Thanks for the add to the forum. i hope this question is appropriate for this forum.

I am looking to build another fly rod this winter and through my google searches for 10' 3wt blanks, this forum kept popping up. I've read over those posts and they have provided some great information about current blanks designed for euro nymphing. I am trying to keep my budget on this rod as close to $200 as I can which limits what I can purchase. It appears many on this site would choose the CTS Affinity X but that is out of my range.

From what I was able to find, options within my range would include flyrodcrafters euro nymph blank (10' 3wt), H&H Xi Czech nymph blank (10' 3wt) or Proof fly fishing (10' 3/4wt). All three of these appear fairly similar. However from what I've read on the forum, many blanks are not designed specifically for nymphing but are longer rods marketed as euro blanks.


Here comes my question. Does anyone know how those rods, specifically the one from Proof, compare to the Orvis clearwater 10' 3wt that is currently sold? I may purchase the clearwater rod and build a 6wt instead, if the clearwater is an overall better nymphing rod.

Anthony,

As the U.S. CTS Rep - I can tell you that the CTS 10'0" Affinity-X #3 is not above your price range.
Email me if you wish to proceed.
Herb

I looked for a blank suitable to build in to a proper nymph rod and came up with the same conclusions you have. I know there was talk not long ago of cts coming out with a new euro blank for our market but Herb would know most about that. I would think , unless you can check out the cts, would be to go with a production euro rod and build yourself the 5wt. There are some excellent blank options out there for typical actioned fly rods.

Herb - just sent you an email

Ross - yeah, that’s the way I’m leaning as well dependent on what I hear from Herb. Considering most euro rod recommendations are to keep it somewhat stealthy in color, it would probably be more fun to build a 6 weight that I can make more flashy as it would be used as a streamer rod. I would love to build another epic rod too.


Thanks for your input

Hi Anthony, my journey to building euro nymphing rods is similar to yours, and I also found most 10' blanks to be really just standard fly rods that lacked the euronymphing soft tip.
My experiences:
-Batson 10' 5wt (the green blank): 5 wt. is too big/stiff for trout euronymphing.
-H&H Xi 10' 4wt: definitely lacks the delicacy for maintaining contact w/ nymph rigs; heavy
-Pac Bay Quickline 10'4 wt: a much nicer, lighter, more sensitive blank, though still tip-stiff. I use for high-water when I've got a lot of shot on the rig.

Like you are considering, I broke down and got an Orvis recon 10' 3wt and all the mechanics of euro and tightline nymphing are making sense; I have great connection to the flies. And to me, the three weight really is the best all-around weight for a nymphing rod; the 4s are kind of heavy, which unfortunately are the smallest weights most blank manufacturers have at the moment.

I'm also looking forward to the CTS line of euro blanks.

Best, Angelo.

I have the Proof Czech rod. I purchased 2 blanks from proof and built one for me and the other for a friend. I have not fished mine yet, however he has fished it and really likes it. From my understanding the Proof is designed as a Czech rod. Call Matt at Proof. He knows what he is talking about and is easy to get in touch with.

I have the H&H Xi10' 3-wt. but have not wrapped it up yet. I do have an H&H Xi 9 ft. 5wt rod for general trout fishing and find it to be an extremely good rod for nymphing, so I have hope for the 3 wt.

PacBay now has a 10' 9" Arctos in a 3-weight.

As indicated above, CTS makes top-notch blanks.