sweetandsalt
Well-known member
The first thing is, pounding the concrete flooring of this huge, jam packed Expo Center, some 50% larger than the previous Somerset Show, had resulted in aching legs and lower back pain. The second is, unlike last year, I found relatively little new and innovative fly fishing products. Yes there were a number of rods and reels I had not previously examined but they were not brand new releases. Also last year there were several plausible rumors and “secret” prototypes, not so much this year. Now there is a schedule difference as last year new equipment was being readied for the mid-summer ICAST/IFTD Show that this year is newly located and changed to an autumn venue. This might be a contributor but I suspect it is just a comparatively quite year.
Nevertheless I certainly managed to cast a bunch of rods on indoor ponds, spin several reels and discuss the state of fly lines with SA, RIO and Cortland…Airflo as usual, was absent.
Every rod I test cast I inquired as to what lines they had available and recommended. SA Trout was a dominant choice. My first brace was Winston’s 8’/#4 4-piece Pure and Air. It was fairly early on Friday and I had none of my rod aficionado cohorts to share this experience with so I elicited the bystanders awaiting their turn to cast. “Which, #1 or 2 looks like I’m casting it better?”, smoother, tighter loops and more ease?” Neither they nor I could tell them apart as without reading the small script, they look identical. Same Winston Green, same burled wood and nickel silver reel seat. I myself purposely didn’t know which was which and only after deciding which felt better to me which corresponded with the peanut galleries observations as well, did I read their names. My preference by a small margin was the AIR. I observed it had superior tip response, quicker and cleaner recovery while the Pure exhibited a slight bit of tip too softness. Actually, they are both very nice and others preferences might easily swing the opposite way. Indeed the consensus among those who tried the Pure was enticed by its feather lightness and flexural smoothness. I even proposed to the new Tom Morgan Rodsmith gentlemen that they go try it opining Tom would have liked it. As far as I could determine, no other rod maker of graphite rods had an 8’/#4 in their current line-up; only Winston for whom it is traditional.
Next I encountered something of a disappointment. In the same aisle as Winston were Douglas, G.Loomis and Scott. Over at Scott they could not locate the GS 8’4”/#4. At first they thought perhaps it was out on the casting pond but, no, apparently one was not packed for the Show. Hence I was limited to the famous 8’8”/#4. This is a delightful rod most anyone would enjoy casting but simply was too far removed in size and intent from the diminutive 8’/#4’s to suggest any relevant comparisons. I will opine I rather enjoyed this GS which really feels like an improved but related counterpoint to the old original Scotts. Better in every way though.
There was nothing available from G.Loomis or Douglas SKY to put in this category but I did express my observation that I sensed a strong growth of interest among the members of NAFF Forum for shorter length, light line rods and asked if they might consider adding such models in the future. Neither said no. In fact Douglas thought an 8’/#4 in their Upstream series might be a great idea.
Something more genuinely new was exhibited at Taylor Fly Fishing’s booth. Hidden way in the back near the not-for-profits, I found Matthew Taylor, a Forum Sponsor, chatting with Forum member falcon53 about reels. This was my first opportunity to see and hold his new Revolution Z in person, previously seen only in images. Taylor is young, unconstrained by the aesthetics and concepts of classicism of men of my generation and thinks creatively outside the box. His new top reel features a handsome and rigid woven carbon fiber frame with an aluminum large arbor V-shaped spool for backing retrieval uniformity; an important priority when fishing for big fish that run. A sealed multi-element carbon and stainless drag module with a ton of headroom held together with the superior captive, threaded spool retainer round out the performance features but there is more. Matthew has been experimenting with artful multi-hued anodization making his reels individually personalized. I think the frame is made in the US, the aluminum machining is Korean, the bearing is German and the art anodization American. My preferred anodization he offers; matt dark grey…others preferences have room to roam. Don’t think me overly conservative as the grey is a spot on aesthetic match for his also new Truth Series of rods. Natural, partially sanded graphite grey blanks are understatedly elegantly wrapped in black with lighter grey trim and have black anodized reel seat hardware with grey woven carbon insert. He is justifiably proud, and I am for him, of his flat epoxy work NOT overlapping onto the blank, one of the few this side of T&T so endowed. Thus far Truth is available only in 9’/#’s 4, 5 and 8. Why?, for the best of reasons; so he can get each model just right and not release an addition until he and his constantans are totally happy. I brought a few friends to his booth to introduce them to his products and one, for two years now in the market for a new 9’/#4, cast Truth along with two others from famous high-end makers and…liked the Truth the best! I plan of fishing the Truth #5 this coming season and will review it thereafter.
