Puget Sound

[jeradjames]

I noticed the mid top section on my Echo Boost rod this morning had broken on my first cast. I most likely broke it yesterday and didn't notice when I was leaving. I didn't disassemble my rod yesterday before leaving/rinsing with fresh water and left it in the back of my truck so I wouldn't have to rig it back up again. I'm definitely going to break down my rod after I'm done fishing to be safe. I'm probably going to buy another rod to have in case this happens again since I plan on fishing the Puget Sound a lot more. I almost was tempted to use my cheap Redington Path II 5wt I got from a friend but ended up just calling it because it was a very slow morning. I'll get a replacement piece from Echo whenever that's done but does anyone have a recommendation for a backup rod? Should I get another 7wt or 6wt? My budget is flexible.

 

[Stonedfish]

The nice thing about getting another 7 wt is you already have lines you know will work for it.
If you plan to fish the sound for cutts, you might consider a 6 wt though a 7 wt would work in a pinch but be just a bit overkill.
Echo will take good care of you and a lot quicker then other rod companies.
SF

 

[Pink Nighty]

I noticed the mid top section on my Echo Boost rod this morning had broken on my first cast. I most likely broke it yesterday and didn't notice when I was leaving. I didn't disassemble my rod yesterday before leaving/rinsing with fresh water and left it in the back of my truck so I wouldn't have to rig it back up again. I'm definitely going to break down my rod after I'm done fishing to be safe. I'm probably going to buy another rod to have in case this happens again since I plan on fishing the Puget Sound a lot more. I almost was tempted to use my cheap Redington Path II 5wt I got from a friend but ended up just calling it because it was a very slow morning. I'll get a replacement piece from Echo whenever that's done but does anyone have a recommendation for a backup rod? Should I get another 7wt or 6wt? My budget is flexible.

My 2 experiences with echos warranty program had me fishing the following weekend like it never even happened. Theyll take care of you.

As for what you want in a backup, I'd go 7 if you're truly using it as a backup beach rod, then you can just swap your reel and line over and be good to go. If you're interested in other fisheries in western WA, say lakes for trout/bass or streams/rivers for cutts, a quality 9' 5wt is pretty standard issue around here. If you dont like your Path, I love my Echo Carbon XL. I've caught coho and bluegill on it and it does both well. And I've fished the beach with it, doesnt handle the wind great but is otherwise totally serviceable out there.

 

[Greggor]

I would recommend a 6wt for expansion beyond migratory salmon season fishing. However, the timing of the breakage is right when ocean returning coho is just now heating up!

You might be more comfortable with a 7wt in hand for the short term.

Provide more information about your overall planned fishing, and you might receive more in depth recommendations.

You definitely have the passion to succeed!

 

[Wanative]

I noticed the mid top section on my Echo Boost rod this morning had broken on my first cast. I most likely broke it yesterday and didn't notice when I was leaving. I didn't disassemble my rod yesterday before leaving/rinsing with fresh water and left it in the back of my truck so I wouldn't have to rig it back up again. I'm definitely going to break down my rod after I'm done fishing to be safe. I'm probably going to buy another rod to have in case this happens again since I plan on fishing the Puget Sound a lot more. I almost was tempted to use my cheap Redington Path II 5wt I got from a friend but ended up just calling it because it was a very slow morning. I'll get a replacement piece from Echo whenever that's done but does anyone have a recommendation for a backup rod? Should I get another 7wt or 6wt? My budget is flexible.

I have a 7wt outfit on the classified section of this forum.
Greys X-flight 9'6" 4 piece rod in like new condition.
I'm willing to sell only the rod if you'd be interested. $130.00 shipped to Puget sound area counties.
Great backup or primary rod.
PM me if interested.

 

[jeradjames]

Thanks for the replies everyone it really helps hearing from locals! Another 7wt seems the easiest since I will just need to swap over my reel. My girlfriend is who got me into fly fishing and she only has a 5wt so maybe I will buy a 6wt setup "for her" and use that until my 7 is fixed so we can both fish when we have time together. As far as future fishing plans, I plan on getting into SRC and continuing to search for coho and any leftover pinks. I plan to use my Redington Path 5wt for trout on rivers and will upgrade the line to something better until a full upgrade when I learn more.

