Hey! I just got my mitts on an Echo, 9' 5 wt. Competition rod for trial.
It is a rocket with nice hardware, decent workmanship, three stripping guides and, surprise, surprise... a down locking reel seat.
I just tossed it a couple times yesterday and wonder if anyone else has any experience or thoughts on it.

Thanks,
Jack

Hi Jackster,

Check out this thread at www.sexyloops.com:

http://www.sexyloops.co.uk/cgi-bin/theboar...;t=1953;hl=echo

The topic title is "Rods fod XXD", in the Flycasting message board.

I think it says a lot about Echo rods, since some of the best 5 wt. distance casters in the world were impressed with it. Follow the whole thread, it's interesting.

Regards,
Andrei

Hi Jack,

How would you compare it to the TCR? Have you tried the Echo with a 6 wt. like a Rio Grande or similar?

Regards
kIWI

Compared to the TCR it's a heckava lot less expensive!

I spent some time with a Loomis Max and the TCR a while back. I guess I'm not a 'technical caster'! When the TCR worked for me it worked well. That was the problem, I wasn't consistant using it. I flubbed far more casts with it than any other rod I've cast. The Max, on the other hand, did what I asked of it.
I never compared the rods all at the same time. The Echo behaves much the same way as the TCR did for me and reminds me of it. Powerful! Since the intent for rods like the TCR and Echo Comp for me are in gaining max distance (very limited usage) I will lilkely go with the Echo just to see if I can learn to make that type of rod work. Once (or IF) I learn it the next step would be testing other high power rods again to help me define the differences betwwen them.
It's too early to tell and I ain't built right to yet give a fair evaluation... but at $150.00 bucks compaired to the alternatives I think there's an Echo Comp in my future.

I did, in fact try the Rio 6 weight Grand on it. That combo ROCKS! Realizing this is probably attributable to my skill level, that line woke the rod up and gave very good feedback. It sorta feels like cheating though!
The other lines I tried are the S.A. 5 weight GPX and XXD. They felt slow and light. They probably were slow though because both lines see a lot of use but rarely on water. The Grand is relatively new.