Hello,

I currently have a purchased Redington Dually 4wt, 10' 6" . Now looking to add a heavier wt Spey Rod for Steelhead. Looking at a NFC Spey 8# , 12' 6" rod blank . I am a Rod builder but have not built any Spey rods yet. Would appreciate any feedback on rod blank options including any specific experience folks have had with NFC .

I'd go right past NFC and head toward CTS, or R. B. Meiser, I'd add C. F. Burkheimer to the list but I don't think he sells blanks anymore.

Thanks for quick response Spencer. So NFC is not reliable source here or performance is not the best? Was actually considering CTS as you sent this .

I don't think there is much known about the NFC blanks and both I mentioned have a decades of pleased customers with their products, these are only recommendations, you can build as you please.

Got it ! Understood. Thanks Spencer

I’ll second Spencer’s suggestion and look into CTS or Meiser. I own several CTS Affinity DQ Spey Rods. The heaviest I have is the DQ 12-6 6/7, which for fishing Steelhead here in NY is plenty of rod for the size of fish we encounter and casting distances required. I’m pretty new to the learning curve on Spey rods.

A friend that is helping me along with the leaning curve was one of the founders of Spey Nation, he has played around with my CTS stuff and thinks it measures right up with the Burkheimer and Meiser rods.

I also have a CTS Affinity DQ 11-3 2/3wt trout Spey. This lightweight Spey rod is a hoot to swing wets for trout.

Ok. Looking at the Affinity series. Looks like a great option.

Also looking at a cheaper option from one of my suppliers, Proof fly-fishing.com. They offer a 10' 7wt Switch rod blank that has been reviewed and recommended by Steve Godshall. Don't know if this will work but I see Steve Godshallis well known in the Spey fishing world, on Speypages site etc

Not surprising on the CTS rods, Meiser went to them to develop his new rods after GUSA went out of business and had a long term relationship with them. He also designed the Beulah line of spey rods.

Do some research on Switch rods. In my opinion, they are not good Spey rods and they are not good single hand fly rods. They can do both, but I’ve found there is a trade off.

I have built and casted/fished Switch rods for many years - most on CTS blanks.
Sone on TL Johnson.
The Switch blank was originally designed to cast both Spey and Overhead styles.
It does both - but not as well as rods designed to do Spey alone and overhead alone.
The single hand bit came later.
I have no idea why someone would want to overhand a rod of 11-14 feet.
Yes - 14'.
I have one.
The rod and line
industry perpetrates the concept because of $$$.
Herb,
CTS Rep

Bill and Herb,

Thanks for your insight. I'll probably go with CTS just need to stay within my budget . If I Spey fished a lot , my budget may increase but my fishing is split between conventional fly rods which I build, Euro fishing and Spey fishing. Have never built a Spey or Euro rod so this spey rod build will be my first. I have researched the trade offs between Spey and Switch rods...this was the reason I ended up with my current Redington Dually as opposed to a switch rod . I wouldn't buy a long switch rod, but 10' would be fine if I go that route.

Again thanks for your valued time responding . Much appreciate your insight and will take it all into account to make my final rod blank selection.