[Dana]

So, now that all the manufacturers are bringing their new rods to market, I'm wondering which rod or rods is/are the all time favorite, the best of the past? Is it the old Sage 9140-4? One of the UK rods, perhaps a Daiwa Amorphous, or maybe a Bruce and Walker? The original Scott 14ft Spey model? One of the old Loop-designed 3-piece Sage Europeans?

If you were stuck on the Dean or perhaps the Sauk with only one of the "old" two handers, which one would it be and why? (Okay, you can pick two--one for a summer river, one for a winter river).

OR...from an Atlantic salmon perspective, which of the older rods for the Spey, and which for Kola?

 

[Dana]

hmmm, guess I better post mine!

Summer: it would have to be the old Sage 7136-4. I have a well-used one of these and it is a great Dean rod--light and responsive with an easy casting action that suits a summer in the woods. Enough backbone to handle the odd monster, too.

Winter: probably another Sage, my old 10150-4, although I really like the Daiwa Alltmor for winter rivers. Can I take two? I don't like to strip and shoot line in the winter (cold fingers, iced-up guides) so I prefer a rod that can lift and throw a longer line with the heavier tips you sometimes need in the winter (not that I'd know the past few years, right kush?)

 

[juro]

I guess I'm retro! I own both of those rods, and love them too.

The 7136-4 has been the most used and the most bent double by steelhead out of the bunch. As doublespey will attest I always try to use it beyond it's calling and end up losing big fish in big winter flows, hvy wire hooks, etc.

I am anxious to try the newer models because I always felt the retro 7136-4 could have had a tiny bit more modulus for my tastes, provided it still loaded deeply like a Spey rod and kept the line kinetically active throughout the stroke.

Given one line of rods, it would be Sage for me.

That being said, another retro rod I love is the 15 ft Loomis IMX (pre-GLX) 8/9 in 4 pc. It's really well suited to my style of casting, which is reasonable but far from perfect. It casts heads and tips with authority while also working well with long bellies and DTF lines. It's a little faster than the 9140-4 but still has a sweet spot that makes it a good Spey casting tool. Besides, it's really lucky for me... always seem to catch fish on it.

 

[Per Stadigh]

Hey Dana,

That is like asking which one of your former girlfriends, if any, you rather would have been married to now.........

For me it must be the old Sage Graphite II 14´9 weight, 3 piece European you tried on the Fraser. I just love it and it does 95% of the job the contemporary "racehorses" do with twice as relaxed a feel. I can't believe Sage gave that fantastic taper up. (hope you read this Marc)

May it NEVER break!!

Per

 

[kush]

Good topic!

For summer: I too own Dana's 7136! I hope he is never limited to one retro rod - as I do not want to give it back.

For winter: I think I'll stick to the Sage 10160. I fish big rivers and the line control and available distance make this bad boy the one for me. (Now if Sage would provide me with a "quiver" of old brown 10151's - I would choose it - I mean them)

I think if I had to choose ONE rod only for everything, it is an easy choice, the Sage 9140-3 (the Graphite III model Per).

 

[doublespey]

Where have they gone???

I sure hope Sage has a backstock of 8150 blanks, cause I sure love that rod! Also still very attached to the original brown 7136-4 for smaller streams/flies/fish. For heavier winter, I'd have to say the Sage 9140-3 is probably about as good as it gets for versatility.

All that being said, I still vote for the 9140-4 as the most unfairly maligned retro rod :devil: It comes in a close second to the 8150 in my book.

I agree - good thread!!

DS

 

[andre]

Dana too complex of a simple question

Small water Diawa 12'6" Lochmor X or Burky 13'3", Dana take that 7136 from Kush, I'll have one forsale!

Sage 8150 if I was limited to a single four season rod. Can handle it all but can feel under gunned at times.

Sage 10150/10151 big fish, big water, and big flies. BTW, Kush they are building me a new 151 as we speak. Yet another 151 to compare hmmmmm, I wonder if the taper is the same as the 10161.

andre

 

[speybum]

RETRO RODS

They say that the first of anything is the most notable, thus it must also be with spey rods. The year must have been 1977, or 1978. A disgruntled Englishman gave the rod to me. He was using it to try July Kings on the Kenai River in Alaska (these are big fish and take a lot of work), and all I knew that he would not take it back.

The rod was a honey-colored fifteen-footer and had a Hardy Marquis reel and line (later on it figured to be a Hardy line by the color). The thing weighed a ton and cast overhead very well. The only markings on it were “10 wt.” I did some reading, and played with the rod from the beach. I finally gave up just above the first ferrule, and I gave it to a friend of mine. I wonder just how many people keep their firsts. Over the years that followed, I have gained some real favorites that I keep for special occasions.

