First post in while. Howdy. Hope everyone is well.
Does anyone out there own the 11’-0" Sage XP rod in 6 wt? Curios to know your thoughts on what size reel will balance it. Thinking it may require larger than your typical reel made for a 6 wt.
Anyone? Thanks.
Hey Epo how’s it going. You and I have the same thoughts on our minds. I just got a 11 foot 6 wt from Cabelas yesterday. Much cheaper rod but same concern. A 6wt has got the Narrow river written all over it. I put my heaviest reel (Sci Ang system 2 8/9) that I have on it and think that I may need to do some tweeking with lead in the butt. With that reel the rod balances at my index finger. I would really like it to balance at my pinky.
Micro - every rod has Narrow written all over it…
I actually got this specifically for the yak. Have not yet used it b/c I busted my wrist in October - the day before it arrived? arrggh. Still can’t throw any line with my right hand but have learned to cast okay lefty. Bright side and all.
Hope to break it in sometime in April.
I have never cast an 11’ XP, but I have a 10’ 6wt XP and 9’ 7wt XP. My guess would be that you won’t need any “ballast” to “balance out” an 11’ rod. If you think of the length of the fulcrum from the grip to the reel, it would take a big weight change to offset a very little difference in weight of the rod (9, 10 or 11 feet).
If you have the opportunity to test cast the rod, I would start with your own reel and see how it feels, and with a larger one if it doesn’t feel right. For me, the Ross Rythem 3.5 reel or Ross CLA 3 I use on my XPs both feel fine on either the 9’ or 10’ rods. These are very sweet rods, and I am guessing will not feel like you have to do anything to compensate for the rod length. Good luck, that should be a fun rod.
Thanks Flyboy. Toying with a few options. (I worked hard this year and got a nice little bonus.)
Looking at either a new Ross Evolution for the XP, or switching a Lampson Litespeed from my 9wt Xi2 and upgrading that one to a nice Tibor - use it mostly in salt for larger stripers. Like I said. I worked hard this year and deserve it.
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I have owned the Sage 6110-4 XP for several years. I normally use a Hardy Marquis 7 or Sage 506 reel and they both are a little light. The rod is not very comfortable for long distance casting all day, I like it for high stick nymphing and swimming buggers in smallmouth rivers. It is superior for mending line and controling the drift, excellent for roll casting or one handed spey casting.
I purchased the rod used from a friend and was disapointed initially however, the rod is excellent for closer work and line control.
Some of the west coast steelhead FF have modified this rod with a short 4"-6" butt for two handed casting and switch rod techniques. I may do this modification over the winter.
Regards,
FK
FK
The Z axis version of this rod comes with the extended butt.
eponymous,
Yes, I have the new Z-Axis 5110-4 and it has a true switch rod/two handed rod configuration.
The 6110-4 XP is stiffer and faster than the comparable 6110-4 Z-Axis so I will keep the rod and modify it to switch rod cork arrangement.
Regards,
FK