Choosing the Right Spey Rod for Steelhead

Spey rods for steelhead vary in size almost as much as the fish themselves. With so many rod weights and lengths available, selecting the right setup for a specific fishery can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, there are great options tailored to every steelhead scenario—from summer-run rivers to deep winter flows.

If you're looking for a basic overview to help match your rod to your fishing goals, this guide covers the essentials.

Quick Breakdown of Spey Rod Weights:

5wt (12'–13') – Light and fun! Best for summer steelhead in the 2–5 lb range. Great with Scandi heads and light flies.

6wt (12'–13'6") – Versatile for floating lines and mid-sized summer fish. Can handle mild sink tips and medium flies.

7wt (12'–13'6") – The most balanced, all-around rod for both summer and winter steelhead. Ideal for larger flies and windier conditions.

8wt (12'–13'6") – Your go-to for winter steelhead and bigger rivers. Handles heavy tips and flies with ease.

9wt (12'–14') – For the trophy hunter. Perfect for massive fish, oversized tips, and deep-water tactics.
 

Looking to dial in your setup? Click below to get the full buyer’s guide, including detailed weight-by-weight breakdowns and recommendations for Skagit and Scandi line pairings.

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New for 2024 - RIO Elite Pickpocket

Finally!  A multi-density short head Skagit! The Pickpocket has all the fishing advantages of longer multi-density heads, but is much easier to cast when your back is against the brush. Snag one before your next trip to the coast!

Read More/Shop Here

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Airflo FLO Tips

The spey angler has alot of sink tip choices. Once you migrate beyond the basic T-series of sinking material you now start to venture into the "transitional tips."

These type of tips start out as one density and transition into another density. They can be extremely useful for particular fishing situations as well as improving cast presentations by creating smoother transitions between head and sink tip.

Airflo FLO tips are designed to give you this smooth transition and helps you to keep your fly in the zone longer. It's a win win!

FLO Tips come in 10 foot and 12 foot configurations. One quarter of the tip on the head side is intermediate material that transitions into the remaining three quarter which is sink tip. The sink tip part comes in four different densities including T-7, T-10, T-14 and T-18. Ten Foot FLO tips are 2.5' intermediate and 7.5' sink tip. Twelve foot FLO tips are 2.5' intermediate and 9.5' sink tip.

Each tip also features color coded head loops for quick identification as well as looped on the business end for easy tippet application.

FLO Tips also come in a Kit including a tip wallet. The ultimate FLO Tip Kit for steelhead setup could be a Kit plus add a 12 foot FLO in T-10 and T-14 and you'd have every tip you could need for any steelhead situation.

Shop Airflo FLO Tips and Spey Lines

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RIO InTouch 3D MOW Tips - New for 2020

Available NOW!!!

Fishing anything but surface is all about getting your fly into the ZONE! It's one thing to swing a sinking fly but it takes the right mental connection to put your fly in the path of your quarry. RIO may have just taken some of the guess work out if it.

RIO InTouch 3D MOW Tips
Using a Multi-Density design the 3D MOW tips now feature three densities within a 10 foot sink tip. These New 3D MOW's come in Light, Medium and Heavy configurations with three different sink rates available in each configuration.

The Light MOW 3D Tips work well with heads under 475gr

SKU	MOW	Total Grain	Density Length	Color	Total Length	Sink Rate
6-19147	Light	80gr	3ft/3ft/4ft	Dk Green/Blue/Trans Green	10ft 3m	I/S3/S4
6-19148	Light	80gr	3ft/3ft/4ft	Black/Green/Blue	10ft 3m	S3/S4/S5
6-19149	Light	80gr	3ft/3ft/4ft	Black/Black/Black	10ft 3m	S5/S6/S7

The Medium MOW 3D Tips work well with heads in the 475gr to 575gr range

SKU	MOW	Total Grain	Density Length	Color	Total Length	Sink Rate
6-19150	Medium	110gr	3ft/3ft/4ft	Dk Green/Blue/Trans Green	10ft 3m	I/S3/S4
6-19151	Medium	110gr	3ft/3ft/4ft	Black/Green/Blue	10ft 3m	S3/S4/S5
6-19152	Medium	110gr	3ft/3ft/4ft	Black/Black/Black	10ft 3m	S5/S6/S7