Another friend who is a fine caster and fishes a small creek walking distance from his upstate NY home every day that weather permits (it is awfully cold there currently) was intrigued by my reporting on the pair of Winston 8’/#4’s but he was more fascinated by 8 ½’ versions. OK, fine, they make two of those as well. We gathered up the new usual suspects, Pure and AIR and together cast them side by side, switching off every several casts. However, this go round the Pure edged out AIR seemingly somewhat smoother and also about equal in casting distance…greater than typically called upon for a rod of this smaller water design intent. This further illustrates the importance of comparative test casting and not taking for granted that if you like one series in a given size it will be uniform throughout.
While I am writing about green colored rods, I cast two more. Not quite the same though as these two were finished in a handsome and flats appropriate matt green. A shinny rod offers no advantage in general but can be something of a handicap stalking born skittish bonefish. The AIRs and Pures I’d cast are squarely in Winston’s traditional wheelhouse…but not these two; AIR Salts in #’s 8 and 9-weights. Previously, when considering a new rod for the salt and flats in particular, Twin Bridges simply did not produce elite contenders. All of a sudden this has changed. Sure AIR Salts are Winston smooth, even a bit deeper flexing than the top flats rods that automatically come to mind and feature the above mentioned improved paint job…unless it might upset the long dedicated Winstonophiles I could see this matt green adorning more Winston’s of performance intent. These rods have lots of power on tap and it is easily accessed. They load well for shorter shots and their distance capability was limited primarily buy the length of the indoor casting ponds. I will provide further insight into them once I have had the opportunity to test them on fish.
You all would not be surprised to learn that behind the booth counters of many a tackle company are stashed a supply of alcoholic beverages. Late on the second day, while packing up their collection to bring back to their hotel, I commented to my long-time Orvis friend, “What? I don’t see any Dewar’s White Label.” “Oh, I don’t drink Scotch”, he said. I said again, “White Label!” He said, “That’s not funny”, while his younger associate cracked up. I will admit that during casting, you don’t see the white board butt of H3’s. I asked him which the ultimate trout rod was among H3 and he unhesitatingly said, “H3F 9’/#5”. The next morning I took 9’/#5’s F and D along with 8 ½’/#5 (available in F only) to the pond. In the previous H2 Orvis rods I preferred the Tip-Flex over the Mid-Flex strongly and though new F has far better taper transition than former Mid-Flex, I still liked the “D” version better. My wife has an H2 Tip so I know it well and this new model is notably improved primarily with superior lower taper reserves and sharper reflexes, quit a nice rod, even for none-Scotch drinkers. The F simply is not for me but it was better than the 8 ½’/#5 model likely due to having relatively more butt.
Similarly, I cast and fished a couple of T&T’s new rods last year which piqued my curiosity about the 9’/#4 Avantt. Since YA rated their 8 ½’/#4 Avantt so highly, a size configuration I enjoy so much, I cast both side-by-side. I liked the 9’ version better than the shorter model as with the H3 the tapers are related closely but the longer rod has significantly more lower taper power. Lower taper reserves are NOT simply a distance enhancer. One section of taper supports the flex of the one above so load transference does not bottom out. Like the new saltwater Winston’s, T&T has been employing a matt paint job which looks great too, in a rich deep blue…non-reflectively stealthy. And T&T remains tops in finish crafting with perfect wraps and top quality components.
As a side-bar, I wrote last year and subsequently that I prefer the 8 ½’/#5 Sage X in comparison to its popular 9’ sibling. Unlike the T&T and Orvis though which have closely related taper designs between lengths, this pair of X’s are substantially different and their tapers are clearly separate creations tuned to their configurations. Again, model family presumptions of relative virtue must be challenged by trying them individually.
