Medium, progressive action rods: What's your favorite

Hi, all. I'm new here and appreciate the great info on this site. I'm an active member of the fiberglass flyrodders forum and predominantly fish glass rods for trout here in western Colorado.

But I still love my graphite rods. I like medium, progressive action rods; my graphite quiver consists mainly or Winston IM6, Sage LL, and the older unsanded Orvis Superfine rods.

What are your favorite medium, progressive action graphite rods? Modern and older rods included. I'm curious. :D

My favorites:
1) Winston IM6 8'6" 5 wt 3 pc
2) Sage LL 8'9" 3 wt 2 pc
3) Orvis Far & Fine 7'9" 5 wt 2 pc

Yes, mines also the old "Orvis Far & Fine 7'9" 5 wt 2 pc"

My favs are
Scott G2 and Winston BII-t

Jeff

Hi DocBlueDevil, and WELCOME!!!

I have:
Sage LL 8'9" 4 wt 2 pc.
Gatti FRC903-3PA 9' 3 wt. 3 pc.

Sweet and sweeter!

I like the Far and Fine as well.

They still bring good prices on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=200324635125

Hi Doc -

Looks like you finally came in from the dark side after lurking for almost a year ??

Welcome and greetings from SE Idaho.

As far as medium, progressive action rods, I think my Powell LGA 9' for 5 wt would fall into that category. Really nice rod. Hope nothing happens to it, 'cause Powell isn't around to help out.

John

Gatti 906 FR 3pc PA

I'd add my Sage SP 586-2 into that group. One of the few rods that make me look like I can cast.

That is pretty much all I fish
Winston: LT and JWF
Sage LL , Scott V2
Orvis: F-N-F, One Ounce, Med-flex: Helios, Zero
Fiberglass: Steffen, McFarland, Lami, Fenwick
Bamboo: Penns Creek, Battenkill and one custom Payne, one custom Edwards.
Like I said, pretty much all I fish.

So who are you on Fiberglass?

1) Orvis Tippet 7.5', 3 wt, 2 pc. I just used it today.

2) Orvis Far 'n Fine 7'9", 5 wt, 2 pc. This rod is an absolute legend. I wonder if it could be the best selling fly rod ever?

The speed associated with any given action, seems to be almost as flexible a set of terms as the rods that get labeled with them.
I can't count the number of rods I've owned that when originally purchased were touted as fast actions, only to be replaced by a new - fast, faster, extra fast action rod a few years later. Of course by that time, my old fast action rods were then being mysteriously re-rated as moderately fast actions.
Is it like youth and aging?
Do we really slow down with age or do most new things just move faster?

Of the ones that come to memory, I'd say that my old G. Loomis 1084 IM6 ( Burgundy Blank ) had to be one of my favorite medium action rods. Oddly, the action of a nine foot, four weight T.F.O. Professional reminds me of that old Loomis, but that's about where I'd draw the line in that comparison. My G-III Sage 486 LL is a real pleasure to fish as well, but it doesn't see the light of day much anymore....to many other toys to play with.

Given enough time I suppose that all of my rods will get re-rated as slow, which should work out fine. By that time, slow will probably be fast enough.

Best, Dave

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dave E

The speed associated with any given action, seems to be almost as flexible a set of terms as the rods that get labeled with them.
I can't count the number of rods I've owned that when originally purchased were touted as fast actions, only to be replaced by a new - fast, faster, extra fast action rod a few years later. Of course by that time, my old fast action rods were then being mysteriously re-rated as moderately fast actions.
Is it like youth and aging?
Do we really slow down with age or do most new things just move faster?

Of the ones that come to memory, I'd say that my old G. Loomis 1084 IM6 ( Burgundy Blank ) had to be one of my favorite medium action rods. Oddly, the action of a nine foot, four weight T.F.O. Professional reminds me of that old Loomis, but that's about where I'd draw the line in that comparison. My G-III Sage 486 LL is a real pleasure to fish as well, but it doesn't see the light of day much anymore....to many other toys to play with.

Given enough time I suppose that all of my rods will get re-rated as slow, which should work out fine. By that time, slow will probably be fast enough.

