Hello!
My first message here. I have been fly fishing over 42 years now, but I bought a new glass fiber rod after 40 years with graphite rods. It is an Epic 686, older model, 3 piece.

I have been testing a lot of different lines: a very short head wf-5-f ( Air Flo Xceed, quite ok), some cheap normal wf-5 (impossible to cast, powerless), a very long belly new wf-6 (Guideline Highwater Evolve, quite ok, but felt light), and a very very old Cortland DT-7.

Very odd, the old, I think more than 35 years, Cortland peach 444 dt-7 felt best of all. It was smoothest to cast, and also flew as long as those wf-lines. Which lines should I still try? Would a DT-6 feel even better? I have had not a dt-6 to dry, and nore any one of my friends. What lines would you recommend for me?

KaitsuH

SA MED6
Which is the Scientific Anglers Mastery Expert Distance WF-6-F... the rod was designed around that line.

I have that rod and it is probably my very favourite all around single hand rod, from trout to warm water. For me it’s a solid 6wt that can handle a 7wt with authority, but I know others prefer it as a 7wt.

I’ve tried a ton of lines on it over the years, and the ones I use regularly now are:
-Rio Trout LT 6wt (if I need it to be delicate)
- Epic Glassline WF6 (all around)
- Rio Smallmouth 6wt (bass bug type)
- OPST Commando Smooth, 200gr with 7.5 ft OPST tips or Rio Light MOW tips.

It’s a GREAT single hand spey rod with that OPST line. So much fun.
I agree that the SI 6wt Expert Distance is a great casting match as well.

Have fun! It’s a great great rod.

Good feedback so far. Fish what you like on it, first and foremost.

I have the 4-piece version of the 686, built about 10 or 11 months after they transitioned from three pieces to four. I wouldn't want to fish it with less than a true 6-weight line. It handles anything from a true 6 to a 7 fine for me. I just bought an old SA GPX to use the next time I take it out, and I think that will be just about right.

I have the 3 Epic 686 too. Best trouty 6wt I ever fished. I use a Sci-Angler Heritage Ultra 6WT WF line on it for dries/poppers and nymphing. I I also use a Teeny T-200 sink tip of a type VI Sci-Angler full sinker for streamers. The Heritage Ultra was designed for glass rods, but sadly its discontinued. I also liked it very much with a Cortland 444SL 6WT WF line too.

Enjoy that rod, the 3 piece Epics are hard to find these days.

Yeah. It’s such a great rod. It does everything well.

Glad you like the Expert Distance! It is a superb match for pure casting pleasure. When it came to fishing I found it hard to turn over larger flies with that line, but it was a joy to cast.