It is currently 28 Mar 2024, 10:43


1, 2  Next New Topic Add Reply
Author Message
Post 14 Oct 2017, 23:22 • #1 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/31/15
Posts: 1238
Location: Northern Rockies
Does anyone have any experience with both the Epic and Orvis 7'6" 3-weights? How do they compare in terms of action? I'm interested in building up the quiver with a 3-weight in the 7'6" to 8' range, and these seem like strong options. But should I be considering something else? (I'm also interested in the ********* 8'6" 3-weight even though it's longer than most.)

From what I've read on here, it sounds like the Epic 376 is fairly similar in action to the 476. Is that true? What is the Orvis action like?

I fish mostly in my home waters of Northwestern Montana for native cutts and wild rainbow and browns in the 8-13" range with occasionally large fish thrown in. The smaller water is most often tight to the bank with conifers or brushy willows, but also occasionally open and clear (meaning wind--which isn't really 3-weight territory).

The Orvis would be at the high range of my budget (I'd have to go with the build kit to afford the Epic and build up the blank with the *********). So, I'd like to stick to that end pricewise. Of course, if there is something more expensive worth knowing about, I'm always willing to listen.

Thanks in advance.


Top
  
Quote
Post 15 Oct 2017, 09:13 • #2 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/09/16
Posts: 746
Location: Colorado
I have the Orvis 7'6" 3wt and I love it. As part of the purchase process I cast it against the Orvis 7'6 4wt and a Seele 7'6" 3wt that was for sale here locally. I liked the Orvis 763 best. It's a smooth progressive action and is true 3wt that delivers dry flies with delicacy and accuracy. I have cast the ********* and can say that it's a really amazing 3wt. A friend and forum member, mikeyb1125, has that rod and fishes it almost exclusively on our local tailwaters. If you plan on nymphing with your 3wt, I think the ********* would be the one to choose. I haven't cast the Epic 3wt ( I have the 5wt) but I'm sure it's fantastic.


Top
  
Quote
Post 15 Oct 2017, 20:11 • #3 
Guide
Joined: 02/28/12
Posts: 154
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Dont discount the blue halo 3wt - its a dream machine.


Top
  
Quote
Post 15 Oct 2017, 20:20 • #4 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/31/15
Posts: 1238
Location: Northern Rockies
What is the the Blue Halo action like?


Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Oct 2017, 10:29 • #5 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 10/09/09
Posts: 2796
Location: US-NM
The blue halo is way to slow for me........aurelio


Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Oct 2017, 13:01 • #6 
Master Guide
Joined: 12/31/13
Posts: 519
Location: US-Mount Pleasant, SC
If you can find a 3pc Epic 376, grab it.


Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Oct 2017, 14:04 • #7 
Guide
Joined: 09/10/14
Posts: 132
Location: Sweden
Yea the Halo is really slow and deep flexing. Its a small dryfly rod for short casts. Mine that I had rollcasted line a dream tho.


Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Oct 2017, 19:17 • #8 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/10/09
Posts: 1651
Location: US-OH
I snatched up an Epic Mocha 376 blank here in the classifieds about 6 months ago and built it out. I really like the action but I tend to favor medium-fast for most of my glass rods. I like it with a Rio Gold WF3 (which is a half weight heavy) or a true WF4 like a WF4 from Hook&Hackle. It will cast a tight loop but will flex very well with a fish on and when casting longer distance. I also have an Epic 480 which is a wonderful rod - light, powerful but full flexing. My biggest reservation about these 2 Epics is the high cost of the blanks - but I feel that they're really unique and great performers. I have an Orvis SFG 7'6" 4wt and it's pretty fast with a Rio Gold WF4, better with a true 5wt line, IMO. It's more progressive than the Epics and by that I mean it's pretty stiff in the lower half of the rod compared to the Epics which are a bit more full flexing. I've never tried the Orvis in a 3wt.


Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Oct 2017, 21:56 • #9 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 09/18/14
Posts: 1367
Location: Pleasant Garden, North Carolina
Discount the blue halo. Haha. I couldn't find any line combination that made that rod work for me. It is just a sloppy mess...

I would say dont overlook the offerings from Steffen, as they are a fantastic balance of frugality and function. His 7'3" 3/4 would probably do exactly what you want and would come in a good bit cheaper than those you've already mentioned.


Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Oct 2017, 22:22 • #10 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/09/16
Posts: 746
Location: Colorado
Orvis 763 getting bent at Aurelio's clave in July...great small water dry fly rod
Image

********* 863 flexing its muscle on the Frying Pan in August...great bigger water rod that can handle nymphs and a little weight - and big fish.
Image

Sweet rods, both!


Top
  
Quote
Post 17 Oct 2017, 13:01 • #11 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/27/14
Posts: 1501
Location: ON, Canada
I had the Epic and liked it, but I think I’d go with an 8ft 3/4 Steffen. (Unless you’ve got a lot of trees to deal with, then I’d get the 7’3”.)


Top
  
Quote
Post 20 Oct 2017, 01:22 • #12 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/31/15
Posts: 1238
Location: Northern Rockies
Thanks all for the replies. This continues to give me lots of things to think about. Fortunately, there are so many good options that it's hard to make a poor choice.


