I got a chance to cast this rod as a part of Cameron's Rod Loan program.

I concur with everything you said - quicker glass, accurate to 40-ish, nice aesthetics. Not to repeat anything you've said, here are some additional thoughts.

Real fun to cast - probably the best rod out there to make converts out of hardcore graphite users. They'll get an appreciation for slowing down, without the culture shock of some of the rods that fiberglass afficionados relish. As they slow down even more, they'll enjoy glass instead of turning back immediately to graphite. I was one of these people - and if it weren't for the rapid exposure to several glass rods and the patient delivery of "constructive" criticism of some experienced casters, I would be still be stuck on the graphite rods. This rod in particular helped me find a slower cadence and opened the door to me truly appreciating great glass rods (Barclay Glass 7'2" 3wt).

If the reel seat hardware were black, I would have bought this already. Or maybe not because I have been buying up other, less available glass rods ... and I don't want to have to come up with another reason to tell my wife why I needed yet another fly rod ...

I have also read most folks that have gotten to cast all three of the SF Glass rods have said the 7'6" 4wt is the best of the series.

I'll probably wait for the blanks to emerge next year and get one built up (with black reel seat hardware).

This thread needs a photo-

Great review Dusty!

Great picture with that Pickerel. For those of you want different hardware I would advise calling Orvis. They are usually very accommodating to custom requests.

Dusty

I've got thick skin, but you and Art going off at the same time was a little intimidating

I can't wait for the next one!

Well, I doubt it was 'not wanting to'.
I ordered a custom 7ft #3 rod. The reel rings I wanted was not possible, but they did shorten the grip length (5.5 inch) and a slightly shorter reel seat.

Swamptrout -- this thread has what you are looking for -- viewtopic.php?f=6&t=41499&hilit=butt+extension

My two cents. I recently had the new Orvis fiberglass 7' 2/2 3wt. in my hands at Fin & Feathers Orvis FF Shop here in Bozeman, Mt. The rod blank was faster than anticipated which I liked. The unsanded surface was fine too. But I really didn't care for the reel seat components. They felt like cheap aluminum to me. That alone turned me off to the rod. I'll stick with my original Golden Eagles.
Mark

I would guess that the reel seat is simply a function of production economy. It is basically the same aluminum up-lock hardware that that they use on some of their graphite rods except (fortunately) not gold and ventilated. There have to be some trade offs to achieve the relatively low price.

Here is a shot of the seat on the first prototype:

Whrlpool, I would imagine that the thinking behind the ventilated hardware was to lighten up the rod much in the same way as fly reels and bicycle components are lightened by drilling. Remember that this seat was designed for the graphite Superfine rods and lightness sells. Yes, absolutely I recommended that they lose the gold anodized ventilated seat and in fact suggested they go to down-locking in the tradition of the original Golden Eagles. The back story on this is that at Cameron's suggestion, Shawn Combs at Orvis shipped me an early prototype 7'6" #4 to get some feedback on how it cast and what cosmetics might be best. I made a list of suggestions that including changing the reel seat hardware. Basically I told them to make it as close as possible to the cosmetics of the original Golden Eagles which, because of the color, must have been their inspiration. I took the rod, badly disguised with black electrical tape to cover up the Orvis logos on the blank and insert, to Mike McFarland's Coburn, PA gathering. It frankly didn't take long for folks to know what it was. A bunch of us cast it in the street in front of The Feathered Hook Fly Shop and B&B and I took some notes on their reactions. Some thought it was too fast but I have to say that I liked it a lot. I haven't cast a new one yet but I know that Orvis tweaked it a bit before final production.

I wouldn't call the tip on the 5wt soft. It is not like the Scott F2 5wt, which I would only use for fishing with dry flies. I fished the 5wt this past weekend and found it will handle reasonably weighted flies with no problem.

I purchased the three rods in the series and have spent a few hours fishing each over the last 30 days, I would not classify them as "fast".

The rods are a great deal at $395.00. They have been added to the "never sell" list.