The Heavy MOW 3D Tips work well with heads 575gr  and up

SKU	MOW	Total Grain	Density Length	Color	Total Length	Sink Rate
6-19153	Heavy	140gr	3ft/3ft/4ft	Dk Green/Blue/Trans Green	10ft 3m	I/S3/S4
6-19154	Heavy	140gr	3ft/3ft/4ft	Black/Green/Blue	10ft 3m	S3/S4/S5
6-19155	Heavy	140gr	3ft/3ft/4ft	Black/Black/Black	10ft 3m	S5/S6/S7

InTouch 3D MOW Tips also feature EasyID and Color Sleeved Loop Connections for easy identification

Features

• POWERFUL MULTI-DENSITY TIPS designed to cast large flies
• Multi-Density Control for maximum casting & fishing performance
• Ultra-low stretch ConnectCore 
• Front Loop
• Rear Loop
• EasyID

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RIO Trout Spey Lines Information Video

RIO got really serious this year with two completely new trout spey lines. Both of these offerings are available in full length integrated and "head only" versions.

In this short video Simon Gawesworth explains the differences in each line type and identifies which leaders and tips work best with each.

RIO's InTouch Trout Spey Lines & Heads from RIO Products on Vimeo.

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Scientific Angler Deliverance Spey Kit Review

Earlier this fall I got a chance to play with a new spey line. I found it interesting enough to write a review. Is it a skagit or a scandi? Well it's kind of all that wrapped into one. For an angler seeking a versatile steelhead spey setup with minimal of complication, this might just prove to be your answer.

Scientific Anglers Deliverance Spey Kit comes with a head and 4 different tips packaged in a tips wallet. The tips range for floating to full sinking.

Now I know what you thinking, this is just a multi-tip skagit system which is nothing new. Well, that is true but there's more to Deliverance than that. Let's take a deeper look.

Looking at these profiles above you will notice that heavier the tip the shorter the system becomes. A couple reason for this. Sink tips anchor well to the water, therefore they don't need to be as long. Also presentation is not exactly a concern with a sink tip. Just get it out straight and set up for the swing. On the other hand floating tips or dry line fishing requires us to have a better presentation and we need more material on the water to create an effective anchor.

Essentially what S/A did to accomplished this is they brought the loop back deeper into the head which allowed for room in the tip section to create a taper that would match the type of tip being used. By varying the lengths and tapers of the tip sections S/A created a line that truly plays multiple roles. Basically the same head can go from scandi smooth to aggressive skagit in just the change of the tip section.

Specs -

Head Weight	Head Length	Color
400gr	30.0'	Black/Green
440gr	31.0'	Black/Green
480gr	32.0'	Black/Green
520gr	33.0'	Black/Green
560gr	33.5'	Black/Green

For a skagit the head looks long but keep in mind this includes tip.

After many cast with different tips what I started to notice is I felt even less hinging then typical head/tip systems. Also, even tho the lengths changed with tip my casting stroke never had to adjust to it. Another thing I noticed is you lose this obvious head to tip joint. With the loops placed further back in the system the front feels much more seamless and fluid.

I'm always looking for ways to remove complications from my cluster of gear. I find the more time I spend honing in on a technique or single gear choice the better my results. Just walking down the trail with just enough for a day of swinging flies is refreshing.

Scientific Anglers Deliverance Spey from Scientific Anglers on Vimeo.

You know, I started fly fishing because I wanted a less complicated, rewarding sport to enjoy. I look around and I'm starting to see in myself as well as others with overloads of complications. I think Scientific Angler Deliverance Spey can help reduce this load. Just equip your reel with your favorite Shooting Line and loop on Deliverance. Put your small tip wallet in your wader pocket along with a box of flies, spool of tippet and hit the trail with full confidence you have an effective working system. Now that's Deliverance.

