Developed centuries ago in Europe to catch Atlantic salmon, two-handed fly rods are seeing a huge resurgence due to the light weight and casting performance of new graphite materials. Their extended length provides amazing line mending control, and allows for unique casts that eliminate false casting. These rods are balanced to special two-handed fly lines, often called Spey lines, which are dual size rated (#8/9, #9/10, etc.). Heavier than standard weight-forward lines, Spey lines have very long-belly tapers to assist in Spey casting techniques (a method akin to roll casting). This helps compensate for the lack of a backcast, achieving plenty of distance despite the lower line speed. Because we design our rods with a faster "Scandanavian" taper, they Spey cast exceptionally well, yet can still be used with shooting heads to make both Spey and standard overhead casts. The majority of the models are available in GLX graphite, and we're proud to say that makes them the lightest, most responsive two-handers in the world—a big plus when you're maneuvering rods of this size. Steelhead anglers using floating lines will most likely prefer a #8/9 rod. For fishing sinking and floating lines, the added power of a #9/10 will make line pick-ups easier. For maximum distance, big flies and large fish, go with a #10/11 or #11/12.