Requesting some advice on a rod selection.

[garypullings]

Hello,

Like a previous poster I am in the market for a quality higher end rod.

This is what I currently have.

Sage 6wt launch - I love the feel of this rod. I can feel the power curve in the whole rod as I am casting and I am casting it by feel.

Orvis 4wt Clear Water II - I don't love this rod as much as my sage, yet due to it being a 4wt, I use it more than my sage.


Reddington 2wt CT - Just purchased and matched with a sage Click real. This is what I will be using on small steams and rivers. IE upper Kern, Kings etc.


Ok now I have said what I have and what I like about them, I wanted to speak why I want another rod to maybe help you help me.

I have always wanted a high end rod. I have always heard people speaking how fishing these rods make their life more easy on the river. That being said. I just want one because I can have one and I am being selfish for me.

at the 2011 Vue with the Southern Sierra Fly fishers they had the Sage One rod that they were using for their casting contest. I really liked the feel of that rod and any way I moved I was able to get the rod to do what I wanted to do. I will be fishing it this weekend on loan from the Kern River Fly shop, Yet I wanted to know why you like your rods more compared from one to the other.

If I have the money to put on a high end rod, I want to get the best one for me. Unfortunately I can't test cast each and every one though due to I have limited places to go try one out.

So far in my contentions are

Sage- US Company and great product.

The One

Orvis - US company and great product
Helios

G. Loomis - I know they use to make great rods, Yet since Shimano bought them out; I am unsure of them. I don't like sending my money to non US companies. Because of that alone they might be out of the contention for my purchase.

NRx or GLX

R.L. Winston - US company and great product. I don't know much on these rods. I know the manufacture though, through reputation.

Baron II or Barron II MX



Any way if some of you are going to the SSFC event this weekend I will be there. I will be there mid friday morning and be at the rod class all day probably.

[WanderingBlues]

What weight? I know each line-up always seems to have one that is really the 'sweet spot' for their technology. Enjoy the hunt- it's 1/2 the fun!

[Pete]

Want a high quality high end rod? Why look any farther than Bamboo? Best casting, most sensitive rods out there.... duh

Why spend a ton of money to pay for the name? You build rods.... build one you like. It will be cheaper and will have the components and colors you want. Blanks still carry the manufactures warrenty. With the money you save, you can order one of Greg's nets to match the wife's net.

You kind of left us too many unknowns:
1) your casting style
2) water where you plan on fishing it the most
3) type of fishing? Nymphing, dry fly, streamers, generic?

Its hard to go against a Winston or Sage. Never really met an Orvis I fell in love with, but I guess they're out there some where. If I was going to buy a factory made high end rod I would probably opt for a Winston.

Ask 50 fly fishermen for a rod opinion and you will get 55 different answers . If you listen to what a rod is telling you, any rod is a great rod. See you Saturday.

Pete

[NorcalBob]

<<<Ask 50 fly fishermen for a rod opinion and you will get 55 different answers>>>
Ditto. What you are asking is similar to the blondes, brunettes, or redheads, which is best question!
Buying a fly rod is like buying shoes, you better try them on first! If you're going to drop big $$$ on a high end rod, go to the spring FF shows, or a good fly shop, and try them all out to pick the one that best suits you. All of the rods on your short list are high quality rods that you'll love to own & fish. Anyone that tells you a particular rod is the "one"/"best" is only telling you their opinion, and it may not be the "one"/"best" for you.

[fly addict]

I’m not going to suggest any brand of rod manufacture, even though I do like the “Green ones”. But from what I see in your line-up I would say you might consider a 10’ nymph rod in a 2, 3, or 4 wt. Who makes them? Hardy, Echo, Sage, Grays, Loop. If you do a lot of Euro style nymphing on rivers the size of the Lower Owens or Kern or East Walker then a 10’ makes a lot of sense. You’ll find that it will be your “go to” rod most of the time. There are a few shops around that have what you are looking for including David’s http://sierratroutmagnet.com. If you are on the Kern this weekend ask Guy if he has the Sage ESN 10' 2wt, or 3wt. Here is a on the water report, http://info.bluequillangler.com/blog/bi ... Field-Test. Good luck on finding your next rod, my guess it will not be your last.

Mark

[planettrout]

Gary,

I'd go with fly addict's suggestion of trying out a 10' rod in a weight and brand of your choice...I have a couple of these, by different manufactures and since about 90% of the FF I do is subsurface, on larger waters, they are a pleasure to use...



...those are both 10' rods we are using...they also have their advantages from float tubes, drift boats and 'yaks....


PT/TB

[Artin]

I also agree with Flyaddict, a new high end rod is a pretty big investment. I can tell you all day how much I like (insert name of brand & model here) rod yet you may hate it. To each their own. I'd say try out the rods that you have access to and go from there. No one here has access to all the different types of rods. Some have more than others. Just try out what you can an make your decision of what feels best. Also keep in mind that rods don't feel the same on the water and in a parking lot.

