spey lines on most of the Spey lines they sell. Don't get caught up in trying to find the "perfect line", just zero in on one or two lines and use it to the utmost of your ability. Also Spey lines can get very EXPENSIVE.

I use the 9/10 on my Steelhead Specialist so that I may feel the load better on my casts.

Good luck!

Peter <><

Ye Gads! I't taken 'Mr B' and I months and I to 'disagree ' on a subject: "You should have 150 to 200 yards of backing (30 lbs.) on 4 to 4.5 inches reel. "

Agree ont he 30# test, tut 150-200 yards of backinging is silly. think (agin just my .02cients here) is most spey lines are a minimum of 120 foot long, severalveral/line wighet dependent are 140 foot) ... so you have a hooke up ..

Mr. Fish has all of your fly line out of your reel (at least 120 feet of line) and then takes just 50 yards of backing. Do the math: guy is now just short of 300 foot away from you .. unless you have a hell of a long beach/or a boat .. you're toast.

All that said: what did I say? 125 yards is the minimum, beyond that .. who cares in real life fishing conditions.

Only time I got to the "end of the sting' a motor guide boat watched the 'thing' and came ove and asked if I'd like a ride. 30 some minutes later he netted a spring king that bottomed out his scale at 35# and the fish wasn't even out of the water.

Had him cut the leader and release the fish. Why? What the Heck could two people, an a fat cat doo with all that meat? Wanted this guy in the gene pool!

Hey Fred

Any more Single Malt left?