Hello,

I was wondering if any of you have built the Rainshadow RX8 XF662-4. How fast is it, and is it a real 2wt, or more of a 3wt?

You'll have to define what makes a rod a "real 2-weight."

Keep in mind, that at some distance/line length, a 2-weight and a 3-weight weigh the same thing.

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Well, it's a 6'6" small stream stick. In that length, and marked as a 2wt, it should cast and fish well in the 15-30 foot range. As we all know, not all little 2wt rods cast and fish a 2wt line worth a crap within normal small stream fishing conditions. It should have an ERN in the 2's for that kind of work. So, basically, I would like to know if the XF662-4 really fishes a 2wt, or does it need a 3wt for my small stream perameters (15-30').

According to who? The measured section of fly line according to AFTMA is 30 feet, so at the minumum you'd expect it to load only once you're holding 30 feet of line beyond the tip.

If you find a blank with an ERN of say 2.5, you'd need about 25 to 30 feet to easily load your rod. If you want to do it with less than that. you might want to look at an ERN of 1.5 to 2.0, if you can find such a thing.

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Don't know about the RX8, but the RX6 is definitely a good short line 2wt. I have built many of them and fish one myself in the small Sierra streams



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/23/2012 11:12PM by Phil Erickson.

Phil, I've cast the RX6 2pc 2wt and didn't care for it.

Has anyone here built the RX8 and fished it? Does it fish a 2wt line in normal small stream situations, or does it need to be overlined in the 15'-30' range?

I have an rx8+ 8'6 4wt I know it is a different beast but it ern's at 6.4. I use it for a differnent purpose than I bought it for, It is a very nice streamer rod with a 6wt line. I also have a 6'6 rx7 2wt I have never ern'ed but for a short distance brookie rod I use a 4wt. I have a feeling that blank would be a nice short distance rod with a 4wt line and dead with a 2wt but I have never tried one.

Bob

If you can get the numbers on it

The one below is rated extra fast ????????

Ihave found the RX 6 blanks to be soft

Bill - willierods.com

If you can get the numbers on it

The one below is rated extra fast ????????

Ihave found the RX 6 blanks to be soft

Try a search here for a spinning blank A lot of builders have used them for Tip flex with But power

Bill - willierods.com

If you are referring to the XF662-4 6'-6" 4 pc rated by batson for a 2 wt line - go ahead and build it. I have built a number of these - one for myself and a few others for fishing our local spring creek and it is will be one of your favorite dry fly and multi fly nymph you'll own.
Regards,
CP