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Perfect Setup - Pulse Trout Spey

By Jon Hazlett 8/20/2018

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Have you ever picked up a rod, and after your first cast or two, you think, “Wow, that’s incredible!” I had that experience recently with the Sage PULSE 3 weight Trout Spey. And ever since then, I haven’t been able to put it down.

The PULSE 3 weight came in the mail last winter. Admittedly, it didn’t see the water until this spring. About that time, I also got some new lines in the mail. The first line I tried was the RIO InTouch Trout Spey 3 weight head, which is 265 grains at 23 feet. It literally took me one cast to realize that this was indeed a Perfect Setup.

Our trout fishing here in southern Oregon isn’t world class. Really, this is steelhead country. So, in light of that, I have been fishing the PULSE for the past month in search of an early steelhead. While that may seem a little ridiculous to fish for steelhead with a 3 weight Trout Spey, and maybe it is, I just can’t help it. This rod and line combo is just too fun to fish!

This setup is perfect for fishing a 12 foot tapered, mono leader or 10 foot VersiLeaders. Add to that flies ranging from soft hackles to unweighted or lightly weighted streamers. For heavier flies and sink-tips, the RIO InTouch Skagit Trout Spey Head, in 275 grains also casts very well on the PULSE.

As far as performance is concerned, this setup has a very high ceiling. As a guy who loves to “huck mega”, so far, my biggest “huck” is 14 strips of line. What that equates into feet doesn’t really matter. Just know that there won’t be much water that you can’t cover with this Perfect Setup!

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  • PULSE SPEY Two-handed

about the author

Jon Hazlett is a Sage Elite Pro residing in Medford, Oregon with his wife, daughter and too many pets.  He first picked up a Spey rod in 1999. Since then, he has been dedicated to the craft of two-handed casting and angling. He has had the opportunity to teach hundreds of fly-fisherman the merits of two-handed casting through guiding, Sage endorsed clinics, private instruction, and regular appearances at the Sandy River Spey Clave.  Learn more about Jon, his guiding and casting instruction at his website Spey Lesson.  Above photos taken by Jon and Marcus Mattioli.