This setup is designed to chase fall and winter steelhead throughout the Pacific Northwest, though I would say this rod is perfect for many northern California and southern Oregon rivers year round. I prefer a shorter, lightweight spey rod that can handle all conditions from throwing a scandi head with dries and wets on or near the surface in the summer/fall months or getting down deeper with a Skagit head, sinktip, and even a lightly weighted fly.
One of my favorite Sage spey rods I have fished in the last tens years. The X rods are extremely lightweight, smooth, but have a nice quick recovery. These are great rods as they have a little extra backbone in the butt, BUT don’t try and overcast/overpower them. Slow and smooth and this rod casts great!
May be a bit overkill but I know we can stop anything on this reel even if we run into the ocassional fall Chinook. Plus, they are super smooth!
It’s really all you need for just about any spey fishing situation in the summer/fall throughout the PNW. I love this setup for throwing a floating tip, tapered leader and wet fly or swinging a leech on a 10’ chunk of T-11. It’s easy to cast and smooth all the way around.
ROD // 7120 X
One of my favorite Sage spey rods I have fished in the last tens years. The X rods are extremely lightweight, smooth, but have a nice quick recovery. These are great rods as they have a little extra backbone in the butt, BUT don’t try and overcast/overpower them. Slow and smooth and this rod casts great!
REEL // EVOKE 10
May be a bit overkill but I know we can stop anything on this reel even if we run into the ocassional fall Chinook. Plus, they are super smooth!
LINE // RIO Skagit Max Short 500, RIO T-11 MOW Kit
It’s really all you need for just about any spey fishing situation in the summer/fall throughout the PNW. I love this setup for throwing a floating tip, tapered leader and wet fly or swinging a leech on a 10’ chunk of T-11. It’s easy to cast and smooth all the way around.
Jason Hartwick / Sage Ambassador
- Multi-Discipline