This winter I picked up the Echo Micro Practice Rod (MPR) as an early Christmas gift to myself and have thoroughly enjoyed it ever since. I typically practice casting throughout the winter with my 4-weight fly rod, however, the MPR is a significant improvement over this method of practice for several reasons.

First, with a standard fly rod I need at least 15-20 feet of line out (plus a tapered leader) to properly load the rod and form loops. This means I need more like 40-50 feet of space for false casting. Living in an apartment I need to go outside into my shared courtyard, and in frigid winter temperatures, I’m not doing much practice. With the MPR I only need 10 feet of the corded line to effectively load the short, soft action rod. On top of this, the short rod allows me to stand with proper posture with low ceilings. I can practice inside my apartment whenever the urge hits me! 

Secondly, the corded line (more like a soft nylon blend rope with a short wool “leader”) is very durable, and designed to be cast on abrasive surfaces. Every time I take my regular fly rod out for dryland casting I am putting unnecessary wear and tear on my expensive fly line.

Lastly, due to the heavy weight of the MPR’s line, it makes roll casts and mends surprisingly well. Not that I’m looking for drag free drifts in my apartment, but this lets me practice higher level techniques like reach mends, and partial or “S” mends achievable in tight quarters. 

Overall, the MPR has been a fantastic addition to my collection of fly rods. It has kept my casting sharp over the winter, let me work on skills I don’t always get a chance to work on in the river, and as a side bonus my cat loves to practice with me!

The Echo MPR system has add-on options for learning new techniques, like double-hauls and 2 hand spey casting. Check out the Echo MPR Collection

Duncan's enthusiasm for learning new techniques brings fresh perspective to the shop, both on the water with his guiding clients or in the store helping guests with their fly fishing journey.