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Post 24 Mar 2022, 17:35 • #1 
Sport
Joined: 02/02/21
Posts: 56
Location: Brittany,France
Looking at buying a 8' 4 weight Fastglass, but I won't have the opportunity to try it before I purchase it. What is the "in hand" difference between the Fastglass and the Fastglass II


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Post 24 Mar 2022, 20:18 • #2 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/10/09
Posts: 1651
Location: US-OH
It will be hard to get a reliable answer to that question. The Fastglass II rods are made in Korea and the quality control is high resulting in good consistency from rod to rod. The earlier Fastglass was made by CTS in NZ and Epic had problems getting rods from them that were consistent which resulted in the switch to Korean manufacture. There was some variation between the Fastglass rods that were sold so user experiences will vary with the earlier series. There were some very good rods sold in the early series but it's a bit of a crapshoot with the action and line weight.


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Post 25 Mar 2022, 02:58 • #3 
Sport
Joined: 02/02/21
Posts: 56
Location: Brittany,France
Would you say its a question of getting a good rod or a bad rod or more of getting a good rod or a great rod? The guys is asking 235 for the rod. He has used it a couple of times.


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Post 25 Mar 2022, 03:32 • #4 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/10/09
Posts: 1651
Location: US-OH
I think the majority of the early rods were good rods. I have a Fastglass 8' 4wt that is an exceptional rod. I also had the 8' 5wt in that series that was significantly stiffer than it should have been but even that one was a good rod - just not a 5wt. For $235 you really can't go wrong because you could resell at no loss if you wanted.


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Post 25 Mar 2022, 09:35 • #5 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/21/06
Posts: 3081
Location: Orygun
tiptop wrote:
It will be hard to get a reliable answer to that question. The Fastglass II rods are made in Korea and the quality control is high resulting in good consistency from rod to rod. The earlier Fastglass was made by CTS in NZ and Epic had problems getting rods from them that were consistent which resulted in the switch to Korean manufacture. There was some variation between the Fastglass rods that were sold so user experiences will vary with the earlier series. There were some very good rods sold in the early series but it's a bit of a crapshoot with the action and line weight.


When did they change over?

I think it's safe to assume my older 7'9" 3pc Bandit is CTS. fantastic rod, btw (everyone I know that has the 3pc raves about them as well).

OP: I'd just get it. Someone mentioned that if you didn't like it, you could easily resell it for what you paid..


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Post 25 Mar 2022, 11:53 • #6 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/10/09
Posts: 1651
Location: US-OH
"When did they change over?"
They moved production to Korea in 2016 and changed the designation to Fastglass II at that time and all were 4 piece. The early Fastglass rods from CTS were 3 piece but they changed to 4 piece construction during the last year (2015) before they made the change to Korea.


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Post 25 Mar 2022, 20:12 • #7 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/21/06
Posts: 3081
Location: Orygun
:like


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Post 26 Mar 2022, 11:05 • #8 
Sport
Joined: 02/02/21
Posts: 56
Location: Brittany,France
Thanks for all the info. I went ahead and bought it. Should arrive next week .


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Post 26 Mar 2022, 14:56 • #9 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/31/15
Posts: 1238
Location: Northern Rockies
A few corrections to the dates above. Epic moved from 3-piece rods to 4-piece ones in late 2015 to early 2016. But CTS kept building them, and they kept the same Fastglass information on the blank.

They switched to their current factory in South Korea in early 2018. Every series was updated then except the 480, which for some reason they stopped making. Fastglass II started then.


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Post 27 Mar 2022, 12:25 • #10 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 09/18/09
Posts: 5561
Location: Relocated to the Drought Stricken West.
GlacierRambler. Thanks for that interesting info. I didn't know there were any 4pc fastglass rods.

I haven't had anything but the best customer service from Epic, but I did have some problems with the DH11 I got with bad coloring which was bad quality control. I can understand Epic wanting to get more consistent blanks.

