Soooo many choices.... :-(

[riflmn]

G'day everyone,

I am after some opinions (preferably un-biased) with regards to a new flyrod.

Very sadly, on opening day for the high country, and my first time out for two years, 2 hours into my day, the tip section of CD Downunder Series GIII #7-#8 snapped mid cast. Now I have had this rod since new around 1999. I have got a lot of wonderful memories tied up with it. As you would expect, there is no way they can replace the part. It is a dinosaur apparently.

So moving forward I am looking at the purchase of a new rod.

So what I am after are some opinions about the various rods I am looking at, and whether anyone has used them and how would they rate each of the rods. I have been looking at various price options from low to high.

Now I would not rate myself as the worlds best caster by any means. I tend to favour lake fishing. Now in Canterbury that means contending with the damn Nor Wester on a fairly frequent basis. Having just replaced my lines and reels, I do not want to drop down a weight or two. new lines are a WF7F and a WF8S Di5. New reels are Lamson Liquid 3.5.

So to the rods I would like an opinion on:-

$499 - CD XLS II 8 weight
$529 - TRYCD heavy+
$1129 - EPIC 888 Fastglass
$1530 - Orvis Helios 3D

Now I know technologies have changed so much since my Downunder was made. But reading each website about their rods does not give me a fair understanding of the true capabilities of their rods against the competitors version, because they are purely about trying to sell their product, and fair enough too I suppose, but how is one supposed to be able to choose when they all seems so much alike

So any comments and or suggestions are very welcome please.

Thanks in advance

Robert

P.S. If I do choose the more expensive options, then I will make damn sure the wife never finds out....

[Johnno]

https://www.flyshop.co.nz/product/primal_fly_rods.html


This will do everything you want..... great rods...

[Andy W]

Johnno is probably right – plenty of people rave about Primal rods. But whatever you do, get your mits on any rod before you plonk down the dosh, and try it out. No use buying a rod if the casting action is wrong for your stroke. Now might also be a good time to also consider a lighter rod as a 5 wt is plenty sufficient for the high-country lakes about here, unless your doing a lot of night fishing with big streamers in the in-flowing streams at Coleridge. My 7 wt only gets out in the Rakaia or Waimak these days – any day at the lakes I use a 5 wt and sometimes a 4 wt.

[fraser hocks]

Yeah I'd back Andy's comments. Rods are a very personal thing, as some love super stiff rods and others love softer slower rods (like myself).

The Epic 888 is a nice slow soft action rod where as some of the other rods you mentioned are very fast stiff rods. So you really have picked rods at the extremes of actions.

Iv got several 8# but they only come out when I head out to fish in the ocean for kingfish and kahawai. My go to rod for trout is a 5#, but more and more a 4# is my rod weight of choice. An 8# for trout is like using a sledgehammer to put in pin nails.

[Johnno]

Fair enough Fraser until that nor’wester kicks up at 10.30am ( you can set you watch by it). A five or Four weight is useless.... even an eight weight struggles.
I’d also suggest that the softer slower glass Epic isn’t a good choice for nor’wester days in the Canty high county

[fraser hocks]

If I can't cast to a trout with a stiff 6# rod, then it's time to go get a beer.

Casting ability has a lot to do with it. Someone who knows how to use a #5 will deal with strong wind better than a poor caster with a 8#. A casting lesson to deal with wind can make a hell of a difference.

We get a similar wind up Glenorchy way. Howll's down the valley creating a huge dust storm.

[Steve]

I've recently cast both the Primal and the TRYCD; a little comparison with some other rods, both have a lot going for them, certainly a lot of value when compared to the top end stuff for a lot less $$

The TRYCD to me, is a clever concept, all the parts interconnect between the 5/6 and the 7/8, so you can change the rods action, by for instance, putting the top two top two sections of the 5/6 on the 7/8 or whatever, so you can match the conditions on the day with the one kit, so pretty neat I think. The only thing that I found a bit of a fiddle was to get everything to fit into a spot in the carry case, otherwise quite impressed after that initial cast

[fraser hocks]

Yea I agree Steve, I do like the concept of the TRYCD. Il have to have a try sometime. Defiantly sounds like a good idea for someone that doesn't want to own a feather of rods.

I typically take between 3-5 rods when I head out for a days fishing, which I know to some sounds ludicrous, but would you go play a round of golf with only a 9Iron? I can be fishing anything from a big back country river to a tiny overgrown brook, so having a rod to suit the scenario is essential in my opinion.

[Andy W]

If I can't cast to a trout with a stiff 6# rod, then it's time to go get a beer.

If the forecast on YR is for the nor'west to exceed 4m/s, I don't bother going to our high country lakes. Any caddis hatch stops dead the moment the wind is more than a zephyr, and while you can plug away hoping for terrestrials to be blown onto the lake and deploying a Loves Lure/ Black Gnat or WHY, that is mostly a waste of time too. Same for switching to a damsel nymph. NCF&G have now ceased stocking of the put and take lakes - and it shows.

The same situation with the wind killing the feeding occurs around the Ashburton lakes too. I am reading the visitors books from our L. Clearwater lodge at present, and there is a common theme - "the nor'west came up, and the fish stopped feeding".

As soon as the nor'wester gets over 4 m/s, its time to head towards home via the bottle store for some crafties.

[TIDDLER]

If the forecast on YR is for the nor'west to exceed 4m/s,
SLIGHTLY OFF TOPIC . I HAVE PROMOTED YR.NO. AS A WEATHER SITE QUITE A LOT ON THIS FORUM .
HAVE YOU NOTED THAT FOR ABOUT THE LAST YEAR OR SO THEIR FORECASTING HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN VERY ACCURATE . I WROTE TO THEM TWICE BUT THEY TELL ME THEY TAKE THEIR FORECASTS OFF ANOTHER WORLD WEATHER AUTHORITY. DURING THIS LAST WINTER AND SPRING THERE HAS BEEN SOME BAD MISTAKES
Al