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Top 5 Two Hand Fly Rods in Canada 2025 - Best Spey and Double-Handed Rods for Salmon, Steelhead and Saltwater

Published on Monday, August 25, 2025

Two hand fly rods, also called spey or double-handed rods, are built for long-distance casting and for controlling large rivers and powerful runs. In Canada these rods are prized for salmon and steelhead systems from British Columbia to the Maritimes, and for anglers who want extra range and line control on big coastal and tidal water. Current trends favor modern spey tapers that produce tight loops and efficient energy transfer, reduced swing weight for less fatigue during long sessions, and models tuned specifically for saltwater corrosion resistance or heavy steelhead and salmon flies. Consumers choose two hand rods because they deliver superior line control, faster drift management in wide rivers, and the ability to punch long casts with less physical strain when the rod and line are well matched.

Quick Menu

1. Best High-Performance Spey

2. Best Lightweight Power

3. Best Versatile Switch Rod

4. Best Affordable Two-Hand

5. Best Value Saltwater/Spey

1
BEST HIGH-PERFORMANCE SPEY

Sage IGNITER 13'6" 8wt

Sage

The Sage IGNITER 13'6" 8wt occupies the best-in-class spot for two-hand rod anglers who need explosive power and ultra-fast recovery to drive large flies and punch through wind. Its high-modulus blank and aggressive taper deliver maximum range and crisp feedback, and while it carries a premium price compared with the other rods on this list, it returns industry-leading technical performance for anglers prioritizing distance and control over cost.

4.6
★★★★☆

  • Spey-power punch

  • Pinpoint long casts

  • Spey-power punch

  • Pinpoint long casts

Review Summary

88%

"Users praise its raw power, lightning-fast recovery and long-range accuracy for big-water two-handed casting, though some find it very stiff for delicate presentations and expensive."

  • Roars like freight

  • Fast-action blank designed for long, powerful casts on large rivers

  • Roars like freight

  • Fast-action blank designed for long, powerful casts on large rivers

Recreational Enjoyment

Skill Development & Mastery

The Sage IGNITER 13'6" 8wt occupies the best-in-class spot for two-hand rod anglers who need explosive power and ultra-fast recovery to drive large flies and punch through wind. Its high-modulus blank and aggressive taper deliver maximum range and crisp feedback, and while it carries a premium price compared with the other rods on this list, it returns industry-leading technical performance for anglers prioritizing distance and control over cost.

  • Spey-power punch

  • Pinpoint long casts

  • Roars like freight

  • Fast-action blank designed for long, powerful casts on large rivers

  • Carbon construction for light weight with exceptional recovery and tracking

  • Spey-power punch

  • Pinpoint long casts

  • Roars like freight

  • Fast-action blank designed for long, powerful casts on large rivers

  • Carbon construction for light weight with exceptional recovery and tracking

Order Now

$1,400-1,700 CAD

2
BEST LIGHTWEIGHT POWER

G.Loomis IMX-PRO 13' 7wt

G.Loomis

The G.Loomis IMX-PRO 13' 7wt is a market leader for anglers seeking a refined, smooth-spey feel with excellent accuracy and fatigue-reducing flex. It trades some of Sage's raw head speed for a more forgiving, traditionally tuned action that makes long sequences and delicate presentations easier, offering high-level technical performance at a competitive price point for serious two-hand fishermen.

4.7
★★★★☆

  • Feather-light feel

  • Smooth turnover

  • Feather-light feel

  • Smooth turnover

Review Summary

92%

"Reviewers value its smooth, balanced feel, accurate tracking and comfortable casting over long sessions; it's seen as versatile and more forgiving than ultrafast rods."

  • Old-school swagger

  • High-modulus graphite blank balanced for single- and double-handed casts

  • Old-school swagger

  • High-modulus graphite blank balanced for single- and double-handed casts

Recreational Enjoyment

Skill Development & Mastery

The G.Loomis IMX-PRO 13' 7wt is a market leader for anglers seeking a refined, smooth-spey feel with excellent accuracy and fatigue-reducing flex. It trades some of Sage's raw head speed for a more forgiving, traditionally tuned action that makes long sequences and delicate presentations easier, offering high-level technical performance at a competitive price point for serious two-hand fishermen.