I have a 7wt outfit on the classified section of this forum.
Greys X-flight 9'6" 4 piece rod in like new condition.
I'm willing to sell only the rod if you'd be interested. $130.00 shipped to Puget sound area counties.
Great backup or primary rod.
PM me interested.

I might be interested in this.

 

[Greggor]

Thanks for the replies everyone it really helps hearing from locals! Another 7wt seems the easiest since I will just need to swap over my reel. My girlfriend is who got me into fly fishing and she only has a 5wt so maybe I will buy a 6wt setup "for her" and use that until my 7 is fixed so we can both fish when we have time together. As far as future fishing plans, I plan on getting into SRC and continuing to search for coho and any leftover pinks. I plan to use my Redington Path 5wt for trout on rivers and will upgrade the line to something better until a full upgrade when I learn more.

I might be interested in this.

Other factors to consider beyond the size of the fish you are targeting are wind conditions, and the bulk, or the weight, of the flies you are casting.

I recently purchased a Boost Blue 6wt, and it's been a hoot landing pinks with the rod in a deep bend. With low wind conditions and bead chain(light weight eyes) I can really throw out a lot of line.

When the wind picks up, or when I am casting a larger clouser with dumbbell eyes, casting length is a bit more limited. If the fish are out there 70 ft or more, I switch up to a 7wt.

 

[Eastside]

Echo was very fast with a replacement tip section last spring when I broke it on a trip. Had enough cell service to order a new one. When I found out that they were only $20, I ordered two. They arrived a couple of days later. I think for other sections you need to send the rod in, but it would be worth a call.

 

[Ernie]

I was at my local fly shop yesterday and the sslesman said a good back ip rod is the Echo Lift. A customer in the store said he has 3 of them and said they are fantastic for the price point of @$100 - $135

 

[Buzzy]

Echo was very fast with a replacement tip section last spring when I broke it on a trip. Had enough cell service to order a new one. When I found out that they were only $20, I ordered two. They arrived a couple of days later. I think for other sections you need to send the rod in, but it would be worth a call.

I've purchased "spare tips" in advance as I know it's only time until I make a crappy cast and my jig hits the tip of the rod .... Echo is great about sending them quickly.

 

[jasmillo]

Thanks for the replies everyone it really helps hearing from locals! Another 7wt seems the easiest since I will just need to swap over my reel. My girlfriend is who got me into fly fishing and she only has a 5wt so maybe I will buy a 6wt setup "for her" and use that until my 7 is fixed so we can both fish when we have time together. As far as future fishing plans, I plan on getting into SRC and continuing to search for coho and any leftover pinks. I plan to use my Redington Path 5wt for trout on rivers and will upgrade the line to something better until a full upgrade when I learn more.

I might be interested in this.

If you’re going to be doing this a lot and I imagine you will since you’ve had some early success, you need to pick up somewhere between 8-10 6 weights like the rest of us .

All kidding aside, I think your plan on picking up a 6 and using it until your seven is fixed is a good one assuming you have reel/line to go with it. Depending on what you have the reel/line you were using on the 7 will likely work unless you were significantly over lining. I love 7 weights for beach salmon but modern 6 weights designed for salt use will handle pretty much anything thrown at you off PS beaches, including ocean going coho. The important thing is you get something and get back out there ASAP. Salmon season will be over before you know it!

 

[SKYKO]

Fished a different beach this morning, couple of cutties and a bunch of little salmon 6-8" both clipped and unclipped, next years rezzies? Switched from the stinger clouser to some smaller patterns, lots of nips and plucks that didn't stick quick and fun session.

 

[Stonedfish]

Fished a different beach this morning, couple of cutties and a bunch of little salmon 6-8" both clipped and unclipped, next years rezzies? Switched from the stinger clouser to some smaller patterns, lots of nips and plucks that didn't stick quick and fun session.View attachment 81146View attachment 81147

I love when the cutts start taking on that golden hues.
The net pen coho are generally released in late May or June, so some of what you are seeing might be next years rezzies.
SF

 

[Merle]

I was at my local fly shop yesterday and the sslesman said a good back ip rod is the Echo Lift. A customer in the store said he has 3 of them and said they are fantastic for the price point of @$100 - $135

The Echo Lift (formerly the Echo Base) is an awesome rod for the $$$. I bought a 6wt Base combo and modified it by adding a removable fighting butt and I keep it in the back of my car for fishing emergencies. I even caught a pink with it last week when scouting a new beach.

