Hi,


I would like to purchase a light spey rod for trout fishing mainly. Which one do you recommand among the following ones below?

Z-axis 12'6 line 5 - 12'6 line 6 or 13'6 line 7?


Thanks

Christophe

Chris,
A little info on your skill level and environment in this regard would be helpful. The Z-axis isn't what I would consider a beginner friendly taper, nor is it considered a well rounded taper by many.

Hi again,

As far as my skill level is concerned, I am not a fly-fishing beginner with a one handed rod since I have fished this way for about 20 years with many different rods.

With a two handed rod, I have a Thomas and Thomas 14' line 9, and I am not particularly proficient in spey casting...

My fishing environment is varied, raging from small rivers to very large and powerful ones (Gave d'Oloron in the South West of France).

Would you recommand the new Z-axis for light spey fishing?

Many thanks

Chris

Chris,

The two handed Z's are nice rods, especially the lighter 5 and 6 wts, but the faster ish action of that taper wouldn't be my first pick during early/mid two handed skill development - it's likely quite a bit faster than your present T&T and maybe somewhat frustrating. I know several intermediate caster who really like the VT2 2 handers, but I think a 7 wt is as light as they get. Here's a great forum dedicated to spey http://speypages.com/

I haven´t cast the Sage Z-axis two-handed rods; just missed the chance at the Stockholm fly fishing show visited last Friday. But the range of light two-handed rods seems to have expanded to a large extent in later years, a fact you may be quite aware of. Generally when it comes to true Spey casting (with a spey line) a longer rod is considered easier to use but of the ones you mentioned the step up to 13´6" #7 may or may not be too much of a rod for smaller fish.

As you already own a longer rod this could be a good tool to practice spey casting with and using a shorter rod like a 12.5´#5 or #6 could be a complement to be used with the Scandinavian shooting head system and what we here call "underhand casts". With this style of casting a shorter rod isn´t a disadvantage.
This way of casting is in my opinion a very efficient one but some may consider it to be a bit stereotypical but this opinion doesn´t bother me when fishing for salmon.
Taking lessons can save you a lot of extra effort and time. Doing it in "the right way" is almost magically different (in a positive sense) from how many think casting with these sticks should be executed.

Bob Meiser´s rods are often referred to in positive words. Thus I include this link.
http://www.meiserflyrods.com/highlander.html

My friend tried this novel approach at the show (available both as single- or double-handed rods) He was enthusiastic about the single handed rod he tested, unfortunately I forgot to test cast it but I tried a short double handed version and think that the idea may be a good one but you have to get used to it .

http://www.zpey.no/produkt.asp?p=19233&...c2=604&c3=0

I found this on Youtube. Warning:this is a sheer promotion film and I can´t endorse what is said in it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tyIMOd7U6c

BTW the Swedish Loop Company has started to cooperate with the Norwegians when it comes to the new handle.
My 2 cents are, it may be good to some casters but not necessarily to all of us.

I'm just getting my feet wet with spey this year, doing a weekend workshop with Jim Rusher in a few weeks. I have heard the same about the Z taper in two handers, it kicks ass in skilled hands, but not a great rod for earlier development. It's bound to be a little different for everyone, but the same applies to 1 handers as well... an S3 or an XP aren't great early skill development rods. I wish Sage would make a lighter flavor in the VT2 as I'm also looking to go 5-6 wt., but the workshop my change my mind and the 7wt might fit the bill.

TL's~

There is some discussion on this page for instance about a two-handed rods for medium sized trout.

http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zeroforum?id=71

After some consideration I advice you not to buy an expensive rod right now. If you buy the Z-Axis and find that you have difficulties getting the full potential out of it chances are you end up selling it. A decent rod can be acquired for half of what the Z-Axis costs. Mid prized rods have had a tremendous development in my opinion.
As your skill level increases you can move up to a faster rod if you want. Thus I am with GRN in his advice.

You may notice this rod, probably still used with a slightly too heavy line but performing well. If you decide to use shooting heads I advice you to get some help from more experienced casters. Casting a rod with a much too heavy or too light line is difficult to anyone!
http://www.flyfishusa.com/rods/tfo/tfo-deer-creek.htm#Report