I have an ancient fiberglass rod that is tough. It even a a few chips out of it. But it is past time for either being rebuilt or replaced. I don’t do the former, so it looks like the latter. The reason why I want a fiberglass rod is that the old one wouldn’t look twice at being bopped with a beadhead. Are the new fiberglass rods that tough? Will an errant cast with a size 10 beadhead nymph be shrugged off or a shattering experience?
Enquiring minds want to know before blowing the bucks for a new rod.
They’re still pretty tough albeit lighter and thinner walls than the old '50 blue collar Actionglas or the Ted Williams Sears model. I don’t know if a bead head would cause a major problem. I guess if it was flying at mach I it might. They’re still a lot tougher than graphite. But all in all, I don’t think it would really do that much damage to it. What brand you looking at? Check out South Fork Rod Company- It’s Dave Redington’s new baby. http://www.southforkrodcompany.com/
His 'glass is called the Classic. [http://www.southforkrodcompany.com/classic_freshwater_rods.html\](http://www.southforkrodcompany.com/classic_freshwater_rods.html\) All under $300
Thanks Guys! I’m going back to the flyshop next week, I hope. I have been looking at several rods and I have made test casts on some of them. Some are so slow that you can take a nap while casting. Some are much faster. I am getting to the point where I am having a hard time justifying another fly rod. But I think that beadhead impact resistance probably counts as justification.
I’m looking for a 5-wt or 6-wt rod 7.5 - 8.5 feet long and not as slow as a couple that I’ve cast. I don’t want a fast rod, which is good, but I don’t want one that take forever for the backcast to complete. I don’t have my list on me, so I’ll have to get back to you on the rods.
Ed,
Check out the fiberglass flyrodders ez board web site. A great place for good info on fiberglass flyrods. They also have a classified section where you can get some great old rods at good prices.
This one sounds like a potential new feature idea. “Straight from the Source”?
What would you guys think if FAOL took a question like this and forwarded it on to a couple vendors to get the technical answers from the manufacturers?
Combined with tosser expert advice found here this may have value.
I’m not sure the rod makers, etc… have time to answer these, but it would be a good mechanism to get information on a rod or whatever that you don’t typically find in their flyers.
If there is interest in this I can run it past a few vendors and Dee.
Oh - for a guy that thinks fishing involves bobbers (ME!), I’d need a list of vendors you would like to hear answer stuff like this, so this would be a feature that is requested by the community and the vendor list would be mostly created by you. FAOL sponsors would of course always be invited to reply if they wished.
i have the same rod (factory, not custom) and it is a great little fishing tool. will throw 5-7wt. lines easily. at $110 shipped, a pretty good deal. have dealt with the seller before and he’s jam up.
Ed:
Hello. Mark Steffen of Steffen Fly Rods in Flagstaff Arizona makes an outstanding line of glass rods and blanks. He has an 8’ 6" 5/6 wt. that is wonderful. I use mine for lake fishing. It will cast floating & sinking lines great. Mark’s rods are made of S glass and are very durable. Others that are making modern glass rods are Hardy, Lamiglas, Dave Redington(he uses Lamiglas blanks that are his tapers), Mc Farland rods, TL Johnson which are a glass/ graphite compsite and Tom Morgan of his rodsmith company. He is selling on a limited basis fininshed rods and blanks, as is Sam Durkhiem is making some glass rods on Lamiglas blanks at the Sweetgrass rod Co.
I was reading through this post and one name came to mind, Mark Steffen. Contact him, his 8.5’ 5/6 is a great rod. In fact I am ordering one as soon as the finances are available. It is exactly what you are looking for.
Ed, if you want a faster glass, like mentioned before, Steffan Brothers, Diamondglass (if you can find any left) ask Betty about them, older and '70’s Fenwick Ferrulites are faster than the McFarlands, Lamiglas, Kettle Creek’s. If you don’t mind a little graphite mixed in with the glass, Hardy, T.L. Johnson, and even the $50 WW Griggs. You’ll be able to pick up some on Ebay, but do you homework first. Or, I’ll third it after Rockthief, Fiberglass Fly Rodders http://fiberglassflyrodders.yuku.com/
Then when you get into it more, you’ll find the early Phillipsons, Silaflex’s, Shakespear Wonder Rods, Heddon’s and more. Then the new Japanese rods get discovered.
Do you know what you’re getting yourself into? For some killer glass rods, check out Boarmountains rods. He posts here too.
And for the TFO glass Andy’s (flyflingerandy) selling. That might be a nice rod for you also.
ditto on Mark’s rods…I have his 8’ 5/6 and it is an absolute gem…casts like a dream, has plenty of backbone…plus, I love that unsanded look…and, they’re priced pretty reasonable. oh, and he’ll do just about anything you need…
If you are thinking of a new glass rod, check out http://fiberglass-fly-rods.pbworks.com/Modern+Rods for info on almost all of the new glass rods on the market (except WW Griggs - coming soon). From your description, a Steffen rod may be a good match. Mark makes a fine rod in any configuration that you desire.
If rugged is THE most important attribute, Mojo made a great suggestion of an old Fenwick Feralite rod. The FF756 and FF806 are both 6 weight rods. Both show up routinely on eBay for under $100. The FF755 and FF805 are 5 weight rods that aren’t quite as common and they typically sell for $100 or more. I’ve banged some heavy Clousers off the tip of an 8 foot Fenwick with no apparent damage.
