Good Fly Rod Options For Long Hours Of Blind-casting For Coho?

Jeffwhale7

Jeffwhale7

Steelhead
Good Afternoon Gents and Ladies-
I’m looking for input on a 9ft 7 weight or 10 ft 7 weight used almost exclusively for Summer/Fall coho off the beach. Rod weight and swing weight never meant a thing to me until last year, when I noticed my body not able to recover from two-a-day casting sessions for Coho. Especially when I’ve spent 5-6 days in a row fishing, I’ve had to take a day of rest, not because I wanted to, but because my body demanded it. I’ve been fishing a fairly heavy stick with a high rod weight AND swing weight. People in the know have told me that I need to purchase a lighter rod if I’m going to be blind casting as much as I do. I’ve been eyeing the lightest of rods, with low swing weights, but mostly they’re $800-$1000 rods. What would you recommend in the $400-$600 range? Any advice and/or opinions are welcome.

Cheers.

Jeff
 

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This is another shameless plug for the Echo OHS. It will however not help fatigue if you are overhead casting lots. What you do have is the ability to seamlessly transition to two handed casting while fishing to take a break on the shoulder. Line choice is critical on this matter depending on what you're doing. It's not a light rod and the extra length at 10'4" means increased leverage on your body. You may want to consider a nine foot rod of lighter weight. Most coho from the beach are able to be handled with a six wt. This means you are putting less grains in the air on a shorter lever. And yes find a light weight one with appropriate power for salt casting in the wind.
 
Have a sage one 10' 7wt that for a 10'er feels very light in the hand. Throws the kind of lines you'd be using on a beach very well.
Would imagine you can get one used for your budget range.
 
I would stay away from 10' if fatigue is the main concern. A 9' 6wt is going to do the job and be easier on your shoulder. You could probably find a higher end used rod in your price range. If you build rods the MHX 9' 2pc 6wt was one of the lightest I found. You could try mine if you're not to far away from Edmonds.
 
Scudley Do Right said:
I would stay away from 10' if fatigue is the main concern. A 9' 6wt is going to do the job and be easier on your shoulder. You could probably find a higher end used rod in your price range. If you build rods the MHX 9' 2pc 6wt was one of the lightest I found. You could try mine if you're not to far away from Edmonds.
Click to expand...
how dare you disparage long rods :p ;)
 
I'll sometimes bring a 4wt spey rod and alternate with my 9' 6wt just to keep my shoulder from getting too sore. I'll often use a 3 wt spey from the beach for pinks. I have to worry less about kids standing in my back cast. It's most fun for me to hook into them with a single hander though.
 
I don't think doing the same thing, with a different rod, is going to make any difference.

I would try what @Dustin Chromers suggested. If you want to take it a step further, you could try using a Skagit line.

The seasoned Puget Sound guys will probably tell you to cast less and learn how to make each one count.
 
There are so many good rods out there today you really need to cast one for yourself. But you can only do that with new rods for the most part. For 9’ 6 or 7 weight rods (my short list)

Used:
G.Loomis GLX (classic) stud can buy new in 2 piece
Sage XP, Z-Axis, One, Xi3
Redington CPS
Scott Radian
TFO BVK

New:
Sage Sonic
GL IMX Pro
Echo Boost Blue, EPR
Redington Vice, Predator. (The Vice is really a nice casting stick)

TFO has some newer rods out too.

Good luck.
 
In that price range I would look for a Scott Centric 7wt, or Meridian 7wt on the used market. Test cast them if possible, if you're really happy with a rod then the higher cost won't matter at all over the long run.
I love my Centric 7wt and 6wt Meridian for beach fishing. While I've had one season with the Centric so far, the Meridian have served me well for the past many years and I still find great joy in fishing it.
Good luck with your search! You have plenty of time until coho season :)
 
Curious about why you’re only considering a 7wt if your goal is to go lightweight. I fish 6wts for coho unless I’m facing a very windy day and they are, almost as a rule, lighter than 7wt rods of similar length.

I fish a 9' 6wt and a 8'4" 6wt for just about anything that swims in Puget Sound (lingcod being the exception). The 8'4" is significantly lighter, I don't see a real loss in distance, and I do see a gain in fighting ability. Some folks like longer rods because they fish steeper beaches, but I haven't noticed it to be an issue and a steeple cast serves me fine in the occasional situations it could be.

I have yet to fish a two-hand rod or a single hand Spey rod on beaches, but if your goal is efficiency and distance and not simply a lighter rod, those might bear looking at.
 
Jake said:
I fish a 9' 6wt and a 8'4" 6wt for just about anything that swims in
Click to expand...
What rod is your 8'4"? You have me curious.

To add, I fish 6wt for Coho too. I've not felt under gunned fighting PS Coho. Fly choice will dictate more of what rod I use for Coho in PS.
 
6wt with a fighting butt is plenty for coho, it's those heavy stinger clousers that make a 7wt easier to cast for long hours :)
 
I only fish a 6wt on the beach also. I use a gen 1 Orvis Recon all day long without fatigue. You can pick them up used for about $300. I recently bought a second one because I love it so much. Not heavy at all. Med-fast. I haven't fished the gen 2 Recon so I can't speak to those. The Clearwater is also very light and easy to cast. Pretty inexpensive too.
 
Have to agree with others on the 6 wt for beach coho. 7 wt would be good if lots of wind but considering the average size PS beach coho is what, maybe 5 lbs so the 6 wt seems like the perfect tool for the job.
A 6 wt will handle any bigger coho you might encounter along, incidental beach kings and easily handle casting 4" long flies.
Length wise, its really a personal preference.
Lastly, the right line will help. If you are making 5-6 false casts per cast, that will easily wear you out over the course of a fishing day. Cutting it down to two false casts save a lot of wear and tear on your shoulder and arm.
Good luck in your search.
SF
 
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Agree with all of the above re 6wts. Since Orvis has come up a bit, I'll mention that I had an excellent experience with their repair/replacement process. Broke the tip middle section of my H3D in mid June last year through user error and it was back in action by the second week of MA 9 coho season. I do not know about other models or previous generations, but with the current Helios, they just send you the applicable replacement section for 60 bucks as soon as it's in stock. If you end up considering some Orvis rods, it may be worth seeing if they are subject to the same kind of thing.
 
Sounds like you might be a little more into casting than I am, but I like a 6wt rod for long hours of catching coho from the beach. I select for a fighting butt to handle that first run from shallow out to deep water, a stiff butt section to help that still feisty coho ride it's last wave onto the beach, a durable tip that won't break when the line wraps around it as you release wild fish in knee deep water, and a good finish that won't mar when you lay it on the rocks and sand to take the hook out.
 
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