Ice out conditions at the local golf course pond allowed for casting on open water. We put together a collection of seven weight rods for comparison casting. Great fun to get outside with three fiberglass and three vintage graphite rods.

They all had strong points. The three Winston vintage graphite 7 weights were most similar to one another yet each was from a different time of production. Two were 8 1/2' and the pre-IM6 rod is 9' in length. Liked the grip on the 9' rod shown on the far right the best of all of the rods present. Incredible condition on the pre-IM6 rod for its age. Both 8 1/2' rods felt more like six weights to all of the other rods shown and had that trout rod feel. Note the nickel-silver reel seat on one and the vintage aluminum on the other. With obvious reason the two 8 1/2' 2/1 Winston IM6 7 weight rods were almost identical as each was built on a Loomis blank era.

Winston Fiberglass rod is 8' 9" three section vintage factory build. Really a fine rod which I have used in the past for bass fishing on two occasions. By weight it felt the heaviest of the bunch but is a true 7 weight and cast just fine. Had fished this rod in the past with a more aggressive taper fly line. This rod works well with this line as well as the lines mentioned below.

The McFarland Perpetual rod was built a couple of years ago so it would be the most modern rod of the bunch. It is in a rare green color and my friend enjoys it quite well. I have cast this rod on a couple of occasions and think the taper is a hit for normal trout distances and beyond. This is a 3/1 rod which I like for travel and action. In the past have also enjoyed the hybrid and all graphite seven weight rods he has produced. Next time will need to expand the field of test rods when larger gatherings are possible.

The Tom Morgan Unity rod was built by Graywolf for a friend. This was the only non-factory rod on hand but still very nice as expected from this builder. I have a multiple section version and with regret had left it behind. This 2/1 rod shined with a Rio Gold 7 weight line and surprised me the most of all of the rods as this taper felt different to my memory than with this line. Had not tried the Rio Gold on this rod previously and was thinking it may be the best line tried to date on this taper. To me the TMR Unity rod feels a bit different than the original Winston fiberglass rod on which it is based. This is no knock on the late and great Mr. Morgan or the firm who rolls the TMR blanks. Both the TMR and the original are worthy rods and fine fishing tools. The Morgan rod was most similar to the McFarland rod yet each had its own feel.

The fly line we tried on each of the rods shown was a Wulff Triangle Taper in 7 weight. While perhaps not the perfect line for certain individual fly rods, we have found this taper works quite well on most 7 weight fly rods so it is a base for our test casting.

Anyone have a favorite 7 weight rod recommendation?

Try the ********* Rod Western Glass 8'9" 7wt. Its a a fantastic 7wt. I primarily have used it for bass and streamer fishing for trout, but it is quite capable of throwing large dry/dropper.

Mike

Interesting group of rods. If I were to add a vintage example it would be the 8.5 Sceptre. In my option best tested while fishing as the sensitivity to takes is very good for a 7 weight.

I walked into a Denver sporting goods store in 1980 to buy my first fly rod. Left with a Wright and McGill Eagle Claw Water Seal 8 1/2' 7wt, a Medalist 1495. and Cortland peach. Never used it much, and when I got more into fly fishing later, the 5 wt ruled. As I changed over to glass however, the wisdom of the '80s became clear....nice rods, with the feel and touch of a modern 5wt, but will cast a line which can actually carry a bigger fly.

That is a neat sharp recollection of the 1980 Denco. Even by that time, as graphite rods were developed and becoming the preference, glass 7 weights were fewer as fiberglass itself faded from the market. In the '60s and early '70s, even more would have been there to check out--or nearby at Sears, Montgomery Ward, or a hardware store on the way out of town towards a river or lake.

Browning Silaflex 322980 was an eye-opener for me. Also another vote here for the Berkley PG40 8-footer.
The Garcia Americana “Gunnison” is reminiscent of both, in its way. Almost as quick and light in hand as the Browning; not as pleasantly hefty and maybe not as smooth as the Berkeley, but close. A darned sweet sleeper if you can find one with good ferrule fit and guide alignment.

Wetteland, Rocking steelhead on any rod. The System 7 is a favorite of mine as well but have not caught a trout that large with it. Shown below is a System 7 custom build by McKellip Brothers on a Great Lakes smallmouth.

Can’t wait to try out my System 7 on some lakers this spring or casting streamers to angry browns this fall. However, the reel is a bit light. I find it pairs better with my Animas S. What reels do you guys pair it with?

Thanks for the advice! The Marquis/System 7 is what I have on it now, and I fully agree that it belongs on a six more than a seven.

a nice set of 7wts.. a friend has one of the older Winston graphites as a streamer rod, 6wt, a fine rod.

Here's my vintage graphite 7wt, 9' Fenwick HMG from the 80s, with the biggest freshwater fish I ever caught..



This fish inspired me to switch to glass for all my big-carp fishing, as the graphite just felt too frail ;-)
So now have a quiverfull of Fenwick 7wts, and a couple of Browning Silaflex.

Big yellow FF108-7,



But my favorite 7wt is still the FF96-7 blank I built up as my first fly rod, this is the same blank as is built into the FF807.

I would throw in a cortland (FR2000 or similar) 8'6" 6/7wt. or the 8'. Both are great rods, and the diamondback 8667 (or similar REC based graphite 8667).

It is great that you had a chance to get out.

I'd throw this graphite into the mix: Scott G907B. Actually mine is the 2 tip version G907BT with 6 wt and 7 wt tips. I also have the Steffen mentioned above and use both 7 & 8 lines with it. Both are outstanding rods.