Every epic I've cast has been nice. I also can understand Epic dropping the 480. It was a much nicer (not as fast) action, but it is different than the other blanks.


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Post 28 Mar 2022, 14:53 • #11 
New Member
Joined: 12/04/12
Posts: 10
Location: US-NM
I am not sure about the time line above but I have an Epic 990 built in Dec 2014 that is certainly 4 piece and from my point of view is a CTS built blank but I could be wrong.

Warm Regards,

Bill


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Post 30 Mar 2022, 18:24 • #12 
Guide
Joined: 09/20/09
Posts: 319
Location: US-MN
I got my Fastglass II 686 yesterday. It is well….pretty fast. I could be wrong, but it certainly doesn’t feel like any 6 weight I have waggled before. Certainly seems heavier to me.

Don’t get me wrong, it is a nice rod. Just not a 6 wt in my eyes.


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Post 30 Mar 2022, 22:40 • #13 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/21/06
Posts: 3081
Location: Orygun
well, have you actually cast it? or just "waggled" it?


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Post 31 Mar 2022, 07:57 • #14 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/10/09
Posts: 1651
Location: US-OH
"well, have you actually cast it? or just "waggled" it?"

Ditto that.

I have FG II 686 and find it to be a true 6wt and not too fast at all. It's possible that your 686 may vary from the norm. And your loading preference may be for a slower action. You need to try various lines on it on the water.


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Post 31 Mar 2022, 11:50 • #15 
Guide
Joined: 09/20/09
Posts: 319
Location: US-MN
I did get some time to cast it today. Casted a 7 wt bass bug line better than the 6 wt. That is just me…. The rod itself is really well finished etc.


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Post 31 Mar 2022, 20:15 • #16 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/21/06
Posts: 3081
Location: Orygun
tiptop wrote:
And your loading preference may be for a slower action. You need to try various lines on it on the water.


this ^^


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Post 31 Mar 2022, 21:52 • #17 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/31/15
Posts: 1238
Location: Northern Rockies
I agree with clarkman. The Epics (in the trout weights, all I've fished) favor a quicker casting stroke. I've enjoyed several, even though I gravitate toward a more measured pace with my glass rods these days.

And their customer service has always been fantastic. I've had a lot of dealings with them, and I've never been anything less than very pleased.


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Post 20 Jul 2022, 21:32 • #18 
New Member
Joined: 09/14/12
Posts: 21
Location: US-IL
I have the Epic FastGlass II in the 8' 5 wt and 8'6" 6 wt. I like both rods, but interestingly the 6 wt casts beautifully with a WF5 line. I'm thinking it will be a good boat rod during the longer length while still using a 5 wt line.


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Post 21 Jul 2022, 03:42 • #19 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/10/07
Posts: 1632
Location: The Netherlands
I have fished the old Epic 580 once with a #4 line because I forgot my spool with a #5 line.
It fished and cast great!

I'm not interested in Epic blanks anymore as they are too fast for me.
Also I prefer supporting the small builders with their own blanks


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Post 01 Aug 2022, 06:16 • #20 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/24/11
Posts: 1144
Location: Belgium
Have had two early fastglass 580s in hand and action was vastly different between them. One was a 4/5 and the other a fast 5/6 - both were really nice. So if you are looking for something specific you should try before you buy.


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Post 01 Aug 2022, 08:48 • #21 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/10/07
Posts: 1632
Location: The Netherlands
The same blank having such a different action is crazy...


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Post 01 Aug 2022, 09:02 • #22 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/10/09
Posts: 1651
Location: US-OH
giogio wrote:
Have had two early fastglass 580s in hand and action was vastly different between them. One was a 4/5 and the other a fast 5/6 - both were really nice. So if you are looking for something specific you should try before you buy.

My early Fastglass 580 was 5/6 with the emphasis on 6. I'm sure this had something to do with Epic switching their production to Korea.


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Post 01 Aug 2022, 11:25 • #23 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/31/15
Posts: 1238
Location: Northern Rockies
This post captures the differences well between the different versions of Epic Fastglass.


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