fast action 8 and 9 weights

[bmflyfisher]

I'm in the market for a strong and fast 8 and 9 weight rod to cast for bones into stong wind situations. Any recommendations out there?

[Ray]

G.Loomis GLX

[smolt]

I cast the Sage 890-4 Xi2 recently and can say without fear of contradiction that, for me, a good but not expert caster, this is the finest 8-weight rod I have ever cast. Light, powerful, and accurate -- an unbeatable combination. Unfortunately, the price is steep, but in this case you get what you pay for.

My $0.02

[ikan besar]

G Loomis - the Cross Current GLX in 4pc. I sold all my Sage's after casting several of those.

YOUR arm will be the determining factor and you should try as many as you can get your hands on though. Temple Fork has been getting favorable reviews lately and the price is certainly good.

[maineguideman]

Take a look at Albright Rods the High end rod is under $400.00 and its the same technology as the Nano quartz redington used to offer. I checked out these rods at a recent CCA function they were good for the price. If money is no object I would have to agree with the above posts Sage Xi or the new G loomis cross current would be hard to beat.

[IFSteve]

I have two of the St. Croix Ultra travel 8 weights and used them on MANY bones in the Seychelles. All those high end rods are great but they are no better than the Ultra and a heck of a lot more money. You can get one for well under $300.

Good luck.

[paflyfisher]

Sage, Loomis, Temple Fork, Albright and St. Croix. Just goes to show you, you have to go out and cast them yourself and see which feels best in your hand.

I recently bought and 8-weight and a 10-weight. After casting a quiver full of 8-weights, I decided I liked the Scott S3s the best. A couple of months later, I went back for 10-weight and figured the S3s would be a no brainer. Still I cast a handful and, lo and behold, the Thomas & Thomas Horizon came out the clear winner.

Since then I have cast several Temple Forks and they are great rods. And you can't beat the price. I have one on order as a backup to my T&T.

It all goes to show you that you have to test cast them to see which best fits your casting style.

Good luck.

Ed

[bmflyfisher]

Hey guys, thanks alot. Sounds like I have more research to do. You're right, nothing beats trying a few casts. I'll just bet that whatever I end up with I'll still be looking for that perfect rod. That's probably why I have so many now.

Great responses.

[Quicksilver]

I would suggest you cast the TFO TiCr rod. The first time I threw an entire line was a couple of months ago with the eight weight.

[SageBoy]

Many good points but the determining factor is what works best for your style of casting. I use to be a huge Loomis fan until I casted the RPLXi. I now have a 9 and 10 RPLXi and sold all my Loomis rods. The Sage just fit my style of casting much better.

The new Xi2 is great rod but with a heavy price tag.

.02

[thetroutmaster]

Just bought a 8 and 9 weight Powell AXS. Best rods I have ever casted. You can get them new for under $250 on Ebay. Only thing this model is no longer made from Powell and warranty an issue. Good luck on your search.

[bmflyfisher]

More great responses. What does anyone think of the T&T line. I've heard the Horizon has been around awhile, but what about the Helix and Vector models?

[gonzo]

Don't forget the Sage XP... I used to own an 8# RPLXi - But traded in for the XP 8#... It is light in the hand and has a super fast action. The tip is also very sensitive, so playing smaller fish is more fun.

(my 2 penneth-worth)

[smolt]

Don't forget the Sage XP... I used to own an 8# RPLXi - But traded in for the XP 8#... It is light in the hand and has a super fast action. The tip is also very sensitive, so playing smaller fish is more fun.

(my 2 penneth-worth)


This is a pefect example of why should cast as mant rods as you can before deciding. I cast the 890-4 XP and thought it was a dead stick. Go figure.

CK

[gonzo]

Smolt


Jeez, I'd understand if you were describing a $150 rod, but dead stick is not a term I think the XP warrants!
Maybe you should have your casting technique checked?

[masssalt]

More great responses. What does anyone think of the T&T line. I've heard the Horizon has been around awhile, but what about the Helix and Vector models?