 

[speedbird]

The Echo Lift (formerly the Echo Base) is an awesome rod for the $$$. I bought a 6wt Base combo and modified it by adding a removable fighting butt and I keep it in the back of my car for fishing emergencies. I even caught a pink with it last week when scouting a new beach.

Echo base is all I fish, the reel and fly line that came with the kit absolutely sucked, but put a nice fly line on something like a Lamson Liquid and I happily fish it all day long. I have an 8wt ion that casts a little nicer, but for what I paid for the base I am happy

 

[Markjb]

I noticed the mid top section on my Echo Boost rod this morning had broken on my first cast. I most likely broke it yesterday and didn't notice when I was leaving. I didn't disassemble my rod yesterday before leaving/rinsing with fresh water and left it in the back of my truck so I wouldn't have to rig it back up again. I'm definitely going to break down my rod after I'm done fishing to be safe. I'm probably going to buy another rod to have in case this happens again since I plan on fishing the Puget Sound a lot more. I almost was tempted to use my cheap Redington Path II 5wt I got from a friend but ended up just calling it because it was a very slow morning. I'll get a replacement piece from Echo whenever that's done but does anyone have a recommendation for a backup rod? Should I get another 7wt or 6wt? My budget is flexible.

same thing with me today....boost blue 6wt...3 weeks old...second time out on the water... top section snapped in half.....no abuse....just fish'n..... back to the old lamiglas to get me through... sucks...........

 

[Nick Clayton]

I agree, though the overpriced baskets are way nicer then anything I ever produced myself. Good used pre-made baskets are pretty easy to find without paying retail.
As far as stripping basket drainage holes go and fishing Puget Sound, that would be a for me.
SF

I heard rumor that SF once gave this advice to an eager and stubborn beach angler who chose to drill holes anyway.

Said beach angler now owns two stripping baskets, the original with holes and a second without, because holes suck.

 

[Nick Clayton]

I went thru the home made basket phase for the same reasons most of us have. 60 bucks was a lot of money for a chunk of thin plastic and strap. To this day I can't think of a better 60 bucks I've spent on fly fishing gear.

It's funny the little lines in the sand we all can draw. I don't bat an eyelash at buying hundred dollar fly lines. I own multiple thousand dollar fly rods. I once purchased a pair of Simms nippers. Yet I too was hung up on just buying a basket lol

 

[Nick Clayton]

I left a little panko beach crust on one of the eyes only today for good measure. More beginners luck today as I was able to hit the beach early this morning for close to two hours before work and went 2-4. I lost two really close to shore as I kept tension too strong and didn't allow the fish to run. All of the fish I hooked up on this morning weren't hooked as far as all the gear anglers were casting to and I seemed to be one of the few anglers who was hooking up on fish despite the fish jumping around a lot further out. I didn't wade in quite as much today in comparison to other days and noticed my casting was a lot better as I had more left hand movement. The left hand, or your non rod holding hand, seems to be way more important and when I focus on my left hand and managing the line my casts are a lot better. I bought a stripping basket when I got my rod but I still haven't used it because it felt incredibly annoying. I'm starting to think I need to use it though unfortunately. I'm also learning how to properly gut/filet the fish as I've never done that and I have work to do.

Great job getting out there and making it happen!

Our Puget Sound fishery is one that rewards effort and persistence. You clearly have both of those things covered!

I love reading about newer folks getting out there, putting in the research and the effort and being rewarded. It's such a cool journey.

 

[SKYKO]

Interesting morning for me, spent 2 hours mid morning most of it under the marine layer. Until it burned off lots of action and life, surfacing fish, grabs, hookups and tons of baitfish all around me. Landed a couple small Cutts, lost a good Cutt in close and busted off something bigger after sizing down leader thinking I'd get better swimming action on small fly. As soon as the sun burned through everything shut down like a switch, even the baitfish split. I don't think I'll size down leader again when adult salmon may be around and just use a loop knot to fly.