Bass Rods

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (pearow) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:30:45 PST

I primarily fish for black bass . I have several "favorite" bass rods. I have the Scott sts and sas in the 7 weight and 8 weight. Nice rods in the 9 foot range. I also have the old Imperial graphite rod by St. croix. The old heavy one; dark brown in a 6 weight. Nice bass rod. I also bought a used redington redfly in the 6 weight; a very under rated rod. Then, of course I have several glass rods. In glass i prefer the 7-1/2 to 8 foot rods, because they balance well; the silaflex, the berkley parametrics, and a couple of old shakespeares are my favorites . I guess my point to this post is a good bass rod is kinda defined by the person using it. I cast best with the old redfly; I dont know why. I fish easier and more comfortable with the berkley parametrics in the 8 foot size; they seem to cast themselves, but others have said they don't like them and they aren't good casting rods. So, bottom line is we all do what joe said; buy several dozen rods and fish all of...

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (gillbuster) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:23:23 PST

Welcome to "Da BassPond," Tom,
You seem to have a good background on fly rods and tackle; I am sure you will add a lot of value to many future posts. Just pull up a chair and join in where ever you can contribute your experience, suggestions and pictures.
Thanks for joining and welcome aboard

Tightlines
Gillbuster

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (LeoCreek) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:22:41 PST

I have no affiliation with the seller, or any knowledge of this particular rod, but it looks interesting...

There's an early graphite Scientific Anglers 8'9" 8wt rod at FAOL with a metal ferrule that looks to be in pretty pristine condition:

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/showthread.php?t=27324

Check it out if you just can't help yourself!

- Tom

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (JeffSod) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 06:22:52 PST

That looks like it is worth giving a shot. Reasonable price!

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (LeoCreek) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:50:38 PST

I think this looks interesting for a bass rod, but haven't had a chance to try one.

http://www.dorber.com/flyrods.html#erod2

8'0" 8wt 3pc 3.5oz $150.43

Anyone have any experience with this rod?

- Tom

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (waynebh) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:30:11 PST

I use an Orvis Clearwater wf10 floating line on my Garcia 2406 8'6" glass rod.

I think I could cast a small hang glider with it!

Waynebh

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (smallmouth) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:31:01 PST

BassYakker wrote:
I throw a 10wt tarpon taper and 10wt Rio Clouser lines on my 9wt. I am throwing rubber worms, fly rod spinnerbaits, jigs, etc. with this setup.

Heh, Heh, Heh...........! A kindred spirit. You should see some of the trout I catch at trout ponds tossing stuff like that.

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (BassYakker) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 07:37:56 PST

I throw a 10wt tarpon taper and 10wt Rio Clouser lines on my 9wt. I am throwing rubber worms, fly rod spinnerbaits, jigs, etc. with this setup.

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (smallmouth) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:30:52 PST

Anyone here tossing big flies with a 10 weight line? I just picked one up for experimental purposes. It's a Mastery Line but I got it for half price.

http://smallmouths.blogspot.com/

God Bless,
Don

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (BassYakker) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:19:45 PST

For what it is worth, I think you made the best choice. St. Croix makes a good fishing stick.

I think most of these bass rods are lower end blanks with the tips shortened. I am glad they are being offered, and may end up with one. But I have gone to the "sale rack" and paid the same price for a higher end blank on a 9 foot/9 weight Orvis rod and it has become my bass rod of choice too.

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (smallmouth) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:12:03 PST

Well, gentlemen, I still haven't spent more than $150 on a flyrod. My local flyshop was listed on the Reddington website as one of their dealers so I went for a look. The Predator is new enough that they didn't have them in yet. I ended up buying a 9 foot St.Croix Imperial 2 piece 8 weight. The price was too good to turn down. Got home and put on a reel with a 9wt. Weight Forward and went out into the fresh snow at the local park for some test casting. I tied a spinner on the end of the leader and put a piece of foam on the hook about the size of a small Hula Popper. (I was trying for weight and wind resistance.) This outfit handled this monstrosity beautifully and I was able to cast accurately and with minimal false casting. Think I've found my new bass rod. The 9' length will come in handy for mending and dead drifting which will be a little tougher with those 7' 11" rods. I'd still like to cast the Sage Smallmouth, Ross Flystik and Reddington Predator...

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (Gerbubble Bug) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:25:01 PST

I second kudos to Sage. I buy them, fish them, and love them. You can bet I'll be adding the Smallmouth Rod to my collection this year. However, it is not up to me, nor frankly anyone else, to determine which rods anyone should fish with. I like fiberglass but I've reached the age where I need the most efficient fishing rod I can find and that for me has always been graphite. We are a diverse group with diverse opinions. Time on the water is the most important factor to success - no rod built today can match it. The second most important factor is having fun with your fishing and to enjoy the tackle you use. I have always enjoyed using the very best tackle I can afford. For me the tackle is as important as the fishing - but that's me & it's an expensive attitude. Don't let opinions of others make you feel you're a second class angler because of your choice of tackle. Enjoy - life is too short.
Tom
p.s. I have yet to find the perfect...

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (Cornmuse) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:55:12 PST

I love "old" glass rods. I've got a collection that numbers in the dozens. And I fish spinning tackle and casting tackle, too. I love to fish, thats the name of the game for me. I'm also a businessman with a fascination for the business of fishing. It seems to me that we all want more people to responsibly practice the sport of fly fishing, patronize public waters and demand that existing waters remain clean, open and healthy and that "private" waters be carefully examined for the legitimacy of that lable. We all want more money to flow into the various Department(s) of Wildlife all the better to protect, enhance and rebuild our fisheries. We all want healthy shops where we can go that offer cool gadgets whose price is tempered by economy of scale. We all want both the artisan, hand-made jewelery-like items created by devoted individuals and the competent, affordable and practical tools provided by assembly-line efficiency and market elasticity. That...