Top
  
Quote
Post 20 Oct 2017, 08:09 • #13 
Master Guide
Joined: 08/15/10
Posts: 589
Location: Elizabethtown & Germania, PA
How about the Barclay 7'2" 3 weight? It has received a lot of accolades here. I sure like mine.


Top
  
Quote
Post 20 Oct 2017, 08:56 • #14 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/31/15
Posts: 1238
Location: Northern Rockies
Primarily, I'm interested in a longish 3-weight. I find that I prefer the advantages of a longer rod for the waters I fish. Except for Dusty's Western Glass series, it seems that most glass 3-weights top out about 7'6" to occasionally 8'.


Top
  
Quote
Post 20 Oct 2017, 09:06 • #15 
Master Guide
Joined: 08/15/10
Posts: 589
Location: Elizabethtown & Germania, PA
You could get an 803-3 blank from CTS. Exchange rate makes it about $210 US right now. Free shipping in October too.


Top
  
Quote
Post 20 Oct 2017, 19:55 • #16 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/08/05
Posts: 3570
Location: Western PA
I have the CTS Quartz 763/3pc; Steffen 7'6" 2/3, 3pc; Barclay 723; Hardy 703 and Kenney 813. I suppose I like 3wts. They're all good to great rods.
If I only would keep one, I wouldn't think twice. I like how the CTS cast, fishes and mends as well if not better than the rest of them. It possesses a progressive action. It can cast line effortlessly and without any thought.


Top
  
Quote
Post 21 Oct 2017, 00:17 • #17 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 09/18/09
Posts: 5561
Location: Relocated to the Drought Stricken West.
Slow or fast?

My experience is that as the rods get longer, they get slower.

I have a 7'9" Glassmaster NSF that is a wonderful rod. I would look at some of the other Japanese glass rods. Takada comes to mind.


Top
  
Quote
Post 21 Oct 2017, 07:57 • #18 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/08/05
Posts: 3570
Location: Western PA
[url][/url]
carlz wrote:
Slow or fast?

My experience is that as the rods get longer, they get slower.

I have a 7'9" Glassmaster NSF that is a wonderful rod. I would look at some of the other Japanese glass rods. Takada comes to mind.

The CTS Quartz 763 is fairly crisp for a glass rod of it's length and line wt. It's lighter than the Orvis 763. I cast one this spring. It seemed like an decent rod but for me there's no debate. It'll give you good distance for a glass 3wt just like the Orvis. The big difference is the feel. Like riding a luxury car vs a dump truck, CTS hands down.
BTW, what's the Takada like?


Top
  
Quote
Post 22 Oct 2017, 01:37 • #19 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/31/15
Posts: 1238
Location: Northern Rockies
CTS is a good option to consider. I'm seriously interested.

How does the CTS 376 compare to the Epic 376? Has anyone tried them both?


Top
  
Quote
Post 23 Oct 2017, 17:34 • #20 
Master Guide
Joined: 08/15/10
Posts: 589
Location: Elizabethtown & Germania, PA
I just got an email from CTS. A nice sale is on. The 376 is now 240 NZD or 167 USD. Plus free shipping with the FREEOCT code. The only color available is seaweed which looks brownish to me. All the other standard rods in seaweed are on sale too.


Top
  
Quote
Post 23 Oct 2017, 22:35 • #21 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/31/15
Posts: 1238
Location: Northern Rockies
Well, I couldn't pass up the deal on the CTS 376 3-piece blank. So I picked one up. Now I'll spend some time this winter thinking up how I want to build it.

Thanks for the feedback everyone, especially salve linus for the tip on the CTS sale.


Top
  
Quote
Post 24 Oct 2017, 07:17 • #22 
Master Guide
Joined: 12/31/13
Posts: 519
Location: US-Mount Pleasant, SC
Good move. That's the Epic 376 3pc blank if I'm not mistaken.


Top
  
Quote
Post 24 Oct 2017, 13:17 • #23 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/08/05
Posts: 3570
Location: Western PA
I took a look. All the blanks I saw are 4pc. Even a better deal if you prefer a 4pc. Good color too. Hope you enjoy it.
BTW...for that price are you sure you don't want to get a second blank? :lol


Top
  
Quote
Post 24 Oct 2017, 13:53 • #24 
Master Guide
Joined: 08/15/10
Posts: 589
Location: Elizabethtown & Germania, PA
In the sale only the 480 and 686 are four piece. I see the 376 and 476 are sold out already. No wonder.


Top
  
Quote
Post 02 Nov 2017, 22:02 • #25 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/31/15
Posts: 1238
Location: Northern Rockies
Well, the blank arrived. I'm really pleased with the seaweed color, and I found it true to the color displayed on CTS' website; though being a translucent blank, it's notably darker when light can't pass through it. I would describe it as an olive brown.

Now, it's time to plan the build (and sell a few things to fund it). Thanks again for your help.

FYI--I got an email that CTS has the shoot-colored blanks on sale as well, but this time the 376 isn't included. There are still a couple of configurations of the seaweed available too.


Top
  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  

1, 2  Next New Topic Add Reply



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Jump to:  
Google
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group