Back to 2019; the brace of 8’/#4 Winston’s are a tough choice as unique sized small stream specialty rods with substantial charm. Add to them the set of Sage small stream 7 ½’ DARTS and creek anglers have it better than ever with dramatically differing specialized designs…all light as the proverbial feather. Of the river sized 4-weights I tested this year, Scott GS 8’8”, Taylor 9’ Truth and T&T 9’ Avantt, another great group of rods. Each has such a different taper design from one another that an angler wanting such a rod would be negligent not to compare them in person as each is so capable and, in this threesome, all excellently finished. To complicate this further, though I did not cast them at this Show, there are additionally 9’/#4’s Asquith, SKY, X, Pure/AIR, Radian, H3D, Hardy and a bunch more.
While I purposefully was focused on 4 and 5-weight trout rods at this Show, my new last year Sage Igniter 9’/#5 said to me, try my 7-weight sibling. And I did. Confirming my suspicions, somehow Igniter translates magnificently into heavier line weights. This is a special #7 with crystal clear flats intentions.
It is imperative that I state that my comments about all these rods are indoor test casting impressions, not reviews or ratings. In order to have a basis for review I require time on the water actually engaged in fishing and ratings are necessarily subjective as no empirical data is devisable with a fly rod. How would one measure line speed or tip recovery or qualify feel?
I wrote about Taylors Revolution Z above and I visited other reel makers too but learned little we have not discussed on our Forum already. The more varied color and matt finish options available on Hatch’s Finatic 2’s look great. Abel/Ross is so busy they are greatly expanding their facility just to meet demand. The only reel that they exhibited I had not seen was the new version of Animas. It has a none-sealed drag much like the original that they maintain is unaffected in performance or after affect by dunking and easily rinsed of sand or what have you. It does sport Ross’s terrific new porting style, this time with off-set spokes looking very cool. Its drag is not as high headroom as others in the Evo family but more than strong enough for any legitimate trout application. I learned little about upcoming CFO other than it is likely being built by the same shop that they use for new Mirage. Assembled in Twin Bridge now from parts made in Oregon, Winston owned Bauer SST is now a mature product with every rough edge carefully rounded, tight and smooth, improved carbon drag and handsome.
For those of you have read through this, perhaps my longest post ever, you may wonder what if any of the products I’ve mentioned I bought. While this may change as the weather warms, I only bought one thing at the Show, a $40 kit of Industrial Adhesives made in Germany by BQC.
Nevertheless I certainly managed to cast a bunch of rods on indoor ponds, spin several reels and discuss the state of fly lines with SA, RIO and Cortland…Airflo as usual, was absent.
Every rod I test cast I inquired as to what lines they had available and recommended. SA Trout was a dominant choice. My first brace was Winston’s 8’/#4 4-piece Pure and Air. It was fairly early on Friday and I had none of my rod aficionado cohorts to share this experience with so I elicited the bystanders awaiting their turn to cast. “Which, #1 or 2 looks like I’m casting it better?”, smoother, tighter loops and more ease?” Neither they nor I could tell them apart as without reading the small script, they look identical. Same Winston Green, same burled wood and nickel silver reel seat. I myself purposely didn’t know which was which and only after deciding which felt better to me which corresponded with the peanut galleries observations as well, did I read their names. My preference by a small margin was the AIR. I observed it had superior tip response, quicker and cleaner recovery while the Pure exhibited a slight bit of tip too softness. Actually, they are both very nice and others preferences might easily swing the opposite way. Indeed the consensus among those who tried the Pure was enticed by its feather lightness and flexural smoothness. I even proposed to the new Tom Morgan Rodsmith gentlemen that they go try it opining Tom would have liked it. As far as I could determine, no other rod maker of graphite rods had an 8’/#4 in their current line-up; only Winston for whom it is traditional.
Next I encountered something of a disappointment. In the same aisle as Winston were Douglas, G.Loomis and Scott. Over at Scott they could not locate the GS 8’4”/#4. At first they thought perhaps it was out on the casting pond but, no, apparently one was not packed for the Show. Hence I was limited to the famous 8’8”/#4. This is a delightful rod most anyone would enjoy casting but simply was too far removed in size and intent from the diminutive 8’/#4’s to suggest any relevant comparisons. I will opine I rather enjoyed this GS which really feels like an improved but related counterpoint to the old original Scotts. Better in every way though.