  • Feather-light feel

  • Smooth turnover

  • Old-school swagger

  • High-modulus graphite blank balanced for single- and double-handed casts

  • Strong backbone for big flies and heavy lines without sacrificing delicacy

  • Feather-light feel

  • Smooth turnover

  • Old-school swagger

  • High-modulus graphite blank balanced for single- and double-handed casts

  • Strong backbone for big flies and heavy lines without sacrificing delicacy

Order Now

$1,200-1,500 CAD

3
BEST VERSATILE SWITCH ROD

Loop Cross S1 13'2" 8wt

Loop

The Loop Cross S1 13'2" 8wt is the best-in-class value-performance two-hand rod, delivering a modern medium-fast action and surprisingly light swing weight that performs well on rivers and estuaries. Compared with premium blanks from Sage and G.Loomis it offers many of the same casting traits for significantly less expense, making it a technically capable, budget-friendly choice for anglers who want high performance without the top-tier price.

4.6
★★★★☆

  • Turbo turnover

  • Laser accuracy

  • Turbo turnover

  • Laser accuracy

Review Summary

90%

"Owners commend its modern fast action, crisp recovery and excellent value, delivering high performance across throwing distances; a few note it's slightly harsh with very light flies."

  • Playful flex

  • Designed to handle both spey and switch techniques with a medium-fast action

  • Playful flex

  • Designed to handle both spey and switch techniques with a medium-fast action

Recreational Enjoyment

Skill Development & Mastery

The Loop Cross S1 13'2" 8wt is the best-in-class value-performance two-hand rod, delivering a modern medium-fast action and surprisingly light swing weight that performs well on rivers and estuaries. Compared with premium blanks from Sage and G.Loomis it offers many of the same casting traits for significantly less expense, making it a technically capable, budget-friendly choice for anglers who want high performance without the top-tier price.

  • Turbo turnover

  • Laser accuracy

  • Playful flex

  • Designed to handle both spey and switch techniques with a medium-fast action

  • Responsive blank offers precise line control for roll and single-handed casts

  • Turbo turnover

  • Laser accuracy

  • Playful flex

  • Designed to handle both spey and switch techniques with a medium-fast action

  • Responsive blank offers precise line control for roll and single-handed casts

Order Now

$900-1,200 CAD

4
BEST AFFORDABLE TWO-HAND

Redington DUALLY 12'6" 7wt

Redington

The Redington DUALLY 12'6" 7wt leads the market for versatility and affordability with its convertible single-hand/two-hand design that lets anglers fish tight water and spey-cast with one rod. While it won’t deliver the long-range grunt of the Sage or the refined mid-flex of the G.Loomis, its financial advantage and practical adaptability make it the smartest all-in-one option for anglers who need multi-purpose capability on a budget.

4.2
★★★★☆

  • Two-mode versatile

  • Switch-friendly

  • Two-mode versatile

  • Switch-friendly

Review Summary

83%

"Buyers like it as an affordable, versatile two-hand rod with easy loading and comfortable single-hand use, making it great for beginners and travel; however it's less powerful and refined than premium sticks."

  • Backpack-ready grin

  • Budget-friendly two-handed rod built for anglers learning spey techniques

  • Backpack-ready grin

  • Budget-friendly two-handed rod built for anglers learning spey techniques

Recreational Enjoyment

Skill Development & Mastery

The Redington DUALLY 12'6" 7wt leads the market for versatility and affordability with its convertible single-hand/two-hand design that lets anglers fish tight water and spey-cast with one rod. While it won’t deliver the long-range grunt of the Sage or the refined mid-flex of the G.Loomis, its financial advantage and practical adaptability make it the smartest all-in-one option for anglers who need multi-purpose capability on a budget.

