Does anyone own or has anyone used an Echo Ion rod in about a 9 foot #7 or #8 weight? I'd be interested in comments on the action and what fishing situations it's best suited to and comments on the build quality. Also have you encountered any problems or breakages?

I'm considering one as a second rod to bring along for smallmouth bass, which means chucking flies like chuggers, dahlbergs, and strip leaches that are about the size of the pigeons you see in railroad stations in the UK and generally you need to cast a fair distance.

Grouse

Hmmmm, no one's tried or bought one? Surprising, I'd have thought there would be more of them over there.

Anyone?

Grouse

Grouse,
Is there a reason you are not considering the sage bass rods?

I as far as i am aware Jay not many people have Echo's here.
They certainly are not in any of the shops that i have been in and the only place i see them advertised is on this very board.

Are You sure they are the size of pigeons? We use nothing smaller than squirrels over here for large mouth goldfish Grouse.

On a serious note Tim Rajeff is a great guy, I met him in Andros many moon ago as he was about to take on Airflo Lines and asked my/our (the Brits out there) opinion so we had a good chat about rods etc..
Jim Teeny was there as well and I have fished with him in different destinations, and he does really good rods also.
The Echo rods have their roots in Tim's prowess in distance and accuracy casting, he is always thereabouts but has been shadowed by Steve only because Tim does not enter as much tournaments as his brother.
I have had a serious swish in most of his range a couple of years ago and they all have this in common.
The ability to throw a long line with deep down power in the butt sections, so you will not be dissappionted with the rod you choose for your purpose.
I suspect it is one of the few kept secrets of the Fly world, just how good the Echo Rods are.

__________________
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ADB Level 1 & Level 2 Coach (Game) http://www.flyfishlondon.co.uk/

I think the Sage bass rods are a gimmick and a massively overpriced one at that, Runer. At less than 8 feet, they certainly aren't practicle and I wouldn't want to be in a boat with a guy zinging huge bass flies over my head with a sub-8 foot rod.

Interesting, thanks for the info. Echo have done very well in the mag tests over here and they seem highly regarded by those who have them. I think I'll see if I can find somewhere to test drive one.

Grouse