5 WEIGHT SHOOTOUT (THE WINNER IS?)
- This topic has 47 replies, 17 voices, and was last updated Jan 12, 2007 at 4:36 pm by
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I really enjoy reviews like that. I just enjoy reading other peoples opinions about fly gear. You just have to realize any type of review is largely subjective – that’s just the nature of the beast. You don’t have to agree with the reviewer to enjoy the review and respect his/her opinions.
Thanks for posting the link to the article.
Greg
I cast a Winston BIIt (8.5ft, #5) today and I found it to be a very nice smooth medium action rod. It’s not a rod for big distances (although I had no problem casting a tight loop at 30-35 feet) and/or using big/heavy flies. I’d say a very nice spring creek-type rod. It felt VERY light in hand too. The grip is quite small (both in length & shape). I have smallish hands so they fit perfect. If you have big hands I’m sure they will give you hand cramps.
The BIIt has the same delicate, almost fragile, look as the BIIx.I didn’t have the BIIx along to compare them both. I did cast a same rod in BIIx once too and looking back the BIIx was a bit faster and had more oompf. But I don’t think the difference would be big. Maybe these two series will cannibalize on each other? Not sure how Winston sees this…
Thats the way things go! I cast the Z-Axis 9 foot 5 weight today and it had a really nice light feel in hand. It cast a short line well and I had little trouble making some really long casts. I think the rod is much improved over the XP. I have not cast the BIIt but I would bet it is a sweet rod. George A . said it had to soft a tip for him and thats his feeling and since of he had design input and was involved in the development of some of the rods that finished with slightly higher scores I can see how he would feel that way. I have a 8’9″ 3 weight Light Line Sage Rod using the Quiet Double Taper Line that George really likes and it is the one rod that I have that is “perfect” every time I fish it I just think WOW I’m lucky! I am watching ebay now for a 7’11 3 or a 9′ 4 weight LL. The market and word of mouth advertising will make or break the BIIt.
Winston rods have a pretty ardent and critical cadre of fans and I am one of them. I have been critical of the company over the changes they have made in the past few years. I think George Anderson is right when he says that great rods are made by great fisherman and he is a great fisherman based onI held a Z-axis 9ft #5 in a shop recently. I’m going back for a cast soon.
I’m really curious what the fuss is all about :-/Anyway, it’s always fun to try out different rods. The ones I end up buying (I rarely buy new ones since I’m all set for my fishing) are rarely the ones which ‘most people’ rave about.
Peddler I have Craig’s Fishing Yellowstone Hatches and I know he fishes a BIIx 5 weight. I think Winston could use someone with credentials like him to give their rods some real world credability since Tom Morgan and Glenn Brackett are out of the picture.
On a different note I posted on the Winston forum a question to you about which line you like on your BIIx 6 weight. What lines are you using on that rod? I am thinking about replacing my 6 weight. I think a 6 weight does everything a 5 weight does only better.
ibookje your right! It is a lot of fun to check out new rods. Post your impressions of the Z-Axis after you try it. I want to try a 6 weight before I buy anything new.
dmk34363 – I use a Rio Selective Trout on it. No problems with it either. I thought for poppers and such for smallies the line might be too light but it’s been working quite well for me.
It’s a good, all around line IMHO.I’ve cast the 490 Z-Axis today. What can I say? This rod casts as smooth as a rod can be, both near and far. The rod doesn’t feel stiff like the XP at all. Incredibly light and I just loved how the rod managed to lay out the line without a hick up. It’s only a 4 weight, so LOOONG casts aren’t really the trademark of these delicate rods, but I had no problem casting tight loops up to around 55 foot. Beyond that the rod started to collapse a bit.
The cosmetics I’m still not impressed. In fact I think it looks very dull. The color of the blank looks cheap, the printing of the word ‘Z-Axis’ is in my view too big making it look cheap and the hardware used are just basic (Struble?). I think Sage should have dressed up their top rod series.
ibookje Your right about the cosmetic on the Z-axis. I wish Sage would look at some different reel seat hardware and wood spacers, they could really improve in that area. I do think they are probably the best casting rods all around now though. If you are a die hard Scott, Winston or T&T fan there is not enough difference to change though. I would like to try the 8.5 foot 4 and 5 weights to see how they cast.
Dmk:
I think if you want a sharp dressed Z-axis, you should finish a Z-Axis lank your self (or get it done).
Obviously none of the factory rod warranties apply here, but that’s maybe a small trade…From the new generation rods, I think the Winston BIIx has the sharpest look as well as quality of used hardware.
Jay
Jay, I have seen a few really nice customs on ebay built by a shop in Idaho. They looked really well done with upgraded hardware and probably could be bought for slightly less than a factory rod. If I really wanted a Z-axis I would probably go with the factory rod because of the warranty. None of the rods we have talked about are what I would call ugly. Winston would get the beauty prize but the others are well done. The Scott is kinda cool in a retro classic way and they all cast well. Mike your right about the hand
hi, just registered,,i like the different views here,, i have a question.. i just bought the 5wt b2x, it seems to be a great rod. ive decided i cant tell until ive used it for a season. feels alot like my 5 wt ds2, with better feel for backcast load, and a great little oomph in the lower section of the rod.. cant cast it further than my ds2 tho,,yet…. hopefully ill like it with the
Now you got a 5 weight for the nice stuff, get a 7 weight for the nasty conditions (larger streamers, really heavy nymphs, wind, big casts etc.)
A 6 weight won’t make that a huge difference from a 5 weight.
update:
Oops, I see you already have a7 weight? If your fishery permits, why not get a 3 weight instead for the really spooky stuff?Jay
Is it just me or is there a bigger difference between a 5wt and a 6wt in any particular rod model than between any two other weights.
the weight skip,must carry out with the rod you start with.. somehow i got off track with you guys and use 3 5 7 8 9 wt rods..?? am i a sinner? but when fishing all day after working in an office all winter, its great to not have any more rod than you need.. im 58 years young and each weight gives me a big difference in hand fatigue, carpel tunnel troubles, etc.. when out fishing hard the first thing that happens is my hand and forearm falls asleep, you know the tingles etc…. then after about a half hour if it comes back to life.. go figure.. but around here a 4 weight is a creek( or small river) rod.. and the wind always blows on the missouri, well almost.. so i need a comfortable rod and also a wind rod.. to me thats starting to look like the 5b2x which i have with light line, and a 6wt with a punch, with into the wind like line.. i just got my son a tfo professional 6 wt four piece for christamas becouse he lost alot of fish last year out of our boat. we were fishing deep with 9-12 foot leaders below the float for 3-4 1/2 lb stockers in hot weather, landing quite a few in a day… he was using my dads creek 5 wt from cabellas last summer,and it just didnt hack it.. becouse it was soft, not becouse it was a 5wt… he with that very soft rod was loosing lots of fish becouse he just couldtnt set the hook fast enough using very long leaders under deep water… my 5 wt sage ds2 did very well from the boat in that situation.. anyway i put rio nymph line
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