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Post 19 Dec 2022, 22:33 • #26 
Master Guide
Joined: 04/27/09
Posts: 573
Location: US-SD
I'll go along with those perceptive folks who have nominated the 8'6" Steffen 5/6 rod. Mine is 3 piece and is better with a 6 weight line than it is with the 5 weight. It was built and used by the talented Gypsy who we haven't heard from in awhile.


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Post 21 Dec 2022, 10:22 • #27 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/21/06
Posts: 3081
Location: Orygun
Well, my Fisher 8'6" 6/7 makes a fantastic 6, even better 7 and a pretty darn good 8wt. One of the most versatile rods I own in that I can lay down a size 16 caddis softly enough for spring creek trout or throw 8" bull trout meat on an overweighted sink tip streamer line. In between, it's also a fantastic nymphing rod.


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Post 22 Dec 2022, 11:23 • #28 
Sport
Joined: 01/21/17
Posts: 93
Location: US-WI
On account of I don't have any modern glass I'll have to say my Fenwick ff86s. They are heavier than the new rods but are very smooth and full flexing, yet they have ample strength in the butt. My J serial number ff84s are smooth 5/6 wts, and my J serial number ff86s are smooth 6 wts. Phil


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Post 22 Dec 2022, 12:41 • #29 
Guide
Joined: 08/25/13
Posts: 151
Location: US-FL
Just picked up a orvis sfg 86 6wt haven’t had a chance to get on the water yet ,but it’s my favorite because it’s the only 8-6 rod I have lol


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Post 28 Dec 2022, 14:26 • #30 
Sport
Joined: 09/04/11
Posts: 69
Location: US-NY
I have an 8'6" 6 wt. four piece San Francisco Winston that is a cannon. It's pretty much my every day everything rod.


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Post 28 Dec 2022, 14:54 • #31 
Sport
Joined: 12/24/22
Posts: 69
Location: Columbia River Gorge
I’ll add to the list of Epic 686 fans. Buttery smooth power and an extremely versatile rod.
It will throw dries and I’ve even caught steelhead on it. I had mine custom built for a fair amount less than the studio price and it’s much nicer.


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Post 28 Dec 2022, 20:21 • #32 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 09/18/09
Posts: 5561
Location: Relocated to the Drought Stricken West.
My McFarland GTX 866 gets the bulk of my glass 6wt action. It replaced an 8ft Fenwick, and the McFarland is so much more versatile. It is nice with dries, nymphs, streamers, and small poppers


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Post 28 Dec 2022, 20:59 • #33 
New Member
Joined: 09/13/22
Posts: 5
Favorite glass rod is a 2 piece, Fenwick FF856 (3-3/4 oz). Just an all round rod in my opinion.


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Post 01 Jan 2023, 21:51 • #34 
New Member
Joined: 05/02/21
Posts: 9
********* Western glass. Not only my favorite 6 wt, one of my favorite rods to fish. Small streamers to tiny dry flies. Simply a pleasure to fish with this rod.


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Post 02 Jan 2023, 15:40 • #35 
Master Guide
Joined: 07/27/18
Posts: 375
Location: Probably at a Diner in Eastern PA
Used to be a Steffen. But I have to give the nod to ********* Fly Rod's 6 WT. If you dont have one, get one.


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Post 16 Jan 2023, 12:32 • #36 
Sport
Joined: 04/26/18
Posts: 32
Location: US-MO
I really enjoyed a epic 686 although it was using a 5wt line and it felt properly loaded so it is possibly not a real 6wt?


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Post 16 Jan 2023, 16:20 • #37 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/23/10
Posts: 784
Location: SF Bay Area
Most good tapers are capable of two or three line weights. Whichever works the best for you, is what that rod is in your hands. From what I've read most find that particular epic a strong 6wt.


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Post 21 Jan 2023, 08:59 • #38 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/09/16
Posts: 746
Location: Colorado
Its a toss-up for me between my Steffen 5/6 and my Sage SFL 686. I love them both.


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Post 01 Feb 2023, 10:54 • #39 
Guide
Joined: 07/14/20
Posts: 111
Another vote here for the Steffen 8'6" 5/6 3pc, which I like as a 6wt. The only other glass 866 I've had is the Orvis SFG 3 piece (older model). I much prefer the Steffen, but the Orvis was more powerful and could have handled a 7wt line. Probably a better bass or dedicated streamer rod. I use a 406 DT6 on the Steffen. Works great for me as an all arounder for trout.


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Post 01 Feb 2023, 16:39 • #40 
Master Guide
Joined: 11/04/15
Posts: 631
Location: US-FL
The only 8'6" 6 wt I have is the old Orvis SFG 3 piece.


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Post 02 Feb 2023, 07:48 • #41 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/24/11
Posts: 1144
Location: Belgium
whrlpool wrote:
Fisher 'glass:

Image

Fisher had several 8'6" blanks; this is the one designated 6-7, a favorite since I built it in the early 1980s.

