It is currently 28 Mar 2024, 06:11


1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 8  Next New Topic Add Reply
Author Message
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 02 Oct 2009, 08:46 • #1 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 09/05/07
Posts: 2153
Location: West Virginia
I was out lawn-casting some shorter glass rods today and found a noticeable difference in how smooth they felt when cast. I hadn't had my 6'6" fiberglass Russ Peak* out of the tube since Mike McFarland's gathering last Fall and was simply amazed at how smooth it was to cast in comparison. Maybe smooth isn't the adjective but somehow it just felt like butter - so easy, with hardly a ripple in the line when it went out. I don't know what goes into making a smooth casting rod, if fact I probably can't even describe "smooth" as it relates to casting, but I know it when I feel it. "Dynamic balance" is a term that comes to mind, which I think was used in the old Scott brochures when describing the G-series graphites. In any case, I'd be curious to hear what glass rods forum members feel are their smoothest.
Image

* Fred, it's a 2 oz. Zenith, Serial # 12,975 with no line weight listed but seems a 4/5 WT.


Last edited by Duff on 03 Oct 2009, 14:38, edited 1 time in total.

Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 02 Oct 2009, 08:54 • #2 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/08/09
Posts: 850
Location: US-VA
Duff- Which model Russ Peak is that rod?


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 02 Oct 2009, 09:06 • #3 
Administrator
Joined: 07/17/06
Posts: 5599
Location: South Carolina
Duff ... I'll have to look at the rod basket again ... but I'm thinking my McFarland Spruce Creek eight foot three piece five weight has about the most complete feel that I've experienced in a fly rod.

Image


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 02 Oct 2009, 09:15 • #4 
Piscator
Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19076
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
hands down, it's my Cummings Water Witch - 6/7-wt. with a tip that feels like a 3-wt. and it will cast a BS-100 with the delicacy of a 3-wt.
Image


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 02 Oct 2009, 09:33 • #5 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/16/05
Posts: 2537
Location: Georgia
First thought is my Lami 7'6" 4 wt. Second thought is that I need to take some other rods fishing to make sure.

Bob


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 02 Oct 2009, 09:45 • #6 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/19/08
Posts: 706
Location: US-AK
Wow! That is like asking which of your children is your favorite!

An answer could really anger the Fish Gods!


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 02 Oct 2009, 10:09 • #7 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 03/16/08
Posts: 3540
Location: Upstate-NY
2 rods of mine that I'm always surprised by,
every time I fish them,
by just how "smoothly" they cast
are:

Feralite FF79
Diamondglass GLR805

for me,
I think I would define the feeling of "smooth"
as something that results from a perfectly balanced progressive taper.


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 02 Oct 2009, 12:53 • #8 
Master Guide
Joined: 08/16/07
Posts: 389
Location: US-ME
Mine's a Scott F60, but just picked up a Scott 7ft 5pc prototype glass from the warehouse stock and man it feels great, just need to finish it up and I think it will be my sweetheart!


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 02 Oct 2009, 13:04 • #9 
Guide
Joined: 06/25/05
Posts: 239
Location: Albany, NY
The McFarland 8' 3 pc. 5 wt.'s been the smoothest rod I've cast, with his 8'2" 4 wt. and his 7 wts very close. Thinking about it some more, his 7 wt rods might actually capture that "smooth" feeling best - you just feel the whole cast. To me, "smooth" is the word I use most to describe Mike's rods - for my casting stroke I just love feeling his rods load and unload. I don't mean to sound like a commercial for Mike, but I think for the way I cast these are just very special tapers. - Steve


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 02 Oct 2009, 13:13 • #10 
Master Guide
Joined: 04/15/06
Posts: 804
Location: Fayetteville, NC
With the right line, every rod I have kept is as smooth as you describe, whether glass or bamboo, and even one graphite. Two that really shock me with their special sweetness, though, are a Glastech 6'6" 3wt and a McFarland 7'3" 4wt, with the edge maybe going to the McFarland, but that may be due to my preference for that rod length.
-CC


