8wt Shootout (oh no, here we go again)
- This topic has 22 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated Feb 23, 2007 at 11:50 am by
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At the risk of starting another tirade against George Anderson and Yellowstone Angler, I found another “shootout” of various fly rods, this time 8wts. Quite frankly, I was suprised at some of the ratings, particularly the Scotts and the Sage Z-axis and TCR. I must admit, though, as a devout Scott fan, I am disappointed in their latest rods compared to the old STS and Helipi. What do you think (about the rods, not the character of George Anderson of the subjectivity of the tests).
I think they should have a category for custom rods. In the 8wt category I think I could build one that would smoke a factory rod.
I hereby incorporate all my previous objections and sum them up by saying that this entire package is the Supreme Court-adopted definition of “junk science,” and I’ll leave it at that.
My thoughts exactly.
I really didn’t want to get into the fairness or objectivity of the “shootout” since that was beat to death on the 5wt “shootout”.
I do think it is all personal opinion and personal preference in casting.
The only thing I really agree with on both the 5-weight and 8-weight shoot outs are that you dont need to spend $600+ to have a good rod.
I’m the first to admit that my low key hippie lifestyle probably has the biggest impact of anything on my fly rod selection.
I hope I’m not the only one that feels this way, but I’ve noticed that the better I get at casting the less the rod becomes a factor. Sure, I’m going to like some better than others, but I’d be hard pressed to think of any situation in which a rod has affected the results for better or worse in actual fishing situations. This obviously excludes situations like going trout fishing with a ten weight.
Bob, there’s no crying in baseball!
I guess with one exception I’ve never cast a rod that gave me the “x factor.” I really really like the TCR 6, but I really don’t care for that rod series in all of the other line weights. Go figure.
Hahaha, the ironic thing is that Tim works for 3M.
Dunfly, I bought a HeliPly last year and had to ask Jim Bartschi at Scott to specially make it for me, since they had quit rolling even the Classics.
I think rod action is important though, I probably get more real use out of my super fast sticks than most people who own them but then I’m rarely throwing floating lines on those rods when I do use them.
Just for the record, Bruce Richards, a.k.a the single most knowledgable person on fly lines and one of the world’s best casters, uses the cheap-o SA rods to test most of his prototype lines…
I keep saying I like fast action rods, but then I look at what I really like to fish with. Two favorite rods are the Scott SAS and Scott Helipy, both medium fast rods that are comfortable to cast. Next is a custom rod from a Rainshadow Xcel blank, a fast action rod, but very light on the cast for a 6wt. Following that, and probably because I don’t get much chance to use it, is a 4wt on a limited production custom PacBay blank, that I would classify as medium action, but so light on the cast, its like casting air.
So what I say I like, i.e. a fast action line cannon, is not what I really like, as evidenced by my favorite rods. What I really like is a rod that is comfortable to cast. So, looking at what I really like, not what I think I like, I would rate the rods much differently than they did.
That’s a good point Bob. I always buy fast action rods because I love casting. I have an 8 weight Xi2 that I use for salmon, but to be honest, I’d much prefer to do most of my fishing with an 8 weight SLT. I had one and gave it to one of my friends and kind of regret it.
I feel like it’s just buying into the marketing speak, but I suppose there’s three types of rods (obviously the lines are blurred): casting rods, fishing rods, and fish fighting rods. I always buy casting rods for personal use, even though I know better.
i love the reviews.. i knew absolutly nothing about the different companys and rod types last year when i restarted mucho time fly fishing.. my doctor put on on high blood pressure meds and i lost 40 pounds and i started hunting and fishing again big time… (i moved to montana to trap coyotes for a living and lived in a tent summers working for the railroad)… i joined another forum about a year ago and asked some questions and bought a series of sage ds and ds2 rods.. they served me well and i will use them for friends and relatives who need a rod when we load up the boat with my family and thier friends…. i bought a 5wt b2x this winter becouse the local dealer and his wife both use them on the missouri.. i was disapointed with the rod when i practiced around the yard… i started studying how to cast this winter and got a little better.. since i bought a rod from the dealer hes been giving an occasional free lesson.. the last thing he did he put a big rubber band around my wrist and pole end.. whammo– unbelivable– my line stared casting dowward like its supposed to, and other good things… i can all of a sudden take an orvis 4 wt silver label 8 foot, and that afternoon was casting 40-45 feet into a 20 mph wind .. thats 10 feet further than i could cast in the calm with that rod and line.. it didnt take any effort, just timing and proper hold and etc…. so your right the rod doesnt matter anywhere near as much as casting abillity.. by the way the b2x comes alive on the water while fishing, its not much of a yard rod where distance counts, but working the water for fish, and playing fish, its nice. my backcast sucked so bad i couldnt get any power out of the b2x, and im improving that, so its working out nicely.. i have to learn how to cast each rod… .. i then bought a sage 6wt z axis after reading andersons article,, its just what i wanted.. a power house for bad days where winds can hit 35 mph and more on the misourri… it seems to lack some with a fish on tho a little stiff…
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