7 feet fly rod

[amateurforever]

Hi,

first of all I'd like to thank all you guys for all the help. I do not have the chance to try many rods, so every time I start a thread here and receive a huge amount of information. It's just great....

The new rod I'm going to buy is a 7 ft for the small streams. I have come to two candidates:

Orvis clearwater 7' 4 weight (the new series),
Sage vantage 7' 3 weight (I know they're on clearance),

I will use it for dry fly (sometimes longer casts, like 40 ft) with occasionally small streamers.

Any comment would be appreciated.

:fishing:

 

[stl_geoff]

I recently picked up the 3wt vantage and its a delightful rod. Im very happy with it. I havent fished with a Clearwater in a long time and the one I can use is an old 6wt so my opinion on them isnt equal. i do think you'd be happy with the vantage though. Also look at St Croix Avids, they have a 7' 3wt and I also have one of those I like quiet well.

 

[amateurforever]

Hi and thanks for the comment,

I have a 9wt Vantage and really like it. I use it for pike and while it's a medium-fast action, I can throw 2/0 flies for something like 60 ft. But just like you mentioned, the different weights of the same series could have very different characteristics.

I had avid series in the mind as well, but excluded it for some reasons. There are two 7 ft rods, 3 and 4 wt, but both come in two pieces, which is not something pleasant. On the other hand there's a 6'6'' 4 wt, but I feel like it's too short. And then I do not think it would have enough backbone for longer casts and some streamers.

There are some other excluded options too: St. Croix Imperial 7 ft 3 wt, but I read it's a fast action, which I do not like that much for a short rod. I had the chance to take a look at a Sage Flight 7 ft 3 wt as well (I could only examine the rod, but did not cast it) and to me it looked too stiff and a little heavy.

Cheers

I recently picked up the 3wt vantage and its a delightful rod. Im very happy with it. I havent fished with a Clearwater in a long time and the one I can use is an old 6wt so my opinion on them isnt equal. i do think you'd be happy with the vantage though. Also look at St Croix Avids, they have a 7' 3wt and I also have one of those I like quiet well.

 

[chased]

You may want to check out the Redington CT rods. There is a 7'6" 3wt that is a treat to cast. It is a little slower than most graphite rods of current times. In my eyes it would make a great small stream rod at a very hard to beat price. Cabela's has them for 50% off making them only $75, a true bargain.


-Chase

 

[noreaster]

I have two 7 footers. A Sage RPL Graphite III its 7'3" and a St. Croix Imperial of the same length.
I love them both. The sage is a 5 wt. and the St.C a 4 wt.

On a side note, the Sage (2 piece) had a tip recently replaced. You can see the new honeycombed updated graphite was used, the action is super fast now. Looking forward to casting it in the spring.

I really enjoy the 7 footers in where I am using them. Streams and small rivers with canopy make these a good choice.

 

[Rip Tide]

When it come to a small stream rod, you can't beat fiberglass


http://midcurrent.com/2012/10/02/cabelas-cgt-fiberglass-fly-rods/
The Fiberglass Manifesto: First Look - Cabela's CGt Series
Cabela's CGT Fiberglass Fly Rods

 

[amateurforever]

Thank you guys for the comments, but actually apart from the first comment no one has talked about the rods I asked about.

Still waiting...

 

[rockriver]

I like my Fenwick 705 from the early 70's. I recently tried it with Rio Gold
WF4F since I had my Medalist set up for my Z-Axis 4 wt. It seemed to like it okay so I'll try it again in the spring.

 

[Rip Tide]

Thank you guys for the comments, but actually apart from the first comment no one has talked about the rods I asked about.

Still waiting...

Maybe there's a reason for that....
You did say "Any comment would be appreciated"

 

[comeonavs]

I had the Vantage but sold it. Rod was fine but I had 5 different 3wts so some had to go. You mentioned the Avid, I had one of those too and it is much more medium action than the Vantage, therefore IMHO made it a better pure dry fly rod.

