New trout rod suggestions

[klaypigeon]

I know I know, this has been asked a million times. So let me first ask a few questions. I have been FF about 10 years. I fished mostly western rivers, big water. I have been fishing the same 9' 4wt 2 pc. IM6 rod ever since I began. It was supposed to be my beginner rod... and well lets just say I am frugal. anyway, for the last couple seasons I have really noticed a feeling like it was limiting me. I've been told I have good casting mechanics and at this point I really feel like I need something faster, like I am out casting my rod. I am not appreciating the nice fat loops I am throwing with this. Instead I think I will have it as a second rod that I can leave rigged for nymphing.

I have saved about $250
I am considering a couple of rods. This is what I am after. A fast action rod that has as little recoil as possible. (My current rod bounces like old shocks after my line shoots). A light rod. A lifetime warranty. Given that could anyone comment and or add a new option? Does anyone know where I could field test these?

TFO BVK 9' 5wt 4pc
St. Croix Legend Ultra 9' 5wt 4pc

Thanks guys. Going to the BK/Esopus May 15th and I am excited to arrive with a new tool.

 

[WBDluver]

Hi, well I don't know where you are located, but the flyfishing shows are the best places to test a rod. I would see what shops in your area carry them and a good fly shop will let you cast them. I myself would go with the St Croix as it is made in USA and they make a good rod. TFO is good also so you cant go wrong with either but you have to see which one fits your style.

 

[Joe D]

Good rods. Either one should make you happier than you are with your current rod for your intended use. The TFO rod is lighter than the St. Croix but they are both "light enough" to make you happy. It's always best to make a few casts with each rod to see which one fits your natural casting style the best (unless you're willing to under go a new learning curve).

I find that choosing from at least three different rods (not necessarily different manufacturers) brings one more noticeably to the top of the pile. If you haven't, you might want to look at the new lower priced rods Orvis introduced this year with their 2 1/2 oz 9" 5 weight.

 

[Trouser Trout]

Are you headed out there with the beetle?

 

[klaypigeon]

Are you headed out there with the beetle?

Nope, I am going down with a couple guys from work and a couple other friends. Should be 8-9 of us in total. 3 of us are pretty experienced, another 4 are learning and 1-2 are there to drink beer and shoot turkeys. Should be a great time we made the same trip last year which was my first time to the catskills and I had a blast. I didn't catch any of the monster browns that I spotted despite force feeding them everything I could, but I did have a good day landing 9 or so fish in the 12-15 range. also experienced the thickest hatch I had ever seen anywhere and I have fished Oregon, Idaho, Montana, wyoming, and Washington so that was quite a treat. BUGS EVERYWHERE like a 50 foot thick bug blanket over the river.

Thanks for the input so far, I am going to also check out the Orvis Access. I was checking out the 5wt shootout Final Results 5 weight rod comparison 5 weight rod test 5 weight rod review and while I realize it is subjective, it gives me some options. Too bad they didn't have any of the Echo rods. The Echo3 and Edge are also possibilities in my price range. Sigh, so many rods, so little time.

 

[Trouser Trout]

Oh OK, when you said you were arriving with a new tool I immediately thought of the beetle. As a rod suggestion, look into the Orvis TLS they are wtd. for 25 years and are very nice rods, I see them new on ebay for under $300. I have a 5wt 9' tip flex that I love. i have caught everything from 4" brookies to low hanging branches with it, it also held up to a 15+ lb striper last year.

 

[Trout Nazi]

The BVK and Lengend Ultra are 2 different rods, in that the BVK is a faster action. The St. Croix Legend Elite is more in line with the BVKs action. St. Croix does not get the credit it deserves. They make awesome rods but are under the radar in these parts. I'd check out the Legend Elite too. I believe both the Ultra and Legend Elite also use that new 3M epoxy that Hardy and Loomis use.

 

[Trout Guy]

For the money I'd recommend purchasing an orvis clearwater 2, i bought the 9' 5wt. 4 piece in the mid flex range. I only spent 200 bucks for a nice everyday use rod, and it also retains the 25 year warranty like the tls,access, helios ect. But for much less.

But if your like me and seldomly break a rod, I get a great bang for the buck for you..

Go to one of the Orvis OUTLETS and you can score a "refurbished" Helios rod for around $300! I went snowboarding up at Stratton Mt. in Vermont this past febuary, and went to the Orvis Outlet in manchester. I picked up a 8'6" 5wt Helios with a fast tip action for $300. The salesman i spoke to said that they replaced the rods that they used for the fly fishing school and are selling them as "refurbished". The rod i grabbed was almost brand spanking new!!

Heck of a deal in my opinon.

