Not that it matters; just stating that I prefer slower action fly rods. Whether they're bamboo, graphite or fiberglass, I like that full, progressive action. Some of my favorites are: The old Orvis Far & Fine 7'9". The old Fenwicks; the Winston IM6 rods. The early Scott G graphites. The early, two piece Sage Lines. In bamboo, I love 8040sthe Jenkins 8-footers, The Granger 8040s, The pre-fire Leonard 50s, and a 7'6" Mark Ruhe Premiere. Nearly all are 5wts, though the bamboos will easily bend for fours. This poor boy with champagne tastes is lucky enough to own two Jenkins 8 footers and an old Goodwin Granger Special. The nicest cheap rod I own is the Redington Trout Classic, a nine-foot five weight. Those Trout Classics are the best buy in great casting fly rods.
My Kind of Fly Rods
- Thread starter Billems
- Start date
Bamboozle
Well-known member
I'm in for slow to moderate action for trout fishing but I prefer fast rods for warmwater.
I guess it is because I cut my teeth on a graphite Orvis Limestone Special and a Fenwick HMG which were considerably more moderate than today's graphite cannons. After that it was nothing but bamboo for 20+ years.
Today the trout quiver is bamboo, newer glass and moderate graphite rods that not coincidentally, happen to be Winston.
I have too many rods because I have too many favorites, but a few are the Orvis Seven Four, Bill Harms 8'0" 5wt and a Leonard 38H in bamboo; McFarland 8'0" 5wt Spruce Creek, Tom Morgan Rodsmiths 7'0" 3wt and a 6'6" 3wt Winston Retro in glass and in graphite the 8'0" 4wt Tom Morgan Favorite, 8'6" 5wt Winston DL4 and the 8'6" 3wt Winston WT.
I guess it is because I cut my teeth on a graphite Orvis Limestone Special and a Fenwick HMG which were considerably more moderate than today's graphite cannons. After that it was nothing but bamboo for 20+ years.
Today the trout quiver is bamboo, newer glass and moderate graphite rods that not coincidentally, happen to be Winston.
I have too many rods because I have too many favorites, but a few are the Orvis Seven Four, Bill Harms 8'0" 5wt and a Leonard 38H in bamboo; McFarland 8'0" 5wt Spruce Creek, Tom Morgan Rodsmiths 7'0" 3wt and a 6'6" 3wt Winston Retro in glass and in graphite the 8'0" 4wt Tom Morgan Favorite, 8'6" 5wt Winston DL4 and the 8'6" 3wt Winston WT.
turkey
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2008
- Messages
- 1,705
I chased around slower actions, even parabolic rods for awhile. I have a great 8'3" full-flexing wet fly rod from Bill Critchfield that is a blast to fish. It's tough for me to keep swinging wets though when trout are taking on top, although its potentially more effective. What I've come to find is, while I like them all, I like progressive feeling rods the most. I fish some bamboo, but this year I've been plying an original Scott G 905-4 and a Winston BIIt 9' for 5wt. Both are very pleasing to cast.
TimMurphy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2006
- Messages
- 3,547
Dear Billems,
I have Sage LL rods, a 279 and a 389 that I like. I almost bought a Sage 4711 on eBay the other day, but I chickened out. I fished one of them many years ago and on a stream the size of Spring Creek in Centre County or anything smaller it was the perfect do it all trout rod. From midges to weighted wooly buggers it did everything.
I have a number of bamboo rods in the traditional 8 1/2- or 9-foot lengths for weights 5 through 7 from SB, Heddon, Granger, and Wright and McGill. They are modestly moderate in flex but once I adjust my timing a bit, they fish every bit as well as my modern fast graphite rods.
I can cast just about anything but have only hung onto the rods I liked casting and fishing. I still use a 7 1/2 foot Sceptre rod that I bought from Steve Sywensky when FFP was still a 4' x12' section of the front of the Lemont Post Office. It's still a nice rod as are the South Bend and Fenwick glass rods I own.
