Bonefish/ Permit Rod

[Seany Boy]

Dear All,

I was looking for some advice about bonefish/ permit rods, I am currently using a Snowbee 8# xs-pro rod, a really great rod IMHO. I have taken to overlining the rod with a 9# sink tip line when the wind gets up or swapping to my spare 9# outfit. With a 9# line however I have to shorten the line out to pick it up, pretty odvious really due to the extra weight. I was wondering if there was an 8# rod that could handle the extra weight of a 9# line, but still have a soft enough tip for quiet presentation on a 8# line. The other thing I would like in a rod is a progressive action in the butt. I am running a Nautilus 8 with 300m + of 50lb gelspun, so if say a very large permit (oh yes please) picked up my fly, I have the capacity and drag to let it run, but the rod would still has to be able to apply from the butt section.
Don't want much do I! any ideas?

Thanks

Sean

:)

[Jim Royston]

The Winston XTR 8 wt. could easilly handle the 9 weight line. In fact, most guys like to overline this rod (I don't). If you can find a deal on the old Sage RPL+, that would work also. Most fast action 8's will handle 9 weight line well.

[jake61198]

While the XTR will do the job, it certainly is not softer in the tip. In fact it's a very fast action rod meant for sinking lines and it does have a better feel when using floating lines if it is overlined by one weight. On the other hand the Winston BIIx will handle one line weight over ( although I prefer not to ) , has a softer tip, and with the boron butt section will let you put the butt to a fish. All in all, I think it is as sweet a rod as any on the market.

[Tarpon41]

My point of view... the bights of andros and key west...always floating... For the bights i fish a TCR 9wt with cortland 444 tropic plus 9... that's because i am primarily bonefishing...if i we are on the ocean flats and permit possible i'll switch to either the 10 wt TCR with 10 wt cortland tropic plus or my three piece XTR 11 wt with rio clouser/permit...which? it depends on how much wind. Now if it's key west then always the 11 wt XTR if we are seriously fishing for permit why? because my guide says so and because seriously fishing means 15 knot wind with the guide's merkin selection... i cast it better in 15 knots than my 9 or 10 and the fish don't seem to mind the 11 wt plop in the chop if i get the fly to the fish...not seriously fishing for permit is calm to 10 knots and then it's tarpon first...if the other two show then it's the 11 wt with the tarpon fly...i am not fast enough in me old age to grab the 9 or 10 quick and quietly enough to make a cast before the guide says forget it he's gone. I would get any salt spec rod at whatever weight that you can cast 50- 60 feet of line plus 10 feet of leader in 15 knots with any merkin...small/medium and large attached.

[Swalt]

Temple Fork's TICR and TICR-X are both fast action rods with a powerful butt section. I bonefish with both the 7 and 9 wts and overline so I can load and cast quickly. Most of my fishing is wading so most fish are inside 60'. Just backcast and shoot. The 9wt easily handled a permit of around 20#, a couple double digit bones and tarpon up to 30#. Priced in my price range too.

[Kuskus68]

I would check out the Sage xps they are on closeout in sierra trading post .comI think its Sages best rod I own two an 8wt and a 9ft 3wt.

[Too Fly]

I'll second the Boron IIx. It's got a lot of backbone (boron), yet it's got a softer tip than the XTR and is light in the hand. I do love my 8 wt. XTR with a 350 on it though. But for permit fishing, where presentation will likely be key, a rod with more finesse might work out better for you. Check First Light Anglers in Rowley out. They've always got the IIx's in stock.

Paul

[Strat]

8wt Sage XP - one of the best flats rods of all time IMHO