 

[klaypigeon]

Update:
I went down to the local flyshop, Goldstocks in Scotia. The gentleman there was great and he not only allowed me, but encouraged me to take some rods out back and test them. Unfortunately, they did not have what I was looking to test, but I did get to try some others. Here is my opinion yet far.
Echo 2 with the tip-flex tip - This rod I tossed 2 casts and gave it back. The rod was heavy to the touch and did not give me any sense of finesses. In fact it felt quite a bit like my old IM6 rod. I didn't really like anything about this rod. It felt "noodly". Basically I say, bleh, not for me.

Beuhla Guide Series with "d" tip (distance/tip-flex) - This rod was quite nice. You could feel the rod load all the way to about the first ferrul and it would deliver a nice long smooth cast. Still it was not a fast action rod in my opinion. I still rate this as a mid-fast action. The rod was well weighted and beautifully made, especially the attention to the cork work in 2 tones. It would make a nice nymph rod or a rod for someone that fishes primarily smaller creeks as I thought it had the ability to throw shorter casts really well. It was after about 45 feet that I was feeling a bit out of control and I would really have to learn the rod before I was able deliver accurately. Still, this is not the rod for me.

In order to form a baseline with a known high performing rod, I casted the Sage Z-Axis.

Sage Z-Axis - This was everything I have ever dreamed about in a rod. Simply put, IMO this rod was perfect. There was nothing that I could find to fault this rod. I was throwing line in 30mph gusts and I still felt that I could punch it to where it would need it if I had to. 50 ft of line out and it felt that I had backbone for another 40 without too much effort. It was really a beauty. Alas, it is also WAY out of my price range.

I called the Orvis outlet store in Lake George and they are ordering me an Access to test out with no commitment. They also have Helios at $425 for anyone interested.

So..what casts like a Z-Axis that I can afford...I imagine you probably get what you pay for, but that is not always the case.

 

[Trout Nazi]

So..what casts like a Z-Axis that I can afford...I imagine you probably get what you pay for, but that is not always the case.

Your not going to like the answer to this question. What you've done is the equivalent of test driving a 911 or Vette while shopping for a Civic. You can get a decent rod nowadays for 2fiddy, but it won't cast like a Z.

On the other hand, if you save up $350-400, and troll eBay for long enough, you can find that Z (or a rod that casts similarly like Loomis Stream Dance GLX) without shelling out the $700 retail. It can be done, a friend of mine just did it.

 

[klaypigeon]

Your not going to like the answer to this question. What you've done is the equivalent of test driving a 911 or Vette while shopping for a Civic. You can get a decent rod nowadays for 2fiddy, but it won't cast like a Z.

On the other hand, if you save up $350-400, and troll eBay for long enough, you can find that Z (or a rod that casts similarly like Loomis Stream Dance GLX) without shelling out the $700 retail. It can be done, a friend of mine just did it.

I can get a custom built Z for $530 but that is still too much
Sigh, well there are still rods to be tested. Hopefully one of them will make me forget the feel of the Z

 

[johnboy85]

I know I know, this has been asked a million times. So let me first ask a few questions. I have been FF about 10 years. I fished mostly western rivers, big water. I have been fishing the same 9' 4wt 2 pc. IM6 rod ever since I began. It was supposed to be my beginner rod... and well lets just say I am frugal. anyway, for the last couple seasons I have really noticed a feeling like it was limiting me. I've been told I have good casting mechanics and at this point I really feel like I need something faster, like I am out casting my rod. I am not appreciating the nice fat loops I am throwing with this. Instead I think I will have it as a second rod that I can leave rigged for nymphing.

I have saved about $250
I am considering a couple of rods. This is what I am after. A fast action rod that has as little recoil as possible. (My current rod bounces like old shocks after my line shoots). A light rod. A lifetime warranty. Given that could anyone comment and or add a new option? Does anyone know where I could field test these?

TFO BVK 9' 5wt 4pc
St. Croix Legend Ultra 9' 5wt 4pc

Thanks guys. Going to the BK/Esopus May 15th and I am excited to arrive with a new tool.

Hi Klaypigeon
i am putting som of my Scott and Orvis rods on ebay soon. I just have collected too many that I dont use anymore. PM me for info if you are interested in a bargin. If not no problem and good luck in your quest....regards john

 

[klaypigeon]

I am going to spend more money than I had planned...I see it coming already :/

 

[WBDluver]

Take your 250, plunk it down on a Z axis and put the rest on the card. Money is made to be spent, that is why they print more of it all the time.

 

[klaypigeon]

Well,
My schedule is totally fubar'd. We lost 3 people from an 8 man team that runs 24/7. I am working 6.5 days a week until further notice...3rd shift! GRACK! This means I have had no time to get out and try some rods. In the meantime I did do some more research, talked to some folks that owned some of the rods I am interested and finally just whipped out my CC and ordered the St. Croix Legend Elite. ('Go Wisconsin!'). I think it will serve me great as an all-arounder. When I get it I will post a final review and let you know if I think I made a good choice. I had a st. croix avid salmon baitcasting rod that was amazing and totally indestructible. I also have a st. croix spey rod so it looks like I may be developing a bit of a loyalty Thanks everyone for your input and letting me prattle on.

