Overview

The Echo Lift is Echo's value fly rod, built to get you going or to back you up. It follows Echo's popular Base series, with updated actions that suit a wider range of casting styles, and Echo designed it to keep impressing you whether you are still learning or years into fly fishing. As Echo puts it, anglers who struggle to learn often change their line or their fly when the rod was the problem all along.

The medium-fast action is forgiving enough to learn on, with enough power for bigger rivers and bigger fish in the heavier sizes. The black blank carries white ECHO LIFT graphics, chrome guides and a black anodized aluminum reel seat. There are two grip styles: a reversed half wells cork grip on the 3 to 6 wt and a full wells grip with a cork fighting butt on the 7 and 8 wt. Every model is a 4-piece travel rod, and we carry all six in Echo's current range, from a 7'6" 3 wt to a 9' 8 wt.

Which Lift Should You Choose?

Small stream dry fly fishing: ECHOLIFT376 (7'6" 3 wt).

Small stream trout, panfish and light-duty fishing: ECHOLIFT480 (8' 4 wt).

A first trout rod, or one rod for nearly everything: ECHOLIFT590 (9' 5 wt).

Larger trout rivers, streamers, big dries and light bass flies: ECHOLIFT690 (9' 6 wt).

Bass, carp, big trout streamers and light steelhead duty: ECHOLIFT790 (9' 7 wt).

Inshore saltwater, salmon, steelhead and big bass: ECHOLIFT890 (9' 8 wt).

Echo Lift Specs

Echo Lift Models

ECHOLIFT376 - 7'6" 3 wt

A short 3 wt and an easy way into small stream dry fly fishing.

Best for: small streams, dry flies, short casts.

Line pairing: A 3 wt floating creek or double-taper line that loads the rod at short range. We recommend the SA Amplitude Smooth Creek Trout (WF3F) or the SA Amplitude Textured Double Taper (DT3F).

ECHOLIFT480 - 8' 4 wt

An 8' 4 wt for small stream trout, panfish and other light-duty fishing.

Best for: small stream trout, panfish, light-duty fishing.

Line pairing: A 4 wt weight-forward floating trout line. We recommend the SA Amplitude Smooth Trout Expert (WF4F) or the SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity (WF4F).

ECHOLIFT590 - 9' 5 wt

The most popular freshwater size, for good reason: big dries, moderate-distance casts, nymph rigs, small streamers and plenty more.

Best for: all-around trout fishing, dries, nymphs, small streamers.

Line pairing: A 5 wt weight-forward floating trout line. We recommend the SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity (WF5F) or the SA Amplitude Textured Infinity (WF5F).

ECHOLIFT690 - 9' 6 wt

Larger trout streams, moderate streamers, big dries and light bass flies are no problem for the 9' 6 wt.

Best for: larger trout rivers, streamers, big dries, light bass flies.

Line pairing: A 6 wt weight-forward floating line. We recommend the SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity (WF6F) or the SA Amplitude Textured Trout Expert (WF6F).

ECHOLIFT790 - 9' 7 wt

The Lift to get for bass and carp, bigger trout streamers and lighter salmon and steelhead fishing. It has a full wells grip and a cork fighting butt.

Best for: bass, carp, big trout streamers, light salmon and steelhead.

Line pairing: A 7 wt weight-forward floating line, or a bass or streamer taper for bigger flies. We recommend the SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity (WF7F) or the SA Amplitude Textured Bass Bug (WF7F).

ECHOLIFT890 - 9' 8 wt

A 9' 8 wt to get you started on inshore saltwater, salmon, steelhead, bass and anywhere else with bigger flies and bigger fish. Full wells grip and cork fighting butt.

Best for: inshore saltwater, salmon, steelhead, bass, big flies.

Line pairing: An 8 wt weight-forward floating line matched to the fish: a general-purpose, bass or saltwater taper. We recommend the SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity (WF8F) or the SA Amplitude Smooth Striper (WF8F).

Lift vs Other Echo Rods

On Echo's action and power chart the Lift sits between medium and medium-fast at mid power, the softest of Echo's graphite trout rods apart from the kids' Gecko. The Echo Carbon XL is a step up: a little faster and stronger, in 2 to 6 wt. The 8-piece Echo TRIP Trout has more power and packs into an 18" case for travel, and the Echo Trout X is Echo's trout rod for advanced casters. For young anglers, see the Echo Gecko Trout kids' rod.

Echo Lift FAQ

Is the Lift a good beginner fly rod?

Yes. Echo designed it to help anglers who are still learning, with an action that suits a wide range of casting styles, and to keep performing as your casting improves.

What action is the Lift?

Medium-fast, per Echo's spec table. On Echo's action and power chart it sits between medium and medium-fast.

Which weight should I choose?

The 9' 5 wt for most trout fishing, the 7'6" 3 wt or 8' 4 wt for small streams and panfish, the 9' 6 wt for bigger rivers and streamers, the 9' 7 wt for bass and carp, and the 9' 8 wt for steelhead, salmon and inshore saltwater.

Which models have a fighting butt?

The 9' 7 wt and 9' 8 wt have a full wells grip with a cork fighting butt. The 3 to 6 wt have a reversed half wells grip.

What is the warranty?

The Lift is covered by Echo's lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects for the original owner, when the rod is bought from an authorized dealer. If the rod breaks in normal fishing use, Echo repairs or replaces it for a service fee that varies by model, and the fee is waived if the cause turns out to be a defect.