Questions about older rods

Tinker

Tinker

Smolt
Since I'm trying to gear up again after a brush with death, I've learned I'm pretty stupid about older rods. I'm looking for Scott and Winston and Sage rods from before they became super- and ultra-fast actions, but I can't sort them out. I'm looking for a somewhat slower action - but faster than glass - to fit what I'm capable of these days - but I can't match an action to a rod to save my life. Is this information available somewhere? Books? Websites? Anywhere?
 
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Tinker said:
Since I'm trying to gear up again after a brush with death, I've learned I'm pretty stupid about older rods. I'm looking for Scott and Winston and Sage rods from before they became super- and ultra-fast actions, but I can't sort them out. I'm looking for a somewhat slower action - but faster than glass - to fit what I'm capable of these days - but I can't match an action to a rod to save my life. Is this information available somewhere? Books? Websites? Anywhere?
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I think your best bet is to find a rod you might like and do a google search on it including the work “action” in the search.

Another rod you might consider is the Loomis Stream Dance Metolius. Not the GLX or High Line Speed version.
I broke my 6 wt GL3 classic. They no longer made that so they replaced it with the Metolius. I had used the GL3 for beach fishing. I used the Metolius for about a half hour on the beach and sold it the next day.
Just too soft for beach fishing but that sounds like the action you are looking for.
SF
 
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Stonedfish said:
I think your best bet is to find a rod you might like and do a google search on it including the work “action” in the search.

Another rod you might consider is the Loomis Stream Dance Metolius. Not the GLX or High Line Speed version.
I broke my 6 wt GL3 classic. They no longer made that so they replaced it with the Metolius. I had used the GL3 for beach fishing. I used the Metolius for about a half hour on the beach and sold it the next day.
Just too soft for beach fishing but that sounds like the action you are looking for.
SF
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Those GL3's were sure a nice rod MHO. Can't remember exactly but they seemed to be a lost or forgotten mid price rod at the time and more people seemed to go for either their entry level 'Adventurer' or the high end 'GLX', not to mention some specialty rods they had at the time..Nautikos? Trilogy? ????
 
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Porter2 said:
Those GL3's were sure a nice rod MHO. Can't remember exactly but they seemed to be a lost or forgotten mid price rod at the time and more people seemed to go for either their entry level 'Adventurer' or the high end 'GLX', not to mention some specialty rods they had at the time..Nautikos? Trilogy? ????
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I wish they still made them. Maybe they do but just under a different name. They continued making GL3 gear rods for quite awhile after they discontinued the fly rods.
SF
 
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wanderingrichard said:
Tinker,
Does this place qualify as close to you ?
Northwest Flyfishing Outfitters
(503) 252-1529 https://g.co/kgs/bt1aRL

Also, how far away is Ilwaco? Am thinking Spawn Fly Fish, but unsure they have rods.. though I do know they have tons of tying equipment and materials
[WR]
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I'm way down on the South coast, and Portland is way up there on the Columbia River, so not very close, but I'll be in Portland later this month, so I'll swing by if time permits.

Thanks!

Capt Insano Emeritis said:
I tend to like the older slower action rods. I coaxed an old friend when on the Crooked about 2004 to-let me try his 5 wt Winston Ibex… the rod was … well i thought I heard an angelic chorus on my first back cast
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I have a rod that almost does that for me.

DimeBrite said:
Loomis NRX-LP
Scott G or G2
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Went searching for the Loomis NRX LP and folks seem to think they're stuffed with diamonds. They're almost as expensive as the newer NRX+ LP... The Scott's are almost the same but I'll keep my eyes open for one of the G series.

Thank you
 
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If you can live with a 2-piece the 957ARC on EBay that I linked is very similar to a G, according to what Scott told me when I got my 956. Call Scott and ask, in my experience they are very helpful. If I didn’t have my 6 I’d have that.
 
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Tinker said:
Thank you. I understand that designation, but I'm not searching for a moderate action like the Redington CT. I'm after something more moderate-fast leaning towards fast. This will be a steelhead rod for small rivers - too small to bring out a spey setup.
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Think your looking for a Sage RPL or the next level up would be the XP. This is in the older Sage fly rods.

c/22
 
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I had a chance to handle a couple of Sage rods over the weekend. One was a hardly used Sage X 590-4, one was a Sage Trout LL 590-4, and the third was a Sage Trout LL 586-4. Got to cast the X and the Trout 590 before the storm hit down here. I liked them both, but thought the 590 X was better matched to me and how I hope to use it.
Robert Engleheart said:
If you can live with a 2-piece the 957ARC on EBay that I linked is very similar to a G, according to what Scott told me when I got my 956. Call Scott and ask, in my experience they are very helpful. If I didn’t have my 6 I’d have that.
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I can probably live with a two-piece rod. Never know until I try. I have that ARC in my watchlist, and thank you for pointing me to it. I need to talk to Winston, so I'll just add "Call Scott" to the list of things I need to do.

chrome/22 said:
Think your looking for a Sage RPL or the next level up would be the XP. This is in the older Sage fly rods.

c/22
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Thank you. Maybe the RPL, but finding one for sale that's still in good condition isn't simple, and folks with the next generation RPL+ are just as intent on hoarding their rods as are the folks with the original RPL's.

