I am planning on building a new rod this winter. I have decided on a Sage 490-4 but am undecided between the Z-Axis or SLT. I see that the SLT has a small butt diameter and is a bit lighter. I have never cast either of these rods and doubt I will have a chance before Santa delivers my new rod blank. I currently have a Winston Ibis 9’ft 5 wt (too heavy, wears me out) and Loomis GL3 7’6" in a 4 wt (nice rod, but too short for bigger creeks), to give you an idea of what I am used to now. I don’t need to shoot out 90’ of fly line either, the most is around 30’ here in PA. Oh, and I am fishing trout in mid sized streams.
For those of you that have fished both rods which do you prefer and why?
I have them both in 5 wts…I like them both…which one I fish sort of depends on my mood…one’s a little faster one slower as I’m sure you know…I like the SLT on those “mellow” days Folks are going to tell you it depends on your casting style…personally I enjoy adjusting to the rod 8)
I’m wondering why you aren’t considering the ZXL???..that’s one I’d like to cast…
My 22 yr old son has an SLT and I have a Z-Axis. They are both 9’, custom built rods. The SLT is a 4wt and the Z-Axis is a 3wt. I have fished both of them. The SLT is softer and slightly slower than the Z-Axis. I like a “stiff” rod on moving water because I can feel the strikes easier. Both are great rods. Good luck in your decision making and Best Regards…
The SLT sounds like the action you are looking for for the waters you stalk. I have an SLT 590-4, XP 590-4 and a Z-Axis 690-4. I find for smaller waters, pools and casting distance of 40 feet or less that the SLT works best (for me) having a softer tip. I recently bought the 490-4 ZXL and like the action, especially in the 10’-30’ range. If you can, try the ZXL.
I have a SLT, But I would give up my first male born for a Z-AXIS! If I had to choose, Z-A hands down. Can do anything with it, specially in a 5wt. Am I drooling…sorry :lol:
If you haven’t made up your mind yet, take a look at Winston’s Boron series. For blanks it’s about the same between Sage and Winston. BIIX is fast for Winston but it’s butter smooth, or for a softer tip a BIIT. The BIIVery light in the hand and you could fish all day and not feel it. Even our old compadre Pete has a BIIT now.
Just another avenue for you to go down. http://www.flyrodcrafters.com/servlet/Detail?no=95 Winston http://www.flyrodcrafters.com/servlet/Detail?no=184 Sage
As someone else mentioned, the Z is stiffer with a faster action and the SLT is slightly slower and more sensitive. I prefer the SLT - I have one in a 6 wt. Some people say that one disadvantage to the 6 wt SLT is that you cannot throw heavy flies with it. I have found that I can easily throw big flies if I adjust my casting style, but then you have to adjust to a certain extent with any rod. Bottom line is that if you prefer fast, stiff rods, go with the Z-Axis. If you have a slightly slower casting style, go with the SLT.
I have a 7’6"3wt SLT that is one sweet little rod. I have not fished a Z-axis so I cannot personally compare the two. The SLT is what I would consider a medium action rod. It’s not fast, but it’s not slow either.
I couldn’t agree more. I have a Z-Axis in 5 that I use on bigger water and in the wind. I had a Z-Axis in 4, but sold it to a friend to replace his SLT and now fish a BIIX in 3 or 4 for smaller streams (I think I have a rod addiction!), but it will also do it all if you push it. Close in you can cast it with just the tip and farther out push it into the butt for power. It’s really good at protecting light tippets.
IMHO, if you’re only going to consider Sage, go with the Z. The SLT just feels a little sloppy to me. BUT, the local fly shop owner has told me that the new ZXL is very similar to the old Sage LL rods, which were supposedly spectacular. I haven’t cast either of those, but that could be your ticket. See now why I have so many rods!
I’ve been fishing a 590-4 Z-AXIS for the past 2 months. A very unfortunate accident retired my 590-3 SP to a watery grave, sending me on a search to replace it as my goto all around trout rod. After casting every 5 weight rod on my list, including several different series from Scott, Winston, Loomis, and Sage, the Z-AXIS stood out. The action is fast, but smooth?the rod is light but strong. The majority of my fishing is in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming where you can alternate between dry’s, dry/dropper?s, double nymph rigs, and small streamers, all in a single day. In my opinion the Z-AXIS is the best Western trout rod available right now.
I live a couple miles from you in Chester County. Just a suggestion, why don’t you take the short trip to TCO fly shop in Reading, and cast each of these rods? I would never buy a rod or blank without test casting that rod, and other similar rods first. Also, you can compare the Winstons and Sages side-by-side at TCO. I?m not sure if the SLT?s are still in stock since the model was discontinued, but there are many discounted blanks floating around for building.
BTW, I think the Z-Axis is the best all around rod I have ever cast. It does it all??for me at least! Good luck and your new rod build.
RS1 had a great suggestion in trying the Winston Biix. My 6 wt SLT will do anything for me, but my 4 wt is a Biix. The Z-Axis 4 wt will definitely cast the furthest. Sage stopped making the SLT before I had a chance to try it in a 4 wt and I did not like Sage’s ZXL (replacement for the SLT). What sold me on the Biix 4 wt was the way it handled both long distance and the more intricate shorter distances compared to the other available 4 wt rods.
Folks are going to tell you it depends on your casting style…personally I enjoy adjusting to the rod 8)