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (pearow) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 06:58:10 PST

I agree B52; I think there will come a time when more people recognize that. You can take most any of the old glass rods, strip off the hardware and install new; repositon the guides; add a few more guides, and make a "junker" glass rod into a fine fishing tool. I'm not saying that all the old glass rods need to be re-worked, but many had guides too small and ill placed; many can be improved with just a few changes; some need no changes; all are better, in my opinion, than most of the high modulus graphite rods that are coming out all the time; I get wore out quickly, casting them-p-

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (B52 bugger) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 05:20:48 PST

It's funny to see Sage and other companies promote short fly rods for tournaments. A glass rod that was made years ago and fun to use was made by Shakespeare it was 7 ft. 9 in. It was a favorite for kids and adults. I fish mine with a wf-8 line. If one checks flea markets and ebay, I'm sure you can find one - grab it and I'm sure you'll be glad you did.

I am an old guy (64) but I worry about the fly fishing industry. Too many rods, reels and fly lines out there. To many new rods coming out - I don't think the demand or the money is out there. Too many people have the wrong idea - what is the best in tackle. In fishing bamboo and/or glass you never hear of anyone having tennis elbow or back problems. For the most part the graphite rod if you don't overline will give you problems because you have to do the work to get the line out - too stiff. I always believe the rod should work for me, not the other way around.

Learn "how to...

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (BigJim) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:33:20 PST

I can't comment on any of the rods in question, as I've never used any of them. However, I spent 15 years in the tackle business, as a retailer, wholesaler & manufacturer. I have no loyalty to any one company, and feel anyone who has, and is not paid to do so may be missing out on other great products. I'm also not just a fly flinger, as I fish with other forms of tackle (18 baitcasters, 15 spinning rod, 4 trolling rods) primaily bass & saltwater.

My primary point is that any company has to make money to stay in business. The tournaments have a lot of interest at this point in time. Bass, walleye, redfish, striped bass, etc. Everyone wants to fish for a living. I would love to do so!

Sage is no different than any of the companies that only make "bass fishing" rods. They want to survive & thrive. Fly fishing is a great sport, but still it's a business. I'm thrilled to see some tourney interest in fly fishing, even though...

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (smallmouth) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 08:37:42 PST

Gill Buster,

I can identify with everything you're saying. If the pros started ripping around in their expensive boats and tossing flies because they had tournament legal gear, I would not be a happy camper. This mentality is totally contrary to why we choose to flyfish. I'm just wondering if I'm missing out on a big step forward in fishing with big flies. If Sage were true to the image and spirit of flyfishing they would have made this new and improved "big fly" tool without shortening it just enough to make it tournament legal. In some respects I feel that Sage cares more about the dollar than its image and the future of flyfishing.

Are there any companies making new glass fly rods at reasonable prices? Or is the increased interest in glass hiking those prices too?
God Bless,
Don

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (gillbuster) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 06:47:10 PST

I know Sage is trying to target the popular $$$ bass crowd market... which I really feel indifferent either way... I commend Sage for recognizing the market for warm water fly fishing, but I have a heart burn about the commercialism and ego exploitation that it would bring to the nostalgic fly fishing history. I laugh when I watch the trout tourneys they have on Outdoors TV now, the competition is fierce. The angler says "he caught this Trophy trout on a Thomas fly rod"...no, I'm sorry, he caught the fish on a midge fly, that's what the fish saw....My opinion is some of fly rod market is going to price themselves out of business with $300-800 fly rods, look at Al-bright fly co, they are giving away there fly rods now, which is good for the consumer. I'm sorry, but I'm practical, I don't own a fly rod over $100.00, and use mostly $25 Medalist reels; these are fly fishing tools to catch fish, that is why I like glass rods they are solid, a piece of...

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (Wee Hooker) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 04:42:01 PST

BTW, don't give Sage too much credit for breaking new ground. Redington marketed a 8' 9 wt (for mangrove fishing) in their origional series well over 10 years ago. It didn't sell well and fell off thir roster in just a few years. No Doubt Sage will market their's more vigorously (since the bass tourny croud are known to be big spenders and gadget lovers.)

Re: Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (smallmouth) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:03:17 PST

Thanks for the input Dave. I also have historically thought that Sage was a bandwagon I was not willing to jump on. I used to take delight in completely outfishing the "dudes: at my flyfishing club. I've even had guys comment on my nice tight loops and ask what kind of rod I was using. One guy who did this had seven different Sages. When I showed him the Berkley Cherrywood that I was throwing the tight loops with I thought he was going to barf.

God Bless,
Don
P.S. I have spinning rods that I use with fly reels and lines. My 12.6 Fenwick makes a good poor man's "spey rod". I can roll cast a mile with it. I'm just wondering if Sage is onto something here. One thing in their favour is that they are not asking 7 or 8 hundred dollars for these bass rods.

Bass Rods

feeds@kickapps.com (smallmouth) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:59:54 PST

I don't have any flyrods for which I have paid more than $150 dollars. I get by with my Temple Forks and my Fenwicks. I do, though have a St. Croix Legend (before the ultra series came out) 4 wt that I bought from a friend that I use a lot for trout and panfish. I'm wondering if the Clouser Rod, Legend Ultra, LU 898-4, the "Clouser" signature rod paired with the Rio Clouser Line would be worth the investment for a guy who slings small lead heads, big streamers and bugs (Dahlbergs, Deerhair mice etc.) Except for the odd reversion to normal or traditional flyfishing tactics most of my warm and even coldwater flyfishing is with big "honkin" flies. (the kind that make "purists" cringe) I'm wondering if this rod would be...