Im doin it, buying a spey rod. Been wanting to for a couple years... as long as I skip over one hurdle.

I live on a college budget.

So there's this echo one on ebay for <$200 < http://www.ebay.com/itm/Echo-Solo-Spey-F...=item336c0448f5 >

I have a very specific application for a spey on my home waters that has been pushing me for a while. My target zone is about 90' from the bank, more for a high water level, and I can only wade so much. It will also be used for the surf on the coast.

So a spey makes sense: no backcast, long forward cast, and I still cannot cast a baitcaster. But I need a versitile system that benefits both situations with minimal side effects. I've been trying to take an engineering standpoint on it without interfering with brands. I've also read through the Rio Spey Info Guide a few times as well.

So would I right on this? Say a 13' 8-9wt Medium-Medium Fast Skagit?

And I know nothing of Echo rods.

ok I just looked at cabelas website nevermind

What fish are you targeting? What size flies are you wanting to throw? A 13'8-9wt spey rod is a hell of a stick and and is better off for king salmon etc.. For bass or trout, it is going to be like fighting a fish on a broom stick.

Have you tried it? I have been doing it on the river all summer and having a blast.....Caught some extremely nice fish and had a big largemouth break me off with a twelve pound floro leader trying to keep him out of a big brushpile....Spey rods are an excellent tool for delivering big flies for big bass on a river....The flies I am using are articulated 4-6 inch streamers tied to resemble baby catfish.......which by the way have been present in big schools. Anyway the the fly is deadly on big bass and the Spey rod works great. The big fly keeps all the dinks from from bothering ya.

I love my echo rods

Getting the rod is just part of the equation...what line will you get? Regular Spey? Skagit? or Scandinavian or something else? The reel has to be large enough to hold the heavy and long line + some reasonable backing...look at the entire package cost...not just the rod.

http://www.rioproducts.com/spey-lines.html

Don't let the cost run you off.....Any of the 4 inch reels will work fine....Pflueger, Young, Daiwa, etc....

Lines are available on ebay at bargain prices....

For the fishing you are planing on, a Skagit system will work fine.

Anglers Roost sells chinese IM6 spey rods for 89 bucks...don't look too great but cast like a million bucks...I have 2 of them.

You are on the right track...I have been fishing the Brazos with a Spey rod for about a year now....It is a blast.....unless you just want to catch itty bitty fishes....LOL

Check out the Spey Pages website for tons of good info.

Mrfc.com also has some spey lines for really cheap.