So i've been eyeballing this series of rods for a number of years. I finally sold off my echo and okuma graphites, and now I was able to purchase this rod. All I can say is, forget any full flex graphite you've used, these babies are the real deal. In fact, they are even more flexible than my old lamiglass "honey" 2/3 weight rod. They offer a 2 weight in the 7' 6" and a 7' foot 3 weight. They are both 2 piece rods. The two weight is really IT for me as far as a brookie rod goes. An 8-9 inch brookies bends this rod through the whole blank. It's almost a hold on and giggle kind of fight. I would not take this rod after big, pissed off browns, but thats not what a 2 weight should be about anyways.
Another positive thing that can be said for this rod- the blanks, components, and assembly are all done right here in the United States. And the rod was 249 dollars, which is a very fair price for a top quality, american made product. The company is based out of Flippin, Arkansas. I find that they were great about returning my calls and walking me through the process of building this rod. Don't get that kind of service at a big box store.
After talking with some of my friends over at the ultralightflyrodders, they all have to agree that this is the most flexible graphite rod currently in production. I tried the new orvis superfine touch, and it was fast in comparison to this rod.
I feel like glass and boo users would enjoy this rod, but those who are into "faster is better" type graphite may be disgusted by it's slow action. I guess it all boils down to personal preference. One note on lines however- it seems to cast a SA WF GPX line better than anything else for some reason. Must be the rod taper. It did not like my DT H and H Hi-Floater line. But with the GPX it preforms flawlessly.
If you have any questions about this rod, send me a PM. I've been through over a dozen fly rods looking for the perfect small stream rod, with the perfect "fish on" feel, and this is it.
Some more information from the dorber site:
Ultra-Weave by Rebrod, Inc.
We believe Ultra-Weave to be perhaps the greatest advancement backwards in the past thirty years. By backwards we mean back to rods that performed better from cast to net. Rebrod has harnessed the power and durability of carbon fiber weave into a rod that performs remarkably like bamboo with only one third the weight and a tenth of the cost. The blank loads from butt to tip and stays loaded throughout the duration of the casting stroke. There is no guesswork trying to figure out if the rod is loaded or not. And a fully loaded rod transmits more of the casting energy you put into the rod to the line you're trying to cast. We'll be the first to admit that the average fly fisher won't be able to boast to his or her friends that they can cast this rod like the "parking lot" variety.....But, no matter how far you can cast, you will do it more accurately than you've ever dreamed you could and break off fewer fish once you're out there. And for you midge and nymph casters, your delicate flys will fall naturally. As if this were all not enough, we believe these to be the lightest, most durable, break and crush resistant graphite rods ever crafted. Models range from 7 foot 3 weight to 9 foot 10 weight. We even have a 6 foot 9 inch 5 weight. We don't know why for sure, but the rod worked so well that we left it in the line hoping someone would find a specific use for it.
http://www.dorber.com/flyrods.html
