Hi
I´m kinda new in rodbuilding and I´m looking for a blank 6 wt for trout fishing, freshwater mainly, windy conditions.
I´m wondering about Proof fly fishing 9' 6wt. (four piece) carbon fiber fast action vs matrix AMERICAN TACKLE AMF906 (MAF906) FLY ROD BLANK, 9', 6 WT.
Any comments please!

Thanks

American tackle all the way. Their fly blanks are better than you would think. And they’re lighter stuff is as good as any light freshwater fly blank I have used.

Traditional lines and rods work well in their place but are neither designed for or very effective in windy conditions. You should test-cast a 6 wt. Temple Forks 6 wt. BVK with a weight-forward 7 wt. line on a windy day to see how it performs. But if your casts are all less than 20 feet long, no worries - pick the prettiest rod.

Like Mike said... the Matrix is one of those hidden gems that everyone seems to love.... not only beautiful but also easy to cast.

Like Phil mentioned.. with any fly rod play with your lines and figure out the best one for you and your rod.

_______________________________
God Bless, Don Morse

800-516-1750 ext. 1207 / don@americantackle.us

Rod Building..... It's What We Do.

I have a Matrix showing up at my house tomorrow, 7wt. Cant wait to build it, I pick up these blanks at the ICRBE show and was amazed at the weight and feel of them.

If it is windy, just over line your 5wt with a 6wt line (assuming you have a 5 wt). I would make a 7 wt instead that way you can deal with wind better and throw larger streamer flies when its calm. I travel to southern Patagonia about twice a year and in the summer (December January) it is really windy on some days, like 40 knots plus and a 7 wt is minimum. It will also work on calm to slightly windy days in saltwater. That being said; it doesn't hurt to have as many fly rods as possible. I have only picked up and played with the Matrix AT blanks and they do feel "right" to me but I have not messed with any Proof blanks.

Are you new to fly fishing or just rod building? I have never really heard a bad thing said about a Matrix rod on this forum, and I have read positive feeedback on Proof as well, but I have not fished either. What rod are you currently fishing? Do you like it or not? Do you like a rod with fast or medium action?

Thanks for your answer all....

New to rodbuilding yes, new to fly fishing no.

I do have loop blackline #6, kinda like it but not :)

I did look into TFO bvk like Phil pointed out, I might go for that one for now. But matrix and proof fly are on bucket list for next rod.

Thanks.....

I've not tossed a Loop fly rod, so cannot comment.

The BVK has been kind of an honored and well-reviewed rod in the lower priced OEM world, and has had a long life cycle. Fairly stout but not a broom stick. You can always go to a shop and test cast a few rods to see what feel you really like. also, as to price range, since you mention Proof and Matrix, I am presuming you are thinking under $100 for a blank. As to BVK, blanks for that model are available to the public. A Matrix blank would be of similar quality, tho likely feel and cast a bit differently. Rod Builders Warehouse has some Diamond Back blanks on deep discount right now, tho I have never tossed them I have heard good things. At the $70 to $100 price range the great thing is the modern carbon technology gives us some great options -- Matrix certainly one of them.

Matrix rod blanks are always a treasured raffle win at our annual rodbuilding gathering. There must be a reason. My only Matrix is built as a panfish spin rod, and it does well there.