Fiberglass Rod

[coachjim]

Hey guys,

Was thinking about getting a fiberglass rod for small stream fishing in SW PA and around the enclosing area. I was either going to go with the Echo Glass or a Redington Butter Stick. Anyone ever try one of these rods? Was going to slap a Lamson Guru 1 on it and head to the mountain streams here in PA. Let me know if you guys have any experience with glass rods???

[Zach Matthews]

Hey Jim –

I don’t have any experience with either of those rods, but speaking generally I think you are absolutely on the right track. For brook trout a lot of the hassle you’ll run into has to do with the height of the forest canopy. Fiberglass rods are great in there because they can still bend in the shorter lengths. To me there’s no point in getting a fiberglass rod over 7 feet long, but from 6 to 7 feet they’re ideal. For brookies, obviously, a 2 or 3 weight is fine, but you could go up to a 4 weight if you also wanted to use the rod on tailwaters or as a backup.

Zach

[Brad Eaton]

Hey coachjim,

I’ve casted the Butter Stick and given the Echo the ol “wiggle test”. Both are considered “progressive” in that they’re a little bit faster in the mid section with a nice soft tip section. Also really like the Orvis Superfine Glass. A bit more $$, but oh so sweet. The 3wt or 4wt would be perfect for your needs.

For another reference, I’m fishing a Lamiglass 6 ‘ 6″ 3 wt with an LP1 on it and focus most of my time in the Driftless. Short casts, dry flies, for browns and brookies. It’s a phenomenal dry fly rod, but not quite enough backbone for nymphing. An absolute hoot hopper fishing with it in the summer.

I built my own Lami and it cost about $175 out the door with components and everything. At the time I had a Scott F2 7ft 3 wt that I was loaned and though the Lami wasn’t quite as nice, I thought it held up very well in testing as did most others who compared the two. Cam Mortensen also has his fiberglass loaner program, where he’ll send you a rod to test for a bit to see if you like it. I believe he has both the Echo and Butterstick, as well as many more.

Feel free to PM with any questions. I’m building myself a couple more right now. Test casting begins tonight of an 8ft 4x Epic and a 7’6″ 4x Kabuto.

Hope this helps!

Brad

[David Anderson]

Hi,
On a recent trip to NZ I was loaned a 5 weight and a 6’6 3 weight Butter Stick.
I didn’t get much time with the 5 because my fishing buddy would’t put it down for long, but I did manage a magic day on
a very small spring creek full of 3-4 pound browns with the little 3 weight.
It’s an awesome little rod that lays down little dries with great accuracy and it was surprisingly good with the big trout – for the money I think everyone should have one.

I also own a Scott F 703 and it’s a beautiful little stick as well.
I’ve had it a long time and used it on a lot of small streams here in Australia
It’s a cracker and, IMHO the pick of the original Scott F range – though the 2 weight is pretty sweet as well.

Glass is class !

www.dsaphoto.com

A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.

[coachjim]

Is the Lamson Guru too heavy for the fiberglass Butterstick? I have the Lamson Guru 1 and fish it on a 6′ 6″ St. Croix Avid and was hoping that I could use it on this rod as well. I also have and Orvis Battenkill I could use.

[Author]

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