Cortland made some very good glass rods, I have several of the FR2000s, big fun to fish

I have the 1-626-1 as well - also acquired this spring and I have caught a few nicer trout (for Massachusetts) on it. The longer 8' rod may be a hair more flexible than its 7'6" sibling, but both are 5wts to me. To me both of them are fantastic rods. I had won a 8' 6/7 wt Cortland Crown for a super low price - it was unused and had the hang tag still on it. The seller cancelled the order after claiming they dropped the tip section and it broke when packaging it - would have loved to get that rod to compare it to - as I am betting it would have been a great 6wt rod.

I loved the roll casting ability of the 7'6" rod - it really was like point and shoot and I was surprising myself with how accurate I was able to be and the distance I was able to achieve. It was like an 'ah-ha' moment for me - especially when I was able to get the fly placed upstream and between two small boulders at the top of a pool.

I had read some of your past posts I believe when researching these rods, as well as Paveglass and Arcnymph and whrlpool too (I think) - the info I read is right on the money about these Cortland rods. I will be looking for them more for sure.

It is a fun outfit! Would like to try a FR2000 for comparison. I do have a unknown Shakespeare and H-I rod arriving tomorrow. Trying to narrow down what they are.

Here are a few more shots:

Thanks for the comment Bluefeather!

I have the 8' model too - very, very nice rod as well and it performed great on some bigger trout. Just picked up a FR2000 7'6" - a 1-625-1 model that is a translucent brown blank and maybe even more flexible than this Pro-Crest 7'6" model based on side-by-side wiggle test. Need to repair the reel seat as it was loose when I put a reel on it.

They are very nice rods. Really happy with the three of them and will wean myself off of searching Ebay for additional rods - well maybe a 8wt Wonderod or Fenwick for the salt and LMB!!!