I am flying back from Orlando this morning from a few days at IFTD and wanted to pass along the latest information on new glass for 2016.
First up is the reintroduction of the Fenwick Fenglass series. There are six fly rods in the series and they are pretty neat. I've been playing with a set of late stage prototypes and I know that others on the forum have cast these fly rods as well. I wish the price point would have been a little more modest but the series is priced $199 - $249 depending on model.
ECHO Fly Fishing is not done with glass and the next step forward is the addition of the "Big Water Glass" fly rods with an 8'6" four or five weight and a 9' six weight. I REALLY liked the four weight, the five weight is still being tweaked just a bit, and I didn't get a chance to cast the six weight. The four weight is dialed. Not heavy in hand, powerful but isn't to progressive, and this one is going to be a lot of fun with dry flies on big water.
Orvis has added two more models in the Superfine Glass series with a 7'6" three weight and an 8'6" six weight. I like this entire series a lot and it's great to have a six weight complete with fighting butt and overlining with a seven weight works nicely as well.
The surprise of the show was walking up to the Diamondback Rod Company booth and meeting with Nate Dablock, new owner of this company and longtime past employee at Cortland. The short of it is that Diamondback Glass is now the Meeker series and Nate went back to the tried and true favorite tapers and feels for this four fly rod series. Price point will be $299.
The line up includes a 6'6" two weight, 7' three weight, 7'6" three weight, and 8' four weight.
Okay...I am jumping on my next flight. I'll add some more notes to this thread this weekend.