Abe Mathews
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I really don’t get why Teton reels haven’t dominated, but that’s not the point of your question…
Tough sledding all around.
When you head up to the BWCA, wave as you pass through the dying little mining town of Eveleth (Highway 53 goes right through it, about 60 miles north of Duluth) – that’s where I grew up.
Anyway, your question is kinda timely. I’m looking at buying a second 8wt for boat/spouse use on Stripers and saltwater. I also have a couple friends looking for a bargain 8wt. I bought my first 8wt, a Sage Xi2 custom made by a friend, last year about this time. I’m no expert.
My brother bought the TFO TICR-X, and he likes it quite a bit. So that’s how I was leaning. Then I read this:
Yelloswtone Angler 8wt shootout
I think based on this list, the Redington CPS warrants a look for you. That’s what I’m looking at now for a second rod.
Chartreuse and White will catch striped, white, smallmouth and largemouth in the local tailwaters all in one day, in fact.
All those in favor of the blue and white text look say ‘Aye!”
🙂 Like I said, it looks weird but I’m working on it.
Zach
I love it.
Maiden voyage ended up being on Melton Hill by Solway, a boat ramp I drive by every day on my way to work.
I thought about it. SWMBO and I talked about it. I thought some more. Here’s what I came up with.
My wife and I used boats for VERY different things growing up. For me, my brother, and my dad, boats are transportation to the duck blind, the cabin, or the fishing spot. Sometimes they pull water skiers. Most of our boats growing up were some semblance of camouflage, aluminum deep-V’s. For my wife, boating WAS the event. Her family owned various sailboats, runabouts, and pontoon boats. She didn’t fish much, but grandpa had a small aluminum fishing boat. Boating in her family was cruising around the lake, looking at cabins, and going to lakeside restaurants.
Different uses. So we talked about what we both wanted. The list we came up with was as follows:
Fishing 2 people comfortably.
Fishing in tailwaters for stripers.
Fishing in lakes for bass/walleye.
Fishing in saltwater (intercoastal) for sea trout and redfish a couple times a year.
(Longshot desire) shallow draft for someday fishing for bonefish.
My wife and I taking the dog out for a ride on local reservoirs.
Taking friends out for cruising.
Taking friends out for skiing/tubing.Additionally, I wanted a boat under 20′, something that I could easily trailer solo. I’ve looked at a ton of stuff online and talked to a lot of friends and a few boat dealers. The consensus pretty much came down to a “bay boat”, a shallow-draw fiberglass boat with an outboard. These can sit in as little as 10″ of water, but still have a hull that can handle some chop.
After WAY too much ‘net surfing, the attached picture below shows what we’re going to look at this weekend in SE Georgia. It’s a Sea Pro SV1900CC, a 19′ center console bay boat. Comes with the fishing package, the full cushion package for guests, and a rippin’ 150HP 4-stroke Mercury outboard.
I’m stoked and nervous enough to puke.
Abe, I’m having a bit of trouble feeling sorry for you on this…
Most of us would be asking for a boat and getting a big fat no from she who must be obeyed… 😉 ;D
I know, I know.
The first thought that comes to mind is that if I had an employee discount on fly rods at Orvis, I’d get myself the “Penns Creek” bamboo in the two-piece version (Battenkill).
I’m an engineer (Chemical and Materials/Metallurgical) who chose the dark side a couple years ago and so now I’m a manager.
Abe,
As the owner of the Classic Fly Rod Forum, welcome. As a bamboo fisher I would offer the following advice, see if there will be any rod maker or bamboo gathering where casting old and new rods is the theme. There’s no better way to learn but to get the experience although lawn casting will only give you a small piece of the puzzle that only really fishing a rod will accomplish. Just don’t too surprised at having more questions after you do but believe me none of them will be stupid!Fishnbanjo – Thank you for the welcome.
…And this can and probably will be a costly ride.
Not trying to scare you, but you have to keep your common sense. Unless you have unlimited resources…
PS. Did I mention bamboo can be addictive? 😀
Heh.
Wow. Thanks, guys. That is a TON of information.
Couple of thoughts rumbling around in my head…
Zach – on rod length – I had an 8′ 3wt for the park (Sage XP, about as far from ‘boo as you can get) and went to a 7’ 6″ 3wt (Sage SLT). There are times when I wish I had that 6″ back. Maybe it’s just me.