Greg Darling 

Gorge Fly Shop
Read more Greg's Post...

"My Passion For Fishing Is A Lifelong Pursuit Of Discovery"

Do you let the loop hang?

To hold a loop, or not to hold a loop: That is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them?

I bet if Shakespeare were a steelheader, he'd probably swing flies for them...

I've been asked this a few times before and my answer is never exactly clear-cut, but I do have a couple ground rules. For example, when I fish sink tips I never hold a loop, and when I dryline fish I do so about half the time. Why? Well for starters if I'm fishing a tip for winter-runs, I'm already swinging my fly down in the water column and the fish tend to move laterally rather than vertically in the water column. Therefore, when I fish a dryline the fish always have to move up in the water column to take the fly that's at or near the surface. A line from Dec Hogan that always stuck with me was, "what goes up, must come down."

So why don't I carry a loop every time if fishing a floating line? Well, it's purely situational for me. Say I'm fishing river right and trying to reach a specific distant spot- Instead of casting switch (with my non-dominating hand on top) I'll do whatever cast puts my fly where it needs to be, but as my line is shooting out the guides I'll pass the rod off to my left hand and only hang onto the bottom grip. The reason I do this is because I can control the fly much better with a little extra reach. I'm also able to slow my fly down or keep more line off the water if there is a funky surface current. When I fish this way my rod tip is almost always up high and if a fish takes the fly I simply bow the rod to the fish in respect for the steelhead taking my offering. Though it's really more because I want to give my fly to the fish and not pull it away. Similarly, if I'm twitching/skating/chugging dry flies for steelhead my rod tip is always high as I work a fly across a run. I'd much rather drop my rod tip to the fish, and if I'm fishing with my tip up I'll be less inclined to "trout set" by pulling my fly away from a fish out of excitement. Remember that, "what goes up must come down."

So when else do I fish a dryline without a loop? Sometimes in slow, froggy water or when there is a good chance for the fish to take the fly on the hang down. When these situations present themselves I believe I've got better feel with my two fingers holding the line, rather than pinching the line down on the cork by holding a loop. Sometimes I'll even pulse my finger on the running line to give the fly a little more movement in that soft/hang down water to entice the take, similarly if I'm fishing sink tips.

Is holding a loop an exact science? Not really, but it seams to be working for me and if it's not broke I ain't gonna fix it! So what do you do? Hold a loop? Sometimes? Never? Always? Situational? I think its good to be diverse in your tactics for how you approach steelhead. Either way, it's always a learning experience!

Cody Booth
Gorge Fly Shop | Product Specialist
541.386.6977  

Scientific Anglers Spey Lite Series breakdown

Two years ago Scientific Anglers introduced the Spey Lite Series of single hand / two hand lines designed specifically for the needs of the trout spey or any lite action spey angler.

These new lines answered a long sought after solution to anglers wanting to fish single hand skagit and/or needing the smooth connection of an integrated line for smooth casting and stripping especially suited to smaller rod and smaller water situations.

New additions have been added this year to further fulfill the needs of the trout spey / micro spey angler.

Here's the run down...

Spey Lite Skagit Integrated

I call this the star of the show because it's what many anglers, like myself, had been asking for for quite some time. While head/running line systems have a solid place in spey, soon after trout spey really started to take off, many anglers experienced frustration with the hitch of the loop system. Especially noticeable in smaller waters and stripping streamer situations. A cry for an integrated line was heard by Scientific Anglers.
Key features of this integrated skagit include short powerful skagit head, black head marker point that is also textured to create an audible reference, and a slick, well matched, thin diameter shooting line. For 2019 S/A added a 390gr and 420gr version to expand the Spey Lite options.

New for 2019 - Spey Lite Skagit Integrated Intermediate

All the same great features as the floating version but with a fully intermediate sinking head. Now you can break below surface chop and cut through strong currents to have better control of your swing.

