Best #9 Fly Rod?
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Hey Guys, if you had to pick only one #9 fly rod for everything from freshwater to salt what would it be?
What reel would you use? Why? I guess you can tell by the post I am on the hunt. 😉Mine is nothing fancy at all.
I know what you mean about the old WAR HORSE stuff. I have a couple of older RPLXi’s that I really like but, with all of the new lightweight materials that are out I feel like I need a new one. ;D I guess I should just go cast a few and see. I reall want to like the ORVIS Helios. Can a fly rod live up to that advertising? Can I pull the trigger on a $800.00 stick? What about a Winston or Scott? What about the Sage XI2?…………… 😮
I went through this late last year, looking for a rod that I could pull double-duty with on steelhead and beach fishing.
I have the Xi2 eight which is a great rod for both but my all time favorite #9 is my 9′ #9 TCR… outstanding rod!
Reels, you’re so spoilt for choice these days I’ll leave that up to you…
You can judge a man by the size of things which annoy him.
Beulah 8/9 Blue Water with a Ross Momentum 4
Sage Xi2 or the Z-axis. I hear you on wanting a new stick. I want another Z-axis so bad right now. Just hard to fit in the budget with going to the Bahamas and Alaska this summer.
I was talking to Ed Story at Feathercraft today and he gave the thumbs up to the Sage Z axis and the new Winston salt rod. He also talked very highly of the new Sage Bass rods. Said they can’t keep them in stock. From what I hear they must work very well for casting the big stuff. I just don’t know if I can get over the 7′ 11″ length.
The length is not the only thing that you would have to get over with the new Sage Bass rods, the grip is a smaller diameter. Feels funny for a while when you casting it.
My favorite saltwater rod is the Scott Heliply 6wt, but since it is only 8′ 8″, I guess it doesn’t count.
Todd,
I was recently on the #9 hunt as well. I test cast the Sage Xi2, the Winston MX, and the Scott X2S. I wanted to try the GLX Crosscurrent but the shop didn’t have one. After two separate testing trips I went with the Scott. I found it to be easy to load in close and it shoots the line out there quickly. The tip seems to be forgiving of operator error which I reckon is a real consideration towards the end of a long fishing day.
The Winston was a real close second, and thats coming from a guy who doesn’t particularly care for the BIIx. I think they are going to sell a million MX’s.
The Sage throws tiny loops and is very responsive but even with a #10 line it felt a little wooden to me.
It’s funny because I thought I’d be walking out with a Sage or a Loomis. It drove home the importance of trying before I buy.
For a reel, I went with the South African Abel, I mean the Shilton
Todd, my favorite 9wt is a T&T H1 “S” its one of 3 9wt’s I have and to say it’s the best (the others are a H2 and Heliply) it has a smooth progressive action
Ugly stick 8/9 wt with mono on an okuma ;D
Seriously I really love the sage xp 8wt I’m sure the 9 wt is just as nice I also love my TFO ticrx hard to beat for the price as well.
For me though a 9 wt is overkill hence I’ll take any beater for salmon flipping
…  For a reel, I went with the South African Abel, I mean the Shilton  😀 The only thing it’s missing is an outgoing click and about $300 on the price tag.  …
Nice choice in reel… (he he)
Great setup, Scott with a Shilton on it…
I agree completely, Shilton 5, will be half the price. I spooled one with 150 yards of 30lbs Sci Angler backing, with a Striped Bass taper and if I had stuck gelspun on; it would have taken 250 to 300 yards. But I recon if a fish pulls more than 150 yards of string, unless it’s a Tarpon, your beat…
The Shilton is a great reels, I have seen a Shilton 6 land a 102cm (fl) Giant Travely (GT), that take some doing…
On the theory that most other guys are professing, I recommend you have a look at them… if you need more info, PM me and I will get the info needed.
So what rod, well the Sages are always going to play, so are the balance of the premiums, Scott have awesome rods, T&T have stunners, Orvis is coming back nicely, and all the others… Also have a look at the TFO’s… If I were to take a general purpose, alround 9’ 9w, it would have to be a Sage TCR, if it were to be a Salt Water stick only, then the Xi2…
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