If you’re fishing steelhead trout you may want to use a Spey rod. Spey rods are extremely useful when fishing large rivers where you need to make double handed casts with large flies. Here we will take a look at some of the best Spey rods for fishing steelhead trout.
Best Steelhead Spey Rod
- Redington Dually Fly Rod
- Fenwick AETOS Fly Rods
- 14′ Spey Fly Fishing Rod
- Z Aventik IM10 Spey Rods
- Echo TR2 Fly Rod
1. Redington Dually Fly Rod
Product Features
Brand Name: Redington
Rod Length: 12’6″ – 13’6″
Weight: 6-8
Action: Medium-Fast
The number one spot on our list is the Redington Dually Spey Fly Rod. Their spy models for this fly fishing rod are available in lengths ranging from 12’6″ to 13’6″ with line weights between 6 and 8. The rods are medium-fast action and designed to provide durability and stability when making your double-handed casts. The rod feels good and light compared to your traditional Spey rods and has an anodized aluminum real seat with soft EVA grips for maximum control. Overall this is one of the better double-handed rods on the market.
2. Fenwick AETOS Fly Rods
Product Features
Brand Name: Fenwick
Rod Length: 13′ – 15′
Weight: 8-11
Action: Fast
The next spot on our list belongs to the Fenwick AETOS Fly Rods. For Spey models, they have three different sizes that are suitable: 13′, 13′, and 15′. The rods are made from a 4 section blank and feature an anodized aluminum reel seat with comfortable cork handles. Each rod also includes a rod bag to easily transport your fly rod. Overall this is an extremely well-made rod. It casts very easily and feels very accurate while offering good control.
3. 14′ Spey Fly Fishing Rod
Product Features
Brand Name: Saion
Rod Length: 14′
Weight: 8/10
Action: Fast
If you’re shopping for a cheap Spey rod for steelhead you may want to get your feet wet with the Saion 14′ Spey Fly Rod. This is one of the more budget-friendly double-handed fly rods you will come across. The rod itself is made from a carbon blank, anodized aluminum reel set, and a comfortable cork grip handle. It weighs an incredibly lightweight 8.4 ounces and feels strong and powerful when tossing your flies. Overall this is a pretty great value, but don’t expect this one to operate and smoothly as a premium rod.
4. Z Aventik IM10 Spey Rods
Product Features
Brand Name: Aventik
Rod Length: 13’6″ – 14’8″
Weight: 8-11
Action: Fast
The Aventik Z Spey Rods take our fourth spot on the list. These rods are available in three different size options ranging from 13’6″ to 14’8″ in length. These powerful rods are made from nano carbon fiber with graphite to provide an incredibly lightweight feel with the strength and durability that you need to toss large flies for steelhead. The top of the rods and guides are made from chrome and ceramic which helps provide corrosion resistance and delivers a smooth feel. Overall what you end up with is a great rod at a great value.
5. Echo TR2 Fly Rod
Product Features
Brand Name: Echo Fly Rods
Rod Length: 11′ – 13’6″
Weight: 3-8
Action: Medium-Fast
Last on our list is the Echo Fly Rods TR Spey Rod. These are medium-fast action rods ranging in size options from 11′ to 13’6″ in length. These Spey rods are designed to feature a powerful bottom half of the rod that helps produce line speed so you can make powerful casts with less effort. It has a good amount of backbone which is great when using heavier skagit lines. This is a pretty well made strong rod. The only drawback is that it can be a little bit expensive compared to other options on the list
How To Choose a Spey Rod for Steelhead Trout
There are a few things to consider when choosing a Spey Rod for catching steelhead
- Length
- Weight
- Action
Length
Most two-handed fly rods use for fishing steelhead trout are going to be between 12′ and 15′ long. Some anglers like to use longer rods around the 15′ mark, while others like shorter rods. A good all-around length would be about a 13’6″ rod. Having a long rod is important for fishing steelhead because when you’re fly fishing in large rivers you need better control at a longer range, which is exactly what a Spey rod will give you.
Weight
One of the most important factors when choosing the appropriate line weight of your rod will be the size of the flies you are using. If you are using lighter flies you can get away with a lighter weight rod. Most spey rods will be between 6-11WT. If you’re fishing for smaller steelhead you might want to use a 6WT Spey rod. A powerful 7 or 8 WT rod is good for larger steelhead with heavier lines and flies.
Action
Most Spey rods will be either medium-fast action or fast action rods. Medium-fast action rods are more versatile and you can use it with a variety of techniques. These are best for all-around steelhead fishing and better for beginners. Fast action rods are tougher to use for beginners because you need to have the right timing, but they can work better for certain types of fly fishing.
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