Regards,
Tim Murphy 🙂
I have Sage LL rods, a 279 and a 389 that I like. I almost bought a Sage 4711 on eBay the other day, but I chickened out. I fished one of them many years ago and on a stream the size of Spring Creek in Centre County or anything smaller it was the perfect do it all trout rod. From midges to weighted wooly buggers it did everything.
I have a number of bamboo rods in the traditional 8 1/2- or 9-foot lengths for weights 5 through 7 from SB, Heddon, Granger, and Wright and McGill. They are modestly moderate in flex but once I adjust my timing a bit, they fish every bit as well as my modern fast graphite rods.
I can cast just about anything but have only hung onto the rods I liked casting and fishing. I still use a 7 1/2 foot Sceptre rod that I bought from Steve Sywensky when FFP was still a 4' x12' section of the front of the Lemont Post Office. It's still a nice rod as are the South Bend and Fenwick glass rods I own.
Regards,
Tim Murphy 🙂
I've cast a McFarland Spruce Creek. It's on my bucket list.
caddisflyer
Well-known member
I have a far and fine and although many like it, I do not. Something about the action was causing me to snap off fish on the take. Especially on lighter tippet. I would consider it a slow action in comparison to my 4 wt Winston. Very different rods of course.
My expensive rod is a Reddington Classic Trout but I also love my cheap rods. I’m either the best caster in the world or the biggest oaf with a rod because I can cast them all and not be able to articulate one difference between any of them. It’s a blessing in disguise.
Bamboozle
Well-known member
My McFarland Spruce Creek rods are his first generation smooth blank rods that Mike was building before the Seele collaboration, so about 15+ years ago. They are more moderate than the newer versions.
Just wondering, I assume the Orvis Far & Fine you mention is the 7'9" 5wt graphite version?? I ask because there was a 7'6" 5wt bamboo version of the Far & Fine made in the 1990's - early 200's that was a really nice rod too!!
gfenlikestolosepasswords
Active member
the slowest fly rod i own is a 9' south fork 5wt. i rarely use it, or most of the other noodles i own (including a spruce creek 7'9" 3/4). at least the mcfarland is light in the hand, the south fork is just unwieldy.
the only rod i own two of is the fenwick ff756, incase one breaks. i actually fish it with a 5wt rather than the 6 it ws intended for, although i've decided to pick up bamboo snobbery as my new past time where i seem to prefer them to be faster (h-i prince, sb 359) rather than slower (hardy fairy).
it's not the slowness that i find appealing, it's the appreciable weight in the tip that you feel in casting. i do have a 9' 4wt orvis superfine build that i made for my all-around rod. orvis told me it was full flex, but it doesn't feel as good without that heft in the tip end.
each to their own.
the only rod i own two of is the fenwick ff756, incase one breaks. i actually fish it with a 5wt rather than the 6 it ws intended for, although i've decided to pick up bamboo snobbery as my new past time where i seem to prefer them to be faster (h-i prince, sb 359) rather than slower (hardy fairy).
it's not the slowness that i find appealing, it's the appreciable weight in the tip that you feel in casting. i do have a 9' 4wt orvis superfine build that i made for my all-around rod. orvis told me it was full flex, but it doesn't feel as good without that heft in the tip end.
each to their own.
Dr.J 1952
Active member
I always liked IM6 graphite. Have three I bought from Cabelas over thirty years ago. Two broke from casting so much but I fixed them. My favorite rod is a 8’ 6wt. Orvis Rocky Mountain rod. Came with rod bag and aluminum rod tube. $180 in 1993. My only regret is I didn’t get a 9’. I have four Redington rods: a Path rod, a Pursuit, an RS2 and a Classic Trout . Very happy with them. I have an Orvis HLS Silver Label 9’6wt. which is a stiffer rod I got for under $200 when they were discontinuing the model. I mainly use that rod for steelhead.
Yes. But with a double taper 444, they're sublime.
I like both the graphite and bamboo. Spruce Creeks are first -rate. Plan to get one someday.
I meant that the Orvis Far & Fine seemed faster than those other rods as a GOOD thing. I've never owned an Orvis Far & Fine but I've casted them several times and really liked them.
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