Slow Flex Graphite Rods

I believe the Sage Circa was built to imitate slow fiberglass yet recover quickly with the konnectic technology employed in it. Very light, thin in construction, and deep flexing.

 
It sure seems that graphite rods became stiffer and stiffer over time. I have some older rods from Orvis (one of my favorites) and Winston (another of my favorites) and they did have a much slower action. Somewhere along the way somebody at the graphite rod companies decided that we need to cast through brick walls so they started making rods accordingly.
 
Interesting how history repeats itself. From Huck Finn sticks, to cane poles, to split bamboo, to fiberglass, to graphite. Anyone have a boron fly rod? Was a thing back in the late 70's early 80's. Talk about slow action! I've never been a rod whore, but still have every rod I've purchased over 50 yrs. I haven't broke out any glass rods that I own to cast since I could afford graphite. Looks like something to try again. I do love my Sage 389 LL Graphite III. I have a couple of fiberglass Fenwick's and an old Quick Finessa 6wt I know nothing about, but caught a lot of Kokanee with it, still fishn American Lake back in the early 80's. That's the one I'll try first. Fun fun fun! Thanks for bringing it up.
 
I made a 8’-4# from a blank bought from the long gone Anglers Workshop, down in Woodland. It’s an IM6 graphite blank. I’ve owned and built many rods, but it is by far my favorite rod. It got me on the path to using only moderate flex rods. My main rods are also only 2-piece. I hate fooling around with extra ferrules. Surprisingly, the Iconoglass rods from NFC feel a lot like my favorite. I just wish they had a better selection of 3 and 4# glass rods. The Rainshadow Unity blanks, their least expensive fly rod, are also a great feeling IM6 rod..

 
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It sure seems that graphite rods became stiffer and stiffer over time. I have some older rods from Orvis (one of my favorites) and Winston (another of my favorites) and they did have a much slower action. Somewhere along the way somebody at the graphite rod companies decided that we need to cast through brick walls so they started making rods accordingly.
IM6 rods were/are great. Blame it on Loomis who was the first to introduce stiffer rods ---> the IMX. It has been a race to stiffest broomstick ever since then...
 
I've got g loomis 10' 3wt IMX. Absolute buggy whip. Can easily handle bigger fish on 2lb test ultragreen. Flexes all the way to the cork. Not recommended for casting longer leaders in wind. Got it in the 90's.
 
Back in the 90's early 00's the St. Croix Imperial and Avid both had quite a bit of flex and bent deep into the blank. Both were nice casting rods. The green rod called the legend or elite, I can't remember the exact name, was the stiff one of the line up back then.
 
saying that all IM6 rods are great is like saying all glass rods have floppy tips. most, some, a few, several, etc....would be better descriptors. Just saying.
 
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