Any of the cousins would probably be, too, if I hadn't happened to pick this one first, wanting some capability with a WF 7. The Sceptre 8'6 6-7 is similar, but a touch more robust, more of a 7-6. Models from Winston and Claudio would be special as well, or various other Fisher-blank 8 1/2s and labled for retailers like LL Bean.

Among great river rods, then or now, the crisp, progressive action Fishers are hard to beat. A personal connection or special builder is one more plus for the Fisher builds. I wondered if the one mentioned by pgwulf above was the 6/7 blank(5 1/2 tip) or the 6 (5 tip) or possibly another blank produced at an earlier time.

The Fisher catalog shows the standard 8 1/2 blanks of the '80s.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1043&start=25#p130436


Might as well throw in the Hardy versions of the Fisher rods as well - JET, Fibalite, Fibalite perfection. Excellent rods.


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Post 05 Feb 2023, 00:31 • #42 
Master Guide
Joined: 01/04/18
Posts: 397
Location: Belair Maryland/Swanton Maryland
Great seeing all these cool 8.5 6wts listed :)

Here’s a Vintage quartet from the arsenal


My Top two 8.6 6wt Bass rods

A Fenwick FFL 102-6 built by Mr MajicWrench himself has been a Crick Bass staple for the last few seasons .
Throws a 6wt with the most consistent loops eva’ not to mention great hooks sets!!

And a super sweet South Bend Powerflex 3300
Has been a faithful Potomac River companion for a decade ..
The powerflex rods were the sequel to the earlier “golden zone of power”rods.
Where the lower 1/3 of the butt section is reinforced. Great tru 6wt rod that has fineness in spades … but will punch out a hopper to 70ft .


Fantastic Rods ..

Here’s my trout 8.5’s

The Heddon Pal standard is the epitome of a 6wt trout rod . Would do great with a DT5 also



And my new “Hotness” …
Early all Original mint Phillipson Challenger 86R


Drop dead gorgeous condition..

Leans a hard 6 .. great western taper for big rivers


Tight lines in 23
Scotto


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Post 05 Feb 2023, 07:51 • #43 
Guide
Joined: 06/08/18
Posts: 293
Location: Boston , MA
For myself , without a doubt it’s my ********* Western Glass 8’-6”-3pc , followed and just about mirrored by my Steffen of the same configuration …


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Post 05 Feb 2023, 16:42 • #44 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 09/18/09
Posts: 5561
Location: Relocated to the Drought Stricken West.
Oh, I forgot about the Cortland fr-2000 and the ff-84. These are both slow rods, and magical when you allow yourself to slow down.

But my gtx-866 still gets a lot more fishing time.


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Post 06 Feb 2023, 02:12 • #45 
Sport
Joined: 05/03/14
Posts: 38
Location: Jämtland - Sweden
CTS rolls a decent 8'6" 6wt blank.


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Post 06 Feb 2023, 08:09 • #46 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 04/20/07
Posts: 8920
Location: US-ME
"Favorite." Favorite. Let's keep this to favorite, please. It's a rare 'glass rod maker that doesn't or didn't make an 8 1/2' 6 weight. We're getting a great catalog of good 6 weights, you really can't go wrong with many of them, but let's stick to favorite. There will be more.


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Post 15 Feb 2023, 21:14 • #47 
Sport
Joined: 03/10/18
Posts: 86
I only have one 8 1/2' 6 wt (fiberglass): an FF856 (3 3/4 oz). This may not count, however, because I'm a smallmouth fisher here in Indiana, and I use it with WF-7 and heavy streamers. It's plenty strong for that, but I like it because it's got a nice loading feel in that configuration.


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Post 17 Feb 2023, 08:09 • #48 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/27/16
Posts: 2327
Location: US-IL
1 ,I have that rod also but have never fished nor even cast it.Got it in a trade years ago.You say it cast well overlined as a bass rod.I may give that a try on the Kankakee River this spring.That river has a big current,7mph i believe at normal flow.Some great smallmouth and pike fishing but you need some weight on the flies to stay in contact.Many generations of my family lived on the river near the Indiana border.Learned to fish on the creeks that feed the river.I can no longer access the creeks and the upper river is too deep to wade. Going to try down river near where it and the Des Plaines form the Illinois.Still a lot of current but shallower and wider .I have been a little iffy on glass Fenwicks but this one may be what I need for this water.


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Post 12 Mar 2023, 00:55 • #49 
Sport
Joined: 03/02/18
Posts: 38
Location: US-IL
For me, the one that's going to get the most use is a Moonlit 8'3" 6wt that's a real cannon when tossing a 6wt WF line and large streamers.


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Post 22 Mar 2023, 19:58 • #50 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/09/05
Posts: 2524
Location: US-CO
Shakespeare FY-A510, 8'6", 8/9 wt.
Nearly all my rods are 8 ft or shorter but I have kept this rod for steelhead, salmon, and light salt work. Don't fish it much but it is a rod I like to cast when I need a heavier rod.


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