I fish T & T Vectors and TFO TiCr's. The T & T Vector is a very progressive fast-action rod which loads further down the blank than the Horizon series rods. In general, I find the Vectors to be very easy to cast normal fishing distances for long periods of time. A lot of bonefish nuts prefer the more tip-flex action of the Horizon series. Both series are beautifully dampened.

The TFO TiCr 8 is one of my favorite rods, but is a more tip-action, like the Horizon. It is easier to throw tight loops with a tip-action rod, but requires better timing than a rod which flexes more deeply. With this rod, I feel that I deliver a fly line to a target at 50 or 60-feet more quickly and accurately than with any other rod I have fished. Lefty Kreh worked hard to make this a great bonefish rod.

Jay Horton
Pro Staff
Thomas & Thomas Fly Rods
Temple Fork Fly Rods

[Too Fly]

I'm with Jay on this one. I played with my new 8 wt. TiCr yesterday and am thoroughly impressed with how this rod performs, especially with a price tag of only $210. This rod is lots of fun to cast.

I'm no expert in this field, but I've got and have gone through quite a few rods for a guy who has fly fished for fewer than five years. They just about all have a place and purpose for individuals and their fishing situations.

Sage makes great stuff, but I was not terribly impressed with the 8 wt. Xi2's action and feel. In my opinion, it felt sorta sloppy in comparison to even the $210 TiCr. Actually, I think the XP is fsater than the Xi2. Though I do like the TCR very much.

I wonder how the 14 wt. Xi2 will perform with a 600 grain shooting head?

The XP is a great series, especially for freshwater and the sub-tropic flats. I bought the 8 wt. when it first came out, but sold it a few months later because I couldn't find a use for it other than flats fishing. The butt section wasn't beefy enough. I've got a 5 wt. XP for freshwater now.

For 300-450 grain shooting heads, I still love my XTRs. I did break my 10 wt. on a good size striper in 130' of water, which had me suspect of the series. But since then I've had no problems with them. The 10 wt. breakage was probably my fault anyway, I was more than likely too aggressive with that fish.

I've never played with the Helix. My wife has an 8 wt. Vector. I like the rod very much, but find that it flexes to much into the bottom half of the rod. It's great for lazy days, but not my style for flats or stiff winds.

One of these days I'm going to try the CrossCurrent GLX. I'm kinda looking for a 9 wt.

Isn't it great talking about this stuff? :brow

Paul (#$119)

[mgustav]

Ouch.

Perhaps it was a dud. Try another.

[bmflyfisher]

Anyone have a T&T Helix series 8 or 9 weight they would like to cast an opinion on?

[ikan besar]

Anyone have a T&T Helix series 8 or 9 weight they would like to cast an opinion on?

I wouldn't put "helix" and "fast" in the same sentence...

[WinstonMan]

Just a vote for you to try the Winston XTR's. Wind and distance was part of your question, and that's what these rods are about, plus, you can get the 3 piece's for around $300 - $400 now if you look around cause they are only available in 5 piece this year.. I paid full price for all my XTR's.. :mad:

[bbanking]

I'm in the market for a strong and fast 8 and 9 weight rod to cast for bones into stong wind situations. Any recommendations out there?

There is a G Loomis Mega Taper 8/9-3 on Ebay now. The best rod for the money you can buy.

[bmflyfisher]

Anyone wish to compare the Winston XTR 5 piece to the St. Croix Legend Elite 5 piece in the #8 weight? I am interested in a smaller packable 9' rod that can punch into the wind.

[RogerStg]

YOu should look into the new TFO TiCr X in 8 wt [it only comes in 5 and 8 wt at this time]. Very fast and easy to throw into the wind.

[PeteV]

I'm fishing with Loomis Sage and Winston.
For What its Worth:
for Saltwater The Loomis GLX is a very nice fast rod
(expensive but nice).
Second I like my winston.
The Sage is very good I just prefer the other 2.

I have a bunch of trout rods and my older Sage SP+ 5wt is my favorite Fast action rig. My winston LT 5 piece is a close second.

[teflon_jones]

i have an albright 8 wt and WOW, does it cast well. i think it cost me around $325-340 or so. it's so effortless to throw 60-70 foot casts with! i demo'ed a scott 8 wt that cost $550 and the albright was just as good (maybe better). i also tried a $200 redington for comparison, but there was none. ;) the albright was well worth the extra $125!!!