Spey Lite Skagit (Head Only) Floating and Intermediate Versions

Left-Floating - Right-Intermediate

Spey Lite Skagits, both Floating and Intermediate are also available in head only versions. Same great, powerful short heads as the integrated line but head only, allowing for the angler to choose their choice of running/shooting lines. Note that since these are head only with loop to loop connections they do not include the textured audible reference point.

Spey Lite Scandi Integrated
While the Skagit may be the star, the Scandi certainly plays the role of best supporting. It's especially effective for anglers who want to play the finesse side of trout spey with flies like soft hackles, wets, lightly weighted leaches and even skating flies.

Spey Lite Scandi is single hand rod friendly but I really like the responsiveness I get on my longer trout spey rods. With just a long leader, a double soft hackle rig can be so effective and effortless to cast. Tight loops and easy turnover will highlight the finesse side of trout spey.

Like the Integrated Skagit, Scandi Integrated also features the visual black, audible textured head to shooting line transition for easy casting point identification.
Sizes 390gr and 420gr have been added for 2019.

Spey Lite Scandi Heads - New for 2019

Two years ago when introduced, the scandi was only offered in an integrated version. Demand for a head only version was quickly realized. New for 2019, Scientific Anglers met that demand. Pair this scandi head with a slick shooting line and watch it fly. Achieving tight loop, distance cast with trout spey size rods is absolutely achievable with these scandi heads and with grain weights reaching into the 6 weight spey class summer steelheaders have new game.

Whether you like scandi or skagit, integrated or head system, Scientific Anglers has your lite line spey solution.

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Scientific Anglers Spey Lite Skagit Head Intermediate

Scientific Anglers Spey Lite Series of lines has helped to improve all aspects of trout spey, switch and single hand spey forms whether is be in the form of skagit heads, scandi heads, with or without integrated running / shooting lines.

New for 2019, Spey Lite Skagit Head Intermediate. Available in a head only or integrated version, Spey Lite Skagit Intermediate allows the angler the ability to swing his fly under the surface without surface disturbance interference.

Specs -

Head Weight	Head Length	Color	Sink Rate
150gr	11ft	Orange Heron	1.25 ips
180gr	11ft	Orange Heron	1.25 ips
210gr	12ft	Orange Heron	1.25 ips
240gr	13ft	Orange Heron	1.25 ips
270gr	14ft	Orange Heron	1.25 ips
300gr	15.5ft	Orange Heron	1.25 ips
330gr	17ft	Orange Heron	1.25 ips
360gr	18ft	Orange Heron	1.25 ips
390gr	19.5ft	Orange Heron	1.25 ips
420gr	21ft	Orange Heron	1.25 ips

By maintaining the skagit head just under the surface things like wind and uneven current will have little to no effect on the fly enabling a near perfect swing.
This intermediate type of head also creates a better transition from head to sink tip for increase is sink depth achieved as well as less hinge effect during casts.

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OPST Commando Smooth Lines and Micro Tips

Get Smooth!

New for 2019

Olympic Peninsula Skagit Tactics takes Commando heads to the next level. For many of us trout spey, single hand rod enthusiast, we struggled with the loop to loop head to running line connection. It interferes with our ability to cast short, strip short and haul line on our single handed spey cast.

Not anymore! For 2019 OPST gives us Commando Smooth

Commando Smooth Starts with the famous Commando Head and seamlessly integrates it with thin (0.025") Running / Shooting line.

The result is a Skagit System that gives anglers the freedom to strip, cast short, double haul without the bump of a loop to loop connection between head and running line.

Most applications for Commando Smooth will be Single Hand Skagit tactics, light Switch Rods and Micro Spey, Trout Spey rods.

Specs -

SKU	Head Weight	Head Length	Full Length	Sink Rate
CS-150	150gr	12ft	99.3ft	Float
CS-175	175gr	12ft	99.3ft	Float
CS-200	200gr	13.5ft	99.3ft	Float
CS-225	225gr	13.5ft	99.3ft	Float
CS-250	250gr	13.5ft	99.3ft	Float
CS-275	275gr	13.5ft	99.3ft	Float
CS-300	300gr	15ft	99.3ft	Float

Don't forget the Micro Tips

Riffle, Run, Bucket

Finding the right sink tips for these small rod applications has never been easier. OPST gives us Micro Tips in 5 foot, 7.5 foot, and 10 foot configurations. Now we have the ability to fine tune a particular rod to a particular fishing situation. No more cutting and crafting specialized tips.

