A Spey Rod Built for Idaho's Clearwater River

Words by House of Fly

Weather changes. Flows change. Angling pressure changes. The number of fish returning from the salt to the Inland Norwest fluctuates each year. Basically, searching for steelhead, no matter where that journey takes you, is always a crapshoot. One constant is this: to consistently catch steelhead, especially if fishing from the bank, you gotta throw far. And the farther you throw the better chances you have at yarding a metalhead from the Clearwater River's broad flows. Our man on the ground in Lewiston, Idaho, Drew Evans, fishes the Clearwater each fall and his go-to stick is one you may want to add to your quiver this steelhead season, especially if you are new to the game. That magic stick? The Fly Project Saga in the 12' 10" 8-weight variety. Want to make things easy on yourself? Get your setup, get down to the Clearwater sooner versus later (although October is prime time), and give this thing a huck. Something good is sure to happen. Here's Drew's take. --the editors

The Saga setup offes a smooth, progressive action, meaning the rod gradually flexes from tip to butt as it" loads" during the cast. That helps new casters feel the rod loading through the casting stroke, improving their timing and loop control. That progressive action offers more feedback and is often more forgiving than a faster rod, making it easier to build solid technique.

The length and taper make it ideal for covering broad runs and managing longer casts. This is important on the Clearwater where reaching out 70 feet or more is often required. When I say, "It's good for managing longer casts," I mean the rod provides the power to make those casts and the control to do it efficiently and consistently, even in varied conditions.

Despite that power, the rod also offeres enough finesse for technical presentations, situations where subtlety and precision matter. An example is swinging small flies on long leaders to steelhead holding in clear, shallow water. You want the fly to arrive gently, with minimal splash, and the Saga helps you achieve that.

The Fly Project OC II reel in a 9/10 size balances this rod nicely and provides smooth drag performance, essential for protecting lighter tippet when a hot fish takes off for the Snake River. The reel also offers ample capacity for backing (see Ballistic Top Shelf Backing) and a full shooting head system. That’s key when targeting fish that can easily run far downstream. The OC II also offers a fully sealed and fully caged platform. That means you will never have to worry about your shooting line or backing getting caught between the reel and the spool. The fully sealed aspect of this reel makes it saltwater compatible.

A 500-grain Ballistic Express II Scandi head is the recommended match for the 8-weight Saga. It loads the rod efficiently without feeling heavy, which helps with timing and energy transfer through the cast. Designed for casting small to medium flies with floating or intermediate poly leaders, this head is ideal for the Clearwater's classic swing runs and the oft-times low and clear water. 

What is a poly leader? A poly leader is a tapered leader made from a monofilament or fluorocarbon core coated with a polymer, allowing it to sink at various rates or float, depending on the model. Compared to a sink tip, which changes the way your line and fly behave in the water (typically pulling the fly down more aggressively), poly leaders offer a more gradual transition from your Scandi head to the fly. This makes them ideal for delicate presentations, where maintaining a natural swing and avoiding spooking fish is the priority. In contrast, a plain mono leader can sometimes lack the turnover and mass needed to carry flies effectively with a Scandi head.

Speaking of turnover, this refers to how well the energy from your cast is transferred through the line and leader to straighten everything out and deliver the fly. Better turnover means your fly lands cleanly and ready to fish, not in a pile or tangled mess.

For a lighter, quicker feel, the 440-grain version of the Express II provides a snappier tempo/casting rhythm.  A faster tempo means shorter, quicker strokes and less waiting for the rod to load and unload. Some anglers prefer this style for smaller water or lighter flies, as it gives them more touch and finesse, greater sensitivity and control over how the fly moves and lands in the water.

To connect the Scandi head to your fly, a coated running line like the Ballistic Blazer Running Line is ideal especially for newer casters. These are easier to handle than monofilament running lines, which can feel slippery and tend to tangle. Coated lines provide better grip and control during the cast. In this context, control means being able to consistently manage the speed, direction, and shape of your cats, which is important for hitting the target and fishing effectively.

I round out the system with a 10- to 12-foot floating poly leader and 3- to 5- feet of 10- to 15-pound tippet, depending on water clarity and the size of the fly.

This setup excels on the Clearwater because it blends distance, control, and accuracy. It gives new spey casters the tools to effectively across cover wide steelhead runs, while still maintaining the sensitivity and balance needed to build proper technique and confidence. And, the Saga provides the power needed to efficiently fight steelhead that could range north of 40 inches, something of extreme importance when fishing for our treasured native species.