On a side note...if you are (or know) a Windows System Administrator and are looking for work in Albany/Troy, send me a PM!

 

[MACFLY]

Well,
My schedule is totally fubar'd. We lost 3 people from an 8 man team that runs 24/7. I am working 6.5 days a week until further notice...3rd shift! GRACK! This means I have had no time to get out and try some rods. In the meantime I did do some more research, talked to some folks that owned some of the rods I am interested and finally just whipped out my CC and ordered the St. Croix Legend Elite. ('Go Wisconsin!'). I think it will serve me great as an all-arounder. When I get it I will post a final review and let you know if I think I made a good choice. I had a st. croix avid salmon baitcasting rod that was amazing and totally indestructible. I also have a st. croix spey rod so it looks like I may be developing a bit of a loyalty Thanks everyone for your input and letting me prattle on.

On a side note...if you are (or know) a Windows System Administrator and are looking for work in Albany/Troy, send me a PM!

Dude for another 30 bucks you could have had a Sage Z Axis customer made rod. If you just ordered and still want the Z axis just cancel it and PM me. I will direct you to the right place.

 

[klaypigeon]

Thanks for the tip. I have already stretched myself another 30 another 30 another 30 + with my order I got free RIO Gold and a dose of hometown pride so I am all set.

 

[klaypigeon]

Couple more to add here.
The rod I bought was the St. Croix Legend Elite 905-4. I got it from Gorge Fly Shop in Oregon (Great shop btw) via Ebay because they offered free Rio Gold with the rod purchase via ebay but not from their site, wierd, but whatever, $70 line.
After a weekend of casting the rod I am really happy with it. It is feather light. Compared to my baseline the z-axis I think it may actually handle short casts a little better. It feels like it has a bit softer tip. So anywhere up to about 25ft of flyline out I could just wrist flip very accurately and delicately which kinda surprised me for a rod with this much back bone. In the mid distance 20-50ft it really shines as the mid rod begins to load up. I had no issues banging streamers against the far banks and the previous weekend I used it for throwing some large bass poppers, it had no issues up to about 50 ft with the poppers, but this is more a line weight issue.
Beyond 50ft I would give the award to the z-axis, it just seemed to load down to the cork and really rocket out some line, but the Elite was no slouch. I couldn't cast the whole 90ft, but in a dead wind I got out about 80ft in my back yard, I think if I were a little better caster I could get into the backing. But whatever, I never fish that far - either I don't have enough back cast or I can't see that far, or the line mending becomes a joke, or I have heavy nymphs. As far as nymphing, the rod is amazing! Way better than my old rod. No issues dragging line off the water with plenty of backbone left for a power stroke. I was roll casting 40ft with shot and indicator and doing some faux spey casts and I was really impressed- this is one thing that makes my fishing life easier. With nymphing I try to spend as little time as possible with the line in the air or I just end up untangling knots all day. The quality of the rod is very nice, the cork is lovely, the enclose tube is nice, but a bit heavy to throw on the backpack, guides and wraps all look good. All in all this is a very competent rod that I am happy to own. I am not a big muscly guy and I fished all day for 3.5 days without getting sore. It is still a little out of balance with the cheapo reel I have on it, but I think I have that picked out as well....read on.

Orvis Access 905-2 mid-flex and the Access Reel While I was on the BK this weekend my buddy broke one of his guides off and not-begrudgingly used this as an excuse to update his now 13 year old rod, which like mine was his beginner rod that he just stuck with. An old IM6 Cabelas rod I think. I really liked this reel and plan on getting one for myself; for $139 I don't know if you can beat it. But, with the Orvis promotion, he got it for free with his rod purchase, BAM! Nice. Anyway, I also really liked his rod. My best adjective would be silky. The rod felt great to cast dry flys. If you fish mostly drys in the short to medium range I really think you should look at this rod. It could haul some line, but not like my Elite or the Z-axis, it just didn't have that kind of backbone. But it delivered the line up to about 50 ft with a smoothness and lightness of touch and effort that just put a smile on my face. I could dry fly this rod all day for the rest of my life and be happy. No surprise that it balanced wonderfully with the Access reel. It got pretty sloppy for me after 50ft with my double hauls turning into these wild arm strokes...but that could just be me Still if you know the BK, I was about 1/3 across Barnhardts and reaching the far bank with no issue, you just don't need much more than that on the east coast. The cons, nymphing with this rod would take a bit more effort and so would really long casts. Great fit and finish. Seems like a steal at $350 with a free reel.