June 29, 2014

As of today, these are my top glass rods seeing the most water:

1. Hardy JET 8' 6wt.- IMO some of the finest glass ever made were the JETs, thanks Randy(promtbr) for letting this gem go!
2. Paddock butterscotch series 7' 3/4 wt.
3. Dave Lewis 6'6" 3/4 wt.

If you measure fickle by consistent water time then my fickle fiberglass collection now stands at; two Kenneys, a 794 and a 835 and two well used Winston/Fishers custom kit rods, a 6'6" 3wt and a 8'6" 6wt

It may be all we need but we can always be tempted, no? Myself, I'm still looking for a 2 tip 4wt Registered Midge.

Curious if things have changed...

A few years ago it was

Scott F2 653
Steffen 8' 3/4
Steffen 8'6" 5/6
Steffen 8'6" 7/8

Now

Airrite Axisco 703
Steffen 8' 4/5
TMR 867

It's been a while since I've posted on this thread that I started back in 2010. Obviously I've gone through a lot of changes over the years. I have bought a few more glass rods since the 2014 post but also have sold some that I thought I would keep forever. My current top 10 are the only glass rods I own now.

Top 10 June 2014

1. Ijuin 7'#3
2. Barclay 7'2" #3 SOLD
3. Scott F70 7' #3/4 (brown S.F.)
4. Studio Thin Line 7' #3/4 SOLD
5. Wojnicki 217P4 7'2" #4 SOLD
6. Kabuto 7'6" #4
7. T&T Heirloom 7'6" #4 SOLD
8. Leiderman/Steffen 8' #5/6
9. Larry Kenney 8'1" #3
10. McFarland 8'8" #4

Top 10 March 2016

1. Ijuin Imogi 7' #3
2. Axisco Airrite Stream 7' #3
3. Scott 70 Brown S.F.
4. Hardy Perfection 7'6" #4
5. NCA "The Sons" 7'6" #3/4
6. Kabuto 7643
7. Barclay Deluxe 7'8" #4
8. Steffen (Leiderman) 8' #5/6
9. Kenney 8'1" #3
10.McFarland 8/8" #4

Duff,
I hope the fire keeps its distance. You definitely are not missing anything here back east. Its actually rather boring, 100% humidity and 90 degrees.

I'm a bit curious on the Axico Airrite Stream being in that list. Is that a concession to packability/portability?

JAS, So what are your contenders in the 5wt arena. I like the Kabuto 805, but I know that it's not one of your favorites. I have a Dharma 4/5 that is nice, but isn't an everyday rod.

The only glass rods that have been getting action on my side are an FF80 and FL96-6 that I've been bass and bluegill fishing with.

Carl, not certain if I recall casting the Epic 805? But the right corner of my den has had serious expansion , for the best. Duff absolutely Mike's S glass 805 does everything one wants in that configuration. However, Chris Barclay's 7'9" 5 , Fred's fantastic "The One" 7'10" 5, and Larry Kenney's 8'3" and his more recent 8'8" 5 are incredible. And Orvis 8'5 wght can do it all , and for the price point and warranty is a steal.
Bottom line , those who fish glass , have the best options for every price range and quality . I have said it many times ; my world of friendships, awesome collections of rods, great weekends in Coburn, Roscoe, etc started with a TU meeting when Mike Mcfarland spoke. Plus this is the best forum in fly fishing!

I fell in love with Fred's 7' 5wt on the first cast as well. I ordered one, then changed my order to get the 8'3" #6 because I figured I could use it more. Reading Crusty's remarks has me thinking I should stick with the 705. It is sweet.
Has anyone received one of Fred's new rods yet?

Duff, I remember Bill de Brooklyn using a 4wt on a 2wt Axisco Stream. I used a 5wt DT line the other day on my 3wt Axisco during a breezy outing; I was pleasantly surprised. I am thinking a 4wt line may be perfect but I need to get one first.

It's hard to believe that it's been two years since I posted on this ancient thread but I wasn't surprised to see that my top ten fiberglass list had not changed in that time. I know that some great glass rods have been designed in the last two years but I'm very content with my battery of fiberglass rods. It may be due to the fact that I'm getting old and my fly rod fever has drastically subsided. That said, rod lust can still flare up now and then, especially at a show. One such flare up was two years ago at the CFFCM Danbury show where I was absolutely compelled to buy a G.H Howells 8' #4. Were I in my right mind, I would never have paid that much for a fly rod but the fever had kicked in hard and I was completely helpless. Fly rod lust can induce temporary insanity as most of us know. I blame Gearboy since he had bought the Howells book for me. My last flare up was this year at Wayne Grauer's Maryland show where, after 73 years, I finally found the greatest fly rod ever built.

Top 10 Glass Fly Rods - March 2016 & May 2018

1. Ijuin "Imogi" 7' #3
2. Axisco Airrite Stream 7' #3
3. Scott 70 Brown S.F.
4. Hardy "Perfection" 7'6" #4
5. NCA "The Sons" 7'6" #3/4
6. Kabuto 7643
7. Barclay "Deluxe" 7'8" #4
8. Steffen (Leiderman) 8' #5/6
9. Larry Kenney 8'1" #3
10.McFarland 8/8" #4

Oh yeah, the greatest fly rod ever built: a three-piece, 8'6" #4 Winston IM6 with a beautiful blue-green Loomis blank and the old style up-locking nickle silver seat with a zebra wood insert (the current Winston up-lock is way too long IMO). You really have to cast this rod to believe it. Those early IM6 rods were built at a time when Winston was still true to their original build philosophy - smooth progressive actions for fishing reasonable distances, spigot ferrules, individually driven on quality cork rings and a choice of grip and reel seat designs. It is the fly rod I've been looking for forever - seriously. Hope this doesn't get me excommunicated from the FFR.

My top ten glass, nothing new for a couple of years
Scott Fibertouch (black blank) 7'6 4 3 pc
Morgan/Paddock 8' 4 2 pc
Kenney 8'3 4/5 3 pc
Kenney 8' 5 5 pc
Morgan/Fine Tackle 7'6 5 2 pc
Kabuto 7'6 5 3 pc
Steffen/Leiderman 8' 5/6 3 pc
McFarland 7'9 6/7 3 pc
Graywolf/Fisher 8' 6/7 3 pc
Kenney 8'3 6/7 3 pc (prototype)


The Loomis Winstons are among my favorites too. Also the Winston Fishers. Don't know whether you've ever fished a Steffen graphite Duff but IMVHO his 8'6 4/5 is in the same ballpark as the Winston Loomis rods.