I like to carry a bluegill (3 wt) and a smallmouth (6 wt) rod in the trunk of my car for unexpected fishing opportunities. For 20 years I have been happy with a 9’ 6 wt Loomis GL3 but get tired fighting with the two piece rod in the trunk of my Honda Civic. So I could either get a new car (not) or a new rod. I have been looking at the Sage Flight as a 4 piece 6 wt. No local dealers so I might have to wait a few weeks to try one out. I am looking for a light rod, fast side of medium-fast, US made, under $300. Any comments on this fairly new model? Any other suggestions?
David
djo, you might want to check on the Temple Fork Outfitters rods. They have several 4 piece rods that might be what you are wanting.
6wt … I have a TFO Axiom and can highly recommend it. They retail for less than 280$ usd, … I find it plenty “quick” to control the loop. It has enough backbone when I use it for atlantic salmon, so I imagine it’ll be able to pull a bass out of the weeds.
I do find that it loses a tiny bit of “push” when I shoot the first 4-5 feet of backing out the tip, but this isn’t really an issue very often. It is a 9ft four piece rod, so it is one of the workhorse rods I keep under the seat of the truck. I first loaded it with a SA wf trout, but found it sings better with a Sharkskin trout taper. With a Radius from Lamson waterworks (discontinued) it is a light, inexpensive but very “high performance” rod.
http://www.templeforkflyrods.com/products/rods/axiom.html
So far, it has been on atlantics, big sea run brookies and a couple small mouth’s. It may just come to Cuba next Christmas for evening Bonz.
(oh, … and they are sponsors here).
Just purchased a 9 ft. 4 piece, 6 wt. FLi and I can tell you it casts like a cannon, which I like. Hardware and finish are beautiful. Rod is light in hand, considering it is a 6 wt. Rod seems faster than my previous 9 ft., 6 wt., a St. Croix Ultra Legend.
I will be using it for streamers as well as double nymph rigs for trout on the bigger waters I fish in S. Colorado.
fcch
4-5 feet into the backing? I never heard of anyone having to cast all the fly line to get to a fish. Don’t you get tired casting all that line? You should enter casting compititions.
Scott A3 hands down. Great rod, totally made in the USA, and lifetime warranty.