What do you consider most important when you buy a new rod? Look at this list. Any additions? Which is most important to you?
Bob
Bob:
Nothing is missing from your list in regards to my criteria although that order isn’t my order.
First criteria for me is length & weight. I need to decide what I’m after first.
After that it’s all about feel followed by appearance. If I can’t get past those two nothing else really matters to me.
I tend to do it a different way.
FUNCTION (Intended Use)
Target species (trout, smallies, tarpon, bones etc etc): .
Style of fishing (dry fly, nymphing, spey, streamers latter would salt, former might include bass bugs)
Fly Size (22s or 2/0s)
Type of Water/Casting Range (Wide rivers, small streams lakes Spey riversetc).
Sifting these things together will giveyou a pretty good approximation of what tool to use.
Then go and cast rods in your target range.
And you’ll buy a Sage
LMAO
Actually most of the major rod companies are that good that the reputation thing isn’t an issue, even the ones I don’t sell :lol:
Peer/Pro recommendations are helpful for sifting out that selection of rods to cast, but they don’t take into account that individualism that makes one rod fit me and another fit you the best.
Without being critical of you Bob, that Function list included in your post, is all fine points to consider when discussing rods on bulletin boards, as a means of comparison. ERN and so on is a merely a means of describing what a rod does. At the end of the day, a rod is a tool to fish, you want the tool to do the job so look at fishing you’ll be doing, sift out your selection then go cast.
Casting the rods is the best way to determine whther you and your dollars will be parted
cheers
Steve
Good points. I should add the following:
- Function (practical - type of use - intended purpose of use) - size of fly, size of river, normal casting distance, type of fish or type of fishing.
and
- Warrenty
Anything else?
Bob
Bob,
I’m with Steve on this one.
The intended function of the rod is by far the most important.
For me, that has little or nothing to do with the ‘cast’ but how it works the fly. I never want to cast a rod, I want to see how it bends and how it twitches, and how much backbone it has.
I’m usually looking for specific actions and lengths that will let me perform a certain technique to better advantage.
But I’m primarily a bass fisherman. For trout, this is less important.
I build my own rods, I’m looking at blanks, so price, warranty, and appearence are not issues for me.
Good Luck!
Buddy
I build rods for myself and for sale to selected friends or associates. I have found these factors all are part of the rod selection process in the following order most of the time:
Function - size, weight, fish, lake/river/spring creek, etc.
Feel - medium, med - fast, fast, etc.
Blank choice - This is a combination of cost or price and reputation and image,.
Appearance - components (grip, reel seat, guides, etc) also influenced by cost.
It seems the cost and reputation factors are more a part of the blank choice and appearance, a bit different than buying a factory assembled rod where you are looking at the total price.
Dr Bob 
How’s this?
Bob
Then too are these. Snobbishness. How much above others do I want to be elevated? How do I want to be perceived? Pride of ownership counts for a lot. ‘Show & Tell’; better the rod, the better the advantage. Sense of fulfillment of ownership. Texture of the rod, tactile sensation reward. The ‘warm & fuzzy’ feeling of spending money on something for ourself, dopamine. I am sure there other reasons too, like usage etc. :?
Gotta agree that JC is becoming more and more right, As per the sticker prices of “Factory Rods” These days…To get what “I” really want out of a Rod…I gotta buy everything and build it myself…And try my best to keep the price to the bare bones…Without sacrficing quality!..Now if REC Componets could just lower their prices of reel seat’s!! :lol: 8)
lol, however, I have known the folks at REC for a good number of years, and darn it, those seats sure are nice, :lol:
I just love showing people my $29.00 rod and then out-fishing them
Orvis Streamline. One great, non-flashy, non-pretentious rod that can, and has done it all. I’ve caught rainbows, big browns, largemouth bass, large blue gill…and small ones, crappie, catfish, drum, rock bass on it. It is very sensitive, yet has good back bone when you need it.
I always feel even the smallest fish hit and can land some pretty big fish with it. See the 2 extremes below. I actually felt the small fish hit and landed the other after he got into some pretty tough grass.
I just wish I’d have bought 5 of them when I found them on closeout!
But what it comes down to is what YOU want. I don’t care much for ‘flashy’ stuff but that is me.
One thing I wish it had was a ‘hook loop’ as you can see by my beat up cork handle. Been putting too many hooks in the cork. But hey I don’t have to worry about ruining a $500 rod
Hey Wulff, did you ever try leaving some line out, hooking the fly to the 2nd or 3rd guide, then looping the line back around the rod above the reel and under the reel seat? When you’ve switched spots, take the line back off the reel seat, and give the rod a little bump with the heel of your hand a foot or so up from the grip. The fly drops right off the guide to the water and you already have some fly line out so the leader doesn’t slip back into the guides and you’re fishing in no time.
A friend showed it to me a couple of years back and I haven’t used a hook keeper since.
Big Bad Wulff:
Would you share the length and weight of that $29 Streamline rod?
Regards, Jim
BBW,
Why not try to tie a Hook Loop on your rod yourself.
Doug
Really good thread and comments by Steve. Funny how this reflects on examples of evolution; purpose/function/success-leading to further evolution. Snob appeal means nothing to me. I buy a certain car or rod-because it fills a functional need/niche not to keep up with someones perception of stream decorum or stature. Cost is an unfortunate reality most of us have to deal with and those that don’t may have to rely on someone elses perception of function. Some of us buy Subarus and others Audis… I don’t care that some think I may be pretentious if I buy a BMW AWD ( if that is the car I need, can afford and specifically fills my niche) rather than something less costly that doesn’t fit my priorities. Why did I buy that BIIX and not the TFO TiCRx??? I tried them both, wanted the TFO, but realized how much pain my rotator can really take over 4 hrs, testdrove and was so impressed with the BIIX I bought it. Rods like many possessions can be so “subjective” only you can truly decide what really fits YOUR specific needs. Many good points voiced here nevertheless… If it catches fish, it works. Any nuances from there on are strictly yours…
BBW, have you considered dying your fly patch orange? I cringed when I saw the time of year (from the trees) and the fact that you were wearing a patch of white fur on your chest.
take care,
Ed