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Post 01 Dec 2015, 00:09 • #1 
Guide
Joined: 01/15/12
Posts: 314
Location: Silicon Babylon, CA
Image

This was a pretty cool birthday gift I received last week in the post, James Green's new 10' 5 weight Trophy Trout series blank. It has a crisp and lively action, the tip is light, the midsection has a great flex, and the back section has the right amount of strength to chuck some line. Incredibly, it weights just 3 ounces. I initially considered a switch build, but now feel it will will be be a fantastic single hand rod for large trout and steelhead. I hope to be on the water soon with this stick.

You can contact James about his blanks through his web site, https://www.jamesgreenflyrods.com


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Post 01 Dec 2015, 07:18 • #2 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/26/14
Posts: 3578
Location: US-MN
Happy Birthday! Please give us a review after you get it built and fished!


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Post 01 Dec 2015, 13:04 • #3 
Guide
Joined: 10/24/14
Posts: 181
Location: US-CA
James offered me this blank, but you might have changed my mind. I've already had the color scheme in my head.


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Post 01 Dec 2015, 22:01 • #4 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 11/25/09
Posts: 2319
Very unique offering, I think the glass world was overdue for a longer singlehanded 5wt. Would be great for nymphing or swinging soft hackles.


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Post 04 Dec 2015, 10:37 • #5 
Master Guide
Joined: 12/31/13
Posts: 519
Location: US-Mount Pleasant, SC
I need to put in some time at the wheel with the 10' 5wt TTS blank James sent me, but it's straight and feels well matched to a DT5 with guides taped on. On an analytical balance I get just a hair under 3 oz. I think this rod could be built either way - as a very light switch (true switch, to be used as two-handed or single-handed) or as a single-hander as Stan describes. Would make a very nice Lake Erie tributary rod for lake-runs, that's for sure.

There's nothing out there like this to my knowledge and it's pretty exciting to see the expansion of highly capable glass offerings coming from James.

I plan on building the first one as a light switch and getting the grain window dialed in.


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Post 08 Dec 2015, 17:36 • #6 
Sport
Joined: 03/22/15
Posts: 55
Location: US-ID
Sub'd as i am interested in hearing more about this blank. I've been looking at graphite 9.5 to 10 ft 5wt's for stillwater. Was saving up for a Burkheimer DAL but building would certainly be more affordable. Any idea what the blank runs price wise?


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Post 08 Dec 2015, 17:42 • #7 
Guide
Joined: 10/24/14
Posts: 181
Location: US-CA
Fireroad, James offered me $250 plus $10 shipping for this blank. I bought his 7wt 10ft instead.
For graphite 10' 5wt switch, the Beulah Platinum 5wt blank is available at anglerworkshop for $250.


Last edited by Bandai on 08 Dec 2015, 23:42, edited 2 times in total.

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Post 08 Dec 2015, 18:10 • #8 
Master Guide
Joined: 12/31/13
Posts: 519
Location: US-Mount Pleasant, SC
I'd not hesitate to use this as a stillwater rod. It has Henry's Lake written all over it. For the two-hand crowd it handles a skagit compact in 300 and 330 grains with ease.


Last edited by Marty Romeo on 09 Dec 2015, 13:42, edited 1 time in total.

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Post 09 Dec 2015, 11:04 • #9 
Sport
Joined: 03/22/15
Posts: 55
Location: US-ID
Thank's Bandai and Marty. I would likely build it up single hand purely as a stillwater rod to chuck small streamers from the pontoon and the shore with intermediate and type 3 lines. I do that now with a graphite 10ft 6wt, but it's overkill for most of the fish I get into. For soft hackles I'm really enjoying the Echo Glass 3106 with an Airflo Switch Float 3wt.


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Post 09 Dec 2015, 12:16 • #10 
Guide
Joined: 10/24/14
Posts: 181
Location: US-CA
Marty...., Steve Godshall has my 7wt blank now to measure the appropriate line for it. He adores the blank and told me it was one of the best fiberglass switch rod blanks that he had ever seen. This morning he told me that it would be Scandi 300-350 grain, a 7wt single hand, 5wt spey. It would be interested to see what this 5wt will cast.

I am following this thread.


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Post 09 Dec 2015, 13:42 • #11 
Master Guide
Joined: 12/31/13
Posts: 519
Location: US-Mount Pleasant, SC
Bandai-

I can tell you from experience that that rod will throw 425-475 grains out of the tip with ease. I like the 7wt switch (really a baby spey for someone like me - I'm not going to fish that rod single handed) with a skagit compact 420 and a short (5') T-8 or T-11 tip. I went back to my post above and edited - the 10' 5wt likes around 300 grains for SKAGIT. Too many blanks in my shop right now!