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 02 Oct 2009, 13:26 • #11 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/02/09
Posts: 1585
Location: People's Republic of Austin
1st place: McFarland 8' 3 pc. 5wt
2nd place: Diamonglass 7' 3 pc, 3wt
3rd: Fenwick FF75


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 02 Oct 2009, 14:05 • #12 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 08/25/08
Posts: 1526
Location: Delton, MI
My smooth rods are rods that know me as well as I know them. The line goes where I want it to as I'm thinking it. I don't have to think about the rod. I feel the line and think about what I want to do with it and it happens. I can close my eyes as someone is watching and give them the loop size they ask for. This only happens for me with very progressive action rods whether they are fast or slow. Glass rods that do this for me are the following:

1) Custom rod from maker who wants to remain anonymous but OH MY! I wouldn't even mention this rod except that I wanted to let you know that if you keep searching you will find your Holy Grail. I searched for over 30 years to find a rod like this.
2) Steffen 8'0" 3/4 wt 3pc. (fished with a 4wt line) - The best trout rod money can buy at this time, period.
3) Winston 7'6" 5wt 2pc. (fished with a 6wt line) - Extremely nice for fishing Hex at night where you can't see your fly or fly line. I can hear the sound of a fish rising to a Hex and put the fly where I want it to go. It's pretty much a dry fly rod though. It doesn't handle weighted flies like the top two do.
4) There are a few more that almost get there but the above three are exceptional.
5) Rods that are amazing for the money and are almost there - early Fenwick FF75, early Fenwick FF70, and Lamiglas FL843-2 (only in 2pc though).

CrustyBugger


Last edited by CrustyBugger on 03 Oct 2009, 06:08, edited 1 time in total.

Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 02 Oct 2009, 15:19 • #13 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 08/14/06
Posts: 1227
Location: Panther City, Texas
I spent two days on the river last week. I fished my Gypsy built Steffen 7'9" 3/4 the first day and a McFarland 7'9" 4 wt. the second day. They are both so smooth it's scary. I've never fished a Peak but if his rods are smoother than these two they're definitely worth what they've been bringing.
Went out again this Mon-Tues, I've got to add the Quiet Loop 805 to my list.


Last edited by frogmorton on 06 Oct 2009, 11:26, edited 1 time in total.

Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 02 Oct 2009, 15:53 • #14 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 09/29/06
Posts: 4413
Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon
My several Fenwick rods come to mind, but then I have twenty some rods so I shall have to take them into the meadow or the pond and have a test. I have a few clunkers, but even those rods have a sweet spot. Fenwick was wwwwwaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy ahead of its time in many ways. What amazing rods they are for as old as they be.
I am partial to my Lyons 5 wt, but as I said a test is due. I have no rods I don't like. Those I have sold to others who wanted them and like them. Can't beat that.

One of my favs is the Fenwick Streamer, a graphite rod. I have two in different lengths and have been "trying" to sell them for three years. They are beyond sweet.

On to the test.


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 02 Oct 2009, 16:45 • #15 
Master Guide
Joined: 08/29/09
Posts: 512
Location: 2 hrs from all good things Northern Californian
Ditto on the Fenwick FF79, I had it out last weekend and it felt so sweet and laid out so nice all the way to 60' that it didn't matter that the trout never rose to the hatch.


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 02 Oct 2009, 19:46 • #16 
Guide
Joined: 02/19/09
Posts: 342
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Mine would be the FF 755, FF 756-4pc and the Browning Silaflex 322970. -Roy


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 03 Oct 2009, 01:34 • #17 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/08/09
Posts: 850
Location: US-VA
In the 6wt category ... I would have to say a Ferdinand Claudio 806B and the Fenwick FF79. They both have a very similar feel, smooth and pleasant. The Claudio has a little more progressive butt and power.
For 5wt ... the Steffen 8'3"-5/6-3pc. That is wonderful taper. 4wt ... I'm with 'crustybugger' on this one, that rod he's speaking of is something special. 3wt ... again, I would go with the Steffen 7'0"-2/3-3pc. I have handled a Russ Peak 242L in a 3wt, that rod is on my watch list ... truly, a perfect 3wt.
With that all said, I feel the "smoothest" comes with the correct fly line and leader, as well as time with the particular rod. Those rods are a few of my "benchmarks" that influence me for my own work, in the near future. I can only hope to achieve that level of feel and performance ... time will tell. -Fred


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 03 Oct 2009, 06:10 • #18 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 08/25/08
Posts: 1526
Location: Delton, MI
Fred, what length is the Russ Peak 242L.

