Help me build a rok solid fly set up.

[Stache Attack]

Talked with two fly guides one is father in law other is a guy I guide elk with during archery. One was frustrated with airflo one liked them, both frustrated with Rio. Both said just buy the SA amplitude trout GP. Going that direction for 30 bucks more. Worth it if it lasts.

Figured let others know. I fish quite a bit in the summer 3wt, 5wt, and limited 8-9w for muskies. This 5wt gets great use one some larger trout. Maybe pick up an airflo for my 3 weight echo carbon with Lamson liquid reel. Might load it up and use a 4 wt line

 

[B Harrison]

I guessed as much, before I got to the part where you said so.

I run some very low-end fiberglass.

I also run a Chinese Eagle Claw FL 300 -8 Featherlight 8' 5/6, which was the cheapest fly rod on Amazon when I bought it new in 2018 for $25.00. I paired it with a Cabela's Wind River WR2 reel, bought on sale for $19.99.

Fish, being the salubrious creatures that they are, don't care where my rod was made, what it was made from, who made it, or what branding is on the blank.

You run those rods with clients?

I’m trying to not support China as much as possible…
A great deal of the testing on a few of mine was done on the Res in Cherokee, NC by a guide there.

Most of it is simply personal.


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[B Harrison]

lol sage isn’t Chinese.

Maybe… but it’s very likely some of those blanks roll right in with the Redington stuff.
Simms USA stuff can be bought from China, Lamson stuff ships from Korea….


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[thinhorn_AK]

Maybe… but it’s very likely some of those blanks roll right in with the Redington stuff.
Simms USA stuff can be bought from China, Lamson stuff ships from Korea….


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I think you’re mixing a few things up, some simms stuff is indeed made in China, the g4 stuff is made in the USA, at least the waders still are but yeah, most simms stuff is made overseas.

Redington is definetly made in China or South Korea, sage is still manufactured in Washington from beginning to end. It’s m not sure where the hardware is from but the blanks are absolutely rolled in the USA.

I don’t necessarily have a problem with overseas made rods, but I do take issue when they start charging USA made prices (hardy and epic to name a few). If I’m spending a thousand bucks on a rod I want one made in the USA.

 

[B Harrison]

I think you’re mixing a few things up, some simms stuff is indeed made in China, the g4 stuff is made in the USA, at least the waders still are but yeah, most simms stuff is made overseas.

Redington is definetly made in China or South Korea, sage is still manufactured in Washington from beginning to end. It’s m not sure where the hardware is from but the blanks are absolutely rolled in the USA.

I don’t necessarily have a problem with overseas made rods, but I do take issue when they start charging USA made prices (hardy and epic to name a few). If I’m spending a thousand bucks on a rod I want one made in the USA.

I won’t argue with you bud, I have a couple friends who actually own/ part of a very famous facility in WA state.

The info I have is 2nd party, so not really argument worthy, but most of it checked out years ago, and it always hurts people’s feelings.

We agree 100% on selling $50 rods for $650-$800.


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[thinhorn_AK]

I won’t argue with you bud, I have a couple friends who actually own/ part of a very famous facility in WA state.

The info I have is 2nd party, so not really argument worthy, but most of it checked out years ago, and it always hurts people’s feelings.

We agree 100% on selling $50 rods for $650-$800.


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I’m not sure whose feelings are hurt. But things are either made in the USA or not, a simple search shows they Sage is made in the USA, Redington is owned by the same company and they are not USA made.

I’m not arguing nor are my feelings hurt, maybe the cheaper sage rods were/are made in china, maybe people are lying who knows but when companies claim made in the USA there is a legal standard they need to meet.

I’d imagine sage reels are made overseas but who buys those?

 

[Thinkingman]

Talked with two fly guides one is father in law other is a guy I guide elk with during archery. One was frustrated with airflo one liked them, both frustrated with Rio. Both said just buy the SA amplitude trout GP. Going that direction for 30 bucks more. Worth it if it lasts.

