Pink Nighty
Legend
My daughter, 8, has been swinging flies with me for a few seasons on a 9' 5wt and a 200g skagit. Uses two hands above the reel to cast it, which while adorable has become rather limiting to distance and accuracy. That's become a problem for her, and she asked me how we could fix it.
I cook for a living, and recently had both my spey rods lifted from my truck and had to drop some coin to get back fishing. That's to say we were gonna be on a budget.
I started scouring amazon for the rod. Wanted a 6-8 wt, 10-11 ft switch rod. Choices under 300 were limited to say the least, and came down to two choices, and aventik 11'6 8wt for 100$ and a month long weight or and brandless, featureless 10'9 8wt for 60 and a week long delivery time.
With the skagit rapidly approaching closed I went for the cheaper option. Reviews were mixed. Some found the ferrules didnt seat properly. Some had breakage and no recourse. Some found it to be a cheap, functional fishing tool. I hoped for the latter and bought it.
It arrived, and we set to testing lines. High winds kept scuttling our practice attempts on the river, but I got it shooting line in the yard decently with a 350g 20ft skagit and 8ft of t11. Figured it could handle a bit more weight but being for my daughter I didnt want to add length. Picked up a 16$ maxcatch 400g 20ft Skagit and took it to the sauk yesterday.
That rod is kind of friggin sweet. Light as all hell in the hand, easily cast 10 strps of line with lightly weighted fly. Is capable of 70ft casts with almost zero d-loop behind you, great for high banks and trees.
I ran the math, with a cheap reel and cheap lines you're swinging flies effectively and efficiently for about 120$ all told.
Just wanted to say if you've been looking for backup rods, kids rods, etc.... there are good deals to be had!
I cook for a living, and recently had both my spey rods lifted from my truck and had to drop some coin to get back fishing. That's to say we were gonna be on a budget.
I started scouring amazon for the rod. Wanted a 6-8 wt, 10-11 ft switch rod. Choices under 300 were limited to say the least, and came down to two choices, and aventik 11'6 8wt for 100$ and a month long weight or and brandless, featureless 10'9 8wt for 60 and a week long delivery time.
With the skagit rapidly approaching closed I went for the cheaper option. Reviews were mixed. Some found the ferrules didnt seat properly. Some had breakage and no recourse. Some found it to be a cheap, functional fishing tool. I hoped for the latter and bought it.
It arrived, and we set to testing lines. High winds kept scuttling our practice attempts on the river, but I got it shooting line in the yard decently with a 350g 20ft skagit and 8ft of t11. Figured it could handle a bit more weight but being for my daughter I didnt want to add length. Picked up a 16$ maxcatch 400g 20ft Skagit and took it to the sauk yesterday.
That rod is kind of friggin sweet. Light as all hell in the hand, easily cast 10 strps of line with lightly weighted fly. Is capable of 70ft casts with almost zero d-loop behind you, great for high banks and trees.
I ran the math, with a cheap reel and cheap lines you're swinging flies effectively and efficiently for about 120$ all told.
Just wanted to say if you've been looking for backup rods, kids rods, etc.... there are good deals to be had!
What 450 gr head are you using on that?