Echo Swing for NorCal - S. OR rivers?

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downriver79

Steelhead
Well, I guess I'm officially becoming a spey junkie. I've begun selling off gear rods in order to build a spey quiver. I love my 6 wt switch rod (10' 9") for the majority of the spots I fish, but there are a handful of spots with big, open water that I could stand to get more distance from my cast in order to cover it effectively. I'm looking at getting an Echo Swing, but can't decide between the 6126 or the 7130. My hangup is that 13' seems like a lot of rod, so in that sense I'm leaning toward the 6126. For those of you well versed in N. CA / S. OR coastal rivers (Eel up to the Rogue), would a 6126 be enough rod, or would that be to much of a risk at undergunning myself? Thoughts and opinions?
 
Since you have the 6 wt switch, it seems to me like adding a 7130 would expand your quiver and increase the number of water bodies you could effectively fish. I haven't fished the Eel, but a 7130 isn't too much for the Rogue. And it would probably serve you well on the Klamath as well.
 
As someone who was in your shoes not that long ago I can honestly say when your out on a larger section of water with open casting room 13’ does not feel that big. I use a 13’ 6wt and a 12’5” 5wt for trout in MT. I have some smaller weights closer to 11’ as well but I much prefer the longer rods when the conditions make sense. I used to live in norcal and could see 13’ being just fine. Good luck with the search, I’ve casted the 8wt Swing and they seem like nice rods.
 
During the years of chasing winter steelhead on OR coastal rivers a 13' Deer Creek 7/8 weight was my go to, fun enough on the smaller fish while still able to turn a bigger fish in winter flows. And the few times I had a late run Chinook grab the swing, the rod held up while bent near double...lol
 
I fish those same rivers and both rods would work well. A 6wt is good for all summer/fall fishing but you’ll want a 7 for winter when you’re using sink tips and bigger flies. If you don’t fix much in the winter then I’d go with the 6, but if you had to only pick one rod then the 7 will be the most versatile.
 
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So I've had both the 8116 echo switch and the 8136 swing. The switch got stolen and replaced by the swing.

I do miss the switch, and not just because it would fit broken in half in my shortbed, and the swing does not. But it was great fish fighting tool at that length, the longer rod requires a bit more a dance to get the leader in hand. And the more compact d loops from the shorter rod allows me to play in the trees more, which I do enjoy.

That said, the 8136 is a fucking howitzer with a 550-600 skagit. It salvages misplaced anchors and allows me to shoot 10 strips easily without holding loops, which I hate doing. You can put a lot of wood to the fish with that stick, but at approaching 14ft the dance is delicate at the end.

Ultimately I wish I had them both. The 8136 for launching heavy artillery halfway across the skagit, the 8116 for more targeted, high bank and overhang activities.

I'm not sure the 8116 is in production anymore, but if you can find that stick or the 7116, I'd jump on them for your situation.
 
Thanks y'all. Some good insight here. @Pink Nighty - Thanks for the 8118/8136 comparison. I've kinda been thinking the 7117 might actually fit my needs better since it's more of a compact spey rod than a switch rod. I'm thinking it should also utilize the t-8 tips I already have as well as turning over t-11 when needed.
 
downriver79 said:
Thanks y'all. Some good insight here. @Pink Nighty - Thanks for the 8118/8136 comparison. I've kinda been thinking the 7117 might actually fit my needs better since it's more of a compact spey rod than a switch rod. I'm thinking it should also utilize the t-8 tips I already have as well as turning over t-11 when needed.
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Yah if you have access to that rod I think it's exactly what you are looking for.
 
Another vote for getting a shorter 7weight since you already like your short 6 weight. Echo also makes the compact Spey which are 12’ but definitely feel short. I started with the 7130 when I lived in NorCal but wouldn’t recommend a 13’ to someone not sold on the length.
 
What luck! So I reached out to my local steelheading mentor, whose fished my home waters for 40+ yrs, with the same inquiry. Turns out he'd spent the last few days cleaning out his attic and came across a first generation Echo Spey 6126-4X, 12'6" #6/7 (dark green blank that pre-dates the Classic). Said he picked up a couple of them years back specifically for the lower T and the coast and this one never got used. He had a buddy land a 12LB fresh chromer on one without a problem. I got a screaming deal on it. It definitely seems beefy enough to fit my needs. I found an old RIO chart that had it at 400-450 range for skagit heads. Took it out for a test drive with a 425gr RIO skagit head that he had to go with it. I also had a 475 gr RIO skagit head that came on a used reel I got off the auction site. Seemed like a 450 would work best for my casting ability. The only heads I really have experience with are Commandos so it took a minute to adjust and get the timing down with a longer rod and longer head. I'm gonna try a Commando 350 on it and see how that does.
 
Rod ratings for lines vary, but I have a rod rated at 6/7, and I like a 400 gr Skagit on it, although a friend prefers 450 gr. So there's that individual preference thing going on.
 
I find grain windows to be pretty flexible. Lighter lines- faster motions to maintain and increase load, heavy lines-slow down to load it deep and let the rod do the launching.

Also depends on the flies your tossing. Mass moves mass and all that.
 
Bringing this one back up - Anyone own or fished an Echo 5wt Compact Spey? Preferred lines and likes or dislikes?

Thank you for replies.
 
I have the 6126. Used it last fall for salmon mostly and it can handle fish to say 15lbs. Used it for winter fish this year , though I had no luck there but the rod can cast skagit heads with 10-12 foot tips easily. Want to get a scandi head now for summer.
 
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