On another note, I highly recommend you talking to Pete. If you're going to invest in an expensive rod you should at least give bamboo a try. You won't be disappointed if you do. I finished my first rod late last year. I have not fished anything other than bamboo for trout! And I LOVE my graphite rods....
Pete lent me his 5wt. a few weeks ago when I went up to the Kern and I loved it. It is "very" sensitive and has the backbone to cast and fight larger specimens. I highly recommend you try one out if you have the chance to.

With that said, the question still remains, what feels good to you? Weather graphite or bamboo. It has to feel good to you to make it an enjoyable experience.

Artin

[Sasha]

Helios






This was my reply in the last thread like this. In all honesty one should try out different rods and get the one they like. Just because I like the Helios doesn’t mean that you will.

[briansII]

Hello,

Like a previous poster I am in the market for a quality higher end rod.

This is what I currently have.

Sage 6wt launch - I love the feel of this rod. I can feel the power curve in the whole rod as I am casting and I am casting it by feel.

Orvis 4wt Clear Water II - I don't love this rod as much as my sage, yet due to it being a 4wt, I use it more than my sage.


Reddington 2wt CT - Just purchased and matched with a sage Click real. This is what I will be using on small steams and rivers. IE upper Kern, Kings etc.


Ok now I have said what I have and what I like about them, I wanted to speak why I want another rod to maybe help you help me.

I have always wanted a high end rod. I have always heard people speaking how fishing these rods make their life more easy on the river. That being said. I just want one because I can have one and I am being selfish for me.

at the 2011 Vue with the Southern Sierra Fly fishers they had the Sage One rod that they were using for their casting contest. I really liked the feel of that rod and any way I moved I was able to get the rod to do what I wanted to do. I will be fishing it this weekend on loan from the Kern River Fly shop, Yet I wanted to know why you like your rods more compared from one to the other.

If I have the money to put on a high end rod, I want to get the best one for me. Unfortunately I can't test cast each and every one though due to I have limited places to go try one out.

So far in my contentions are

Sage- US Company and great product.

The One

Orvis - US company and great product
Helios

G. Loomis - I know they use to make great rods, Yet since Shimano bought them out; I am unsure of them. I don't like sending my money to non US companies. Because of that alone they might be out of the contention for my purchase.

NRx or GLX

R.L. Winston - US company and great product. I don't know much on these rods. I know the manufacture though, through reputation.

Baron II or Barron II MX



Any way if some of you are going to the SSFC event this weekend I will be there. I will be there mid friday morning and be at the rod class all day probably.

As many have suggested, my choices may not bring a smile to your face after casting them. Since you are willing to lay out mucho $$ for this rod, I think it's worth investing some gas money for. Good that you'll be casting/fishing the Sage, but I would not stop there. Cast every rod you can get your hands on. Side by side comparisons will reveal a lot more than casting one rod one weekend, then another the next weekend. I'm pretty sure there are fly shops north, and east of you that will have all the rods you listed, except maybe one. Also, those shops will have other rods for you to try......and you might find that a less expensive rod is the one for you. Give them a call, and set something up with them. OR, you can hit The Fly Fishing Show in Pleasanton this month. Most of the rod companies will be there. It's a great show. I'd be there if I was free that weekend.

http://www.flyfishingshow.com/Pleasanton.html

And just to reinforce how subjective rod choices are, I personally would not suggest a 10'. I think they are great for certain things, but IMHO, there's a tradeoff for the extra 12" of graphite and resin.

briansII

[Sasha]

And just to reinforce how subjective rod choices are, I personally would not suggest a 10'. I think they are great for certain things, but IMHO, there's a tradeoff for the extra 12" of graphite and resin.

briansII

This!!!

Here some more subjective opinions. I like 10' 7wt rods for single hand steelhead/ still water rods. I also tend to like 8'6" 5wt rods but sometimes I will use 9' 5wt. Lighter rods (under 3wt) I really like in the 7'6"-8'. I only have one two hander so far and it is 13'

[Papasequoia]

Thanks a lot for the comments on the Sage ESN along with the helpful review, Mark. Now I want one too Yeah, thanks for that. Oh well, the boys can spend their first year at a community college I guess.

[rkfiske]

Don't forget to check out the new Hardy Zenith! (Partially because I am curious about them too) They're apparently the rod du jour at the moment, carbon fiber with some new 3m composite resin. 60% stronger, 30% lighter than equivalent rod.

[briansII]

Don't forget to check out the new Hardy Zenith! (Partially because I am curious about them too) They're apparently the rod du jour at the moment, carbon fiber with some new 3m composite resin. 60% stronger, 30% lighter than equivalent rod.

Me too. Would love to read a firsthand review of the new Hardy rods. The new, 3M Matrix resins are being used in a few brands of new rods. St Croix is using it in some of their rods, and not asking top dollar for that line.

briansII

[Swanee]

The way I knew which rod I wanted after casting a really good one that fit my style was that I would wake up around 3:30 in the morning going over things in my mind about how in the heck I was going to come up with the money to get that rod.
It will haunt you.
Swanee

[planettrout]

Two arguments for the 10' or 11' fly rod...I was SOLD on these in 1985...

http://www.askaboutflyfishing.com/speak ... -trout.cfm

http://www.bishfish.co.nz/articles/fres ... ly_rod.htm

PT/TB