I am appealing to (relatively) experienced casters here; and the question is this: Have you ever found a fly rod that was such a good fit to your casting style that you would be able to descrivbe the fit as a “natural” one?
Without trying to sound like I’m gloating, but I just purchased a fly rod that just was such a natural caster that I nearly cryed tears of joy yesterday as I took it out on the lawn for a brief session! I won’t go on a long rant or review, but I will say that the rod is a Sage 589-3 SPL. Took it out for a good fish today on a local tailwater only to confirm what my gut told me on the lawn. The rod performs just as expected and seems to be an absolute perfect fit for my type of fishing. What a joy to cast a fly rod that just seems to cast itself. Loads deeply and recovers quickly and with buttery smoothness. Enough said. How about you? Have you found your natural rod mate?
I had a custom 3wt rod made up by Kevin and other than being a little fast, feels great. I think if I lined it with 4wt, it might slow it down a bit. The best rod I ever casted is my old Phillipson"Master"glass rod, smooth and slow, just the way I like it.
This last weekend I was casting a Ross Essence FW, 8 1/2’, 4 piece, 5 weight with a Cortland 444 Peach. Everything worked so well I didn’t even have to think about what I was doing. It loaded well, recovered well and was smooth as butter. That being said, I once had the opportunity to cast a 7 1/2’, 4 weight Channer with a WF4F Sharkskin, and it performed just as well.
Odd way to put it. I have definitely picked up rods, cast them, and immediately liked them. I have picked up rods, cast them, and disliked them. And I have picked up rods and not been quite sure and after some use, decided one way or the other. All the rods I own I like, but I think of them as specialized tools that each shine when applied to their assigned task. I have no single rod, however, that does all things perfectly, so I have never had an analogous experience myself.
I feel that way about the old Sage RPL rods. They just seem to fit my casting style and every cast seems effortless. That being said, I recently bought two Redington Minnow Beginner Fly Fishing Outfits as birthdays gifts for two of my grandsons ages 6 and 8 and I was amazed at how well these rods cast. Complete outfits including rod, reel, backing, line and even a leader for $41.57 each and they are really nice casting rods. One thing I’ve come to realize is that I’ve never met a fly rod that was the limiting factor in how well I cast; I am always the limiting factor. You can take a rod that one person struggles to cast with and hand it to the next person who can lay out 90 feet of line with little or no effort.
We had a conversation recently regarding the idea (Trav’s) that the manufacturers could have stopped making any “new” “improved” rods years ago. The old(er) rods were just fine and what have we really gained except increased prices in the current rods on the market. It is an interesting thought, think it through, you might have some ideas on it as well.
As for me personally I cast but did not fish a Russ Peak rod probably 30 years ago that I fell in love with. I could not afford one at the time, and I think Bob Jacklin has the exact rod in his stash. I wonder if he ever fishes it.
I can never undertand the folks who “collect” rods. If I had a Russ Peak, and liked the way it cast, I would fish it. I think builders like Russ, even with their exquisite attention to detail in their builds, would not only desire, but expect the recipients of such to fish them! To me, the only wall hangers out there are the fly rods that are beyond fishable repair. I say if you find that dream rod, buy it! Not just the aestheticly pleasing job, but the one that casts in your hand like the staff of Moses. There is nothing wrong with having a peice of gear that you can cast, fish and just simply admire. Get the good stuff (especially when you can find good used deals!) and go out on the river or lake and enjoy it!
Not to get off subject but, when I was a small child, I lived along the banks of a brackish river and there was a bridge everyone fished from. During the spring, the skipjack blues would come through. I would find a nice piece of willow and a knoted up birds nest of string and untangle it. Tie it on the end of the willow branch and scrounge up a hook and a small piece of bait, which wasn’t hard because everyone used a chunk of the first skip jack they caught. I would drop that sucker over the bridge and bammmm, skip jack on. Everyone on the bridge would call me Huckleberry Finn. Man those were the days
The first time I cast a Sage 8123 I knew I had found the best two handed rod ever. To this day I haven’t cast anything that works as well as the 8123 for me. The Sage 6126 is a close second.
I thought I had found it in 2004 when I acquired a Winston BIIx (9’ 5 wt). Then about 3 or 4 years, I came across an old, unsanded Far & Fine (7’9" 5 wt) and it’s giving the BIIx some competition as my “go to” rod. I don’t know what they sold for back in the 80’s, but I bet the F&Fs have held their value pretty well over time. It’s a beautiful rod.
I think most people tend to gravitate to certain rods that particularly suit their style. That is why you have so many different opinions on specific rods and even specific lines on specific rods. It is sort of like the sweet spot in tennis. Once you find just the right rod lined with just the right line for you, everything feels perfect. It is also why, when you lovingly hand it to someone else, they think it sucks.
I have an older St Croix Avid 8 1/2’ 4wt 2 pc that I really like. I also have a St Croix new Imperial 8 1/2’ 4wt 4 pc that I really like. Everytime I pick that rod up I can’t get over how light it is. And I have a Pennington 4’ 4wt 2 pc bamboo rod that I really like. All three of these rods though made of different material seem to suit my casting style. My Scott G 885/3 isn’t bad either but I don’t fish that rod much anymore.
I have an older St Croix Avid 8’ 4wt, 2-piece that is that “natural” rod for me. The Avid I have is a pre-IPC/ART stuff with the gray blank. According to the serial number it is a 2003 model. It is my primary trout rod for medium to larger water. I have it matched with a 2nd generation Lamson Velocity 1.5 in the “gunsmoke” finish and a Cortland 444 “peach” WF4F line. It will lay a #18 dry fly on the water like a whisper and casting it is like an extension of my arm. I just look at the spot I want the fly and it’s there. This model is well out of production, and if I ever break it, I’ll probably cry. But that aint gonna stop me from fishing it!
I also have an older Sage RPL 9ft 6wt 2-piece that is much the same. When I first got the Sage, it was a “love-hate” relationship, but once I figured the rod out (and found a line it likes), it’s become the same to me as my 4wt Avid.
Darrin that is the same St Croix Avid I own and it is also my primary trout rod. Right now I have an Orvis BBS II with a SA Trout wf4f and when I dry fly or small nymph fish I use one of Kathy Scott’s furled leaders. Lovely!
I feel the choice depends on the waters fished.Wide open waters allow longer rods but in my trout streams i prefer rods under 8’ because of trees and cover.Out of all the rods i have used i will always keep my loomis 7’6" 2pc 4 weight glx,i pamper that rod,wax it with duragloss polish and after ten years it doesn’t have one mark on it after many trips.I have had a few i wish i had kept,T&T lps,Sage xp,Loomis gl3,even a lesser rod a cabelas sli now discontinued and surprise rod that cost and looked great.
