The rods I have in my rack get worked hard chasing trout all across Colorado. As a longtime professional fly fishing guide my rods are working rods, 5wts, day-in day-out performers, like a good hammer on a construction site. And they are all Echo. On guided trips my rods are expected to do a specific job and I rely on them to get it done well. Echo builds great tools for fly fishing success.
One of the advantages of holding a quiver full of Echo rods is the ability to place different 5wt rods in my clients’ hands throughout the day on a guided trip. New anglers can experience the flex difference between a selection of 5wt rods. Clients begin to develop a “feel” for what all the fly shop lingo and rod manufacturer’s descriptions mean. And they always have a preference for one over another for reasons such as feel, flex or weight in hand.
The most economical rod in my lineup, the Echo Carbon XL 9’ 5wt, has a no-nonsense backbone. With a broader versatility for use in multiple applications especially from a boat, the Carbon XL is always working on my trips. A rod capable of casting dainty dry flies but excels in nymphing and streamer, it is a useful tool for my clients.
Paired ideally with the Airflo Super-Dri Nymph line, the short front taper and heavy head allow for turning over cumbersome nymph rigs easily. During guided float trips on the Upper Colorado River nymph fishing is a common application. The Carbon XL is a great boat rod with the strength to pull stout fish thru heavy water and keep them buttoned.
When the hatch kicks into high gear the Echo Dry 9’ 5wt rod provides a delicate touch to my clients’ dry fly fishing. A specialty rod used for casting dries and dry-droppers when targeting the surface and just underneath. The Echo Dry rod is a sensibly priced high performer.
With a soft touch and easy landing, this rod excels at real-life casting distances. Actual fishing distances not casting competition lengths. Accuracy becomes more of a factor when float fishing and the Echo Dry punches your fly into the pocket.
A great choice for wade fishing during dry fly season when the caddis are everywhere, the Echo Dry has a soft tip that assists anglers after the hook set. The forgiving tip helps keep the hook embedded during the fight rather than pulling the hook out like a heavier flex rod. Matched up with the Airflo Super-Dri Elite or River & Stream, the Echo Dry loads quickly and casts dries with an easily achieved accuracy.
The do it all performer in my lineup is definitely the Echo E3 9’ 5wt. An excellent dry rod that handles moderately weighted nymph rigs as well. The E3 possesses the ability to toss light streamers when needed too. The Echo E3 has developed into a personal favorite with clients on my guided trips comparing the E3 to their own over-priced rods. Like all of the fiberglass rods that Echo makes, the E3 enhances my fun factor when fishing.
The E3 possesses an intuitive placement with pin-point accuracy when casting dries. It just feels good in the hand. And that feeling permeates through the rod into the angler when fighting fish providing a better connection after the hook set. Worthy of the boat or a wade trip the Echo E3 is an anywhere, any water type of rod.
The versatility of this rod alone deserves a high performing fly line. Teamed up with the Airflo Super-Dri Bandit flyline the long head aids in casting any type of fly rig. Not only is the Airflo Super-Dri Bandit a high performer the camouflage finish takes stealth to the extreme. The Echo E3 and Airflo Super-Dri Bandit combination can handle multiple fly fishing applications on any guided trip.
Echo delivers a wide array of high quality fly rods that perform at their peak performance level when paired with an appropriately matched Airflo fly line. The durability level achieved during daily guiding use has been phenomenal. Even when a young client suffering from social media withdrawal on a full day float trip smacked my oar blade breaking the tip of the Dry rod, the piece was replaced within days.
Since this event, the Echo website now offers a new feature to streamline the warranty process faster than before. For some of the more popular rods, pre-made tip sections for a fraction of the cost you would expect are available. No need to mail in your rod! The production on the Echo rods is so precise the pieces fit as well as the originals. A great idea and time saver, you’ll be back on the water sooner than most rod companies could even start your warranty process.
Durability and performance are two characteristics all anglers desire in their gear. Echo develops both into their wide variety of fly rods. Following the guideline suggestions on the Echo website further enhances the performance of Echo rods by pairing each rod with the appropriate Airflo fly line. From firsthand guiding abuse on Colorado trout waters, I can vouch for the durability and performance of multiple Echo fly rods and Airflo fly lines. Like a good hammer they just keep working.
~ Michael Salomone is an Echo & Airflo Ambassador, Vail Valley Anglers Guide & Content Writer. You can contact him through his website: www.MichaelSalomone.com or by calling Vail Valley Anglers at 970-926-0900.
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