The list Merle was kind enough to post lists the XP as a fast-action rod - old fast but fast nonetheless. Unless Merle is reading this and chuckling at how easily he pranked me. Merle? Are you?

I'll see if I can find an XP to fiddle with to see how much heavier and stiffer the tips of that generation of the Sage rods are compared to modern rods.

EDIT: Sure, after typing this, I went to the auction site and found a pile of RPL's for sale. SHEESH.
 
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XP does not have a stiff tip. But you do benefit more from the rod with a faster sharp short casting stroke. It’s a true weight rod however many will up the line 1/2 to 1 size more. I usually stay true weight but some lines are built 1/2 size heavy and I have used them and they work well. I found the 6-7-8-9 weights in most configurations all to be great casters. I own the 691/6100/896/8100/990 all 4 piecers. If you’re looking at 4/5/6 weight rods then the z-axis should definetly be on the list. Fast action but not your normal fast action feel. Not a stiff rod at all. Very smooth.

RPL is another but it will feel heavier casting the line than the XP or the Z axis. (Yet the physical rod weight is less). It’s part of that rod jargon and physics where the rod weighs .375 ozs more due to reconfigured graphite/scrim mixture and directional fibers being realigned in to new patterns but the newer rod feels 20% lighter when casting and in hand. Blah blah. But it is true. The Sage X felt stealthy light in hand compared to the elder lineage. I would also mention the Sage SLT, which is a very fine trouting rod, but unfortunately Sage will no longer service that rod. Not sure why?
 
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wanderingrichard said:
Why all the hate on 2 PC rods?
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Travel? It’s a four piece world these days. Nothing wrong with a two piece but a bit cumbersome when traveling under certain conditions. Other conditions no biggie. But here’s the Q? Can I go where and not worry with a 2 piece vs a 4 piece. Just for a point of reference. I can take my 4 piece gear on a flight with me in to the cabin. Above or at my feet. Two piece has to go through luggage. 🤔. I had a friend have two rods destroyed on a flight because they opened the tubes and when stuffing the rods back they forced it in breaking the stripping guides off the rod. I think we all know we have to put them back in a certain way and be a bit gentle putting the rods back in their tubes. It’s an attention to detail type thing that many security people simply don’t posses.
So if you have travel plans. 4 piece. If fishing the same local water and never venturing a two piece is fine. But not many two piece new rods being offered these days. The 4 piece is just as good as a two piece in terms of performance.
 
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Ok. I've traveled with 2 PC and used the overhead bins with them in both cases, they were in locked hard tubes. Only question from flight crew was, "what are you going for"? So, surprised when I read the comments about 2pc
 
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Every airline is different Every crew is diffferent. Are you getting the idea? (You eliminate the unknown for the most part with 4 piece or travel size for the most part. Not meaning that travel size won’t be an issue. (I’m simple saying gear kept with you is gear used on your trip. Once it’s out of your sight and hands you have no idea what you might get at other end?)… hope that makes sense?
 
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Tinker said:
The list Merle was kind enough to post lists the XP as a fast-action rod - old fast but fast nonetheless. Unless Merle is reading this and chuckling at how easily he pranked me. Merle? Are you.
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LOL no pranking… that list is legit as far as I know, I found it when I was researching vintage rods a while back… And I would definitely say the XP is a fast action rod. It’s no TCX Death Star but certainly what most folks would call fast. My 590 XP really needs a 6 wt line to load up (at least for me)
 
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Merle said:
LOL no pranking… that list is legit as far as I know, I found it when I was researching vintage rods a while back… And I would definitely say the XP is a fast action rod. It’s no TCX Death Star but certainly what most folks would call fast. My 590 XP really needs a 6 wt line to load up (at least for me)
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In my free time, even if I know better (or should know better) I tried reading some online reviews of rods from sometimes reliable reviewers, and the XP was hailed as Sage's best rod ever - before the invention of whatever their latest rod might be.

All of this trying to figure out the real versus claimed characteristics of a bunch of rods is making my head hurt. Not what you fine folks have to say, of course, but the claims and reviews from online "experts" which may or may not include anyone around here, but I swear I wasn't talking about any of you and now my head hurts even more..!

It's hard to chase after earlier generations of rods because, for the most part, I can't hands-on test them. You've all been a great help, and I appreciate it. Now, where's the morphine?
 
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Personally I wouldn’t call the XP fast by todays standards compared to some other “fast” rods I’ve used, both old and new.
Some they should have rated as “stiff” rather then “fast”.
SF
 
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