My rod for great summer runs with small bugs and long leaders. The rod that comes to mind as the most useful would have to be a Golden West 15 for 10 wt. This is an extremely strong and heavy rod that would not let down. I think I own or have owned every Golden West taper Mike built.

My rod for those days when the cold winds blow until the chills freeze hell would have to be my Golden West 16 for an 11wt. For a long rod this is very forgiving and has a very powerful butt.

One of most fun would have to be the Bruce & Walker Falkus Spey Caster No.3 13 for 10/11. This rod is a delight to cast with and will let you boom the line out like a rocket.

These are four of my old friends each one very different in the construction, action and performance but still hold soft spot in my heart. What I use today depends on how I feel. The new rods all have their own feeling and most are a joy to cast.


I am having trouble finding new freinds like these
SpeyBum:smokin:

 

[juro]

BTW -

I know where to get a 9140-3 graphite II for a song. The flyshop I used to work at has it hung on the wall as a display piece. If anyone's interested email me and I will confirm the price ~$250-$275... if I don't grab it myself!

 

[Whistler]

Got to cast another vote for the 8150, especially for summer work, but also handles tips well. 10150-4 is the call for bigger water and heavy duty winter fishing. Sage has a great line of rods but there is still a hole where the 8150 used to be.

 

[NrthFrk16]

Was curious as to how the Graphite II 9140-3 differs from the Graphite III version.

Thanks!!

 

[Dana]

Ryan, Per had one of these over here a few seasons back and it was very sweet--if only we could get Sage to re-issue it! Maybe we can pool our resources, order up 100 and call it the "Spey Clave Special" I must admit that I was feeling a little snooty that Septmeber afternoon when he pulled it from the case on the banks of the Fraser near my home ("humph...graphite II!")...and then I cast it. Weeeellll...I'll let Per sing its praises as he fishes it regularly. Alas, I am left to covet this rod forever!

 

[Moonlight]

I don't know, it's a?????

Ten or tweleve years ago a fellow left in my keeping a 16" rod with no markings that he said was a product of the design of Mike Maxwell who at the time was one of the only other people we encountered on the Lower Skeena a cat who has long since been let out of the bag. This rod is so different than any of the Post Sage rods that it truly defies Dscription. Once again we are into the I like this better than that syndrome, suffice to say it is alot more like the old greenheart than the graphite whatever. Don't have a clue as to who made it for him or what its specs. are but its fun to fish with.

 

[Dana]

I think Fisher was making Mike's blanks for him back then...

 

[SSPey]

I can't say that I've cast enough of them to really have chosen a favorite within a line class against a dozen other possible choices in the same category. However, through repeated readings of posts like these on MSN-ISC, and consideration of the self-proclaimed casting preferences of the posts' authors, I made an effort to seek out the Sage 7136-4, 8150-4, and 9140-3. I bought each in turn. With these three I feel pretty much covered, from light summer (7136-4) to heavy summer/light winter (8150-4) to heavy winter (9140-3). Couldn't be happier, but in my case ignorance is

 

[pescaphile]

Great topic Dana!
There certainly seems to be a bias towards Sage rods here and I guess I am no exception. It's not that the other manufactures' rods aren't fine but more that I've been able to get good deals on Sage.

I use an old 7136-4 and love to fish it but it is so light in the butt for playing fish I'd definitely take the old 9140-4 for a summer rod. The 7136-4 is great on smaller fish, but it's just too hard to really put the wood to a strong fish in moderate or faster current. I don't like the extended battles that can come from being undergunned.

For winter I guess I'd choose my 10150-4. I think it's really quite a versatile rod. Whether with tips here in cold water or a dry line on the Thompson. It gets the job done for me.

I really like the 8150-4 for a lot of situations but if forced to choose just one for summer and one for winter, I guess I'd have to pass it up (Thankfully I'm not forced to!)

I've never used the 9140-3, but after hearing the praise it gets from those here. I think I'll have to try it. A friend of mine here has one that's only been used a couple of times and he wants trout rod of mine -sounds like a trade to me. Who fishes for trout anyway?

Pescaphile

 

[Ol Rich]

Ryan asked the question about the difference in Graphite II and Graphite III. I am also interested in the information. For those who prefer the Graphite II rods what is your evaluation of the St. Croix rods? They are all Graphite II.

Rich

 

[SpeyFitter]

The Difference between the Graphite II 9140-3 and the Graphite III 9140-3 is the 9140-3 II is more medium/medium fastish in action (the discovery series one). The 9140-3 III has more power than the II and is more medium fastish/fastish with a somewhat progressive action. The 9140-3 II was made before the split to Euro and Traditional action rods and I think it's fair to say that the graphite II 9140-3 is between the Euro 9140-3 III and the Traditional 9140-4 III.

I think the 9140-3 II is a bit more responsive in feel than the ST. Croix similar model.