Requesting some advice on a rod selection.

[JGFLYFISH]

Check this out...


[url]
http://troutunderground.com/2009/02/the ... me-period/
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[Gila Trout]

Hello:
I have been fly fishing for 30 years, building rods for about 25 years and I am a rod junkie. If you are going to drop $700 to $800 on a rod try every one you can. There is no best rod or best rod maker. We all have different casting strokes and we all know what we like in a rod. For me the best rod I have ever cast was a 9' 4 wt. mid flex Helios with a RIO gold WF 4 F but you might try that rod and not like it. I think having good casting skills and matching the right line to a rods given action will determine how much pleasue one gets out of a rod. My personal rod collection is as follows TFO TiCr 9' 4wt. TFO TiCr X 9' 4wt. TFO BVK 8'6" 5 wt. TFO BVK 8' 3 wt. Sage TXL 7'10" 1 wt. and a Echo 3 10' 5 wt. All the rods but the Echo I assembled. I really enjoy each of these rods and they all serve me well. I can honestly say that having tried most of the high end rods by the big makers that these rods do not fish/ cast $500 better than the rods I have. Before buying your high end rod try a Echo 3 or a St. Croix Legend Elite. You might be plesantly suprised. My Echo 3 10' 5 wt. is an absolute blast to fish. Having a good time looking for a new rod, it is allot of fun. What ever rod you choose I sure it will serve you well.

Lanny

[Waterborne]

No, no, no. An $800 rod casts $600 better than a $200 rod. Why else would it cost $800? :shrug:

Seriously, if you want and have the means to buy a high end rod, there's no reason not to get one. I certainly have "toys" that cost well over $800. I'm a big proponent of buying something that inspires you to use it and incites pride of ownership. Sometimes, it's good to quit pinching pennies, just buy something nice, and be done with it. Orvis Helios or Sage One... I doubt either one is a dog.

Spend $800 on a rod that you lust after and will fish for 10+ years, or spend the next 10+ years buying 5 Chinese made rods for $800 that you kinda like. Or, spend $150 on a rod that makes you happy and spend the $650 for 9 months worth of daily sugary, caffeinated drinks from Starbucks. There are so many stupid ways people throw away money these days, I don't think buying a high end fly rod which could potentially provide great satisfaction for life a "wasteful" purchase.

[fly addict]

Check this out...


[url]
http://troutunderground.com/2009/02/the ... me-period/
[/url]

I have a few on that list!
Mark

[unskunkable]

The only ones I would stay as far away from as possible are the G-Loomis rods. Not because they're dogs but because Loomis is instituting a new 1 and done policy. No warranty from them without paying BIG bucks each and every time you have to send it in. I don't break many rods myself but thinking of having to shell out another $100 or more if something stupid happens puts me out.

That being said guys that break rods just to get a new model or because they can't take care of things are Dolts.


I'm going back into hiding again