It is currently 28 Mar 2024, 07:54


New Topic Add Reply
Author Message
Post 15 Jan 2020, 22:34 • #1 
Sport
Joined: 02/16/13
Posts: 70
Location: US-TX
Here's one I haven't seen before. Little 6'8 ultralight 6wt. Doesn't appear to have been fished before. Haven't loaded a line on it yet.










Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Jan 2020, 05:15 • #2 
Piscator
Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19077
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
congrats on that crisp little rod - I have the 6-wt, doesn't have the cool feather on it.
They do need the lightest of reels to not overwhelm them.
I think it's Holdover has one matched with a Shakespeare 1834, which fits the bill pretty well.


Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Jan 2020, 06:41 • #3 
Master Guide
Joined: 09/29/09
Posts: 906
Location: US-MI
You may want to test cast this rod with a five weight or even a four weight fly line. Nice find.


Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Jan 2020, 07:10 • #4 
Guide
Joined: 11/28/11
Posts: 325
Location: US-MI
I love mine for U.P. brook trout. I use a DT4 on a Hardy Featherweight. Every one that casts it is shocked at how nice it is.


Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Jan 2020, 07:18 • #5 
Piscator
Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19077
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
I know St. Croix supplied blanks to Vince Cummings. I wonder if this is the same blank he used on his 6'8"

It's very different from my Water Witch, though also know that's a St. Croix blank.


Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Jan 2020, 08:37 • #6 
Guide
Joined: 10/30/18
Posts: 203
Location: SF Bay Area
Nice! I love the spiral wrap up the female ferrule. I agree, these earlier brown blank Imperials are sweet with 4-5 wt lines. I think most of the Cummings’ 6’8” Ultimates were based on the later amber Imperial blanks.


Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Jan 2020, 10:28 • #7 
Sport
Joined: 02/16/13
Posts: 70
Location: US-TX
I thought it felt more like a 4 WT when flexing it. Thanks for the input guys. Should be a fun little rod on the San Gabriel.


Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Jan 2020, 11:07 • #8 
Piscator
Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19077
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
it would be even more fun in Hunt, like Mayfair crossing, or at the Pedernales headwaters

Image


Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Jan 2020, 12:35 • #9 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 01/26/07
Posts: 1385
Location: Ada, Oklahoma
I think my buddy Kurt has that same rod, but on his the tip section is a lighter color than the butt section. As I recall, we were casting a 3 weight line on it, but I think it would be better with a DT4 or WF4. A very pleasant little rod. I think you need to bring that to our conclave on the North San Gabriel in April.

Larry


Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Jan 2020, 13:25 • #10 
Master Guide
Joined: 09/29/09
Posts: 906
Location: US-MI
Pmagas,

Test casting your version was an eye opener. Appreciated that opportunity. Any particular brand of DT 4 you like best on your version?


Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Jan 2020, 16:36 • #11 
Guide
Joined: 11/28/11
Posts: 325
Location: US-MI
Hi, Grouse. I use a 406DT and I have a Hook and Hackle on a CFO I sometimes use.


Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Jan 2020, 16:57 • #12 
Guide
Joined: 11/28/11
Posts: 325
Location: US-MI
bulldog1935 wrote:
I know St. Croix supplied blanks to Vince Cummings. I wonder if this is the same blank he used on his 6'8"

It's very different from my Water Witch, though also know that's a St. Croix blank.


Ron, I have a 6'8" Cummings which is a stiffer blank and is a 5 weight. Unless you had them in your hand you would think they were the same blank. The Cummings is "The Aristocrat".


Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Jan 2020, 18:06 • #13 
Piscator
Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19077
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
thanks for that Pete
- comparing the 6'8" 6-wt St. Croix I have directly to the Cummings, of course not counting the action and Vince's spigot ferrule, I can convince myself the blanks are the same, the big difference being the high polish that Vince put on all his rods.


Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Jan 2020, 19:28 • #14 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 04/20/07
Posts: 8920
Location: US-ME
The rod will come alive with a six or five weight and a progressive application of power on the forecast and the backcast. Of course it will cast a 4 wt--most 'glass rods will--feeling stiffer and more graphite-like in doing so. A conventional profile of the time period, as in today's 406 lines or Air Cel or Cortland 333 will work fine. A DT would be a no brainer to me, but a simple Cortland/Olympic WF6 would be fine if casting and larger flies are the emphasis.


Top
  
Quote
Post 16 Jan 2020, 20:20 • #15 
Master Guide
Joined: 09/29/09
Posts: 906
Location: US-MI
Pete,

Thank you for the details and the quick reply on your favorite line(s) of choice. Since you let me try your St. Croix at the gathering last year you placed me on a path to find another. The fact you noted this model is a great brook trout rod fully set this search in high gear. Awaiting spring.





Top
  
Quote
Post 17 Jan 2020, 05:55 • #16 
Guide
Joined: 11/28/11
Posts: 325
Location: US-MI
That one's a beauty. I like the purple. Hope to see you in June, Grouse.


Top
  
Quote
Post 17 Jan 2020, 06:29 • #17 
Master Guide
Joined: 09/29/09
Posts: 906
Location: US-MI
Pmagas, It will be great to see you in trout country later this year. The rod shown above will be on hand for your review.

Fishinintx, Interested to hear your further thoughts after you cast or fish your brown Imperial.


Top
  
Quote
Post 18 Jan 2020, 09:31 • #18 
Master Guide
Joined: 09/23/18
Posts: 614
Location: Eastern Wa
Ive got that rod. Im pretty sure you will like it. Feels a lot like the Cummings 7' river rat and will cast a range of lines. Cast mine in the snow in the back yard yesterday with a 5wt and its hard to believe an old fiberglass rod could be so much better than most modern graphite rods in my opinion. The thin small diameter rings could have been better designed though. Some reels wont work but an MG-3 is just about perfect.


Top
  
Quote
Post 18 Jan 2020, 09:45 • #19 
Piscator
Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19077
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
I've stated more than once, you can build e-glass fly rod configurations where graphite, or even cane do not work, and that's exactly what the best venerable glass rod makers did.
This rod is a perfect example of where e-glass shines.


Top
  
Quote
Post 31 Jan 2020, 16:21 • #20 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/23/10
Posts: 784
Location: SF Bay Area
Bulldogs right. I have a Shakespeare 1834 on my 4wt version and it's about perfect.

I have three of these 6'8" rods in the later burnt orange glass. Two are no doubt 4wts and the other a six. The 6 is very crisp but still bends deep, and the 4wts are buttery, with just enough crisp to make them great small stream rods. I suspect the tapers are the same but perhaps they changed the makeup of the fiberglass at some point.



Top
  
Quote
Post 31 Jan 2020, 22:40 • #21 
Guide
Joined: 10/30/18
Posts: 203
Location: SF Bay Area
Holdover nailed it. St Croix didn’t change the Imperial’s tapers when they switched from the brown woven glass to the amber unidirectional material.

Both versions are sweet but the later amber rods are faster. Where the older brown blanks fish best down in line weight, the amber blanks display speed and oomph at their stated line weights.


Top
  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  

New Topic Add Reply



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 26 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