There was nothing available from G.Loomis or Douglas SKY to put in this category but I did express my observation that I sensed a strong growth of interest among the members of NAFF Forum for shorter length, light line rods and asked if they might consider adding such models in the future. Neither said no. In fact Douglas thought an 8’/#4 in their Upstream series might be a great idea.
Something more genuinely new was exhibited at Taylor Fly Fishing’s booth. Hidden way in the back near the not-for-profits, I found Matthew Taylor, a Forum Sponsor, chatting with Forum member falcon53 about reels. This was my first opportunity to see and hold his new Revolution Z in person, previously seen only in images. Taylor is young, unconstrained by the aesthetics and concepts of classicism of men of my generation and thinks creatively outside the box. His new top reel features a handsome and rigid woven carbon fiber frame with an aluminum large arbor V-shaped spool for backing retrieval uniformity; an important priority when fishing for big fish that run. A sealed multi-element carbon and stainless drag module with a ton of headroom held together with the superior captive, threaded spool retainer round out the performance features but there is more. Matthew has been experimenting with artful multi-hued anodization making his reels individually personalized. I think the frame is made in the US, the aluminum machining is Korean, the bearing is German and the art anodization American. My preferred anodization he offers; matt dark grey…others preferences have room to roam. Don’t think me overly conservative as the grey is a spot on aesthetic match for his also new Truth Series of rods. Natural, partially sanded graphite grey blanks are understatedly elegantly wrapped in black with lighter grey trim and have black anodized reel seat hardware with grey woven carbon insert. He is justifiably proud, and I am for him, of his flat epoxy work NOT overlapping onto the blank, one of the few this side of T&T so endowed. Thus far Truth is available only in 9’/#’s 4, 5 and 8. Why?, for the best of reasons; so he can get each model just right and not release an addition until he and his constantans are totally happy. I brought a few friends to his booth to introduce them to his products and one, for two years now in the market for a new 9’/#4, cast Truth along with two others from famous high-end makers and…liked the Truth the best! I plan of fishing the Truth #5 this coming season and will review it thereafter.
Another friend who is a fine caster and fishes a small creek walking distance from his upstate NY home every day that weather permits (it is awfully cold there currently) was intrigued by my reporting on the pair of Winston 8’/#4’s but he was more fascinated by 8 ½’ versions. OK, fine, they make two of those as well. We gathered up the new usual suspects, Pure and AIR and together cast them side by side, switching off every several casts. However, this go round the Pure edged out AIR seemingly somewhat smoother and also about equal in casting distance…greater than typically called upon for a rod of this smaller water design intent. This further illustrates the importance of comparative test casting and not taking for granted that if you like one series in a given size it will be uniform throughout.
While I am writing about green colored rods, I cast two more. Not quite the same though as these two were finished in a handsome and flats appropriate matt green. A shinny rod offers no advantage in general but can be something of a handicap stalking born skittish bonefish. The AIRs and Pures I’d cast are squarely in Winston’s traditional wheelhouse…but not these two; AIR Salts in #’s 8 and 9-weights. Previously, when considering a new rod for the salt and flats in particular, Twin Bridges simply did not produce elite contenders. All of a sudden this has changed. Sure AIR Salts are Winston smooth, even a bit deeper flexing than the top flats rods that automatically come to mind and feature the above mentioned improved paint job…unless it might upset the long dedicated Winstonophiles I could see this matt green adorning more Winston’s of performance intent. These rods have lots of power on tap and it is easily accessed. They load well for shorter shots and their distance capability was limited primarily buy the length of the indoor casting ponds. I will provide further insight into them once I have had the opportunity to test them on fish.