Best, Dave

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Dave

Well said. Action description sure is relative. The faster rods get these days, the slower my "medium" rods become. In the glass community, we often talk about "fast for glass" which is still slower than most "medium action" graphite rods.

G. Loomis IM6 . . . was this same blank that Winston used after transitioning from Fisher graphite to their IM6 blanks as well? The Winston IM6 8'6" 5 wt was my first rod and defined my casting stroke.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fly Goddess

That is pretty much all I fish
Winston: LT and JWF
Sage LL , Scott V2
Orvis: F-N-F, One Ounce, Med-flex: Helios, Zero
Fiberglass: Steffen, McFarland, Lami, Fenwick
Bamboo: Penns Creek, Battenkill and one custom Payne, one custom Edwards.
Like I said, pretty much all I fish.

So who are you on Fiberglass?

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Fly Goddess - I'm "docbluedevil" as well at FFR. Are you active there lately?

Mostly in the fly tying area. Plus allot off line for Furled Leaders. Talk regularly to Cameron, Mountain Shark and Mojo.

Howdy Doc, welcome aboard!

I guess you know where I stand ;)

40 minute linguine to medium:

Winston Retro
Fenwick Glass
McFarland Spruce Creek "standard tapers"
Winston DL4's especially the 7'6" 3wt & 8'0" 3wt
Winston TMF
Any bamboo that is medium to slow

[QUOTE=docbluedevil;289595]Dave

Well said. Action description sure is relative. The faster rods get these days, the slower my "medium" rods become. In the glass community, we often talk about "fast for glass" which is still slower than most "medium action" graphite rods.

Sorry to disagree, but Action, when used by knowledgeable rod builders, refers to "where" a rod bends. If one wishes to be precise in describing "how or where" one's rod bends, use the quantitative term "Action Angle". Once a rod is built, that value remains constant?until you break the rod.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bamboozle

Howdy Doc, welcome aboard!

I guess you know where I stand ;)

40 minute linguine to medium:

Winston Retro
Fenwick Glass
McFarland Spruce Creek "standard tapers"
Winston DL4's especially the 7'6" 3wt & 8'0" 3wt
Winston TMF
Any bamboo that is medium to slow

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Bamboozle

Fancy meeting you here as well. :)

I recently picked up a Winston DL4 8'6" 4 wt, thinking it would be med-slow based on others' descriptions; in my hand it feels med-fast, a little faster than my IM6 8'6" 5 wt. I guess the taper is different enough from your 3 wts. Either way, it looks like it will be a great tailwater rod for big trout out here.

Doc,

An 8' hollow-built Powell "B" 4wt. A wonderful rod.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...r/DSCN0259.jpg

Jeremy.

Winston WT - I have the 7'6" 4 wt. and the 8'6" 5 wt.
Orvis Superfine - I have the 7' 4 wt. Trout Bum and the 7'9" 5 wt. F & F
Diamondback Classic Trout - I have the 9' 4 wt.
Scott V2 - I have the 9' 5 wt.
Diamondback Diamondglass - I have the 7' 3 wt.
Winston BIIt - not progressive but definately medium - I have the 8'6" 4 wt.
Scott G - I don't own one but a terrific rod, the only competition for the WT
T & T Paradigm - I don't own one but also terrific.

I had one of the original unsanded Orvis 1 weights, it was a great rod. I fished it until it literally wore out, Orvis replaced it (without a problem or question) with the then current model (still a 2 piece, thank goodness). It's an ok rod, but not nearly as nice as the original. I guess that's progress.

[QUOTE=Bill Hanneman;289735]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by docbluedevil

Dave

Well said. Action description sure is relative. The faster rods get these days, the slower my "medium" rods become. In the glass community, we often talk about "fast for glass" which is still slower than most "medium action" graphite rods.

Sorry to disagree, but Action, when used by knowledgeable rod builders, refers to "where" a rod bends. If one wishes to be precise in describing "how or where" one's rod bends, use the quantitative term "Action Angle". Once a rod is built, that value remains constant?until you break the rod.

