Fly Rods You Don't Have... Yet
Clutch React 250+
This is a streamer rod. A specialty streamer rod. A specialty one piece streamer rod. It’s made for streamer fishing.
The React 250+ feels light when you move it. The taper is fast and it features an ultra-quick recovery. These attributes correlate to both efficiency and accuracy when pumping out casts. Just what you would expect from a compact 8’ 1" one piece rod.
Check out the Clutch Rod online here.
One issue when working big streamers with conventional 9’ rods is tip flex. Tip flex defeats fly action. To really activate and have control of streamer flies, especially large ones, you’ll need a rod that does not fold up against the jerk strip. It needs to be fast and powerful. That is exactly what you’ll find with the Clutch React 250+. When you move your rod tip, you will move your streamer. Jerk it, and you can move it a lot.
The connection you feel when working your fly transitions to another level of connection when a fish eats. It’s powerful, solid and unyielding. In other words, you will know it when it happens. It feels like a baseball bat against a tree. We’ll not exactly, but you get the idea. The feeling of an aggressive eat is electrifying when transmitted down a compact one piece carbon stick.
Fighting fish with the React 250+ feels quite different than with a longer more flexible rod. On a tight line, you will feel every motion the fish makes and it feels great. If you go soft or the fish charges, there is little flex to take up the slack. You will lose touch until you get locked tight again. Once locked, it’s game on. If you want or need to lift a fish from cover, this rod will get it done.
The React 250+ is not ideal for steeple casts or carrying line above bushes. If you are wading, you will need to give yourself some space. Wading an open flat with back casting room works well. Working up a steep structured shoreline is not recommended.
This stick is ideal for pounding the banks and shooting line to targeted structures from a boat. Lift, load, shoot, strip, lift, load, shoot, strip. The 26’ head of an Airflo Streamer Max 280 grain flies like a bullet. If you want a floater, lines like the SA Titan Taper or Rio Pike Musky line work great.
When compared to a typical 9’ 8wt rod, the React is a compressed powerhouse. It’s ideal for active casters who want to cover water efficiently and effectively. While it is not a rod for everyone, it definitely has a niche if you want the perfect tool for the job. I look at fly rods like golf clubs. I like multiple options for different shots. The React 250+ is really fun to fish and it makes for a great shot when you’re firing streamers.
Echo TR2 Trout Spey
The Echo TR series has been updated for 2017. It includes a couple new two handers that trout fishers are going to love. Both the 11’ 3 wt and the 11’3" 4wt are great options for trout. Tim Rajeff says that the TR2 offers plenty of power in the bottom half to generate increased line speed and facilitate a compact stroke.
We've got this rod up and online for order (and free shipping) right here.
I recently got a chance to play with the TR2-4113. I set it up with an Airflo 270 grain Scandi Compact, a 10’ Airflo Poly Leader and about 3’ of OX FC tippet. To that, I tied a Montana Intruder. On my first cast, while I was getting a feel for the rod, I was interrupted by a solid Brown trout. The rod handled the fish perfectly. Plenty of bend, but also enough power to land the fish properly. After a few casts, to get the feel of the rod and a few more fish to enjoy its fish fighting ability, I can say without a doubt that the TR2 Trout Spey is spot on for two handing trout. It has plenty of give, when a twelve inch rainbow grabs, and it has plenty of rod, when a twenty inch brown is out bucking in the current.
The TR2 Trout Spey is a great option for someone who wants a high performing economical Trout Spey Rod. The most notable difference, between the TR2 and a rod costing more than twice as much, is a little bit of weight. After you launch a big cast and hook a strong fish, you probably won’t care.
Echo Trip
The Echo Trip is the perfect rod to sneak into the back of a car, without your wife ever knowing it’s there. If a chance to fish presents itself, the tiny eight piece package morphs into a complete 9’ fly rod as if by magic. "Oh, look what I found!" If not, you can at least avoid the whole, "This is not a fishing trip, this is a family outing" argument. (Or, whatever unsound, I mean, significant reasoning there is for not having a rod ready at all times.)
You can order your Trip Rod here, and have it shipped directly to your door.
The Echo Trip is also great for backpacking, mountain biking, or hiding in a briefcase in the event you get "sick" on a business trip. The Echo Trip is available in line sizes 5, 6 and 8.