Generally the 5 foot Micro Tips work great on the smallest single hand rods from 7'6" 3 weights to 8'6" 5 weights. The 7.5 foot Micro Tips are ideal for 8'6" 5 weights to 10' 7 weights. The 10 foot Micro Tips really tune you micro trout spey game in perfectly and are the go to steelhead switch rod tips.

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OPST Commando Smooth Integrated Skagits

Since the introduction of the Olympic Peninsula Skagit Tactics Commando Heads, the world of skagit spey casting has forever changed. I've seen a lot of change in the fly fishing industry but I can't recall anything that has been more tactic changing than this. Not only did Commando Heads change Two Hand Skagit Casting but equally has influenced a whole new generation of single hand skagit tactics.

Along with this dramatic influence of Single hand Skagit Tactics came a desire to be free of the "loop". That pesky loop between head and shooting line. It's not a big deal when you fish two hand rods on big water because you spend all your time with head outside your rod tip. But when we took  skagit down to small stream adventures and standard size trout rods we found that darn loop to just get in the way of such things like stripping streamers, hauling line and following fish.

No Loops? No Problem!
New for 2019 and available now...OPST Commando Smooth

OPST took the original Commando Head design and integrated it with highly visible, orange, thin,  shooting line of 0.025". Welcome in the "Smooth". Just add Sink Tips and your ready to trout spey.

Specs for Commando Smooth

SKU	Head Weight	Head Length	Full Length	Sink Rate
CS-150	150gr	12ft	99.3ft	Float
CS-175	175gr	12ft	99.3ft	Float
CS-200	200gr	13.5ft	99.3ft	Float
CS-225	225gr	13.5ft	99.3ft	Float
CS-250	250gr	13.5ft	99.3ft	Float
CS-275	275gr	13.5ft	99.3ft	Float
CS-300	300gr	15ft	99.3ft	Float

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Airflo Super-DRI Switch Streamer

One of the best light switch and trout micro spey lines you can find. The demand for the Super-DRI Switch Streamer was to have a easy casting taper for general applications mostly in the trout spey market that seemlessly integrates into a running line. No loops to interfere means total casting and stripping freedom. 

The Super-DRI Switch Streamer works great with Polyleaders and Tungsten Sink Tips. It comes with a 10' Super Fast Sinking polyleader. 

Also available is the Airflo Switch Float. Switch Float is a short, skagit design head - integrated running line version made to fish floating without tips. Just add leader.

New to the two hand game, and aren’t quite sure what to line that new switch rod with? We made it easy. An evolutionary step from our popular Skagit Switch design, the Super-DRI Streamer Switch features an aggressive front taper with a shorter, heavier head designed to make tip tossing a dream.

Specifically designed to easily load modern switch and short spey rods, the Streamer Switch will help anglers of any level of skill or experience cast more efficiently and effectively.

Features - 

• Taper: Short Heavy Head for Heavy Flies and Heavy Tips
• Core: Power Core
• Range: WF4 – WF6
• Coating: Super-DRI Supple (w/stiffer running line)
• Polyleader: Trout (includes 10′ Super Fast Sink PolyLeader)

Line Size	Color	Head Weight	Head Length	Sink Rate	Total Length
WF4 - 300gr	Mint Green/Orange	300	18ft	Float	85ft
WF4.5 - 330gr	Mint Green/Orange	330	18.5ft	Float	85ft
WF5 - 360gr	Mint Green/Orange	360	18.5ft	Float	85ft
WF5.5 - 390gr	Mint Green/Orange	390	20ft	Float	85ft
WF6 - 420gr	Mint Green/Orange	420	20ft	Float	85ft

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