I have yet to cast this rod and I’m wondering what people are thinking. I like the idea of a 8’9" 3wt 4 piece. I’m shure it’s a popular one. Whadda ya think? The next LL or just some more hype over the old SP with a new look and name?
Dear Benjo,
My brother has the same rod and I think you will like it. It is much more of a fast action rod than the LL. You can fish midges or hopper dropper rigs with it easily. It’s a pretty good nymphing rod for a 3 weight, the rod can easily handle several weighted flies and a couple of split-shot.
I have a 389 LL, and I rarely use it for anything other than dry fly fishing, if I had a 389 SLT I could easily see it replacing my goto 490 RPL+.
Regards,
Tim Murphy
I own an LL 590-3 and have casted the SLT in the similar configuration. I like my LL, but I agree with Tim that the SLT is a better all around rod. I just happen to like a more medium action in 5 wt. and lower.
The SLT feels nice but not as smooth as the LL, so I don’t know if it’ll be the sought-after rod the LL is.
I had that rod and could not get used to casting it. I hated it so I gave it to my buddy. He likes it but then again he likes the XP’s too.
I have the 9’0" 4 pc 4 wt. I wouldn’t tade this for anything. If I had to give away all of my rods except one this would be the keeper. (Though I do have a the 8’4" 2 wt and think that too is pretty cool.)
Pee Wee Herman once overheard me speaking of it and uttered the now famous phrase, “If you love it so much why don’ you marry it?”
It is now forever part of the lexicon.
I’ve got a 9’ 5wt 4pc SLT and it’s a wonderful rod. Very smooth, yet suprisingly powerful. 50’ casts with a yarn indicator and shot on the leader, no problem, it drives it right out there. There’s alot more power in those blanks than Sage suggests, probably a concession to the XP market position…
489-5 SLT. Wonderful piece of art and my personal favorite at the moment. Drys, nymphs, split shot, indicators, midges, hoppers…whatever…plenty of power in that blank and is still very much a finesse rod. In the hands of a good caster the SLTs can deliver.
“The years of searching in the dark for the truth that one feels but cannot express, the intense desire and the alternations of confidence and misgivings until one breaks through the clarity and understanding are known only to him who has himself experienced them” - Albert Einstein
My 586-4 is my go to rod (now I’m really stoked about now that I know it’s JC’s and LF’s 5wt of choice). On my better days there’s nothing I can’t do with it, at other times I would be better off with something more forgiving(that’s not to dis that rod, only my inconsistent casting). Versatile and smooth are the two word that come to mind.
If you are thinking about an LL, check out the VPS light-- same blanks as the LLs but with down-graded hardware.