You all would not be surprised to learn that behind the booth counters of many a tackle company are stashed a supply of alcoholic beverages. Late on the second day, while packing up their collection to bring back to their hotel, I commented to my long-time Orvis friend, “What? I don’t see any Dewar’s White Label.” “Oh, I don’t drink Scotch”, he said. I said again, “White Label!” He said, “That’s not funny”, while his younger associate cracked up. I will admit that during casting, you don’t see the white board butt of H3’s. I asked him which the ultimate trout rod was among H3 and he unhesitatingly said, “H3F 9’/#5”. The next morning I took 9’/#5’s F and D along with 8 ½’/#5 (available in F only) to the pond. In the previous H2 Orvis rods I preferred the Tip-Flex over the Mid-Flex strongly and though new F has far better taper transition than former Mid-Flex, I still liked the “D” version better. My wife has an H2 Tip so I know it well and this new model is notably improved primarily with superior lower taper reserves and sharper reflexes, quit a nice rod, even for none-Scotch drinkers. The F simply is not for me but it was better than the 8 ½’/#5 model likely due to having relatively more butt.
Similarly, I cast and fished a couple of T&T’s new rods last year which piqued my curiosity about the 9’/#4 Avantt. Since YA rated their 8 ½’/#4 Avantt so highly, a size configuration I enjoy so much, I cast both side-by-side. I liked the 9’ version better than the shorter model as with the H3 the tapers are related closely but the longer rod has significantly more lower taper power. Lower taper reserves are NOT simply a distance enhancer. One section of taper supports the flex of the one above so load transference does not bottom out. Like the new saltwater Winston’s, T&T has been employing a matt paint job which looks great too, in a rich deep blue…non-reflectively stealthy. And T&T remains tops in finish crafting with perfect wraps and top quality components.
As a side-bar, I wrote last year and subsequently that I prefer the 8 ½’/#5 Sage X in comparison to its popular 9’ sibling. Unlike the T&T and Orvis though which have closely related taper designs between lengths, this pair of X’s are substantially different and their tapers are clearly separate creations tuned to their configurations. Again, model family presumptions of relative virtue must be challenged by trying them individually.
Back to 2019; the brace of 8’/#4 Winston’s are a tough choice as unique sized small stream specialty rods with substantial charm. Add to them the set of Sage small stream 7 ½’ DARTS and creek anglers have it better than ever with dramatically differing specialized designs…all light as the proverbial feather. Of the river sized 4-weights I tested this year, Scott GS 8’8”, Taylor 9’ Truth and T&T 9’ Avantt, another great group of rods. Each has such a different taper design from one another that an angler wanting such a rod would be negligent not to compare them in person as each is so capable and, in this threesome, all excellently finished. To complicate this further, though I did not cast them at this Show, there are additionally 9’/#4’s Asquith, SKY, X, Pure/AIR, Radian, H3D, Hardy and a bunch more.
While I purposefully was focused on 4 and 5-weight trout rods at this Show, my new last year Sage Igniter 9’/#5 said to me, try my 7-weight sibling. And I did. Confirming my suspicions, somehow Igniter translates magnificently into heavier line weights. This is a special #7 with crystal clear flats intentions.
It is imperative that I state that my comments about all these rods are indoor test casting impressions, not reviews or ratings. In order to have a basis for review I require time on the water actually engaged in fishing and ratings are necessarily subjective as no empirical data is devisable with a fly rod. How would one measure line speed or tip recovery or qualify feel?
I wrote about Taylors Revolution Z above and I visited other reel makers too but learned little we have not discussed on our Forum already. The more varied color and matt finish options available on Hatch’s Finatic 2’s look great. Abel/Ross is so busy they are greatly expanding their facility just to meet demand. The only reel that they exhibited I had not seen was the new version of Animas. It has a none-sealed drag much like the original that they maintain is unaffected in performance or after affect by dunking and easily rinsed of sand or what have you. It does sport Ross’s terrific new porting style, this time with off-set spokes looking very cool. Its drag is not as high headroom as others in the Evo family but more than strong enough for any legitimate trout application. I learned little about upcoming CFO other than it is likely being built by the same shop that they use for new Mirage. Assembled in Twin Bridge now from parts made in Oregon, Winston owned Bauer SST is now a mature product with every rough edge carefully rounded, tight and smooth, improved carbon drag and handsome.
For those of you have read through this, perhaps my longest post ever, you may wonder what if any of the products I’ve mentioned I bought. While this may change as the weather warms, I only bought one thing at the Show, a $40 kit of Industrial Adhesives made in Germany by BQC.
