Rod Selection

[Morph1]

Hey Guys, I have been thinking about getting a new rod, perhaps sage ,

I have noticed 2 piece and 4 piece rods, I am not looking for anything expensive, like 700 dolla stick , but something in range of maybe $250....

my question is , is there a performance difference in using a 2 piece oppose to 4 piece rod ??, myself I would prefer a 2 piece, as I am not planning on carrying the rod in a suitcase...

I would like to get a 7 wt rod as I find it very universal and stiff enough for distance casting, I fish most of the time on lakes not streams.

any suggestions guys ?

 

thanks.

[dave robinson]

Big question, not easy answers.

It used to be that two piece rods out peformed 4 piece rods because they had smoother bends when loaded and were lighter in weight due to two fewer ferrules. Also, top end ferrules had a tendency to loosen due to increased flexing. I manged to break a rod when the ferrule came loose and the rod broke at the top ferrule. That was a 15 year old 6wt St Croix Imperial that St Croix replaced for free.

However, rod technology has progressed. Ferrules are now built into the basic blank, are strong, seem to keep together better and do not add appreciably to rod swing weight. They also now have about the same flex as the blank itself, so the 4 piece rods bend almost as smoothly as the two piecers. I bought a 4 piece 7 weight Sage Xi2 two years ago to take to New Zealand and it performed admirably there and last year on the Bow. So based on what I ve heard, modern 4 piece rods are not really any different performance wise than two piece.

There are two considerations though. Generally four piece rods cost a bit more than the same model in a two piece. If you intend to travel with a rod by air at all, most airline luggage restrictions treat two piece rods as extra baggage, and you stand a bigger chance of breakage of a long two piece rod than a four piece stowed in your normal baggage.

What it boils down to is personal preference. I have several inexpensive four piece rods that I use in a pinch if I'm going somewhere to fish by air. For the most part though, I use two piece rods. With the exception of the four piece Xi 2, all my higher perforomance (read more expensive) rods are two piece.

If you're thinking of a Sage, you might want to look at the FLi series. The may be priced a touch higher than your $250 budget, but I love my 9 ft 4 weight. Alternatives would be a Loomis GL3 or St CRoix Ultra Legend. A good all round weight is a 6 or 7 if you think you're going to get into heavier fish or windy conditions.

Edited April 9, 2008 by dave robinson

[RangerBob]

If you want a nice 4 piece travel rod, in about a 5 wt.. check out the Quantum rod at Fishin Hole. I think I paid like under $80 for it.. casts like a dream.

 

Erm.. see past threads in the Sherman Wayback machine:

 

http://forum.nlft.org/index.php?showtopic=...&hl=Quantum

[Morph1]

thank you guys , as always professional reply from mr. Dave ,

I also read the link below my thread , and it's quite interesting.

I like stiff rods so weight 7 would be my pick and I also noticed that sage rods seem stiffer, what will most likely be best for me...

Dave I can just imagine looking through your fly fishing gear, must be like entering a fly fishing museum ,

I am gonna try this summer to join the club, meet you guys in person, and learn from the best....

 

Cheers !

[dave robinson]

Morph:

Any museum pieces I have came from my Dad. I've even got a couple of old reels and a few Len Thompsons from the early 60s. Speaking of which, if you're ever in Lacombe, you can visit the Len Thompson factory for a tour. They ship those lures all over the world. Red and White is the best.

Well , may be not all my old stuff is my Dad's. I've got an Orvis Western Series 7 wt (circa 1975) that was replaced with a Loomis GLX a few years back. And if I look hard, I may even have my original glass rod from the 60s.

Now if you want a fast 7 weight, that GLX can really shoot line. It would cost more than your $250 budget though. More reasonably priced would be a 7 wt Sage FLi.

Come on out to our casting clinic May 3rd. I usually bring a couple of spare rods for folks to try.

And if Bill Gouge decides to come help, maybe we can twist his arm to bring a couple from his rod distributor sized collection.

[RangerBob]

thank you guys , as always professional reply from mr. Dave

Morph, don't get "Dissertation Dave" staaaaarted. Actually, Dave knows his poo.. he is after all the instructor at the casting course.

 

Now.. when you are ready for that first bamboo rod... speak to either Mikey D, or Don Anderson.

 

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/dmanders/