Trouble deciding between Rio Grand and Gold WF 6wt. Any users or opinions?
Wayne
The Grand is really a 7WF so your choice would depend upon the rod that you intend to use it on. I have fished both lines and really didn’t care for either one of them, I am more of a GPX fan.
For throwing large indicators rigs, I prefer the Grand. For dries and general stuff, the Gold (or the SA GPX) would be fine.
The Grand is realy a 6 and a half, not a seven. I love the Rio Grand on my fastish rod. In the wind, and with big flies it is outstanding. My grand is now nearly 3 seasons old and still floats high and handsome with no cracking or any obvious signs of wear. Have to say it is hard to find a lne that floats consistently, some floaters should realy be called hover or slow intermediates.
All the best.
Mike
May go with the Grand in a 5wt given the 1/2 wt heavy properties found with it. Just filling the new Nautilus FWX, will be riding a LOOP Evotec 6wt.
Wayne
Don’t be scared off by the half weight heavier issue. Like Mike said, and with all due respect to Steck, it’s not a 7, but a 6 1/2 technically. Ironically, the GPX is also a 6 1/2 and another of a handful of lines that have been made slightly heavier to load “modern” rods. I am a very big fan of the Grand and have that line in a number of weights, including on both of my 6 weight outfits. I have tried the GPX in a couple of weights over the years, and have always wound up going back to the Grand. As I understand it, they both have the same grain weight in the first 30 feet, but whether due to the taper or some other issue, I personally prefer the way the Grand loads the rod and casts, and I also find it to float better at the tip. In my opinion, for all but the very slowest of rods, you’d be disappointed dropping down to the Grand in the 5 weight, as you’d be underlining your rod, even with the extra “half” weight. Lines and rod actions are all a matter of personal preference of course, but I like the Grand on more than just “fast” rods. I like how they feel on my supposedly “medium fast” rods as well.
FWIW, I have not tried the Gold, so can’t give any first hand commentary, though I have read a variety of issues with that particular line and problems with either tips sinking or the line wearing prematurely. In most cases that I remember, Rio was gracious about replacing them and there was some suggestion that it might have been an issue that has since been corrected by Rio.
Guys, remember I fish with glass and the overwhelming majority of us that fish glass view the Grand as a whole line weight heavier. I have fished the Grand and the GPX a lot when I owned mostly fast graphite rods and even though they are both characterized as a 1/2 line weight heavy, the Grand behaves as a heavier line than does the GPX.
Wayne,
I have been using the Rio Gold at the suggestion of Sage for my medium action ZXL. I also have used it on my medium fast actions where I will be mostly fishing dries or smaller nymphs.
Larry —sagefisher—
I have a tendency to weight up my rods. So the Grand may be the ticket in the 6wt.
Wayne
Several years ago when I got my Sage FLI 9’ for 7 wt, which is a pretty fast rod, the shop recommended a Rio Grand. It was fine close in, but as soon as I got much line out it really bogged down the rod. Went to a standard weight line, a Rio Selective Trout, and the rod is a bit stiff in close but really works at 30-40’ plus with big nymph rigs, which is what I got it for.
Like Steck said, it depends on the rod. If that LOOP Evotec isn’t a kind of slow rod, a 5 wt Grand may well not be enough line - taking into account your casting style and what you are going to use the rod for, of course.
John
Am going with the Grand 6wt & the LOOP is a fast rod. Given that I fish big waters and droppers a lot, and shoot into the wind a fair amount the extra 1/2wt may help a bit in those areas. And in the smaller waters it will work quick loading.
Wayne
Steck-
I’m with you on pretty much all counts. I only have one fiberglass rod but DEARLY love it and would give up any number of my graphite rods before I would part with that one. Secondly, I agree with you that the Grand at least feels heavier than the GPX. I know they’re supposed to be the same weight in literal terms, but whether it’s the taper or something else, it feels just marginally heavier to me, which translates into slightly better loading and line feel, which are the features that draw me to those two lines in the first place. I’m intrigued by your use of those lines on glass though. I’ve stayed with supposedly true-to-weight lines (like SA Trout or Rio Selective Trout) on mine and have been pleased with those, but can see where the GPX might make a good thing better.
