Echo Airflo Review – New for 2013 Rods and Lines

Review of new products and revised reintroductions for 2013 from Rajeff sports

Echo Dec Hogan II (new): They took the immensely popular first generation Dec-O and went back to the shop to redesign mandrels, tapers & cosmetics.  Not just for looks.  More concentrated rod series (6 wt; 6.5 wt; 7 wt; and 8 wt).  Yes really, a genuine 6.5 wt.  Check out the amazingly broad grain wt window each of these rods accommodates.

Echo PRIME (new): OMG.  One piece fly rods at 8 ft 10 in.  These rods really amaze me, but that’s just me.  Anyone who fishes from boats with shooting lines or integrated shooting heads should check out these rods.  Time will tell if this new offering is successful, but my experience with the rods in 100% smile producing.

Echo PIN (new): rumor has it that not every steelhead angler fishes intruders on the swing with Spey rods.  Hummmmm.  Just in case, Echo introduces a really fine rod for use with Centerpin reels.  If you know what this terminology means, were done. If not, just imagine a fly reel that has zero drag, a spool with more mass (thusly inertia) than a traditional fly reel.  Now load this reel with mono instead of fly line.  Now add a float (space-age strike indicator), weight, and a weighted nymph or egg pattern.  Many fly anglers sneer at this means of steelhead fishing.  Few have tried this method of fishing to the extent that they appreciate the finesse involved.  Personally, I do not know anyone who fishes indicators, and certainly would not associate with anyone who fishes Centerpin reels. To do so is simply unthinkable.

Echo Solo Complete fly fishing outfits (new): Take the solo rod, reel, an airflow line, backing and leader, add a rod & reel case – there you have it.  This new long rod offers an excellent no-hassle, entry level, all occasion gift or spare outfit.  There are some great Redington and Sage outfits on the market, and this one by Echo is a solid competitor.

Echo ION Fly Rod (Cosmetic improvements): key features include slightly lighter handle & reel seat; far nicer rod shaft color; and exactly the same rod shaft composition and action – tried and trusted.  Nicer cosmetics overall, same performance, and same price.

Echo Carbon Fly Rod (Cosmetic improvements): retain the rod shaft, lighten the handle and reel seat, and you have a polished Carbon that stays rock solid at the same thrifty price point.

Echo SR Switch Rod (Cosmetic improvements): This has been an immensely popular rod already, based purely on its performance, in spite of a most unattractive rod shaft color.  Timmie Rajeff finally took action and has built this rod for 2013 to a dark slate gloss, and simultaneously reducing handle and reel seat weight.  The new SR still fishes great, and just looks a lot nicer.

Classic Spey (new): Whoa.  At a shockingly low price of $270, Rajeff has brought a very decent, fully warranted Echo Spey rod within reach of every fly angler.  One of these three Echo Classic Two Handers will handle the vast majority of Spey fishing conditions, at a price that allows one to assemble rod, reel, line, and Polyleader into a package under 5 bills.  Spare outfit, beginner outfit, or gift, this is going to be a winner.

Echo Classic Spey Combo Outfit (at under five bills, this is a Caddis Fly Exclusive): Start with an Echo Classic Two hander, add ION reel, backing, Airflo  fly line and a Polyleader. Whoa. Spare outfit, beginner outfit, or as a gift, this outfit is going to be a winner.

ION Fly reel sizes (new options): The 7/9 and the 2/3 join the existing series of solid performance-value Echo fly reels.

New Airflo Fly Lines .: Tropical Sniper; UltraSpey; Tropical Clear & Tropical Clear Tip.

All of these new or revised Echo/Airflo products are available now.

Jay Nicholas, January 2013

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4 Responses to Echo Airflo Review – New for 2013 Rods and Lines

  1. Sam says:

    I hear that centerpins are all the rage on the helicopter fly ins in the BC wilderness watersheds.

  2. Russ says:

    “certainly would not associate with anyone who fishes Centerpin reels. To do so is simply unthinkable”

    I know you’re kidding but maybe stay away from BC’s west coast since the pins are catching all the salmon/steelhead. It is so much fun and any fly guy here will admit that it’s by far the most effective method. We are fishing to catch fish not just play with our expensive gear right?!? Grab an Islander Steelheader and prepare to be amazed, 10-20 lb steelhead with no drag, this is heaven!!!

    I found this researching the ECHO pin, I wish it was two piece but I think I’ll try it.

  3. Oregon Fly Fishing Blog says:

    Russ: not that I personally myself fish center pin rods and reels, ha ha, but you can fish a center pin reel on a switch or spey rod too, i hear rumored, and some fellow i know has had fun of late fishing kings and steelhead on these silly things. The Echo PIN is a very good rod and a lot of fun, you can not go wrong with it. JN

  4. Russ says:

    I actually did look into spey rods for pinning because spey fishing looks like a lot of fun. I believe in the right tool for the job so first I need a powerful pin rod, maybe a spey rod next year. I heard that if you use mono with a spey rod long enough it will mess up the guides and then the guides mess up your fly line when switching back. May is fly fishing only on the Chilliwack/Vedder river so it would be really nice to be out there.

    The Echo rod interests me for two major reasons. It has more backbone on paper than the majority of 13′ pin rods and the reel seat is way forward allowing one handed casting also freeing up a hand so you can unhook a fish easily. A lot of guys here get custom rods made from 8-9 weight spey blanks for the power so I figure the echo pin could be a winner. I wish I could find some reviews on it though.

    A friend had the Echo TR 9 weight for one day, his first spey rod. I heard a bang, looked over, there he was with a broken rod, wasn’t even fishing. I don’t know what happened but I choose to believe he was doing something he shouldn’t of. He then got a Sage, then a custom Meiser, and finally a Scott before he was happy. I tried to buy the Sage 8 weight and he said he would never sell it to a friend. Strange.

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