Best Retro Fly Rods of All Time...
ouzelpro
Senior MemberPosts: 5,361 Senior Member
Lists by a few bloggers. The rods are limited to older, out of production models. What determines your favorite rod list? I'll borrow from Mad Men: its how the rod makes you feel. My personal list is:
-the Loomis IMX 9', 5wt.,
-the Powell Light Touch (Chico Era), 9', 4wt. (its a 2 piece, but I'll NEVER sell it),
-the Winston IM6 that I never got around to buying,
-the Sage LL 389 that I always borrowed from a guide friend
-the Redington RS2 9', 5wt. that I broke and Redington replaced with an RS3, never the same.
Here are the lists from other folk:
http://troutunderground.com/2009/02/the-underground-picks-the-dozen-best-fly-rods-of-all-time-period/
One more thing: limit your list to rods that you actually fished, more than once. If you diddled a rod on a grass lawn, forget it.
http://midcurrent.com/gear/retro-rod-review-four-graphite-models-that-changed-the-fly-fishing-world/
Of course, everyone's opinion is unique, but have fun and don't get your pantyhose in a twist over it.
-the Loomis IMX 9', 5wt.,
-the Powell Light Touch (Chico Era), 9', 4wt. (its a 2 piece, but I'll NEVER sell it),
-the Winston IM6 that I never got around to buying,
-the Sage LL 389 that I always borrowed from a guide friend
-the Redington RS2 9', 5wt. that I broke and Redington replaced with an RS3, never the same.
Here are the lists from other folk:
http://troutunderground.com/2009/02/the-underground-picks-the-dozen-best-fly-rods-of-all-time-period/
One more thing: limit your list to rods that you actually fished, more than once. If you diddled a rod on a grass lawn, forget it.
http://midcurrent.com/gear/retro-rod-review-four-graphite-models-that-changed-the-fly-fishing-world/
Of course, everyone's opinion is unique, but have fun and don't get your pantyhose in a twist over it.
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Replies
Mike
I find it hard to refer to a rod made out of the present material of choice as retro? With that caveat I'll list a couple that I'll never part with.
Sage 279LL - My first "ultralight" fly rod, nowadays many would consider it a club best suited for nymphing since they want to cast size 22 BWO's 60 feet with their 00 weight and miss the hookup
Sage 389LL - It's nice, and its versatile.
Orvis 1wt - Even more perfect than the 279 for small stream work
South Bend 290 - One for the real retro fishers. It's a handy little 7 1/2 foot 5 weight bamboo. Even the whimpiest limp wristed fly fisherman won't moan about how awfully heavy and unwieldy it is.
Granger Victory 9050 - a 9' 5 weight bamboo made for bigger water and bigger flies. It'll do everything any graphite rod will do of the same line weight.
Sceptre 7 1/2 foot - the fiberglass version of the SB 290. It was the only rod I had for 4 years of college when I fly fished way more than anyone could have ever imagined.
Fenwick 857 - I'm guessing on the model number but it's an earlier 8 1/2 foot 7 weight. Perfect for smaller stream smallmouth and float tubing for green trout and 'gills.
That's my list.
Regards,
Tim Murphy
I've owned 2 in my life. I still have one. Its the best rod I've ever fished on skinny water.
It would be at the top of my retro rod list.
Jim
Thus:
Rods that will become part of my estate:
Orvis "Trout" 8' 6wt - great shad, and small stream smallmouth and steelhead rod.
Orvis "Far And Fine" 7'9" 5wt *
Orvis "Ultrafine" 7'9" 2 wt
- these three Orvis unsanded classics are the proverbial extensions of my casting arm.
Orvis bamboo "7-3" 7' 3wt - slow and sweet
Partridge cane "Traditional" 6'6" 4 wt - stiff and powerful, great fun for shad
Sage LL 7'11" 4wt
Sage 12'6" 4 pc 7/8 wt Spey rod
ALL my East Branch rods - 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7 wts
Diamondback "Classic Trout", 7' 3 wt and 7' 4 wt
Winston LT 3 and 5 wts * These are cosmetic seconds ("Guide") that I bought for very reasonable prices when I worked P/T in a fly shop
Fenwick "World Class" 8' 5/6 wt - My go to rod for Lake Erie trib steelheading - a fast but smooth 4 pc version of the Orvis "Trout", an easy-casting rod with enough backbone for 10-15 lb. steelhead
Rod I really, really really regret not keeping:
Sage LL 8'9" 3 wt (4 pc)
* = factory rod, others I built from blanks myself.
I have other glass, cane and graphite rods, but would sell or trade them should the opportunity arise.
what he said!
I fished mine this this past weekend. Here is the result.
Aldo Leopold
Sage LL 9" 5 wgt 3 pce on the 3rd generation blank
Sora Aquavit 8"3' 7 pce 5 wgt. The best multi piece 5 wgt that not many have heard of.
Hi guys. Nice to see a few of you are still around.
Loomis IMX 8'6" #5
Powell LT 9' #3/4
Powell SS 9'6" #7/8
Sage LL 7'9" #2
Sage RPL10' #6 3pc
Fisher GT-40 8' #4 4pc (any, preferably custom built -- their components were awful)
Look what I found all over the net.
https://www.switchbacktravel.com/best-fly-rods
Do you guys agree with this list?