Good Glass

mcswny

mcswny

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@clarkman I started writing this in the other thread and figure we just need our own little glass corner of this fair site.
And since the thread spawned by talking about USA made glass I'll start there. With that being said, you'd be an idiot to discount foreign blanks just because they're not made in the USA (think Kabuto and Ijuin from Japan as well as Epic and CTS from New Zealand). I've yet to fish a Kabuto, but they're high on my list. And I had an Ijuin rod for a year and shit that thing was fun, I just sold it to get something else, but will probably be looking at a 7' 6" Yomogi here soon enough.

Well I'm going to forget some, so please feel free to throw your empty beer cans at me.

USA Made Glass Blanks
McFarland
Steffen
Barclay (via McFarland)
Livingston (I hear he's back making blanks)
NFC
Yamame (I think these are rolled by McFarland but then built out in the Netherlands)
Scott? (I'm guessing their blanks are rolled in house
L Kenney (I'm not sure who rolls his blanks?)
James Green
Tom Morgan (not sure who rolls his?)
Mario Wojnicki (he holds an address in France as well as California, not sure where he rolls/builds)

Japanese Made Blanks
Kabuto
Ijuin

New Zealand Made Blanks
Epic
CTS

I've gone head first down the glass hole and don't see my self climbing out anytime soon. They're just so much fun to fish. I've pretty much sold all but 3 of my graphite rods and they're three Scott rods that I don't think will leave my side (even if they're rarely used i'm keeping a 5,6 and 8 for days that it gets windy).
 
The Orvis Superfine glass are really nice, though I don't own one.

As you know though, I'm a Steffen guy through and through. Pretty soon I'll be at 2 Graywolf Steffens to go with my 2 OG Steffens. Have a few others from your list up there that'll never leave my possession willingly like my Epic Bandit.

If I fished small streams a Kab would be right at the very top of my list! There are several additional Japanese rod makers who's names are escaping me that would wouldn't be out of place next to a Kab or Injuin.
 
clarkman said:
The Orvis Superfine glass are really nice, though I don't own one.

As you know though, I'm a Steffen guy through and through. Pretty soon I'll be at 2 Graywolf Steffens to go with my 2 OG Steffens. Have a few others from your list up there that'll never leave my possession willingly like my Epic Bandit.
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Naturally I forgot something. I assume Orvis rolls their own?
 
Yeah, they do (97.3% certain). The 7'6" 4wt and 8' 5wt are my favorites in the lineup.
 
mcswny said:
Cameron brings up a good point, maybe I need more?

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You're gonna end up with 2 of those 777s, sooooo. But if you feel like that's one too many, I'm here for ya!
 
Definitely not as upscale as some others, but I like my CGR 466. Throws a lot more line than a soft short rod should and you can feel the bend of a good fish down to the grip.

I have to admit that I play with some of terry’s epic? Builds in Albany each year.
 
That little CGR was one of the best roll casting rods I've ever had...I think I gave it away though.
 
Those sure are some good looking rods. I don’t own a glass rod as of yet but have been eyeing the 764 Orvis superfine glass rod.
 
clarkman said:
You're gonna end up with 2 of those 777s, sooooo. But if you feel like that's one too many, I'm here for ya!
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I changed directions. While I was joking above, I'm not a fan of just collecting rods. So having the two 777s + the 8' 3" Steffen felt a bit absurd, so Chris is building me a 6' 6" 2wt for a few trips I have coming up next year. I know, blasphemy.
 
It is so hard to determine the source of the blanks. At least Steffen touts all are
US made.

T&T says all hand made in the US since 1997. Yet the only thing listed is US maple seats. So blanks aren't? Maybe hand assembled and wrapped in the US?

It appears a few lines of Loomis rods are US made. To determine which ones will take a lawyer to figure ir out. I will say ALL of my Loomis IM6 rods are US made.

I fully support US made and especially small businesses in the US. I will pay a bit more to support them too.

Side note: people import cattle from Argentina and Mexico and sell in the US. They are USDA approved not knowing what they were subjected to when out of the country.
 
RCF said:
It is so hard to determine the source of the blanks. At least Steffen touts all are
US made.

T&T says all hand made in the US since 1997. Yet the only thing listed is US maple seats. So blanks aren't? Maybe hand assembled and wrapped in the US?

It appears a few lines of Loomis rods are US made. To determine which ones will take a lawyer to figure ir out. I will say ALL of my Loomis IM6 rods are US made.

I fully support US made and especially small businesses in the US. I will pay a bit more to support them too.

Side note: people import cattle from Argentina and Mexico and sell in the US. They are USDA approved not knowing what they were subjected to when out of the country.
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So I’m my list above, I’m referring specifically to where the blanks are rolled—there’s a fair amount in te states.
 
One of these years I'll get me a fancy glass tuna rod and a carp rod. Will need the forum business to really take off before it happens though 😂
 
Evan B said:
One of these years I'll get me a fancy glass tuna rod and a carp rod. Will need the forum business to really take off before it happens though 😂
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I’d be more proud of the fancy tuna or carp boat over the fancy rod any day.
 
Evan B said:
One of these years I'll get me a fancy glass tuna rod and a carp rod. Will need the forum business to really take off before it happens though 😂
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I'd be interested in a glass tuna rod, something a foot shorter than my 9' carbon fiber.... I wonder about one with a foregrip? (There might be one or more out there.)
 
Buzzy said:
I'd be interested in a glass tuna rod, something a foot shorter than my 9' carbon fiber.... I wonder about one with a foregrip? (There might be one or more out there.)
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Yeah, I want something in the 7'6" range, personally. Definitely no longer than 8'. It's a big reason I prefer to not use the fly rod on the trips on my boat. I just plain don't enjoy using a long rod like that. That Steffen like @clarkman has is right in line with what I'm after, just don't have the funds to spare for it.
 
Evan B said:
Yeah, I want something in the 7'6" range, personally. Definitely no longer than 8'. It's a big reason I prefer to not use the fly rod on the trips on my boat. I just plain don't enjoy using a long rod like that. That Steffen like @clarkman has is right in line with what I'm after, just don't have the funds to spare for it.
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oh, my 7'9" listed as a 10/11? that's a really fun (and stout) rod. I'm finally getting it dialed in line-wise (which is odd compared to my other Steffens) at 500gr minimum. In my hands it's every bit a 12wt and relatively easy to cast all day (not that THAT'S important for tuners). It's funny, I had been talking with Mark about such a rod long before he retired and [thankfully] sold the company to Shane at Graywolf and trained him up on his processes. Finally bit the bullet and got it since I knew Shane had the mandrels to roll it (he didn't have it listed on his website at the time). Most I've actually ever spent on a fly rod, until I ordered a custom 8' 8/9 from him. :LOL: ....should be arriving next week some time.
 
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