I dont know what your budget is but I got a 7'6" ZXL on a good deal and is is super sweet

 

[db cooper]

To be candid...of the rods you mentioned i think the Orvis is better. Better warranty, better company, better casting rod. My opinion

A 4wt is the better choice for what you want. A 3 is pretty specialized and offers you no advantage vs. a 4wt in the real world...again...opinion.

Riptide is absolutely correct in my opinion. For what you are looking at, fiberglass is better. I might suggest the Cabelas CGT. Is nicer than either rod you are looking at by a good margin, and fiberglass outperforms graphite every time for short, small stream rods.

Opinions are like...well you know. My advice is good for the price!

 

[lightline]

Of the two, get the 4 wt. Clearwater. Get it in the softest (lowest) flex that you can. If you're only going to be casting short, on small streams, you could always get the 3 and put a 4 line on it. I do this regularly with some of my rods, and they're all softer/slower than these two. It makes them feel and cast great at short distances. The line ratings on rods are only a suggestion from the maker, not law or fact.

 

[amateurforever]

You're right, thanks and sorry, did not mean to offend anybody...

Maybe there's a reason for that....
You did say "Any comment would be appreciated"

---------- Post added at 02:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:58 PM ----------

I'm sure is a great rod and I heard Vantage has a very similar feeling. ZXL isout of my budget, though...

I had the Vantage but sold it. Rod was fine but I had 5 different 3wts so some had to go. You mentioned the Avid, I had one of those too and it is much more medium action than the Vantage, therefore IMHO made it a better pure dry fly rod.

I dont know what your budget is but I got a 7'6" ZXL on a good deal and is is super sweet

---------- Post added at 02:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:03 PM ----------

You know what? I like your opinions, but not 100% of it is applicable for me. The reason I started this thread and similar ones is that I do not have the chance to try many of the rods on the market, and the same is true for the fiberglass ones. But there's one difference: I'm happy with graphite and would like to get what has already worked for me, which makes me exclude fiberglass...

Tight lines!

To be candid...of the rods you mentioned i think the Orvis is better. Better warranty, better company, better casting rod. My opinion

A 4wt is the better choice for what you want. A 3 is pretty specialized and offers you no advantage vs. a 4wt in the real world...again...opinion.

Riptide is absolutely correct in my opinion. For what you are looking at, fiberglass is better. I might suggest the Cabelas CGT. Is nicer than either rod you are looking at by a good margin, and fiberglass outperforms graphite every time for short, small stream rods.

Opinions are like...well you know. My advice is good for the price!

---------- Post added at 02:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:09 PM ----------

I emailed Orvis to ask the action of the new Clearwater series and they replied all of them have mid-tip action, which I like. In case I can take your advice and overline the rod...

Best

Of the two, get the 4 wt. Clearwater. Get it in the softest (lowest) flex that you can. If you're only going to be casting short, on small streams, you could always get the 3 and put a 4 line on it. I do this regularly with some of my rods, and they're all softer/slower than these two. It makes them feel and cast great at short distances. The line ratings on rods are only a suggestion from the maker, not law or fact.

 

[Joni]

When it come to a small stream rod, you can't beat fiberglass


Cabela
The Fiberglass Manifesto: First Look - Cabela's CGt Series
Cabela's CGT Fiberglass Fly Rods

RIGHT ON! I agree totally. But I do the the mixed blends like the Cabela's. I have two 7' 4 wt. bamboo, a 7' 4wt Lamiglass, a 7'9" (custom made) T.L.Johnson a 5' 3" 5 wt Fenwick.

My favorite right now is my 7' Hardy Test and my 6'6" - 4 wt. Cabela's glass (and by the way, I can cast bigger flies 60' easily with this rod and roll cast 50' with ease).

In Graphite I have the Trout Bum and the One Ounce both 7' four.

 

[amateurforever]

Thank you guys for all the advice. I ended up with Clearwater rod. Can't wait to give it a try, but it's a shame that will have to wait for some months...

 

[Ard]

You will need to get yourself a vintage (or new) fiber glass rod in 6'6" or 7' before you discount the rods. I have some and most of us started with them because there were no graphite when we were young. New rods are cool, I understand the excitement of owning 'cutting edge' tackle, but those old rods are way cool when it comes to casting flies.

Glad you got yourself a new rod,

Ard