Spin Fly Combination Rods

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

I've always fancied the idea of a spin fly rod... Mostly for spinning, not fly fishing.

The current market is served by Eagle Claw with their "Pak It" series; what I've always thought of as their "Trail" rods.
There are a few others, too, but they all strike me as pretty much in the same niche. So of you know those, you know what I mean.

While poking on Ebay the other day, I messed around and won a pretty nice 4 pc. Spin-fly, a 7 footer by "Olympic."
This was from the 80's or early 90's, most likely, Olympic being a Japanese maker of the period.

By all accounts, the company made a lot of gear for the big names back then, in addition to their own lines. Everything I found also suggests they are still in business, probably making stuff for companies like Okuma, Daiwa and other better Japanese outfits. Their equipment like my rod was reported to be of decent quality, if not top shelf, which is at least comforting.

My interest is to see how such a rod works out on panfish. My hope is that it is limber in the middle like a fly rod but, because of the guides, casts like a spinning rod.

I already have similar rod, a Wright-McGill "Northwood" 7 foot model, which is just that way. The new rod would be its companion piece, since I like redundancy when it comes to gear.

Does anyone have experience with this kind of rod, especially casting the light jigs, spinners and baits common to panfishing?

[Tony Livingston]

David, if I may, what you're thinking was exactly the reason I had Walt build me a spinning rod from a fly rod blank....I had an idea for the ultimate in slow fall presentations, so he and I got our heads together and defined the parameters, and then he built the rod.....all I can say is wow! The system works, and the rod performs beautifully. It was made to be able to cast with no added weight...no lead, and no float. I wanted to be able to reach as far as possible, but still present the lure/bait as natural as possible, which means no splashdown. It's a blast to fish with, and the 2-weight makes a 1 lb BG feel like a 7 lb Largemouth.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Thanks, Tony.
I've tasted some of this with the Northwood rod I mentioned.
I cast a near weightless popper float 20-25 yards with nothing but a small worm on an even smaller hook.
No weight, nothing added, using a limp 4# monofilament.
Put on a larger worm or a few shot and this only gets better.

This is all the work of the limber rod, as I'm certain you know...

Bear in mind this is more than enough distance for my style. It all was a pleasant revelation, too, as I had heard of this, but never experienced it before.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Got the rod today...nicer than I had hoped. Almost no wear, this thing has been fished very lightly.
I scuffed the cork grip a bit with sandpaper, to bring up the grain, and applied a light sealer. Other than that, not a scratch on her.
I'm gonna mount a small Shakespeare spinning reel, or maybe a Zebco 11T. The latter, with it's center feed line, ought to work well with the smaller guides on this rod. The usual 4# Vicious Panfish mono to be wound on.

We will see what we see.
Thanks for looking.

[Larry Dando]

David have you had a chance to try out that new rod yet and if so how did you like it?

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

I have, Larry. And..... the rod is a winner!
It is probably the perfect panfish rod. It is limber in the middle, so it casts light lures and rigs easily. This quality also allows lots of "give" - the whole rod and its line acts as a big spring to absorb the energy of a rambunctious fish. It is, after all, a fly rod at heart.
I have played several bass on it, which are always a bit of a surprise when angling for panfish. But the rod handles the runaway, skyrocket shock these fish bring nicely.
All in all, I like it. There are several new models of this type available, and used ones are out there. If you are considering one, I urge you to go for it.

[Larry Dando]

David, how did this rod and reel combo work out for you this summer?

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Larry, thanks for reviving this one.
The rod is excellent, ad a spin rod. I won't rehash what I've already said, except to tell you its still true.
The rod now mounts an old Martin fly reel, and I've spent most of the season FLY FISHING WITH IT. Not a high dollar smoothie, it works and I'm happy with it.

[Michael J. Searl]

Bass Pro Shops builds a rod of the trype you speak of in a 4 piece rod . It is in the Micro-Lite series of light rods .I have a custom spinner built on a fly blank but the pair of Micro Lites have been with me in the float tube for the last couple years. I call them the twins. lol . I throw 1/80 oz jigs w/2 to 4 lb mono with them most of the time.

MLT 7'6" Spin Fly Act. 1/16-1/4 lure wt. 2-6-#5 line 

A 15 3/4 oz Red Ear I got yesterday felt huge on the nice lite rods.  Mike