The Best Two-Handed Fly Rods Compared: Beulah, Echo, G. Loomis, Sage & Winston

At our annual North 40 Fly Shop Summit, held in Twisp, WA,  we got a chance to try out some different 2-handed rods.

Beulah Onyx Spey Rod Review

Beulah-Onyx-6131FRED: I’ve recently had a chance to cast two of the Beulah Onyx Spey rods.  I could spout a bunch of technical jargon, but in short, they rock.  At 13’ 1", the Onyx 6wt was the longest rod in the group.  It’s so light in the hand, you don’t feel the added length.  For me, the 6131 fires line like no other 6 weight I have cast.  They are also very handsome with a maple burl reel seat and custom looking grip.  I’m expecting delivery of my own Onyx 6136 very soon.

KEITH: I wasn’t able to put  a lot of time in with this rod but found it to perform well above some of the others. It can throw the line with little effort. It can handle both Skagit and Scandi equally with a smooth cast. The Onyx would be a great rod for any angle looking to up their game in a 6wt for Summer run steelhead or trout.

CALVIN: The Onyx rated #1 for me out of our selection of spey rods and is in the top 3 of any spey rod I have ever casted.  This rod has a regressive action yet is still light and crisp in your hands.  The rod throws lots of line effortlessly and with its smooth feel and sharp aesthetics, it quickly became my favorite rod of the bunch.  This rod can handle Scandi, Skagit, and longer belly lines with ease.  This is a must have for any fishermen looking to upgrade a rod or someone that wants to fish a 6 weight.

JOE: The profile of the 6131 Onyx is as unique as Aero Head counterpart, making it one of the longer rods in the 6wt class. A supercharged rod complemented by top of the line components, this high caliber rod rivals others in the $1000+ range, making it an incredible value at $750 which is why one has found a place in my quiver. The 6131 paired with a 6/7 aero head in the hands of an experienced caster excels where other rods with more classic tapers simply fall short. The key is in the rod design- a quick recovering tip, full flexing lower end, and next generation materials (IM8 blank and IM8 Silica Nano Matrix resin). There is no other rod on the market quite like this one. Beulah’s team nailed it.

Beulah Platinum: A Two-Handed Rod Review

Beulah-Platinum-6126KEITH: I am still a newcomer to the use of Spey rods so for me it is hard to know just what I am looking for, but when I had a chance to cast the Platinum it just felt so right to me. The 12' 6" rod in the 6wt was real pleasure for me to cast. This is one rod I would not hesitate to recommend to some one wanting to expand into the sport. It is priced in the right range for most people. It handles both Skagit and Scandi with great ease. I can not wait to see how this rod will handle with a OPST Commando head.

FRED: As with the Onyx, when I first cast a Platinum Spey, I wanted one.  I carried one in my boat for years while guiding on the Kenai River.  Several of my clients showed up with them soon afterwards.  The Platinum Series rods are high quality, great looking, and packaged at a reasonable price.

CALVIN: This rod has more of a full flex traditional action than the Onyx series.  Light in the hand with quick tip recovery, the Platinum is a great rod priced lower than the Onyx.  This rod can handle most any Spey line on the market, yet it is still enjoyable to fish.  The rod has a great hand feel and looks like a work of art.

JOE: The Beulah Platinum is one of the front-runners in the twelve and a half foot 6wt class. 6126’s are, in my mind, one of the most universal rod dimensions for summer steelheading and the Platinum is no exception. For someone looking to get into the sport who already know it is something they want to get serious about, the Platinum is a great place to enter, bypassing the entry level and investing in a finely crafted, high performance rod that will be enjoyed for decades.

Echo TR Spey Fly Fishing Rod Tested and Reviewed

ECHO-TR-6126FRED: TR stands for Tim Rajeff.  Tim knows a little about fly casting.  He designed the TR to be a versatile Skagit, Scandi, do everything rod.  This rod will get the job done.  It tracks well and recovers quickly.  It’s a bit heavier than the more expensive rods, but it’s a lot of rod for the money.

JOE: The Echo TR is initialed by the one and only Tim Rajeff. This rod, like all of Tim’s rods at Echo, are designed to fish. The TR 6126 has a progressive taper and a fast loading butt section. Speed is the name of the game. Laced up with either Skagit or Scandi comps, it is a great pairing, and would be a great place to start for anyone!

KEITH: I have been looking at the Echo TR for a possible rod to use this year. I had a chance to cast it with a Scandi head and it handled very well for my less then perfect casts. It is as Echo calls it, a fast-ish action rod. Again this was a 12' 6" 6wt. I would have no problem recommending this rod to anyone wanting to get started with spey casting on a budget.

Echo CLASSIC Fly Rod: Why to Buy + Review

ECHO-CLASSIC-6126KEITH: I am quite familiar with the Classic model spey rod, I own 2 of them. This is what I would call a simple and budget minded rod for those want to get started and still have a couple of dollars left over.  The 6wt is a med-fast action rod and handle most of todays spey lines with no problem.

