[Pocono]

I've been pleasantly surprised by the feel and performance of some fiberglass rods that I've been casting recently and wondered if anyone else has had the same experience.

Here's the genesis of this query. I've been fishing graphite for the past year and a half. I like the action on the rods (mostly fast action rods, with an occasional medium/fast) and probably wouldn't even have cast a fiberglass rod if I hadn't been looking for a rod to help someone else have an easier time of feeling the line during her cast. I posed this situation to the forum early this spring and one of the respondants suggested that I get a 7'6" Eagle Claw 5/6 wt. fiberglass rod; which, with it's slow action, would allow the other person to get a better feel for the loading and unloading of the rod and, at the same time, would slow down her casting rythm. Well, it did both, and very well, so that was a great suggestion.

However, having a $16.95 rod hanging around caused me to take notice of it myself. I figured, this has to be an inferior product and it probably won't cast worth a tinker's damn. I was wrong. This rod, fitted with a WF 6 wt. line, is a very reasonable casting tool. I have no problem getting casts of 60+ feet out of this rod; which is more than I need for fishing small streams; which, in general, are not more than 30 feet across at their widest point. And, in terms of feeling a fish take the fly, I think that the fiberglass rod is at least the equal of the graphite rod in this department. Casting accuracy, well that's where the $16.95 makes itself apparent with a lot of tip wobble, but you can compensate a lot for that simply by getting used to the rod.

I followed this experience up with a Diamondback Diamondglass 7'6" 3 wt., fitted with a shortened Rio WF 3 wt. line on a Sage 3100 reel and, again, the performance was much, much better than I expected.

Yes, the two rods are dramatically different, the Diamondglass being in the $300.00 category. But I've been surprised at how able both of these glass rods are at streamside, compared to their graphite equivalents.

Will I stop fishing graphite rods; never! There's just too much that's good about them. But, I do now often times find myself packing one of these two glass rods with me when I'm headed for sub-15" fish on a small freestone creek.

Anyone else out there with positive fishing experiences using glass rods?

[ezamora]

many are out there who have positive, nay, near-fanatical experiences with fiberglass rods. if you haven't found it yet, try this web site:
http://fiberglassflyrodders.yuku.com/

i have an unmarked brown 7 foot 2 piece fiberglass blank i have in my queue to wrap and started off with a daiwa gold 8 footer back in the 80s.

if you ever take up wrapping your own rods, lamiglas offers two distinct models of fiberglass blanks plus a third which is a hybrid graphite/fiberglass mix. as you know diamondback offered a lineup, now discontinued i think. today, steffen bros, tl johnson and mcfarland offer blanks and full rods, plus you can find the vintage stuff which includes browning, garcia, fenwick, etc on a popular internet auction site. all fish wonderfully from what everyone who loves these say.

eric
fresno, ca.

[mhclayton]

That does it, I'm getting my 35 year old Fenwick glass 5 weight out of the closet and see what it can do. I was browsing the Scott website recently trying to talk myself into buying a G2--- I did, and it is SWEET, but that is another story, and saw that they are offering a fiberglass series-- they claim that they are just the thing for close-in fishing of pocket water, which is basically what I enjoy the most.

[Joni]

I am a Glass NUT! I have a 5'3" Fenwick 5 wt., a 7' 4wt Lamiglass, a 7 1/2' 3/4 wt. Steffen, an 8' 5 wt. Lamiglass, and an 8' 6wt. McFarland, oh yeah and the 7' Eagle Claw.

I am thinking Diamond Glass is a "S" as is Steffen Brothers. A little faster glass. McFarland and Lamiglass are "E" a little slower.

And most recently, a friend is letting me use his 9' Hardy custom with fighting butt 6wt. That is what I have been using on the Carp. Love that rod!

[sesro1978]

Originally Posted by Joni

I am a Glass NUT! I have a 5'3" Fenwick 5 wt., a 7' 4wt Lamiglass, a 7 1/2' 3/4 wt. Steffen, an 8' 5 wt. Lamiglass, and an 8' 6wt. McFarland, oh yeah and the 7' Eagle Claw.

I am thinking Diamond Glass is a "S" as is Steffen Brothers. A little faster glass. McFarland and Lamiglass are "E" a little slower.

And most recently, a friend is letting me use his 9' Hardy custom with fighting butt 6wt. That is what I have been using on the Carp. Love that rod!

Hi Joni-

What do you think of your Lami 8', 5-wt? Is it 2 or 3 pieces?

Thanks,
Seth

[Joni]

Three piece and VERY SMOOTH. Perfect dry fly rod, but I do nymph with it.

[sesro1978]

Originally Posted by Joni

Three piece and VERY SMOOTH. Perfect dry fly rod, but I do nymph with it.

Nice; I think I've got a line on a Diamondglass 8', 5-wt (which seems to have disappeared from the face of the Earth) but if that falls through I'm thinking of having an 8', 5-wt. Lami built...

Thanks!

[Joni]

Originally Posted by sesro1978

Nice; I think I've got a line on a Diamondglass 8', 5-wt (which seems to have disappeared from the face of the Earth) but if that falls through I'm thinking of having an 8', 5-wt. Lami built...

Thanks!

The way I understand it and feel, the Diamond Glass is more an "S" glass like Steffen Bros. It will be faster. The Lami is "E" like McFarland. A slower action.
But if you can score a DG that is a good thing.

[sesro1978]

Originally Posted by Joni

The way I understand it and feel, the Diamond Glass is more an "S" glass like Steffen Bros. It will be faster. The Lami is "E" like McFarland. A slower action.
But if you can score a DG that is a good thing.

That's my understanding too- I've heard the 8', 5-wt DG is pretty smooth though. I haven't cast one but I have some good info. from a trusted source. I think the fiberglass rods are becoming a coveted item out there. I've been scouring the internet and essentially the Earth for on of these...now I'm nervously awaiting a reply to an email...wish me luck :-)

~Seth

[Joni]

Absolutely! Let us know!