Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => Fly Fishing Cafe => Topic started by: ricer on July 14, 2011, 01:45:08 PM

Title: which rod is better
Post by: ricer on July 14, 2011, 01:45:08 PM
looking at buying a lower end rod for pinks, coho, ect....

trying to decide between the dragonfly 10 ft #8 or the echo ion 10ft #8  both are 189$ 
which would you choose and why?
Title: Re: which rod is better
Post by: JAwrey on July 14, 2011, 04:09:45 PM
looking at buying a lower end rod for pinks, coho, ect....

trying to decide between the dragonfly 10 ft #8 or the echo ion 10ft #8  both are 189$ 
which would you choose and why?


I own a few, so read into my bias, but I would say the Echo rods are better.  It will cast like a much higher priced rod, whereas the Dragonfly's abilities are directly related to it's pricetag...lower end.

My $0.02

J
Title: fish do not know which rod is better
Post by: cohojoe on July 14, 2011, 06:22:08 PM
Fish do not care or  know which rod you are using.    I have good rods,  and  garage sale rods.   One day  I tried a  fly rod that is ancient.    It still caught fish.    Not bad for a  garage sale  rod
Title: Re: fish do not know which rod is better
Post by: JAwrey on July 14, 2011, 07:56:09 PM
Fish do not care or  know which rod you are using.    I have good rods,  and  garage sale rods.   One day  I tried a  fly rod that is ancient.    It still caught fish.    Not bad for a  garage sale  rod

Hes asking which is better, in your opinion because they're the same price
Title: Re: which rod is better
Post by: ricer on July 14, 2011, 08:34:21 PM
thnks for the info - i guess i should be a little more specific

by good i don't mean will it catch fish - i mean quality, durability, castability
Title: Re: which rod is better
Post by: bbronswyk2000 on July 14, 2011, 08:53:49 PM
Cast each one at a store and buy the one you feel more comfortable with
Title: Re: which rod is better
Post by: Every Day on July 14, 2011, 09:26:57 PM
Could get a TFO 6 wt for cheaper I believe.
They are an awesome rod for casting, haven't used it on any fish besides cutties and interior bows yet but it felt great.

Fenwick HMX is also around $189 I believe and they are an awesome rod.
Landed multiple springs (up to 20 pnds) and coho on mine off the beach and in the rivers before being snapped by a buddy stepping on it.
That would be my recommendation for a starting rod...
Title: Re: which rod is better
Post by: HOOK on July 14, 2011, 11:24:48 PM
I landed springs up to the 40lb range with my old Dragonfly rod. I couldn't break that thing to save my life. I have also seen my dad tow big chum in with his Echo. I would personally go with the Echo because it's got a better feel and I'm sure it's also lighter in hand
Title: Re: which rod is better
Post by: HOOK on July 14, 2011, 11:36:58 PM
On a side note

I just grabbed an Amundson setup (rod,reel,line and other goodies) for only 179.99 at Army and Navy. Good thing about their warranty is that it's only a twenty minute drive away :-)
Title: Re: which rod is better
Post by: Sandman on July 15, 2011, 08:05:26 AM
On a side note

I just grabbed an Amundson setup (rod,reel,line and other goodies) for only 179.99 at Army and Navy. Good thing about their warranty is that it's only a twenty minute drive away :-)

Which Army and Navy was that?  $180 is a good price for an Amundson, what was the reel they gave you?
Title: Re: which rod is better
Post by: HOOK on July 15, 2011, 10:00:49 AM
it is the Amundson Rocky Mountains package (i got the 8wt) and it was the Langley store. it comes with a little waist bag, leader material, loop connectors, a pack of tapered leaders, forceps and snippers. Im probably missing something, oh the line is a weight forward floating so im going to create my own loop so i can use sink tips with it

the reel itself is anodized for use in fresh or salt and has a very good micro adjustable drag  ;D


I shopped around for awhile because the wifey said i had a budget of $200 for the setup so this fit the bill perfectly
Title: Re: which rod is better
Post by: ricer on July 15, 2011, 10:04:55 AM
great deal on the amundsun

anybody try the Imperial St. Croix Switch rod?  how does the switch rods work - do you need a spey line for 2 handed and regular for siingle?
Title: Re: which rod is better
Post by: JAwrey on July 15, 2011, 10:05:12 AM
it is the Amundson Rocky Mountains package (i got the 8wt) and it was the Langley store. it comes with a little waist bag, leader material, loop connectors, a pack of tapered leaders, forceps and snippers. Im probably missing something, oh the line is a weight forward floating so im going to create my own loop so i can use sink tips with it

the reel itself is anodized for use in fresh or salt and has a very good micro adjustable drag  ;D


I shopped around for awhile because the wifey said i had a budget of $200 for the setup so this fit the bill perfectly

Those are great kit!  Check out the Whitlock welded loop...it's in an older issue of Fly Fisherman if I'm not mistaken.

