Compliments of the season to you all.

If you had your choice of a premium 3wt rod what rod would you build on and why?

Sage Z-Axis, 4 pc.

Why?
Lightweight blank
Coupled with the REC Recoil sf guides, it is a wonderful action, excellent casting machine
Beautiful dark green blank

The most expensive of course. Hence the word "premium". I'd probablly talk to the elite bamboo builders and go for a more natural and traditional approach for the blank. Can they build a 3wt out of bamboo stalk? Building a blank from raw bamboo is craftsmenship to the tenth degree that doesnt see alot of interest on this site in the age of graphite and glass scrims. When your presenting a handcrafted fly in a small brook or stream for a "not the steelhead" type of fish, I'd reach out for tradition and Issac Walton(?) kind of class.

The vendors to the left also carry 3wts...pick the lightests and most expensive....its a 3 wt fly rod, it aint rocket science.

(search issac walton and zaphod breeeblebox....you might get it)

NERB that types with a bar of Ivory soap in his mouth.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2009 02:12AM by Michael Joyce.

Revised



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2009 08:01PM by Jeff Shafer.

Actually, a rod that has "3-weight" written on the label is indeed a "3-weight" rod, at some distance. That's the problem - any rod will cast any line at some distance. So whatever line weight designation the maker puts on the rod, is correct, at some distance. They just don't tell you what distance they've listed that line weight for.

A rod with and ERN of 3.5 won't necessarily be the best for casting a 3-weight line. It all depends on the distance involved in your cast. If you plan to fish very small streams with a 3-weight line, and cast no more than perhaps 10 to 20 feet, then a rod with an ERN of 2 to 2.5 would be better.

"Premium" isn't something you can find by price alone. There are many blanks on the market today that cost very little, but perform in the "premium" class. Particulary in the shorter lengths.

...............

Take a look at the Dan Craft FT-904 or FT-846, I,ve built on the 904 and would put it up against any of the other premium blanks both in value for your money and performance. Just my opinion.

In the last year, I've built eight Dan Craft FT 863-4 blanks and two three weight FTL's. My own 3wt FT I use a four wt line. The two FTL's I built for customers I cast with 3 wt lines and they were VERY nice to cast with

Try the Batson RX6 Forecast 7' 9" 3 wt. An excellent small stream fly rod at a very low price. Also try the Batson RX7 Rainshadow 9' 3 wt. The Rainshadow costs a bit more but I found this rod throws a 3 wt. distance taper very well.

Thomas and Thomas Paradigm 8 foot 2-piece
Wonderful casting rod nothing comes close

The Lamiglas Apalachain XMG 50 blanks would be on my list of 3 wts. I too have always enjoyed the Dan Craft Sig III and FTL 3 wts.

I agree with Tom, Of course he knows way more than me. But, On the price is not necessarily the issue point, I have found that the price of the blank is not really relevant. I have an 8' 3 wt that was sold as a four, has an ERN of about 3.2 according to my sketchy measurements, casts well between 35 and 60 feet and has a mod-fast action, best part, the rod weighs 2.3 ounces and I paid 23 dollars for the blank after shipping. It was my first build and I still love the rod. I also have a 9' 7wt that is built on a 240.00 blank that I absolutely hate. the blank weighs over 2 ounces, has ZERO sensitivity (you cannot feel it load, but it is loading) fairly fast action, and if you watch your line it will cast as far as you want. With 50 feet of line out you still can't feel it load. Tried an 8 wt line and it is slightly better but won't cast as well. Anyway off the rod I hate, sorry. Tom is right, and I am sure he is right on his point about distance as well, he tends to know his stuff.

So, If I wanted a 3wt rod I would get the one I got, If I were going to get a premium I would get a Sage TXL becaus I think they are wonderful, but I have only cast one at a shop, can't afford one.