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One of my specific intentions at Sunday's Kaufman's Spey Clave was to try as many CND rods as possible. There was a good selection, but because of tight scheduling of the presentations (and they were excellent, one and all), I had time to try just a few.
The Steelhead Specialist handled a short floating head plus sink-tip competently, but that style of line just isn't my cup of saki. The 15' 6" 9/10/11 Salmo Salar Specialist was light but strong - too strong for the 8/9 Mastery I put on it. I imagine that lines near the midpoint of its rating would make this rod sing.
As I attended to Simon Gawesworth's lecture/demonstration, I was holding the 16' 7" Thompson Specialist 10/11/12, which was fitted with a 9/10 XLT; my senses were telling me that "Something's odd here. This rod is longer than any I've ever cast, but it feels like my 9140!" I had time to use it for just a few casts before Nobuo Nodera reclaimed it for his demonstration, but what a revelation! The rod easily sent the XLT halfway across the Skykomish, with a feathery ease that was nothing like my 16-foot Daiwa Alltmor (which Nobuo confirmed that he'd had a hand in designing). There was nothing quirky or tempramental-feeling about this big rod, just smooth, comfortable power like no other spey rod I've ever tried.
Well, I'd better start filling a new piggy bank, so that when the Alltmor becomes too much for an old man, the Thompson Specialist will be ready to ease my burden.
The Steelhead Specialist handled a short floating head plus sink-tip competently, but that style of line just isn't my cup of saki. The 15' 6" 9/10/11 Salmo Salar Specialist was light but strong - too strong for the 8/9 Mastery I put on it. I imagine that lines near the midpoint of its rating would make this rod sing.
As I attended to Simon Gawesworth's lecture/demonstration, I was holding the 16' 7" Thompson Specialist 10/11/12, which was fitted with a 9/10 XLT; my senses were telling me that "Something's odd here. This rod is longer than any I've ever cast, but it feels like my 9140!" I had time to use it for just a few casts before Nobuo Nodera reclaimed it for his demonstration, but what a revelation! The rod easily sent the XLT halfway across the Skykomish, with a feathery ease that was nothing like my 16-foot Daiwa Alltmor (which Nobuo confirmed that he'd had a hand in designing). There was nothing quirky or tempramental-feeling about this big rod, just smooth, comfortable power like no other spey rod I've ever tried.
Well, I'd better start filling a new piggy bank, so that when the Alltmor becomes too much for an old man, the Thompson Specialist will be ready to ease my burden.