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I agree, rod action descriptions are alot like political affiliation descriptions. When I hear someone say "I'm a moderate", I always have to wonder what that means.

if i could only keep one fly rod of all the rods i have it would be the orvis far and fine

grumps

For all of you that are into glass rods you've gotta cast a McFarland rod. His rods are sweet. I've cast 'em, but have yet to fish one. I spent considerable time with him at a local sports show recently. Also, I once took a rod building class from him. He is a gentleman and an excellent award winning caster. He designs his own blanks and builds every rod by himself including the handles and reel inserts. I'm not affiliated with him in any way, but I am amazed at these rods. I never thought I'd like them, but after casting one I may give it a try. He's easy to find on the internet.

I hope this post is not unethical because he is not a sponsor. If so, feel free to remove post and I apologize.

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Originally Posted by lastchance

For all of you that are into glass rods you've gotta cast a McFarland rod. His rods are sweet. I've cast 'em, but have yet to fish one. I spent considerable time with him at a local sports show recently. Also, I once took a rod building class from him. He is a gentleman and an excellent award winning caster. He designs his own blanks and builds every rod by himself including the handles and reel inserts. I'm not affiliated with him in any way, but I am amazed at these rods.

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I agree. Mike McFarland is a gentlemen and produces top notch rod taper w/ superb crafsmanship. I have only experience w/ his glass rods but hear positive things about his graphite rods as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by docbluedevil

I recently picked up a Winston DL4 8'6" 4 wt, thinking it would be med-slow based on others' descriptions; in my hand it feels med-fast, a little faster than my IM6 8'6" 5 wt. I guess the taper is different enough from your 3 wts. Either way, it looks like it will be a great tailwater rod for big trout out here.

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I can't comment on the 8'6" 5wt IM6, but the 8'6" 5wt DL4 is a really sweet stick too IMHO. Although I like my 8'6" 4wt DL4, I think it is slower than my 8'6" 3wt WT which was also described as "medium" by Winston. The 3wt DL4's are VERY different than any other 3wt Winston graphite rods I've cast and very different from the 4-5-6 DL4's

Gatti 906 FR 3pc PA

I'm another Gatti fan; my favotite is my FR 905 3PA.

Any of the bamboo rods I make. They are all a progressive type taper. Fish in close or reach out to the far end of the fly line or any place in between.

Little rods:
Garrison 193, 201,209
My 7' 6" and 7' 9" hollow built 5 wt. (2 rods)

Big rods:
My 8' 7wt hollow steelhead rod
My hollow 3 pc 8wt salmon rod
My 9' 9wt hollow salmon rod
My 10' 6" two handed hollow 8 wt steelhead rod
Sage 14' graphite II spey rod

All the above are bamboo except the Sage spey rod.

I have more bamboo than I deserve I think.

fishbum

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fly Goddess

Mostly in the fly tying area. Plus allot off line for Furled Leaders. Talk regularly to Cameron, Mountain Shark and Mojo.

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I think Fly Goddess has become a recluse!!!!

But that's okay as long as she has spent the winter tying me flies and is getting ready to ship them to me!!!!

What??? You talk regularly to Mojo???? Isn't that un-American????

AG great to hear from you. Don't go to the Winston forum much anymore...don't know why really.
TWO NEW SPEY RODS!!!!! Wahoo and some new waist high waders....Life is goooooooood!
And yup! I talk to Mojo. Allot more since I quit smoking, in fact I talk allot more period since I quit smoking.......LIFE IS GOOOOOOOOOD!:cool:

I've got two of the older Scott G models, the 883/3 and the 885/3, and feel that they rank among the best graphites ever made. The 883/3 closely resembles the Sage LL 389, and is one of my very favorite rods.

John

The old Scott V series also. What a great rod for the price. Sure miss mine.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fly Goddess

AG great to hear from you. Don't go to the Winston forum much anymore...don't know why really.
TWO NEW SPEY RODS!!!!! Wahoo and some new waist high waders....Life is goooooooood!
And yup! I talk to Mojo. Allot more since I quit smoking, in fact I talk allot more period since I quit smoking.......LIFE IS GOOOOOOOOOD!:cool:

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Good to hear life is good for you! I've been working way too hard lately. Two more weeks of it and I'm flying back to the Midwest for a couple of weeks. That will probably be my first fishing of the year.

I thought about getting a spey rod, but ended up getting the 11 foot Winston seven weight switch rod instead to sort of ease into it.

Hmmmm. I think maybe your waist highs would be chest waders for me!!!!