J
Title: Re: which rod is better
Post by: HOOK on July 15, 2011, 01:40:28 PM
Switch rods can use multiple lines. I had one paired with a Spey line and a full line for two hand overhead casting. They are strenuous to cast one handed because of their length so using two hands is best. Switches do each thing well but also have downsides because they can't do one thing perfectly like a specifically designed rod can
Title: Re: which rod is better
Post by: JAwrey on July 15, 2011, 02:23:17 PM
Switch rods can use multiple lines. I had one paired with a Spey line and a full line for two hand overhead casting. They are strenuous to cast one handed because of their length so using two hands is best. Switches do each thing well but also have downsides because they can't do one thing perfectly like a specifically designed rod can

Agree re: lines.

However, I think that switch rods are getting better and better in the one-handed-castability department!
Title: Re: which rod is better
Post by: HOOK on July 15, 2011, 03:40:52 PM
I didn't say you couldn't cast them single handed. I'm just saying that with the longer rod comes more torque on your wrist and arm, I doubt you could cast one all day without being decently fatigued.

And in regards to Spey casting with a switch. Unless you can effectively perform decent to good casts with a Spey rod then you will find the switch harder to figure out. I know with mine it took me a few hours to figure out that I had to change my casting style a bit to make it work well
Title: Re: which rod is better
Post by: Sandman on July 15, 2011, 06:06:12 PM
it is the Amundson Rocky Mountains package (i got the 8wt) and it was the Langley store. it comes with a little waist bag, leader material, loop connectors, a pack of tapered leaders, forceps and snippers. Im probably missing something, oh the line is a weight forward floating so im going to create my own loop so i can use sink tips with it

the reel itself is anodized for use in fresh or salt and has a very good micro adjustable drag  ;D


I shopped around for awhile because the wifey said i had a budget of $200 for the setup so this fit the bill perfectly

Have you tried out the Rocky Mountain reel yet?  How is the drag system?  I am in the market and am hesitant to spring for a Trend.
Title: Re: which rod is better
Post by: HOOK on July 15, 2011, 09:06:47 PM
I haven't used it on fish but I have adjusted it by small increments and pull line off. I'm very shocked at how good the drag is. Full on it's almost locked solid but will still move a tiny bit like it should. This has as good of a drag as a reel of alot more cost. I wouldn't have bought the combo if the reel wasn't of decent quality. I had a Sage 1680 or 1880 (can't remember which)  on my old setup and the drag was either on or off pretty much, I hated that reel !!
Title: Re: which rod is better
Post by: JAwrey on July 15, 2011, 09:52:14 PM
I didn't say you couldn't cast them single handed. I'm just saying that with the longer rod comes more torque on your wrist and arm, I doubt you could cast one all day without being decently fatigued.

I know you didn't  :)

I was just tossing in my opinion that, in a few years, switch rods will be much more "switch" and less a whole 'nother tool, that's all  ;D

J
Title: Re: which rod is better
Post by: ricer on July 18, 2011, 08:23:12 PM
Well - ended up buying a 10ft  - #8 - temple fork from wholesale outfitters for 170$ - love the fast action

thnks for the input
Title: Re: which rod is better
Post by: JAwrey on July 19, 2011, 09:01:00 AM
Well - ended up buying a 10ft  - #8 - temple fork from wholesale outfitters for 170$ - love the fast action

thnks for the input

Congrats, enjoy the stick!

John
Title: Re: which rod is better
Post by: RalphH on July 21, 2011, 03:34:32 PM
I didn't say you couldn't cast them single handed. I'm just saying that with the longer rod comes more torque on your wrist and arm, I doubt you could cast one all day without being decently fatigued.

And in regards to Spey casting with a switch. Unless you can effectively perform decent to good casts with a Spey rod then you will find the switch harder to figure out. I know with mine it took me a few hours to figure out that I had to change my casting style a bit to make it work well

I have a couple of Echo Switch Rods. The real beauty of a switch and what it was designed for is lifting a good length of line, backcasting and putting it straight out in a single cast. No false casting. With the Airflo 40+ lines I can do this with 70 or 80 feet of line. Shooting 100+ feet of line single or double handed is also very practical.

As for Spey casting. They are better for Skagit casts or Scandi cast as they work a shout 30 foot or so head well. They cast a skagit more than far enough and I have talked to people who chuck 100 feet with a scandi head and poly tips.

The other good thing is they are light and properly balanced feel lighter than a similarly powered single handed rod.