FRED: This rod loads deep and casts smooth.  At under $300, it’s the lowest price rod in our group.  I highly recommend the Classic 6126 as a first spey rod for someone who is looking to dabble in the two hand game.

JOE: The Echo Classic 6216 is where many people choose to start their two-handed fishing career. Price and utility meet in the middle with the Classic. Slightly softer towards the handle than the TR, this rod is a useful tool for the beginner learning how to properly load a spey cast as well as a veteran swinging their favorite steelhead runs.

G. Loomis Pro4x Cast and Review from the Field

Loomis-pro4x-6-7-126FRED: I’ve owned and fished many Loomis Rods over the years, but never any two handers.  I had a chance to try some Loomis rods at the casting pond during IFTD, so it was little surprise to me that the Pro4x felt really good.  These things track well and throw far and fine. This is a rod any two hand caster would be proud to own.  At just under $500, it’s probably the best value you will find.

CALVIN: The Loomis Pro 4x surprised me when I cast it for the first time.  At a $400ish price point, I felt the rod had plenty of feel and could handle most any fishing situation you put it through.  Skagits or Scandis on this rod would perform and I could definitely handle heavy tips and big flies.  The rod did lack some character compared to the other rods we cast.  However, this rod is a workhorse that could get the job done.

G. Loomis Pro4x 1505: A Great Price

JOE: The Pro4x 12’6’’ 6wt seemed incredibly light when I first picked it up, both with and without a reel. Coming in at 6.8oz, it’s not the lightest 6126 on the market, so I have concluded the reason for its ultralight feel is due to the weight distribution in the blank, with the bulk of the material towards the handle, creating a super low swing weight. This is very advantageous for all day casting. This rod won’t wear you out. At $525, it would be hard to not justify owning one of these as a Loomis fan.

Sage MOD Spey Rod Review

Sage-MOD-6130JOE: New for 2016, the Sage Mod (moderate action) is the Sage One's more balanced, mellowed out counterpart, built on Sages Konnetic platform. This rod is not for distance seekers, but it will generously uncork casts in the 80ft range paired with the correct mid-belly line and will launch Skagit setups equally well. It may take the Sage junkies a little while to get on board with the jade colored blank, but this one is sure to fall into the sought after Sage category steelheaders adore, following the Deathstars and Brownies. The MOD is one of the more expensive rods in the line-up, but if you have the extra coin, why not fish something that will only get cooler over time?

FRED: MOD stands for moderate action. This thing loads more deeply than the rods I'm used to, but then it unleashes lots of power. If you've been a spey caster for a long time, before all the faster action rods took over the market, you are likely going to love this one. If you are looking for a premium scandi rod, the MOD is definitely worth considering.

Winston BIIITH 6116 Spey Rod: The Jury is Out

Winston-BIIITH-6116FRED: I’ve fished this rod for Alaskan trout with a Skagit Switch line and a sculpin.  This was the first time I’ve tried it with a Scandi.  It treats the Scandi very well.  I’d fancy this rod for magnum trout spey applications and small river steelhead.

JOE: The 6116 BIIITH is a short, stout powerhouse. I only had the chance to fish an Airflo Scandi Compact on this one, but it seems like it would shine brightest with a Scandi Short or a number of nymphing lines. It is much shorter than what I have become accustomed to but I’m sure turns over heavy nymphing rigs with ease. If I were choosing a rod for the Lewiston area, I would take the extra foot with the 6126, but the 6116 definitely has its purpose.

CALVIN: This rod has a fast action that throws tight loops right off the tip.  The rod is very lightweight at just over 5 ounces.  This rod would make a great Alaska trout rod or summer run steelhead rod.  The rod can handles floating Scandis well and would be a great rod for fishing all day.   For beginners, feeling the load on this rod might prove to be difficult.

Winston BIIITH 6126: Is Bigger Better?

Winston-BIIITH-6126lCALVIN: My #2 pick in the overall selection of rods that we cast.  This rod is very light in your hand and casts super tight loops with minimal lower hand power application.  The line "pops" right off the tip of this rod and sends it as far as anyone would want to cast.  The cork is a little fat for the upper hand than I like.  If I owned one, I would shave it down right off the bat.  This rod definitely has more character and feel than the 6116 in the same series.

FRED: I really liked this rod and would happily own one.  This one will throw darts.  I’d rank it right up with the Onyx from a casting standpoint, but it has a different feel.  I attribute that to the handle diameter.  The Onyx has a more tapered handle that lends itself to a more relaxed grip.  If you’ve got large hands, this one is for you.

KEITH: This is another light rod in its over all weight but it balances out and casts fantastically with little to no effort. It covers the water in distance like a shot. This is a rod I would recommend to someone wanting to step it up from their current 6wt and is looking for a fantastic upgrade to their repertoire in spey fishing.

JOE: Anyone who has fished with me would know "it’s green" would be enough of a description to elaborate my adoration for Winston rods. Bias aside, this rod truly is a lightweight, high line speed launcher. I think the 6126 in the BIIITH lineup is second only to its big brother the 7133. Boron strength is one more reason to own one. Once you pick this stick up, you’ll have a hard time trading it off for anything else.