about to pull a trigger on a Sage XP from Babelas. but Mudhole has Gatti blanks on sale, and I like building my own rods, so I’m now thinking of going that route.
I’ve had 2 Gatti rods and I sold them both. That was about the silliest thing I’ve ever done. There are times in life when you do really stupid things and you wish you could forget them. For me, selling those rods was one of them. I wish I had both of them back. Gatti rods are very good rods. As the saying goes; “Gotta Get A Gatti.”
I have both of the Gatti rods Lotech Joe sold! My go-to rod is now a 5wt IM6 (from the “Lotech” collection). It’s my understanding that Gatti no longer produces IM6 rods. This thing, however, is an outstanding fly fishing tool. The other Gatti is a 4wt FPL (Joe, is that what it is??) I’m not sure I have ever fished the rod and I’m not sure why not. (Note to self: Fish the 4wt Gatti!!)
Jeff
From comments on Gatti fly rods and blanks that I have read on other BBs, the concensus is that they are fine rods but if you break or damage a blank, you will have big big problems getting service from Gatti. I’m talking many many months to never.
Things might have changed so I would ask on several BBs about Gatti service before buying.
The Gatti that Castwell let me cast is second only to the Kusse Quad, in my limited experience. Nothing else has been in the same league as that Kusse Quad, but the Gatti was excellent.
Ed
Gatti makes tremendous blanks, however, they are made in Italy and have a history of slow warrantee service due to shipping time. As far as I know, all warrantee returns have to go back to Italy. Check with Mudhole and see if that is still the policy.
I don’t remember which model it is Jeff. It’s blue and very fast.
They really are smooth rods, due to the construction of the blanks. The wall of the blank is a uniform thickness, that allows for a rod which does not have the vibrations of the usual rod.
But the comments are right - the owner of the company is probably brilliant, but he is a fish bum. More fish, less attention to service. I know at least one person who bought an extra tip section so we wouldn’t have to deal with their service when he broke it.
thanks for the info. I was never one to worry about warrenty. they break sometimes, but its usually my fault. or in the case of the broken rod this will be replacing, the dogs fault. think I’ll go with the Gatti.
I have a Gatti 5 wt. TA (fast action) model. It is light and fast just like an Italian sports car. I like it very much.
I have two Gatti rods. While I really like the rods, the service concerns if you break one is VERY real. In my over 50 years of fishing, I have broken two rods in my entire life, both were my Gatti rods. I think that one of the downsides of the super light crisp blanks/rods made by Gatti is that they are much more prone to breakage due to the very thin walled construction. They make a great rod but what a royal pain in the butt to deal with them to get anything repaired. I won’t ever buy another one just for that reason. Just one man’s opinion.
Jim Smith
The '70 Fiat 124 Spyder was one of the finest little Italian sports cars of its time for design, engineering, performance, and appointments. The car was a delight to drive. When a $15 part went out after four or five months and I was told the part was backordered for three months, I got rid of it.
Sorry if this is a hijack, but it is about an Italian made product with warranty / service issues ??
John
I have three Gatti rods, a 4wt. PA, a 5wt. PA, and a 6wt. TA. They are about the only rods I use any more. I haven’t had any break, and i guess that can be a problem. As far as fishing goes, I really like them.
I got fast, quality warranty service from Gatti USA. Brian(iirc) is based in the Pac NW somewhere and took care of me.
Excellent rods, btw.
May I ask who Brain is? Did he do the warranty work?
I have a Gatti which I purchased from a member of this board. Its an excellent rod. I broke the tip and had to get a replacement from Gatti. I don’t recall exactly how long it took but it wasn’t bad…maybe three to four weeks. That’s not exactly speedy but when you consider that they have to go to Italy, probably through custums, etc., its not unreasonable.
I got the Gatti Bug, while attending the 1998 FAOL Fish-In in the Black Hills.
I bought a blank FRC 863 ( 8 ft, 6 in; 3 wt). It is a three piece fly rod. I also bought a spare tip section (alway be prepared for the sooner or later stuff with ceiling fans).
The rod blank is a ceramic-graphite composition. It is quick tip action when casting, but with a fish on the line, the rod is fully parabolic in its bending, right to the handle grip.
Sapphire Blue, with a pearl inner sheer, when in bright sunlight.
I installed a straight grain oak French Style Reel Seat (two rings for the securing the reel), with a Lake Superior Agate reel cap.
The handle is “Burled Cork”, and the thread for wrapping the guides was a light cornflower blue, that when coated with epoxy was the same color as the rod blank. All my guides and reel seat rings are “Smoked Titanium Nitride” (normally use on saltwater rigs).
The fly reel is a Teton 3 wt, with spare reel for my 4 wt line).
I love fishing with my Gatti for Trout, as well as for Giant Bluegills and Crappies.
Reason I build my own is that commercially available fly rods handles are too small of a diameter for my hand grip diameter. Causing my hand to cramp and the muscles and tendons in my arms to tighten, slowing down my casting arm, and losing the feel of my cast. ~Parnelli
PS: I wrote an article in Rod Building on how you can design a handle grip, that is the correct size and shape for your casting. And yes you “Gotta Get a Gatti”!
The question about who is Brian???
He is Brian Ahern of Gatti USA. He’s in Montana but he does deal directly with Gatti, as he is the Gatti dealer. Give Brian a call.
I’ve built several of the Gatti blanks and I use ( as Heritage angler has said in another post) them quite a bit when I fish.
I’ve owned, built, borrowed and fished with Sage, Winston, G Loomis, and lot others but I fish with a Gatti. Does that say anything???
Randy