Overview

The Echo Compact Spey is a 12' two-hand rod built from the ground up for today's compact Skagit and Scandi heads. Echo started from scratch to find the flex and length that fish short heads best, and the result is a lightweight, high-modulus blank with a medium fast action that loads with a short head and still has the backbone to lift a sink tip.

It is part of the newest family of Echo spey rods, alongside the Full Spey and Trout Spey. Every model is 4-piece, with full cork upper and lower grips, an anodized aluminum reel seat, SiC stripping guides and hard chrome snake guides, and it ships in a fabric-covered rod case with a sock. We carry the 6, 7 and 8 wt.

Which Compact Spey Should You Choose?

Summer steelhead, big trout and lighter tips: ECHOCS6120 (12' 6 wt).

One rod for most steelhead and salmon swinging: ECHOCS7120 (12' 7 wt).

Big water, winter tips and heavier flies: ECHOCS8120 (12' 8 wt).

Echo Compact Spey Specs

Grain figures are Echo's recommendations: Skagit and Scandi from Echo's current Compact Spey page, grain window from Echo's two-hand line chart.

Echo Compact Spey Models

ECHOCS6120 - 12' 6 wt

The lightest Compact Spey. Its 12' length handles short heads easily in tight spots, and at about 5.8 oz it is a comfortable rod to swing all day.

Best for: summer steelhead and big trout on a compact Skagit or Scandi head, lighter sink tips.

Line pairing: Echo recommends a 390 to 420 gr Skagit head or a 390 gr Scandi head.

ECHOCS7120 - 12' 7 wt

The middle of the range and the most versatile Compact Spey. It has the power to turn over medium sink tips and weighted flies while keeping the light feel of a 12' rod (about 6.0 oz).

Best for: all-round steelhead and salmon swinging with compact heads and sink tips.

Line pairing: Echo recommends a 450 to 480 gr Skagit head or a 450 gr Scandi head.

ECHOCS8120 - 12' 8 wt

The heaviest Compact Spey, for bigger rivers, heavier compact Skagit heads and the larger flies and tips of winter steelhead and salmon. It weighs about 6.3 oz.

Best for: winter steelhead and salmon, heavier tips and bigger flies.

Line pairing: Echo recommends a 510 to 540 gr Skagit head or a 510 gr Scandi head.

Compact Spey vs Other Echo Two-Hand Rods

Echo groups the Compact Spey with the 13' Full Spey and the 11' Echo Trout Spey as one family. The Full Spey is longer and rated for heavier heads at the same line weight; the Compact Spey's 12' length suits short heads and tighter casting room. On Echo's action and power chart the Compact Spey is slightly faster than the Full Spey and the Echo SR, with less power than the Echo King and the Echo TR2, and more power than the Trout Spey and the Echo Swing Spey.

Echo Compact Spey FAQ

What lines work on the Compact Spey?

Compact Skagit and Scandi shooting heads. Echo recommends 390 to 420 gr Skagit (390 gr Scandi) for the 6 wt, 450 to 480 gr (450 gr Scandi) for the 7 wt and 510 to 540 gr (510 gr Scandi) for the 8 wt.

Which weight should I choose?

The 7 wt is the all-rounder for steelhead and salmon. Choose the 6 wt for summer fish and big trout, and the 8 wt for big water and heavy winter tips.

Does it come with a case?

Yes, a fabric-covered rod case and a rod sock.

How is it different from the Echo Swing Spey?

The Swing Spey is longer (12'6" to 13'6"), lower in power and Echo's more affordable two-hand rod. The Compact Spey has a lighter high-modulus blank in one 12' length designed for compact heads.

What is the warranty?

Echo's lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects for the original owner, for rods bought from an authorized dealer. If the rod breaks in normal fishing use, Echo repairs or replaces it for a service fee that varies by model; the fee is waived if the cause is a defect.