| There are two trends with spey casting rods at the moment: the "spey" or true action and the overhead or European action. The first style derives from the spey rods of old, that were made from Greenheart, bamboo, and split cane. They were heavy, and very soft, but the weight of the rods helped to throw out good lengths of line. Rods built with this action these days tend to have a full flex action, bending from way down in the lowest sections. These rods are slow to cast and, generally, are not high performance rods. They are suitable for some beginners, casters that use little power or those who like to fish short lines. The other style of rod is much faster, and flexes more towards the tip. These rods are slightly more difficult to master, but the end results can be excellent. The fast action helps to throw tight forward loops, are more responsive to your hand movements and do not overload with longer lengths of line. However, be careful! Reading this might sound as though we urge one and all to rush out and purchase the fastest action Spey rod you can find. Your casting style has a lot to do with the action of rod you choose and it is easily possible to choose a rod that is too fast for you. To help you match the spey rod you have to the right RIO spey line, we have compiled a list of some of the spey rods from some of the manufacturers and the WindCutter, MidSpey and Accelerator lines that we would recommend for each rod. Do please remember that these are only our recommendations, based on the casting style we use - for some casters there may well be a better rod. We cannot list them all, but here is a selection... Each rod has been rated for two different line designations. The A rating is for casters who like to feel a faster action rod, and those that are good spey casters. The B rating is for beginner and moderate casters and those that like to feel the rod with more flex. |
| Rod Model | Skagit Weight | Skagit Cheater | WindCutter A | WindCutter B | MidSpey A | MidSpey B | GrandSpey A | GrandSpey B | Scand. A | Scand. B |
| 11,6" Plus - 5/6/7 | 350 | None | 5/6 | 6/7/8 | - | 6/7 | - | - | - | - |
| 12,6" Plus - 6/7 | 350 | None | 6/7/8 | 6/7/8 | 6/7 | 6/7 | - | - | - | - |
| 12,6" Plus - 7/8 | 350 | None | 6/7/8 | 7/8/9 | 6/7 | 7/8 | - | 7/8 | - | 7/8 |
| 13,6" Plus - 7/8 | 450 | 5ft | 6/7/8 | 7/8/9 | 6/7 | 7/8 | - | 7/8 | - | 7/8 |
| 13" Plus - 8/9 | 550 | 5ft | 7/8/9 | 8/9/10 | 7/8 | 8/9 | 7/8 | 8/9 | 7/8 | 8/9 |
| 13" Plus - 10/11 | 750 | 5ft | 9/10/11 | 10/11/12 | 9/10 | 10/11 | 9/10 | 10/11 | 9/10 | 10/11 |
| 13,6" Plus - 7/8 | 450 | 5ft | 6/7/8 | 7/8/9 | 6/7 | 7/8 | 6/7 | 7/8 | 6/7 | 7/8 |
| 13,6" Plus - 8/9 | 550 | 5ft | 7/8/9 | 8/9/10 | 7/8 | 8/9 | 7/8 | 8/9 | 7/8 | 8/9 |
| 13" Skagit- 6/7 | 350 | 5ft | 6/7/8 | 7/8/9 | 6/7 | 7/8 | 6/7 | 7/8 | 6/7 | 7/8 |
| 13,6" Skagit - 8/9 | 450 | 5ft | 7/8/9 | 8/9/10 | 7/8 | 8/9 | 7/8 | 8/9 | 7/8 | 8/9 |
| 14 " Skagit - 9/10 | 550 | 5ft | 8/9/10 | 9/10/11 | 8/9 | 9/10 | 8/9 | 9/10 | 8/9 | 9/10 |
| 14" Plus - 7/8 - 5 | 450 | 5ft | 7/8/9 | 8/9/10 | 7/8 | 8/9 | 7/8 | 8/9 | 7/8 | 8/9 |
| 14" Plus - 8/9 - 5 | 550 | 5ft | 8/9/10 | 9/10/11 | 8/9 | 9/10 | 8/9 | 9/10 | 8/9 | 9/10 |
| 15" Plus - 7/8 - 5 | 450 | 10ft | 7/8/9 | 8/9/10 | 7/8 | 8/9 | 7/8 | 8/9 | 7/8 | 8/9 |
| 15" Plus - 8/9 - 5 | 550 | 10ft | 8/9/10 | 9/10/11 | 8/9 | 9/10 | 8/9 | 9/10 | 8/9 | 9/10 |
| 16" Plus - 7/8 - 6 | 450 | 10ft | 7/8/9 | 8/9/10 | 7/8 | 8/9 | 7/8 | 8/9 | 7/8 | 8/9 |
| 16" Plus - 10/11 - 6 | 750 | 10ft | 9/10/11 | 10/11/12 | 9/10 | 10/11 | 9/10 | 10/11 | 9/10 | 10/11 |