  • Two-mode versatile

  • Switch-friendly

  • Backpack-ready grin

  • Budget-friendly two-handed rod built for anglers learning spey techniques

  • Durable, forgiving blank that promotes easy turnover and stroke development

  • Two-mode versatile

  • Switch-friendly

  • Backpack-ready grin

  • Budget-friendly two-handed rod built for anglers learning spey techniques

  • Durable, forgiving blank that promotes easy turnover and stroke development

Order Now

$450-600 CAD

5
BEST VALUE SALTWATER/SPEY

Echo KING 13' 8wt

Echo

The Echo KING 13' 8wt is the market leader among budget heavy-duty two-hand rods, engineered to control large salmon and steelhead with a stout, confidence-inspiring blank at a fraction of premium prices. It sacrifices some of the finesse and low swing weight of the Loop and G.Loomis offerings in favor of brute force and affordability, making it an excellent choice for anglers targeting big fish in tough, windy conditions.

4.1
★★★★☆

  • Beastly lift

  • Budget brawn

  • Beastly lift

  • Budget brawn

Review Summary

82%

"Customers appreciate the King's punch-to-price ratio for heavy lines and salmon/steelhead work, but mention QC inconsistencies and a stiffer feel that can be tiring on long days."

  • King-sized grin

  • Powerful blank intended for heavy flies and beach/saltwater spey work

  • King-sized grin

  • Powerful blank intended for heavy flies and beach/saltwater spey work

Recreational Enjoyment

Skill Development & Mastery

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

The Echo KING 13' 8wt is the market leader among budget heavy-duty two-hand rods, engineered to control large salmon and steelhead with a stout, confidence-inspiring blank at a fraction of premium prices. It sacrifices some of the finesse and low swing weight of the Loop and G.Loomis offerings in favor of brute force and affordability, making it an excellent choice for anglers targeting big fish in tough, windy conditions.

  • Beastly lift

  • Budget brawn

  • King-sized grin

  • Powerful blank intended for heavy flies and beach/saltwater spey work

  • Robust build and corrosion-resistant components for coastal environments

  • Beastly lift

  • Budget brawn

  • King-sized grin

  • Powerful blank intended for heavy flies and beach/saltwater spey work

  • Robust build and corrosion-resistant components for coastal environments

Order Now

$400-550 CAD

What research and testing say about two-hand fly rods

A mix of biomechanics, materials testing, and field performance evaluations helps explain why modern two-hand fly rods perform better than older designs. Research into casting mechanics shows that two-handed techniques distribute effort across larger muscle groups, lowering shoulder and elbow stress when compared with repeated single-handed overhead casts. Materials and engineering tests demonstrate that contemporary high-modulus carbon and refined taper design improve energy recovery and line speed, producing tighter loops and longer, more accurate casts. Independent lab and field tests also confirm that reduced swing weight and balanced rod geometry reduce angler fatigue and improve casting endurance during long river days.

Biomechanics and casting analysis: Studies and motion-capture tests indicate two-handed casting uses torso rotation and leg drive, which reduces repetitive strain on the shoulder and increases sustainable casting power.

Taper and energy transfer: Engineering evaluations show modern spey tapers tune flex and recovery to produce tighter loops and better line control at long range, improving turnover of heavy flies and sinktips.

Materials science: Advances in carbon fiber layups and resin systems lower swing weight while maintaining strength and stiffness, so rods recover faster and transmit energy more efficiently.

Corrosion and durability testing: Saltwater-dedicated models use corrosion-resistant components and reinforced ferrules to withstand repeated exposure to salt and abrasive conditions typical of coastal fishing.

Field performance validation: Manufacturer and third-party field tests demonstrate that matched rod-line systems produce longer casts, improved control in wind, and reduced fatigue on multi-hour sessions.

In the Canadian context, two hand fly rods are the go-to tools for anglers targeting salmon, steelhead and big coastal runs. The five rods featured here each answer a specific need: the Sage IGNITER 13'6" 8wt for a high-performance, modern spey experience; the G.Loomis IMX-PRO 13' 7wt for precise steelhead presentations; the Loop Cross S1 13'2" 8wt for a refined taper and reduced swing weight; the Redington DUALLY 12'6" 7wt as a versatile, cost-conscious double-hander; and the Echo KING 13' 8wt offering user-friendly power for saltwater and large rivers. If you want the best overall choice on this list for a modern, all-round spey rod in Canada, the Sage IGNITER 13'6" 8wt stands out for its combination of feel, power, and contemporary tapering. I hope you found what you were looking for — you can refine or expand your search using the site search to compare lines, reels, and specific taper recommendations.

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