I have a friend who wants me to build a light weight 10ft 4wt fly rod for him. I initally suggested a DC FT 1004 - 4, then I looked at the CC data sheet and saw it has a ERN of 6.8!!???. The St Croix SCIV looks good too, but I'm wondering if the ERN on the DC rod may be an issue (throwing 4wt line)?

Inybody built these rods, and have an opinion on them?

Thanks in advance!

Denis,
I have some AllStar Austin 1004-2 and 1005-2 on sale. Check my website for details. These are phenomenal rods that have been discontinued from production!

Andy Dear
aldear@lamarreelseats.com
210-845-7456

Denis. I haven,t tryed a 4 wt but have a 10 ft 5wt FT from Dan Craft. I really like it and it casts just fine with a 5 wt forward line. I also have a G L 3 Loomis 9ft 9in in 5 wt and prefer the Dan Craft to it, longer casts, can set a dry fly softer, better feel in my opinion. Daryl Dertell

I would not worry about the ERN of the FT. I have a 9' FT 4wt that I've fished all last summer out of a pontoon boat and love it. It throws the best loops that I've ever cast and I had no trouble breaking off fish with an intermediate line and 4 to 5x tippet. The CCS data seem a bit misleading to me on this blank. The relatively light tip throws a tight fast loop up to about 30 feet. The power of the rod begins to kick in after that and allows an incredible amount of line to be held in the air, picked off the water or shot with a double haul. It is a great fish fighting tool also. My understanding is that the 10' blank is a bit more parabolic in its action than the 9'.

The FTs are a puzzle when it comes to CCS. Dan originally had some qualms about CCS; soon after he brought us the FT, which are great. The soft tip is of course longer on the 10 footers and the strong butt is not so strong in the lower line weights so it bends more in more of a arch like Dave says. You'll just have to have faith. People seems to love the 1004-4 for its marked line weight.

Josh Markvan
www.markvanheirloom.com