SLT vs. ZXL....did Sage make a tangible improvement?

Hi there~hoping someone has used both and can offer an opinion. I don't live anywhere near a Sage dealer and may have to buy a rod "sight-unseen"..so to speak. I've been looking for a gently used SLT 383-4 in FAOL's wanted section for some time as I've tried this rod and really like it. As they're disappearing now, I keep reading that the ZXL is an improved SLT and am wondering if anyone has an opinion on that. Sage makes a 386-4 ZXL that comes pretty close in length...any suggestions/opinions?

Cheers,
TZB

BTW~if you have a 383-4 SLT you want to get rid of, by all means...chime in!

thezugbug,

I have a 590-4 SLT and a 490-4 ZXL. I don't feel the ZXL is a better rod, just a different rod. The action is slightly softer in the tip, which was important for me for small streams and pools. I feel the ZXL does a better job at making soft presentations with short casting situations, but not by much. Then again I am comparing a 4wt to a 5wt. I really like both of these rods. Even when the wind kicks I can get enough line speed going to cut through all but the heaviest of winds on the lakes I fish on in the Sierras.

Have you used a TXL? I have fished with the 7'10" 4wt. TXL and thought the SLT (383-4) had more backbone, and was more of a pleasure to fish. When I saw the Z-XL designation on the SLT replacement, I had bad memories of my experience with the TXL and wondered which rod the "Z" would be more similar too. It sounds as though it might be the TXL...yikes.

TZB

BTW~no offense intended to the legions of TXL owners out there.

No I have not tried the TXL. The ZXL has plenty of backbone. I fish in a creek that when the winds whip up makes for some challenging casts to hit the mark, but The ZXL, like the SLT can be punched to drive through it.