Figured let others know. I fish quite a bit in the summer 3wt, 5wt, and limited 8-9w for muskies. This 5wt gets great use one some larger trout. Maybe pick up an airflo for my 3 weight echo carbon with Lamson liquid reel. Might load it up and use a 4 wt line

I was just about to post many people are disappointed with Rio and how long it lasts.
I have Rio, Airflo and SA and keep going back to SA and haven't been disappointed.
I would watch Sierra Trading Post.
Guides get Pro Deals and if you can make that happen, but top shelf.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I was just about to post many people are disappointed with Rio and how long it lasts.
I have Rio, Airflo and SA and keep going back to SA and haven't been disappointed.
I would watch Sierra Trading Post.
Guides get Pro Deals and if you can make that happen, but top shelf.

I like SA the best personally. The only Rio line I have at the moment is an elite tarpon 10wt. I’ve had fairly good luck with airflo but I only use their sinking lines like the streamer max short and the shovelhead. I’m not sure if they still make those since Kelly galloup parted ways with airflo and went to cortland.

When my last 2 airflo lines wear out, break or get replaced I’ll be looking at the Kelly galloup lines from cortland.

I actually have a very airflo saltwater lines that I never used 8wt and 10wt. If anybody needs a saltwater line I’d let those go for super cheap.

All that to say I agree that SA probably had the best lines right now. I use the anadro indicator for steelhead, the grandslam, infinity salt, bonefish and bonefish plus for saltwater.

 

[B Harrison]

I’m not sure whose feelings are hurt. But things are either made in the USA or not, a simple search shows they Sage is made in the USA, Redington is owned by the same company and they are not USA made.

I’m not arguing nor are my feelings hurt, maybe the cheaper sage rods were/are made in china, maybe people are lying who knows but when companies claim made in the USA there is a legal standard they need to meet.

I’d imagine sage reels are made overseas but who buys those?

The legal standard is very loose, and I developed my opinion based on relationships with manufacturers, and other industry professionals, who are reps, designers, partners…… not the website.

If you believe the websites, the marketing director is also a rod designer.
That just doesn’t make sense for the big companies.

I have spoken to a few of these people, and they can’t answer questions about fiber source, or scrim, …….
Guys who design rods are complete geeks about those things


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[thinhorn_AK]

The legal standard is very loose, and I developed my opinion based on relationships with manufacturers, and other industry professionals, who are reps, designers, partners…… not the website.

If you believe the websites, the marketing director is also a rod designer.
That just doesn’t make sense for the big companies.

I have spoken to a few of these people, and they can’t answer questions about fiber source, or scrim, …….
Guys who design rods are complete geeks about those things


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I’m not even clear about what you’re saying at this point. Sage is lying and makes their rods in China? And somebody who owns a manufacturing plant (who you know) then isn’t actually manufacturing anything since they are getting sage rods from China???

I’m no sage fan boy but I have a very hard time believing this.

 

[Thinkingman]

I like SA the best personally. The only Rio line I have at the moment is an elite tarpon 10wt. I’ve had fairly good luck with airflo but I only use their sinking lines like the streamer max short and the shovelhead. I’m not sure if they still make those since Kelly galloup parted ways with airflo and went to cortland.

When my last 2 airflo lines wear out, break or get replaced I’ll be looking at the Kelly galloup lines from cortland.

I actually have a very airflo saltwater lines that I never used 8wt and 10wt. If anybody needs a saltwater line I’d let those go for super cheap.

All that to say I agree that SA probably had the best lines right now. I use the anadro indicator for steelhead, the grandslam, infinity salt, bonefish and bonefish plus for saltwater.

I just bought an SA Anadro Indicator for 5wt nymphing.
Great line.
Paired it with a Redington 10' 5wt and I'm really liking the setup.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I just bought an SA Anadro Indicator for 5wt nymphing.
Great line.
Paired it with a Redington 10' 5wt and I'm really liking the setup.

Nice. I have an anadro indicator on my 9’8” 8wt Scott swing that I use for steelhead and coho. Great line, especially when I’m doing stupid stuff like launching pegged eggs with weight and an indicator. It mends well.

 

[Thinkingman]

Nice. I have an anadro indicator on my 9’8” 8wt Scott swing that I use for steelhead and coho. Great line, especially when I’m doing stupid stuff like launching pegged eggs with weight and an indicator. It mends well.

It literally changed my mending game