I just purchased a new Eagle Claw Feather Lite FL-300 6’6" glass rod. This is rod is made in China and reads 2-6 Lb for line weight. Seems like a slow action rod, full flex. I will be using it for panfish and the occasional bass.
I intend to buy both a DT and WF for this rod. I was thinking along the lines of a 3 or 4 wt DT and a 4 or 5wt WF. I haven’t fished glass since I was a kid. I know some of you still fish glass rods and I would appreciate your input on line selection. Also any thoughts on this model of rod.
I figured this inexpensive rod will make a great second rod to take on the water with me. If it gets stolen or broken I am not out hundreds of dollars. Should make a good rod for me to loan to the neighbor kids too.
dudley,
Thanks. I must say that I am impressed the appearance of this rod. Figured for $19 bucks plus a little shipping I could not go wrong. Sometime back I bought an FL-80 fly reel with spare spool from Hilltop Fly Shop on ebay. Should make a nice, inexpensive, combo with this rod.
I am going to end up with more money in the lines than the rod and reel. :shock: Go figure!
Glass rods will respond to different line weights and tapers just like any other rod. I prefer to use what the manufacturer suggests although in your case; who knows what that is. I like slow and if the rod is supposed to be a 5 weight that’s what I would fish but it’s your rod.
I use DT’s on my glass but I use DT’s on everything because I like them. I would definitely stay away from any specialty tapers and instead stick to regular tapers like a Cortland 444; Sci Angler’s Trout or Rio Classic.
As far as care goes; treat them like any other rod you love. Most of my glass rods have spigot ferrules which I don’t wax 'cause I don’t wax my graphite spigots. The rest of my glass that have sleeve over ferrules get waxed.
Have fun with your new glass rod. Be careful though; I got addicted to glass and it is cheap enough to get out of control.
Heading out to the lake shortly. Guess I get to do some experimenting. I already have a several lines ranging from 2-8 wt but need a 5wt DT. How about that, another excuse to go to the fly shop! Thanks folks.
Hey, also an excuse to break in my new Cabela’s snake proof boots for next weeks first day of small game hunting season.
Nighthawk,
Take Jim’s advise and check out fiberglass flyrodders. Read this post http://p099.ezboard.com/ffiberglassflyroddersfrm18.showMessage?topicID=9.topic It has a lot of useful info on that line of rods.
Here is another interesting read from the ozark anglers web site: http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4603Many people like that rod. I own that same model and I also enjoy fishing it. It’s obviously not the most refined fly rod on the market, but I think that it is pretty well made for 20 bucks.
To answer your question, I use a DT 5 F with mine. I also tried a WF3F,WF4F and I think a WF6F, but I liked the DT 5F the best.
As far as the 2-6lb line rating on the blank, I seem to recall seeing that same question somewhere else, and I think that the reason given was that the blank is the same blank that Eagle Claw uses for a spinning rod. Did you get the newest model with the Fuji type reel seat or the previous one with the gold aluminum reel seat?
Enjoy fishing and catching with it.
Tom
I have two glass rods and both are EagleClaw. One is an 8 foot Eagle Claw Deluxe Eagle Model MC300 and states a 6/7 lb. line size so I just use a WF-7-F SA Concept fly line for it and it works fine. I believe this rod is a tip flex. The other is an 8 foot EagleClaw Black Eagle that is a full flex (parabolic) 5/6wt. that I use 5wt. fly line on. The Black Eagle is listed as a graphite model on the EagleClaw web-site but this same model rod I have is glass (I got the rod through a local hardware store that orders from a tackle dealer out West). So they must have made the Black Eagle model in glass at one time or other as well as in the graphite. I thought that was strange when I saw the same model as mine on the site but all the rods in that model were graphite. Both rods are black in color. I really like that Black Eagle 5wt. paired with my Okuma Sierra S5/6 reel.
Thanks for all the advice. Sounds like I made a good decision. Didn’t make it to the lake last night but I hope to get there Friday evening. Mine is the 2007 model with the graphite, Fuji type seat. I will try to get some pictures to post for you to look at.
Wasn’t able to get pictures but this rod is a bit light for a 5wt. Casts a 3/4 wt very well though. Might just be my casting style. You can cast this thing for hours and not get any fatigue.
These rods are actually pretty neat. I am surprised my brother hasn’t posted, he has two of them. I have the 6’6" as well and I put a 5 weight line on it, my brother bought the rod for my daughter as a b-day present, as was said a 20$ rod is not going to hurt if it gets broken, and it actually preforms pretty well. They are also a delightful yellow
I like slow and if the rod is supposed to be a 5 weight that’s what I would fish but it’s your rod.