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I don't have any flyrods for which I have paid more than $150 dollars. I get by with my Temple Forks and my Fenwicks. I do, though have a St.
Croix Legend (before the ultra series came out) 4 wt that I bought from a friend that I use a lot for trout and panfish. I'm wondering if the
Clouser Rod, Legend Ultra, LU 898-4, the "Clouser" signature rod paired with the Rio Clouser Line would be worth the investment for a guy
who slings small lead heads, big streamers and bugs (Dahlbergs, Deerhair mice etc.) Except for the odd reversion to normal or traditional flyfishing
tactics most of my warm and even coldwater flyfishing is with big "honkin" flies. (the kind that make "purists" cringe) I'm
wondering if this rod would be suitable for a big fly guy like me.
Also under consideration is the Sage specialty "Bass Rods" but I'm not sure I like the concept of restricting line choice to what comes packaged with the rod. I also recently discovered that Reddington, now owned by Sage, has come out with a "Predator" series of flyrods desighned for the way I like to flyfish. The "Predator" rods come with more choice in line weights and a couple hundred dollars cheaper than the others. Your thoughts gentlemen? Have a Blessed New Year, Don 
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Bass Rods
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 smallmouth |
Bass Rods |
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Posts: 80 01/06/09 09:59:54 Registered Member |
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Gerbubble Bug |
Bass Rods | #1 | |||
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Posts: 683 01/06/09 11:59:25
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The size line and taper you use will dictate more the size of the fly you can cast comfortably than any other factor. I'd recommend the best rod you can
afford & over-line it with a Cortland or Scientific Angler "Pike" taper. The Clouser rod and line seemed like it would work well in streams, not
so hot in lakes - so I passed. The clouser line is great in WF-4-F - WF-6-F. If I we getting a heavier line, I would get a Saltwater, Bass or Pike taper. I
really love the Pike Tapers & have an 8 wt & 9 wt - they cast large, wind resistant lines very well.
Bob Clouser is one of my heroes, but he Lefty Kreh, Flip Pallot, Dave Whitlock, etc bounce from company to company and their speciality rods IMHO are just a marketing gimmick. I have asked guys on the site if any of them have tried the sage Specialty Rods and have not found anyone who has fished them. I think I'd pass on those as well unless you have a chance to fish them. A final point, I buy the fly ine first, put it on the reel, attach the leader I intend to use & actually cast a few of the flies I will fish. It really is the only way you can lawn test a rod and have any idea how it will fish. Tom
Last Edited By: Gerbubble Bug 01/06/09 12:06:28.
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Wee Hooker |
#2 | ||||
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Posts: 357 01/06/09 13:41:31
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You don't need anything labled a "bass rod". Especially one sold by those money grubbign opertunists @ Sage. ( It breaks my heart that flyfishing
has beeen taken up by the tourney guys! :-()
You want a 8.5-9' fast 7 or a mod-fast 8 wt rod with a 8wt line and ballanced real. Manufacturer and price is irrelivant for tossing big bugs. You just want something that loads well and handles a 8 wt line and is capable of throwing slower lines without fighting the rig. Redington, Cabelas etc all make rods in this size range that will do the job better for 1/2 the $. |
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JeffSod |
#3 | ||||
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Posts: 570 01/06/09 17:24:58 Registered Member |
Some very good advice from Tom and Dave here. You really have to cast the rods yourself since everyone has different preferences in rod actions. It seems you can get good quality rods for not a lot of money these days but you can also blow your savings without much effort too. I honestly cannot believe what some manufacturers get for a new rod. I personally have been using glass for all my bass fishing and love it but it is not for everyone. One of my favorite rods is the Berkley Curt Gowdy series. |
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Wee Hooker |
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Posts: 357 01/07/09 07:21:05
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While I have been known to be "anti glass" in my flyrod selection, I have to admit/ agree with Jeff that the slower action of glass does shine in
applications where you need to heave big bugs. In fact, I'll fess up that the "bass rod" that saw the most use with me over the years was a
glass/graphite composite Cortland GRF1000-xp in 7/8 wt. Paid $75 brand new for that rod in 96' and used it to take MANY a bass for 10+ years before I
(follishly) gave it to a friend (who never really used it.
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Cornmuse |
#5 | ||||
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Posts: 258 01/07/09 12:49:07 Registered Member |
In case you're interested, I posted an in-depth review of the Sage Smallmouth, the St. Croix Clouser and the Scott Warm Water Special rods at
www.flyfishohio.com. I own the Sage and my buddy owns the St. Croix. The Scott(s) were loaners for the review and I've fished all of them for several
months. The Sage is quite unlike anything I've ever cast before - a real task-specific rod. At $395 retail including a $60 fly line I think its priced
fairly for a premium rod. Don't mistake it for a 10wt, it's not. You might (*might*) be able to get something that works like the Sage by using the
Sage line (radical taper, again unlike anything I've fished) and a sub-8' 9wt Garcia, but I'm thinking it won't quite be the same. This is the
rod to own if your idea of fly fishihng includes a size 2 Calcaseui Pig Boat behind a number 3 spinner blade or a size 1/0 rabbit strip Dahlberg Diver.
