Bo rod blnaks.th CTS, and Epic are renowned for their rod blank quality. I have a friend hwo is an avid fly fisher, and swears by Winston, and Epic. I love my Winston, and CTS gear, but have never used Epic. Why would you choose CTS over the Epic,, besides the fact that Herb is so great to work with?

Tight Lies and frisky fish

RJF

Are we talking glass, or carbon? I believe I was told some time ago tne Epic had their glass made by CTS. Another worth noting is the new NFC Iconoglass, well recieved also, but not as well known yet.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2022 11:24AM by Spencer Phipps.

Bob,
Thank you for the kind words.
What I like about the language CTS employs in its marketing is that they tell you what modulus graphite is used - 57 msi.
To my knowledge, no other manufacturer does this.

Also - absent from the CTS language are terms like "nano" and "graphene" are absent from their PR material.
Like "Boron" - the amount of Graphene, when included in a blank, is minimal.
CTS has, in fact, experimented with graphene and found that if used above a very low threshold, made the blank brittle.

What CTS does provide to the builder/caster is an honest blank with one of the industries fastest recovery rate and lightest swing weight (weight in the hand).
Regards,
Herb
CTS

Not sure it is still true, but at one time, CTS made the Epic rod blanks.

The first generation of Epic blanks, fiberglass, were rolled by CTS. The tapers were similar to some of the same CTS blanks and a few were totally different along with length and line weight configurations. Couple of things really exposed Epic to the glass world of flyfishers, they really did a bang up job of advertising and marketing their products. Were some of their blanks better than a CTS in the same length and line weight, yeah, a few really stood out in some folks opinions. Epic's 686-3, 888-4, and the 7-9 10wt Bandit seemed to be stand outs in popularity and something "new" and "cool" to us glass geeks. At the same time CTS did and still has several sweet offerings in Fiberglass, their 764 (2,3 and 4pc) is a great taper, the 3wt model in the same length is also great. I also hold the 8"-6" 4 to 7wts in high regard. Their 8'-8" 8wt is also very good. What CTS does not do is market and advertise much compared to other companies.

For several years CTS did roll the Epic blanks and when Epic first arrived on the scene, all you could get from them were blanks, then they moved into offering studio built rods and kits. Once CTS stopped offering 3rd party blank work, Epic had to source their blanks from someplace else. Its pretty easy to tell the difference between a CTS rolled Epic vs the new Epic's. The ones rolled by CTS, they look like a CTS in terms of color and finish, sanded painted blanks. The newer Epic's have a painted finish, but the spiral from the tape wrap is still there. Plus the ferrule stations are a different style of tip over butt, they are sanded on the male section, something CTS is now doing with their blanks, but they still look a bit different.

I don't think CTS rolled any of Epic's Carbon blanks, if my memory is right, Epic did not offer them until they sourced another blank company. I have no experience with the Epic Carbon, but I will say I have never cast or fished a CTS Carbon fly rod that I did not like. Its like Herb said, they offer great recovery and low swing weight.

My other praise for CTS, customer service. I have had to return a couple of customers rods over the years (broken tip, butt section stepped on, never a "blank failure") and I have never had a problem getting a replacement section for the rod and in a timely manner.

My only complaint on CTS, terrible website when looking up blank models, but we have Herb.

I broke the upper half of a two piece CTS rod reeling in a giant lake trout once. CTS replaced it for a relatively low price. The piece they sent me had quite the curvature in the very tip. I would up splicing my old tip onto the new section. I don't think I'd ever get a CTS rod again.

Jim,
Re CTS blanks that were not straight. That was corrected years ago.
Times have changed - I see a lot of fly rods coming through my hands - even the long ones of 10, 11, 12 + feet are straight as a die.
Herb

Both (CTS an Swift) are very good blank.
CTS offer more lenght and power choice.
You can (not sure it is still possible) choose in two serie MX ou FX for graphite blank.

I can't live without my CTS FX 863-4 as I dislike my CTS FX 864-4 (both need to be overloaded, at least for me).

I'm really still impressed with the Epic 590C (true to weight), best 9' five weight for me.
For me the 690C is perfect too.
The graphene serie is more common for me (more power) except the 586-6 that realy impress me.

So I think it's all about personnal taste......

I find working with CTS is a little bit tricky, there are not consistant with ferrule, one time you can engage them 30mm, the other time 60mm.
Some time you order an 8'6" and you receive an 8'2".
When you need a replacemnt hard to receive a good one (same ferrule length).
With the recent Swift Epic perfect fit each time.

________________________________________
@+
Eric
[www.emfishing.fr]

CTS has redeemed itself in my eyes. With the help of Herb they are replacing my cobbled tip after all these years. Thanks Herb.