Choosing the right line for your spey rod is important. Even more so than with single hand rods, the wrong line on a two handed rod can greatly hinder casting ability and become extremely frustrating in the process.
However, determining which line will best match your spey rod of choice can be confusing. Skagit? Scandi? Grains?
Luckily, most spey line manufacturers publish line charts recommending particular lines (and appropriate grain weights) for popular spey rod models. That’s not to say the recommendations are spot on for everybody. Depending on your particular casting stroke, some may find the recommendations to be right on the money, while others may prefer 30 grains more (or less) than recommended. Either way, line recommendation charts are a great place to start when matching up a new rod.
In 2012, we ran a post with links to spey line recommendation charts for popular lines and rod models of the time. In fact, if you’re looking to line up a rod that has been discontinued, be sure to check it out here! However, that was over three years ago and a few more rods have hit the market since (insert sarcastic tone).
Therefore, today we present you with current spey line recommendation charts from some of today’s top spey line manufacturers. We use them all the time when lining up new rods and think you should too.
Spey Line Recommendations – Updated Resources
- RIO Spey Line Recommendations.
- RIO Fly Line Selector.
- Echo/Airflo Spey Line Recommendations.
- OPST Spey Line Recommendations.
I am after line weight recommendations for an orvis Clearwater 12′ #5 Spey rod . I am looking at either an OPST commando or the new Airflo skagit scout .
Yours sincerely,
John Polding
What Skagit line would you recommend for a beginner? I have a 12’6” L.L.Bean Streamlite 7/8 rod. The O.P.S.T. System interests me but mono running line is suppose to be hard to mend. What line set up do you use at Alaska West? It seem to me that having running line, Skagit head and tips from the same manufacturer would be best. Any help is appreciated.