It all comes down to personal taste Wayne, but I bet you’ll be pleased. In an ideal world, we’d be able to attach a reel spooled with a demo line at the shop and try them out, but that’s not very realistic for the shops.
For perspective, I have Rio Gold in my Winston BIIX and wouldn’t think of going with Grand on that one. Although it’s rated as “fast action”, compared to “fast action” from Sage, that rod is really medium. On my Z, I prefer the Grand as mentioned it’s 1/2 size heavier and loads the rod nicely for me. You should find out what kind of action the Loop has and make your choice on that or you may find that you’re buying new line for it.
From Leland’s website the description of the rod is:
The Loop Evotec Single Hand 9ft 6wt Fly Rod, 690-3A MF has the backbone for going up against large contenders, yet it still maintains a high level of stealth. With its medium fast action, the Loop Evotec Single Hand 9ft 6wt Fly Rod, 690-3A MF is easy to cast and has enough length for creative mending.
I’m not familiar enough with Loop Rods to compare their medium fast action to that of Sage or Winston. I might start with Gold based on this, but this is just my 2 cents.
The LOOP rods I have used seem to lean on the faster side of med. Does anyone have either Gold or Grand they would part with so I can try both? LOL
Wayne
I have a 5 wt Grand you’d be welcome to try, unless you’re set on a 6.
I guess I’m the only one who finds this crap about rod designations and line weights just a little bit insane. If a rod has a sticker on it that says “6 weight” but it actually performs better with a 7 weight line, then it’s a 7 weight rod. I fished a GPX 5 WF on my 5 wt rod and found it to perform for me somewhat nicer than the “regular” 5 wt line I had. Then I tried a normal 6 wt WF and found the rod really came alive. SO, it is a 6 wt regardless of the printing. On my 3 wt, a 3 wt double taper works most excellently. A WF not as good… then I realized what the hell does a WF on a 3 weight do for anyone? Nothing.
We REALLY REALLY overcomplicate this stuff for ourselves.
You really bring up a lot of good points in your post, thanks for the enlightenment. Marketing+choices+modern technology = confusion 
After more thought, perhaps the best advice I could offer would be to contact Loop, a Loop Dealer or perhaps the fly shop where you purchased the rod and ask them for line recommendations? Loop has a good following here in the States, but it seems to be more limited than some of the larger players.
I don’t follow. What are the manufacturers supposed to do? With honestly no disrespect intended, because you liked your five weight rod better with a six weight line, are they supposed to label it a six? I’d venture to guess that some will like that same rod with a five weight line, and some will even like it with a four weight line, so according to whose taste are they supposed to label them? If anything, maybe they should label them with a range of weights, but I think most of us assume we can over or underline our rods by at least one weight vs. what it’s marked anyway. It’s individual taste, plain and simple, and I don’t know how any manufacturer can be expected to designate a single line weight that takes all those different tastes into account. The gentleman above clearly prefers a standard weight line on his BIIX. Ironically enough, two of my rods for which I vastly prefer heavier lines (the Rio Grand in this case) are BIIX’s, so go figure. I don’t think that’s complicating it, it’s just allowing for the fact that different people will have different preferences with any given rod. This topic HAS been beaten to death, and I regret to some degree my part in it, because it begins with a question for which there is no absolute answer. We can provide a little insight via our opinions and personal experiences, but in the end no one KNOWS which line will feel best to the original poster, and he won’t know for sure until and unless he gets to try them.
Someone above said the Grand reacts as a heavier line that does a GPX, and I’d havta agree with that 100%. I like the Grand line but it does seem to not finesse cast as well as a GPX does. Plus, I seem to have a more difficult time keeping my Rio lines clean than I do the SA lines. They seem to pick up dirt alot easier and it seems to stick to them much worse. However, the do cast good and work great in the right application.
RIO Gold is more of a general purpose taper. It has 47’ body in the 5wt. I use it on my 586-4 Z-Axis and it loads the rod fine from 15’ on out there. I believe the Grand has a fairly long body but a more concentrated and heavier on the foward end kind of taper. The GPX lines do seem to load “fast” rods a little bit lighter for me than the Grands. I personally don’t think the RIO Grand lines are suited for line weights under 6. Is it possible for you to try different lines at your local shop? Might your fishing buddies have a few different lines for you to try?
aa