O.K. guys, my wife is keen to get me a Hardy Smuggler for our 20th wedding aniversary next year. So as I intend this rod to be an all rounder it will need to be an 8# or a 9# suitable for casting heavy nymphs on the Tongariro and also be able to be used in the salt water when we go to places like Rarotonga, a big ask of any rod I know but my question is will a Hardy Smuggler be up to it or should I steer her towards something else?
All suggestions welcome!
Thanks.
Mike.
Explain why you donât think it would be up to it. ??
Hey J.C. Not sure if the Hardy would be up to it or not. I have never even cast a Hardy rod so it is kind of hard to know. My wife however has heard that Hardy are one of the âprimoâ brands so that is what she would like to get me. Who am I to complain? I will of course do my best to try before she buys.
I have used Sage, St Croix and CD rods and like all of them for different conditions but I have never done any Salt water fly so am just looking for some feed back from some salt fly fishers. I am thinking of useing my St Croix Spey rod for salt water fly in N.Z. but it is way to big for traveling overseas.
I think if a rod is O.K. for casting heavy nymphs long distance it should be O.K. for casting in the salt with the bigger flies used for salt water?
I am guessing I may have to get a warm water line to get the best out of it if I get to use it in Rarotonga or Fiji?
All the best.
Mike.
Mike;
I own a Hardy rod in the 9â 4wt. class surely not of the âsalt genderâ! But, with my rodâs quality and that of my Hardy reels, as an indication, I doubt very much, youâd be disappointed, in owning ANY Hardy rod!
One model of theirs that I have salt fished with, but do not own myself, is their âZaneâ series of rods made just for, salt water use and very large fish. I borrowed the one I fished with, from a friend of mine for a salt trip last year and what a beauty of a rod to cast, even in the 10wt. that I used.
Thin profile blank, large guides and more than enough power to throw heavy and wind resistant flies.
Hey Flybinder thanks for the feedback, I know that Hardy have a good reputation for there fresh water rods, I have lusted after one for quite some time. The comments about the salt water rod are interesting, do you know if the Zane rods are available as a smuggler style?
This purchase is over a year away but I am already excited!
All the best.
Mike.
Mike, youâre most, welcome.
Hereâs the link to Hardy USA. Click on âfly rodsâ on the left and then on the âZane Salt Waterâ link!!
My, Smuggler 4wt. is a 6 piece as most Smuggler rods are. The Zane, as youâll see on their site, in only available in 4pc.Great rod, if you donât need one to break down further than 4pcs!!??!
I have no qualms, with my 4wt, being 6 pieces, but I donât know about something in the higher weight ranges, like the #7-8-9âs!!? Iâm sure, theyâre just as good as the 4pc I borrowed and fished with, so itâs only a âmy own preferenceâ thing, that leads me to say that!!
Hardy rods wouldnât have the reputation theyâve earned, if they made rods of lesser quality. Nor, I suppose, would they offer their âLifetime Warrantyâ!?!
Another thing, you may (or may not?), like on the Zane, is the set up of the two, rear, guides⌠one is 20MM, the second in line is 16MM. These allow for a lot of line to be dumped down through the rod without a lot of âtornadoâ or âline funnelâ effect, when casting in wind, and/or, with bigger flies.
Anyhooooooooooo, hereâs the link!
Mike, I have in my hands now (and have owned for a few years) a Hardy Angel Smuggler, 9â #8wt. It is a 5 piece, although sometimes erroneously listed as a 6 piece. It is a fine rod, quality built, easy on the eyes, effective. Sections are about 22 inches long. By the way, the sock, tube and cover for it are excellent too.
JC;
Itâs funny, that you bring up the way your Angel Smuggler is often described as âA 6pcâ, when as you say, itâs really a 5 pc.
Even on Hardyâs website, they list the Angel Smuggler as âA 6pc, rodâ, then list ânumber of sectionsâ as 5 !?!? All of their other multi piece rods are listed as â6pc-6 sectionsâ, 4pc-4 sections", etc.!???
I wonder how you get 6 sections, out of a 5 piece rod!??
Thanks very much guys, I will let you know next year if I get one.
All the best.
Mike.