While posting a reply to the “Winston customer service” thread and it reminded me of something I wrote about here some time ago: For most of my fishing, my favorite, “go to” rod is a 27 year-old Orvis Far and Fine: 7’9", 2 piece, 5 wt., unsanded blank. While I’m interested in all responses, I’m particularly intrigued by older models that have withstood the tests of time. Do you have one?
My favorit is the Sage RPL series. I have them in both 5 wt and 7 wt. and they both suite my casting style perfectly.
Jim Smith
Tie - for different reasons:
9’ 5wt Hardy Zenith for a fast action;
And Sage ZXL in same size for more relaxed casting stroke
I have two at the present time but they fit your description. All were made in Vermont many years ago by Cortland:
8’ 6" Diamondback All American 2pc 5wt
9’ Diamondback All American 2pc 7wt
I am still hunting for other Diamondback rods, like the ones above, that were built in Vermont. Even though Cortland closed the Vermont location and no longer make the Diamondback rods like the ones I have, I still fish them everyday and really enjoy them and hope to never break one.
Mine used to be my Far and Fine until recently. I pulled my son’s 8’ 6wt “Trout” Orvis superfine, 1984 vintage, out of the closet and spent some time casting it in the yard. Then I cast it side by side with the F-n-F with the same line and liked the “trout” rod better. Then I took it fishing…5wt with typical trout flies and 6wt lines with bass flies. Grace and power! Truely a do-it-ALL rod for me (except for fishing little mountain trickles and Stripped Bass on the other extreme). I just plain connected with the rod so I went and bought me one; an '82 vintage, 2pc downlocker with cork insert just like my son’s '84. I like it so much, I am considering finding another…just in case you know? Pure aesthetic and functional balance with a made in England Hardy LRH!
aa
Sage RPL 696 (is 19 years old enough?). Only problem - it’s a 2-pc so it hasn’t flown with me since 2000; that’s about to be remedied.
Regards,
Scott
WOW! Noticing where the responders are from, perhaps we need to have a vintage graphite Fish-in or gathering here in the Southeast!
aa
Sage 8124.
Graywolf fiberglass rods
Sage SP series 589-5 and a SPL 181-3
Jet
My Kusse 7’ 4wt Quad. Easily my favorite rod.
Lamiglas 7ft 3wt that Betty built for me!
7’ 6" 5 wt hollow built bamboo,
7’ 9" 5wt extreme super hollow built bamboo,
9’ 9wt extreme super hollow bamboo,
10’ 6" hollow built bamboo switch rod,
and
12’ 9wt(560 grain weight) hollow built bamboo spey rod.
All of the above made by me. Sorry for posrting so many but I fish for a lot of differnt fish in a lot of different places.
Sage 490 LL Graphite II. If I could only have one, that’s it without question. Followed closely by the Sage 389 LL Graphite II. Both are early 90’s vintage. I’ve tried a lot of others, and eventually sold them off. Have a cheap bamboo that’s supposed to be a Payne 100 taper, 7 1/2 foot 4 wt. Whatever it is, it works nice with a DT 4 and I like it too!
My favorite bamboo rod is a 6’ 2 weight. Accurate, delicacy and incredibly fun! Harry Boyd was the maker. When it comes to graphite, my best rod is the 9’ 4 weight Orvis Hydros tip flex. Inexpensive, accurate and it casts itself.
I am probably gonna get picked on for this, but I have to be honest. My ‘go to’ rod most of the time is my ugly, yellow 6-1/2’ Eagle Claw 4 wt, with the chewed up real cork grips. I bought it new in 1972, and it is still my favorite rod. It’s like an old friend. It was the second fly rod I ever bought (my first was a South Bend). We’ve fished all over the world together for several decades. If this rod could talk, it would tell you stories that make Indiana Jones look like a couch-potato.
I don’t know why, but I cast better with the shorter rod, especially from one of my kayaks. Maybe it’s because I am short (but solid…).
Anyway, it’s cheap, it’s ugly, it’s old, but it’s like a part of me.
Ex my boo’s, which have become too costly to fish and risk breaking, it’s my new Superfine Touch 7’ 4 wt.
Purchased basically to replicate that 'boo feeling.
For most of my fishing on a pretty good size river with dry flies from size 20 BWOs to size 2 Salmonflies, I really like the TFO BVK 9’ for 5 wt four piece built by BB member Apachetrout.
I’ve been fishing it regularly with a Rio Selective Trout II WF4F line, and can line up to a 5 wt line if it gets a bit breezy.
For winter fishing with big stonefly nymphs, I like the Sage Fli 9’ for 7 wt four piece. Tight loops with two big weighted nymphs and an indicator.
John
For trout fishing in our spring creeks, it has to be my St Croix Avid (pre IPC) 8 1/2’ 4wt 2pc.
Winston WT 2-piece 8-1/2’ 5wt.