Two-handed rods used to be a specialist's purchase at a specialist's price. The Clearwater Two-Handed changes that — real spey and switch blanks from Orvis's Vermont designers, backed by the same 25-year guarantee as their flagship rods, at a price that lets you find out whether swinging flies is your thing without committing a mortgage payment.
Swinging is worth trying. It is the most relaxing way to fish a river: step, cast, swing, step. And on the Gunnison in the shoulder seasons, a trout spey is a genuinely effective way to move fish.
The lineup we carry
| Length | Line | Pieces | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11' 4" | 3 wt | 4 | Trout spey | Soft hackles, small streamers |
| 11' 4" | 4 wt | 4 | Trout spey | The all-around trout swing rod |
| 11' 0" | 7 wt | 4 | Switch | Steelhead, salmon, big streamers |
| 11' 0" | 8 wt | 4 | Switch | Heavy tips, bigger water |
| 12' 0" | 6 wt | 4 | Spey | Medium rivers |
| 13' 0" | 7 wt | 4 | Spey | Steelhead, full spey casting |
| 13' 6" | 8 wt | 4 | Spey | Big water, winter steelhead |
All four-piece. Check the selector for today's stock. Current pricing is on the selector above.
Picking one
- Trout spey curious: the 11'4" 3 or 4 weight. The 4 is the more versatile of the two.
- One rod for trout and steelhead: the 11' 7 weight switch.
- Committed to the swing: the 13' 7 weight is a proper spey rod.
The honest part: lining a two-hander is most of the game. Orvis does not publish grain windows for every Clearwater two-hand model, and a spey rod with the wrong head on it casts badly enough to convince you that you are the problem. Call us or come in before you buy a line. We will match a Skagit or Scandi head, running line, and tips to your rod and how you intend to fish it. That conversation is free and it is the difference between loving this rod and shelving it.
Warranty: the Orvis 25-Year Guarantee. Original owner, proof of purchase may be required, modest processing fee on repairs.
Ed's Fly Shop, 432 E Main St, downtown Montrose, Colorado.
