I would like to build a 9'6" 5wt rod that is soft adn flexes through to the butt adn protects light tippit. However, it also needs to be fast. A bit of a contradiction.
Sage Method looks like hte best option.
Can anybody help with advice?

All rods will flex deeply into the butt if you apply enough load to them. That has to do with the power. Action is something else. Action is where the rod initially flexes. A fast action rod will flex initially in the upper 1/3rd. So there is no contradiction - you want a light power, fast action blank. Since there is no standard for what constitutes a 5-weight fly rod, you'll have to look for, or take advice from others, as to which 5-weight has a light enough power to suit you.

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Brian,
In a word, you are simply asking for a blank with an extra fast tip. Some are available.

Be safe

Haven't used that specific blank, but have used many 9 ft. models of various weights, soft is one thing that particular series blank is not.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/03/2017 12:45PM by Spencer Phipps.

The hook point is the business end. If you want a "soft" result you can use really stretchy monofilament. Gelspun braid will make a whippy rod as "hard" as a blank costing 3X as much. A fishing outfit and its performance is an assembly of several different constituent parts, including rod, reel, line, bait/lure, hook(s), and most important, the user.

Brian
What you are asking for does not exist.
fast and slow are terms that define where a blank "locks-up" under a defined load. The same blank cannot lock-up at the grip while simultaneously locking-up near the tip.
And as Spencer said - the Method is a very fast blank - not slow in the least. Nice blank - but not slow.
I think you should focus on a moderate to moderately fast blank.
Something like the CTS Affinity-MX.
Herb

He was not asking for "slow" and fast, but "soft" and fast!

Quite a few 4 wt. blanks out there that CC in the 5s, one being the Pac Bay Quickline 10 ft. 4 wt.

the rod needs to be 9'6"
There are a lot of 10' blanks out there
I would consider removing the first 6" from the butt section
Has anybody tried this?

Brian, what are you trying to accomplish with this blank?

I did read that you want it to be able to use light tippets, but what specifically is the use of this rod intended for? CTS does have several models that might fit you needs if you can provide some additional info.

Examples: Multi nymph rigs with indicators, Dry/dropper rigs, Multi rig of soft hackles? Ect.

It will be used on Lough Corrib
Primarily for small dries, long leaders (20') and probably distance
The tippit will be low diameter (~6x)
The fish will be up to 7lb

Brian,
Fine choice for a blank though a little pricey.
The Sage Method is a cannon for distance and is very smooth to boot.
Another manufacturer you might consider is Winston. Very smooth taper design.
I presume you are building a 1-hander.
Use single foot light wire titanium guides for the tip 4 guides.
Shorten the tip top barrel to reduce tip top weight.
You will be fishing "far and fine", so keep the rod tip weight to a minimum to increase rod tip velocity without snapping tippets.
Your enemy at distance, with that long leader, will be the wind. The rod can be over-lined to compensate.

Gene

Brian, my recommendation based on the above info, CTS Affinity M. While CTS does not show on their site that they make a 9-6, they will on a special order basis. They have done a gang of "one off" special order blanks for me. This series of blank is similar to what Herb recommended (Affinity MX) but with reduced power in the bottom 1/3 of the blank. I own one myself (8'-9" 5wt) and I use it for small dry/dropper rigs (#16 and smaller dry with a #18 or smaller nymph). I have used tippet down to 7x for the dropper, but mostly stick with 6x. While I don't ever find the need to go out to 20' feet of leader on my water, 14' is about as much as I need.

I also own an Affinity X 9-6 5wt, that is more of an Indicator nymph rod to me, while it will do dries just fine, the Affinity M just does the small dries better, more delicate in presentation.

Bill,
Thanks for explanation and suggestion of the "M".
Herb

Phil Ewanicki Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The hook point is the business end. If you want a
> "soft" result you can use really stretchy
> monofilament. Gelspun braid will make a whippy rod
> as "hard" as a blank costing 3X as much. A fishing
> outfit and its performance is an assembly of
> several different constituent parts, including
> rod, reel, line, bait/lure, hook(s), and most
> important, the user.

I like this...a lot.