CrustyBugger


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 03 Oct 2009, 06:34 • #19 
Master Guide
Joined: 03/20/07
Posts: 849
Location: US-TX
I'll preface this by saying that I've never cast a McFarland. But of my smattering of Phillipsons, the smoothest I have is a 7.5 ft Orvis Fullflex II, labeled as a 7wt but is really a 5wt. I'd like to compare it side by side with Bulldog's Water Witch one of these days ...


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 03 Oct 2009, 07:10 • #20 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/06/07
Posts: 1437
Location: US-VT
Mine would be a Steffen 8ft 3/4wt. I did play with my friend, Sumner Stowe's Scott F79 yellow glass many, many years ago that made quite an impression on me.


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 03 Oct 2009, 09:40 • #21 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/22/07
Posts: 871
Location: Out West
My Steffen 8' 3/4wt 3pc, followed by a McFarland 7'6" 4wt 3pc for 4wts. A Steffen 8'6" 5-6wt 4pc for a little heavier lines.

I'm looking forward to getting my McFarland 8' 5wt 4pc and a Steffen 7'9" 3/4wt 4pc built this winter to put them to the test as well. Also, a Phillipson 8' 6/7wt 3M Epoxite EF80 blank with glass spigot ferrule is also going to be a smooth, special rod.

For an older cheaper rod, my Cortland FR-2000 5/6wt is pure butter with a DT5F!

On a side note, I used to have a Lamiglas honey 7'6" 4wt 4pc with spigot ferrules that I built on a blem blank that was also really buttery smooth when I found my rhythm with it after a couple of outings. That rod got passed down, but I have the 7'6" 4wt 6pc honey blank waiting to be built, and it's gonna be a smoothy too.


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 03 Oct 2009, 10:20 • #22 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/22/07
Posts: 871
Location: Out West
On another side note, I found this older post by MountainsAllAround (Tom Chandler who runs the Trout Underground):

"I have to second the vote for the 8' 5wt Diamondglass rod, which is so smooth it's exactly like smearing butter on Sophia Loren."

What a way with words! If this doesn't bring to mind a vision of smoothness, I don't know what does ... I mean, damn, that's smooth!


Last edited by LeoCreek on 03 Oct 2009, 10:24, edited 1 time in total.

Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 03 Oct 2009, 13:40 • #23 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/08/05
Posts: 3570
Location: Western PA
Is Sophia still alive? If so, she'd likely insist on Smart Balance, Promise or some other low fat spread. My "smooth" favorites? I'll try to list just a few: Hardy Glass Perfection, 7'6" #4; Steffen 7'6" #2/3; Quiet Loop 7' #2 and (of course) McFarland Spruce Ck., 8' #5.


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 03 Oct 2009, 13:43 • #24 
Master Guide
Joined: 11/30/07
Posts: 920
Location: Childress, Texas
LeoCreek wrote:
On another side note, I found this older post by MountainsAllAround (Tom Chandler who runs the Trout Underground):

"I have to second the vote for the 8' 5wt Diamondglass rod, which is so smooth it's exactly like smearing butter on Sophia Loren."

What a way with words! If this doesn't bring to mind a vision of smoothness, I don't know what does ... I mean, damn, that's smooth!

I was going to say my FF85 but how can you follow that with something you think is smooth?


Top
  
Quote
Your smoothest Glass Rod
Post 03 Oct 2009, 16:23 • #25 
Guide
Joined: 02/25/08
Posts: 184
Location: US-NM
I'd go with a Hardy Perfection 7', 3 WT ... which CAN NOT compare with Sophia Loren!


Top
  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 8  Next New Topic Add Reply



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 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