Marty


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Post 09 Dec 2015, 17:40 • #12 
Guide
Joined: 10/24/14
Posts: 181
Location: US-CA
Marty....I am really hoping that the 7wt with throw that grain window since I bought it purposely to cast a full sinking skagit 415 grain @16.9ft with Zink-12 and Zink-9 both @9ft for stillwater application. Maybe Zink-12 is the highest note for the 7wt.
Flyguy....sorry to have hijacked your thread.


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Post 09 Dec 2015, 21:19 • #13 
Guide
Joined: 01/15/12
Posts: 314
Location: Silicon Babylon, CA
[quote="Bandai"}
Flyguy....sorry to have hijacked your thread.[/quote]
There is no need to apologize, it is great to get others insight - that is how learn.


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Post 10 Dec 2015, 06:45 • #14 
Guide
Joined: 05/02/13
Posts: 213
Location: Almonte, ON, Canada
I received the blank yesterday, and quick movement and bending it suggest it could also be a great euro-nymph rod as well as a Spey Rod. Some tough decisions.


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Post 10 Dec 2015, 17:43 • #15 
Master Guide
Joined: 04/05/13
Posts: 618
Location: US-TX
I need to get one of these for pond fishing for bass, out of my kayak. I think I could bast out some bass bug and yank them of the thick stuff.

James Green knows his stuff and is a fly rod master!

Wes


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Post 10 Dec 2015, 20:08 • #16 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/26/14
Posts: 3578
Location: US-MN
Anyone have more specifics on this new Trophy Trout Series from James? All available rod line weights and lengths? Thanks!


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Post 10 Dec 2015, 21:32 • #17 
Master Guide
Joined: 12/31/13
Posts: 519
Location: US-Mount Pleasant, SC
Some useful info here:

http://www.rioproducts.com/RIO-Spey-Line-Recs.pdf

Marty


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Post 10 Dec 2015, 22:22 • #18 
Sport
Joined: 03/22/15
Posts: 55
Location: US-ID
So for the guys that have wiggled this rod what's the action like? From what I have gathered James is known for "slow and smooth" but this sounds like it may be med to fast (for glass) with some backbone...


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Post 11 Dec 2015, 11:46 • #19 
Master Guide
Joined: 12/31/13
Posts: 519
Location: US-Mount Pleasant, SC
It's medium-fast. Native Trout Series (NTS) = slow; Heritage Trout Series (HTS) = med-slow; Spring Creek Series (SCS) = medium; this Trophy Trout Series (TTS) and his original tapers are med-fast, with the original tapers on the slower end of med-fast. (edited for clarification)


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Post 05 Jan 2016, 11:52 • #20 
Guide
Joined: 10/24/14
Posts: 181
Location: US-CA
Fly guy...have you completed the build and tested it out yet?


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Post 23 Jan 2016, 21:26 • #21 
Guide
Joined: 08/29/15
Posts: 292
Location: The Cottonwoods, NM
I just ordered one of these blanks from James so more info would be appreciated as it comes along...

How does this taper compare with the McFarland 9'2' 5wt S glass?


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Post 23 Jan 2016, 21:44 • #22 
Guide
Joined: 01/15/12
Posts: 314
Location: Silicon Babylon, CA
No, it is in process.


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Post 05 Feb 2016, 11:18 • #23 
Guide
Joined: 08/29/15
Posts: 292
Location: The Cottonwoods, NM
Just received my 10' 5wt TTS blank from James.

I'm impressed!


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Post 05 Feb 2016, 11:30 • #24 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 09/29/06
Posts: 4413
Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon
I gather his website is a project.


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Post 24 Feb 2016, 00:36 • #25 
Guide
Joined: 01/15/12
Posts: 314
Location: Silicon Babylon, CA
I had the opportunity to lawn cast this rod and fish with it a bit last week in Montana.

On the lawn, I found the rod casts a DT 5 or DT 6 weight line with ease up to 50 feet. For me, the rod loads smoothly with a relaxed casting motion. I found it really enjoyable to cast. For longer casts, the DT 5 worked well, but this rod excelled with a DT 6 weight - the line was flying effortlessly out over 70'.

On my trip, the river was high and turbid, due to rain and warm weather. I went out in an attempt to defy nature and mostly to have the opportunity to cast my new rig. This rod easily turned over a heavy nymph rig and it was fantastic to have the extra length for mending which allowed me to keep my nymphs in the zone longer.

I didn't have a grab that day, but I left happy knowing that I had such a great stick. I am anxiously waiting for my next opportunity to put it to work.


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