Can anyone steer me in the right direction for a first spey rod? Dont want to break the bank on this one, ie cabellas or orvis instead of sage/loomis. Mainly for steel, handle some smaller kings etc...easy to cast/learn on. Want to spend less than $400 and be fishing this winter. Any advice is appreciated. Also, anyone know of a good casting class or should I just hit the water...

If you want to stay under $400 your choices are very very few when you account for the rod, reel and line. If you don't mind spending another couple hundred you will be fully setup.

Here is my recomendation.

CND 1308 Expert $325
SA System II 10/11 $ 189.95
SA Short Head 8/9 $69.95

This setup is twice the quality/performance/etc. that the Cabela's is BUT not twice the price! ...and is as least as expensive as you can get while still having a steup that will perform.

Ok, one dumb question for each of you. 1 where is River Run Anglers? I am in Snohomish. 2 what is CND, SA I know but...thanks for the advice I am looking forward to working the sauk, skagit and sky this winter but wont single hand in the winter on those rivers anymore
. I was hoping for about 400 for a rod and reel on the low end not including lines/tips etcbut was worried about the quality at that low end...I can probably move into the 700 range TOTAL but if I get up there and I can get a much better overall setup for a few hundred more then on we go to 1000+ and where does it end:)

Well now that you mention $700, you can get into a totally wicked setup that will compare, if not out perform many that will run you up and over $1k.

CND Custom 1409 $485
SA System II 12/13 $210.95
Rio Windcutter Veri-tip 8/9/10 $150.00

Well, it maybe a little beyond that $700 price range BUT you will never have to upgrade from there. You may however decide you want lighter rod for summer-run fishing and then a rod for this and a rod for that.

Summerrun-
Head over to the mouth of the Tolt in Carnation on Sat. 27th starting at 9am- Aaron's got an informal speyclave happening then. Munch on Krispy Kremes, meet some spey luminaries, Test cast some if not lots of rod/reel combos. I'll be there... you'll know my face when you see me... think three or four summers ago...long hair, noodle rod, eggs....fish on...Proctor creek....rookie by my side, mouth wide open, knees shaking while the fish tears him a new posterial orfice.
LOL

Summerrun-
Head over to the mouth of the Tolt Sat.27th starting at 9am- Aaron's got an informal speyclave happening then. Munch on Krispy Kemes, meet some spey luminaries, Test cast some if not lots of rod/reel combos. I'll be there... you'll know my face when you see me... think three or four summers ago...long hair, noodle rod, eggs....fish on...Proctor creek....rookie by my side, mouth wide open, knees shaking while the fish tears him a new posterial orfice. LOL

Summerun:

I have a St. Croix Model IF1308 (line7/8) that I'll sell for $200 plus a Rio Windcutter Versatip line I'll sell for $100. Both were used once in a spey casting class. An arm injury prevents me from using 2 handed rods very effectively so I'm staying with single handed rods. E-mails are OK to jemapetit@AOL.com.

John P.

I have the St Croix 14' 9/10 wt. rod and love it. Something like $250 from Cabelas. I've been using a Tioga #12 reel ($170 or so) and it has worked great for me. Make sure you get a decent line with interchangable heads, too.

You can't go wrong with the new Redington combos. Check the Redington website. HIghly acclaimed rods, a reel and a windcutter all for $549.00
incredible!