I did, in fact, fish the St. Croix Clouser with the Clouser Big'n'Nasty line. It's a great combination and will deliver some very large flies to precise targets. I also like the St. Croix, perhaps best of all those I reviewed, for use with a sinking line or a shooting head. I liked that set-up quite a bit, too. Joe C. "Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the
drink, taste the fruit,
- Henry David Thoreau
Last Edited By: Cornmuse 01/07/09 12:53:30.
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Gerbubble Bug |
Bass Rods | #6 | |||
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Posts: 683 01/08/09 07:52:38
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Joe:
I assume because you seem to be fishing the Sage Smallmouth Rod that of all the rods you tested, The Sage was your pick. I remember years ago Fly Rod & Reel Magazine did a test of fly rods sent by manufacturers as their best "Bass Rods" and the Scott STS 908 won hands down. These rods are still being made. Are the shorter rods you tested worth switching to? Thanks for the info. Tom |
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JeffSod |
#7 | ||||
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Posts: 570 01/08/09 08:33:00 Registered Member |
The Scott STS is still very highly regarded and I would think if you have already invested in one you would be wise to keep fishing it. I use the 9wt for stripers and love it for that application. |
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Cornmuse |
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Posts: 258 01/08/09 12:25:50 Registered Member |
I think shorter rods in these middle and heavier line weights have a LOT going for them, not the least of which is amazing accuracy. In brief, the shorter the
lever the more accurate the shot. The same is true in golf, a pitching wedge is a LOT more accurate than a 5 iron. I'm a big, big fan of moderate fast rods
of 8 feet and below in line sizes 6 to 9 for guerilla fishing in dense cover - and I'm not talking about overhead trees. These rods are perfect from a
canoe or kayak when making accurate 40' casts with big flies.
I've never fished the STS908 myself, so I have no opinion. I will tell you that nothing in the industry is like the Sage Bass series, they are a completely different experience. A lot of that has to do with the fact that the line is a radical departure from anything you've ever cast before and the rod and line are designed to work as a system - hence they are sold together. Joe C. "Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the
drink, taste the fruit,
- Henry David Thoreau
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Cornmuse |
#9 | ||||
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Posts: 258 01/08/09 12:25:50 Registered Member |
I think shorter rods in these middle and heavier line weights have a LOT going for them, not the least of which is amazing accuracy. In brief, the shorter the
lever the more accurate the shot. The same is true in golf, a pitching wedge is a LOT more accurate than a 5 iron. I'm a big, big fan of moderate fast rods
of 8 feet and below in line sizes 6 to 9 for guerilla fishing in dense cover - and I'm not talking about overhead trees. These rods are perfect from a
canoe or kayak when making accurate 40' casts with big flies.
I've never fished the STS908 myself, so I have no opinion. I will tell you that nothing in the industry is like the Sage Bass series, they are a completely different experience. A lot of that has to do with the fact that the line is a radical departure from anything you've ever cast before and the rod and line are designed to work as a system - hence they are sold together. Joe C. "Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the
drink, taste the fruit,
- Henry David Thoreau
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smallmouth |
Bass Fly Rods | #10 | |||
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Posts: 80 01/09/09 16:57:40 Registered Member |
Joe,
Thanks for the review on your site and for your comments on this topic. I used to use an inexpensive 9 weight for my bass fishing. After reading your reviews I have become intrigued by the Sage and the St. Croix rods. I generally like using longer rods and the fact that Sage has produced rods to meet tournament requirements completely turns me off but when you see This it is pretty impressive. The lack of false casting is definitely appealing but wouldn't it be possible to effect the same kind of result with a pike taper or saltwater weight line? (10 weight would be about the same as the line on the "smallmouth rod") Until I saw this video I was leaning towards the Clouser 8 weight but also wanting to look into Redington Predator and Ross Flystix. Those two companies have just come out with entries in this category. Now I'm more confused than ever. Is the Sage worth 1 and a half or two times as much as the others? The Sage rods are touted as being very efficient fish fighting machines. Then there is their final tug by stating that their new rods work very well in canoes, kayaks, float tubes and pontoon boats. Well it just so happens that I own all of those and fish from each of these craft. I've never even owned a motorboat. Sage marketing is trying to get me to part with $400. Whaddya think Mr. Cornwall? God Bless, Don P.S. I haven't told you this but I fling a lot of weighted flies and I'm a bit leery of the "ping" factor which is why I've been happy with less expensive vrods up to this point. |
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Wee Hooker |
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Posts: 357 01/09/09 17:55:50
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Well I'm not ready to drink the Sage Coolaid again anytime soon but I'll grant that it's well known that shorter rods do deliver more accuracy (or
at least easier to obtain accuracy.). Admittedly there isn't much in the market below 8.5' these days either if your looking for a 8 or 9 wt. FWIW,
Back in my semi-profesional rod building days I had a client that wanted a short 8 wt for fishing mangrove tunnels but didn't want to spend allot of $.
After some research and deduction, I equated the weight of an 8 wt line to a oz standard and built him one on a spinning rod blanks. ( I used a 7'6",
medium action, 3 piece , St Croix SCII rated to 5/8 oz if memory serves.) In any case the finished flyrod threw line like a lazor to any target you picked
inside of 60' or so. Downside was that the line/loop folded up @ 70' or so. It was very prone to tailing loops and didn't mend line worth snot.
Still, it worked for his purpose and he was very happy in the end.
Now if Redington , Cabelas or Cortland would make a 8'3" 8wt............... :-) |
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