This month's FF&FT has a piece on using a double hander for river pike fishing - cast overhead rather than spey style. I've pondered this myself to complement my 9'-ers, mainly for the benefits noted in the article- the added reach and obstacle clearing capabilities of a longer rod opens up lies otherwise impossible to reach.

Any suggestions for cheap but adequate double hander around 13' for overhead casting 7" streamers using my existing WF#10 lines? (F, I and sink tip). Med - med-fast action (not fast) with plenty of power in the butt.

Does a rod rated #10 for spey casting take the same rating for overhead casting?

Would the Shakey odyssey/expedition/oracle range suffice or is there a better bet?

thanks
Mark

I always liked the Daiwa double handers. Always exceptional rod for the money.

A "Spey" rod used to be a "soft" action but these days its the opposite due to the advent of Skaggit casting. You will be fine with most douple handers i would think.

I mate of mine uses a 15 footer with a shooting head for the lochs. He can regularly put a pike fly 50 yards without breaking sweat..BUT..with 15 foot of rod, its difficult to land a fish, especially if wading!

While the sexyloops site has a table based on the Common Cents sytem to suggest the true ratings for many single handed rods I dont know of any such ratings for double handed.

What I can say is that my double handers simply don't work at all well with standard WFs. I know because I tried out my pike fishing 13yard #12 shooting head on a my #12 salmon rod. I also tried an Orvis wonderline wf10 on my #10 salmon rod on another occasion when I picked up the wrong reel. Both were absolutely awful.

Try to get to a casting pool to try before you buy.