Brad Eaton
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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
I have to throw my hat in for the Pathfinder. Personally had one save my life in a wreck where it was totaled and have put about 190k on the two I’ve had since. I’m driving a 2010 now and as of this morning via mainly highway driving, she was getting 22 mpg. Around town it’s typically about 18. Mind you this is without a trailer. While towing I averaged around 18 on the highway and about 15 around town.
Tons of space, fold down middle and third rows, hidden storage and plenty of engine and brakes to start and stop the boat. I’ve had a Stealthcraft behind mine. Not sure how that stacks up compared to other boats as it was my buddies boat.
Bought my truck in January for $25k and had every option available and 35k miles. They’re hard to find but totally worth it.
You may want to look at the Tacoma and and Frontier. I’d be driving one of those if it weren’t for the wife. Best of both worlds – Truck in back, Pathfinder/4Runner up front.
Brad Eaton here. Live in Chicago, IL and work selling software and 3D printers for the 9-5. Do most of my fishing in the Driftless up in WI, or somewhere up in MI. The fam owns a house centrally located amongst some of the best steelhead water (IMO) on the east side of Lake MI and I try to spend as much time on the water up there as possible.
Love meeting new people, searching for new water and introducing people to the sport. Envy the photos you guys share and wanted to join the fun. Thanks for the forum and all the work you do Zach!
It looks like a congratulations is in order! Awesome way to pop the question. Best of luck to you both!
Thanks David.
I’m finding that each time I use the T/S I get a few more shots to work out than before. I had a lot that were just off, making the subject out of focus. A fun lens for trial and error and can create some good results.
I was able to borrow a 24mm T/S and had fun shooting with it.
We were up in MI for my buddies first steelhead fly fishing trip.
Brad
Here’s my set up. $20 computer desk off Craigslist. The wife made me get rid of my magazine collection since the photo was taken though. Managed to hang on to all the Drake mags though and compiled quite a wicked recipe book of patterns.
Corey, your UW shots give me lots to work for! I’m assuming you’re using a housing, but when you lean over the edge to get those shots, are you using a boom and trigger, or just hand held? I’m just getting my feet wet in underwater photography, and you seem to constantly be raising the bar.
Awesome trip report! Gives me something to look forward to and a reason to put a date on the calendar for our trip to MI. 950+ mile one way drive is a commitment for sure, and apparently worth every one.
Thanks Zach! There are quite a few streams in the area that tend to hold more brookies. Those tend to be a bit tighter from a casting perspective, and I was just teaching my buddy how to cast. We opted for more of the wider, more open creeks which tended to have more browns than rainbows and brookies. With so many options in the area, there’s more than a handful of opportunities to catch the “trout slam” and even the occasional tiger trout if you know where to look.
