Echo is a brand created by Tim Rajeff, a famous fishing guide and American fly fishing competitor, based in Vancouver, Washington. Tim has distinguished himself in the competition world through his unrivalled casting skills, and he began developing fly rods in 1980. His range now consists of robust products, no frills, at a reasonable price. Its success is impressive! Here is the test of one of its flagship products: the Echo Shadow II 10' line 2.
Static test :
The Echo Shadow II is a rod with a very sober look, where the black colour predominates (whether that be on the rings, the matte blank or the reel seat in anodised aluminium). Its length is 10' in its original version, and an optional Competition Kit (priced at about 75 USD) allows you to lengthen it. It consists of:
- A ringless element allowing it to go from 10' to 10'6 without undoing the assembly.
- An element with a ring allowing it to go from 10'6 to 11'2.
- A fighting butt.
- 3 counterweights of 0.35oz each fixable to the butt, to add depending on the weight of your reel to achieve balance.
Measurements :
The Common Cents System protocol was first applied to the rod in its original 10' version. Then, after adding in succession the 2 pieces of the Competition Kit, the measurements are taken at 10'6 and 11'2. The results are presented in the 3 tables below.
In 10', the Echo Shadow II requires 24 cents to be folded over a third of its total length, so its ERN is 2.53, giving it an ideal line number 2. The fast action (AA of 73°) and the frequency at 74cpm attest to real opportunities in dry fly fishing. A line number 2 seems best indicated, although the manufacturer advises a WF3. This rod offers very comfortable 10' fishing, the total weight of the balanced set (BTW) is only 9.90oz : the balance is therefore better than that of most models of equivalent ranges, and even than that of certain ranges of a much higher price!
In the longer lengths, 10'6 and 11'2, the ERN and the AA remain identical. Logically, the frequency decreases (it is conversely proportional to the length, that's actually the challenge with long rods, to manage to maintain a high reactivity and therefore a precise fishing action): the frequency goes to 72cpm in 10'6 then to 69cpm in 11'2. The BTWs increase in these lengths, respectively to 10.9 and 13.4oz.
Echo Shadow II 10' #2
NB: The verified weight of the rod and the BRW do not take into account the counterweight. Each counterweight washer weighs 0.35oz, depending on whether you add 1, 2 or 3 to the butt, the BRW therefore becomes 6.45oz with 1 counterweight, 6.10oz with 2, 5.75oz with 3... The weight of the rod varying in the opposite direction (3.5oz with 1 counterweight, 3.84oz with 2, 4.2oz with 3...etc.), the BTW remains at 9.90oz whatever the chosen configuration.
Echo Shadow 10'6 #2
NB: The verified weight of the rod and the BRW do not take into account the counterweight. The BRW becomes 7.16oz with 1 counterweight, 6.81oz with 2, 6.45oz with 3... The weight of the rod varying in the opposite direction (3.7oz with 1 counterweight, 4oz with 2, 4.41oz with 3...etc.), the BTW remains at 10.9oz whatever the chosen configuration.
Echo Shadow 11'2 #2
NB : The verified length and weight of the rod take into account the fighting butt and the BRW take into account the fighting butt and 3 counterweights.
Our fly rod protocol review : here
The opinion of the manufacturer :
"The Echo Shadow II rod was developed by Tim Rajeff and Pete Erickson, a member of the American national team of fly fishing. It's a nymph fishing rod that has a huge number of supporters around the world and many of them have also started using it for dry fly fishing! Norman Maktima became a champion in fly fishing in the United States by using this rod."
The opinion of Lionel Fournier, champion of France in 2018 and member of France's fly fishing team:
"I really like this rod because it's a "real" 10' line 2, contrary to others announced as such but that are actually much more powerful. I use it for 10' euronymphing and for light dryfly fishing with a line 2, as well as with an additional extension (10'6): in this configuration, it is to my knowledge one of the only 10'6 line 2 on the market! In fact, I find it to a high degree considering its reasonable price: the finish is good, the additional elements and counterweights allow you to adapt to various fishing situations."
The opinion of the editor :
With its ideal line number 2, this rod is quite versatile in 10' for light fly fishing (nymph and dry fly). It will seduce those who are adept in using light and reactive products, at a reasonable price (about 250 USD). In the longer lengths, its best use is for euronymphing in big rivers, where casting gestures are more ample and slow (prospecting in shadowy water, for example). Finally, the possibility of fixing counterweights to the butt provides a balanced setup regardless of the weight of the reel chosen: it is the rod that adapts to the reel this time!
Link to the manufacturer's website :