[peter mac]

For me it would have to be the sage XP ........for me this is the finest casting rod on the planet, and best shallow water rod since the only draw back is that the rod does not have great lifting power. It is a cannon, wind is no worry........
Peter Mac

[sage fly guy]

i have an albright 8 wt and WOW, does it cast well. i think it cost me around $325-340 or so. it's so effortless to throw 60-70 foot casts with! i demo'ed a scott 8 wt that cost $550 and the albright was just as good (maybe better). i also tried a $200 redington for comparison, but there was none. ;) the albright was well worth the extra $125!!!


Yeah, it casts great, awesome in fact.



Blew up a 10 weight and an 8 weight on consectutive days.
The 10 weight on the first fish, the 8 weight on about the 5th fish, a teeny little 15#er. Not just snapped, shattered. If one of my old Redington LA's was on it instead of my new Nautilus I would have tossed it to Poseiden.


But let's realize that casting is only part of the sport, unless you spend all your time on the lawn. Most real world applications around the Northeast call for most casts to be less than 70'. With the proper shooting head, you can do that with a broom stick. Heck, I can shoot 90' on my 19wt with one false cast. Also factor in the fish fighting ability of the stick. I pull on a fly rod like I'm trying to break it, I give the fish no breathing room. If the hook pulls, it's because I didn't set it properly. If the leader/tippet snaps, it wasn't heavy enough. I fought a striper 2 weeks ago that whooped my so @$$ thoroughly that I sat out the next drift over 38" fish to rest and drink a bottle of water. The rod, a SAGE DS2. My first decent stick. I pulled on that stick so hard my buddy and brother started laughing. The tip touching the water. I fought him like I was trying to lift an engine block out of 20' of water. Man, that fish could pull.


Look great, cast great..................Fish worth pi$$.............Oh well, now I know why I have a dozen Sage's.

For perhaps the finest casting 8 weight try the SAGE TCR.

My little diatribe. Remember it's fly fishing, not just fly casting.

chris

[Mark Dougherty]

Just two words of advise : TCR !!!!! :brow

[twick]

I actually won a Sage 9wt TCR in a raffle (first raffle win of my life) and now have both the Sage 9wt TCR and RPLXi. I prefer the TCR for heavier wind and for throwing heavier flies. The RPLXi is a bet softer and slower, but also a great rod for bass, blues, albies, etc. I don't think I would have paid whatever it costs for the TCR but I do love it. I am sure we all have heard great things about Temple Forks, but I have not tried one yet.

[loophitech]

I used to be a big St. Croix fan and then I found a new love, the RPLXI, and not the Xi2. The difference is night and day in terms of casting, loading and landing fish. The RPLXi's are very fast and quick to recover, a bit faster than the St. Croix's. I also noticed the St. Croix's feel heavier and tired my arm out rather quickly. So, it all comes down to preference. Good luck.

LoopHiTech

[Too Fly]

How do you guys like the TCR from a boat? I loved it for the more level plain of the flats but have yet to try it from a boat.

Still love the XTRs and am now a fan of the CrossCurrent GLX.

Poor RPLXi's are relegated to back-up duty.

That's of course if I can get out this season. --124-3

[GravitySucks]

Scott STS 909-3.
Even in a gale, it will cast a wet hen to the end of the world.

[pops]

any opinions on the sage xi2 10wt ??

[sage fly guy]

Absolutely phenomenal rod. Get to your local shop and cast one. It's an equally top notch fish fighting tool as well. ;)

I built one from a blank this spring.

Mated it with an Old Florida Nautilus, one unbeatable combination. I own about 7-9 Sage's now and have never been disappointed with any of their performance, moreso on the water than the lawn.

chris

[deano]

If you're looking for the fastest rod, the Loomis GLX crosscurrent would be tied with the Sage TCR in the 8 and 9 weight. I can't compare the Winston to the above 2 rods because I've never cast it. I tried the TCR on the flats along with the GLX CC and I chose the GLX CC. The xpeditor warranty is a big plus in my book also.

Barry