The Echo Eight Four B fly rod is the newest innovation from the brilliant mind of Tim Rajeff. Measuring at a length of 8’4”, this rod can cast both big and heavy flies accurately, no matter the conditions. The “B” in the title stands for Bass, as this rod was developed with bass anglers in mind. But don’t let that steer you away. This is the perfect rod for fly anglers who want to be versatile with just one setup.
I am both fascinated and annoyed by the fly-fishing industry, especially when it comes to fly rod options. Every rod company is both unique and equivalent to one another. The Orvis Hydros 3 and the Sage R8 for example, both are great rods and bolster innovation on the basis of taper and material makeup. But to the average angler, who can tell the difference beyond the basis of branding. At the end of the day aren’t both just 9-foot X-weight fly rods?
To keep things very simple, two distinctions can be made between fly rods: Difference in material makeup and difference in length. Most fly rods today are graphite. I have a few fiberglass rods, and I love the feedback you receive from the rod. I have casted bamboo rods, but never owned one myself. I think right now the average cost for a bamboo rod is in the ballpark of a human kidney. I love cheap thrills, so I tend to keep my eye out for a rod that is unique and innovative based on length. Here’s a question, what would happen if you took your 8-weight, and cut off the top 6-inches…?
The Echo Eight Four B is the newest innovation from the brilliant mind of Tim Rajeff. Measuring a length of 8’4”, this rod can cast both big and heavy flies accurately, no matter the conditions. The “B” in the title stands for Bass, as this rod was developed with bass anglers in mind. But don’t let that steer you away. This is the perfect rod for fly anglers who want to be versatile with just one setup.
I’ve stated this before, I love gear. Rods, reels, fly boxes, apparel, gadgets, and so on. I make an excuse or illustrate in my mind a fictitious situation to justify my purchase. This fly rod came into my possession by way of similar avenues: It was marketed well on social media and I just had to have it! And it was the right price. It didn’t even put a dent in the wallet. So, It seemed like a great rod to add to my quiver.
I made the purchase in preparation and anticipation of the coming spring. I was thinking about Redfish and Flounder in shallow water, bass in prespawn, and the opportunity to throw those funny-looking orange & black Cicada flies as the “EMERGENCE” spread across the southeast. The 7-weight model was purchased because it felt like a good middle of the road.
As far as appearance goes, the rod features a full-wells cork grip handle with cork fighting butt. The blank is a dark olive green seemingly to match the bass species it is intended to pursue. I really started to like this rod once I got out on the water and began to cast it. I immediately noticed two things: it was much lighter than my other 7 and 8-weights, but it was fast and had plenty of power to throw any streamer or popper in my fly box. The rod loaded with just one false cast, and I could put a fly down anywhere within 50 feet after a roll-cast-pick-up. In short, this rod is a workhorse that delivers!
So, whether you are fishing for Bronze-backs, Baby Tarpon, Bonefish, Bowfin, Browns or whatever “B” species of fish you pursue this summer, be sure to bring along the Echo 84B!
For more information on this rod, be sure to check out Echo Fly Fishing on Instagram @echoflyfishing. To find a fly shop in your area that carries these rods and other Echo Fly Products, check out https://echoflyfishing.com/dealers/
Twelve or 13 years ago I moved to the Minneapolis area for a new job. I started fishing in the Mississippi and several of its larger tributaries for smallmouth bass and of course added a sink tip to my floating line. This rig got tiresome to cast with a 9’ Scott 7 wt rod, so I went shopping for a shorter rod. At the time, sage had recently been pushing a short rod (7’11”) for bass, but they were pretty spendy for my budget. I went to a big box outdoor store with a fly fishing department and found an affordable Echo 8’4” rod (their Edge model). It felt good in the store and even better on the water with a weighted streamer and 10’ fast sink tip. It felt like casting a 6 wt and I got many compliments on my long casts from the few other wade fly fishermen I encountered who were not seeking walleyes. They were my go-to rods for years. Echo discontinued it but I found a second one to use as a backup in the event of an on stream catastrophe. I still use them when fishing smaller water for smallmouth bass and Erie steelhead in tight quarters.
My preferred rods now are two-handed due to hand/wrist problems, but I can manage a heavier single handed rod for a few hours at a time as long as I’m not constantly casting.