Great Lakes Steelhead-Spey Gear
Here is an article that guide Capt. Evan Visuri worked up for Sage. It is a helpful article for those wishing to enter the world of two-handed casting. The shop carries a wide variety of Spey and Switch rod gear from Redington, Sage and Echo.
This setup is the perfect fit for swinging flies on some of the Great Lakes bigger river systems. The majority of the Spey fishing that I do is from a boat. I needed a set up that was able to cast heavy tips and medium to large steelhead flies. All of this had to be done with a shorter rod, as full spey rods (13' plus) can be cumbersome to fish out of a boat, especially when two clients are fishing simultaneously.
Target Species - Manistee River Steelhead
Rod: 8120-4 X Spey
The X is truly remarkable, the fast action of this rod accompanied with the overall weight and ease of use has allowed my clients to fish longer and more productively which ultimately means more fish to hand. The length coming in at 12' is an ideal fit for two handed casting from a boat, this feels to me like a perfect hybrid between a switch and a full spey. The X is a true workhorse allowing me to tie on the heaviest tips and flies while running intermediate lines, but at the same time is not too much rod to run a floating line and slow sinking tip. I have yet to find a situation where this rod has not performed flawlessly.
Reel: EVOKE 9/10
The EVOKE is a great tool for swinging flies, as I can run a very light drag and allow the fish to grab and turn with the fly before setting the hook, and when the fight begins still have complete control with fingertip or palm pressure on the spool. Not to mention the EVOKE is bombproof.
Line: RIO SKAGIT IFLIGHT 600gr, RIO GRIPSHOOTER 44#
Paired with Rio iMOW TIPS or just a 12' sections of INTOUCH LEVEL T, you can turn over just about anything. The iMOW allows for a perfect swing in any type of water, this head will also cut deeper than a floating head, allowing me to get the fly down fast and stay down at the steelhead's level.
This is my perfect set up and what I have chosen to fish on my home waters for Lake Michigan Steelhead.
- Captain Evan Visuri, Sage Elite Team Member
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