Hi Rodbuilders,

I am a long time lurker on the forum. I am about to make my 8th rod which will be my main rod for sea trout fishing in Denmark. I am currently fishing with a SA volantis integrated WF6 floating line. I might be changing to shootingline, shoothead combo with SA volantis WF6.
I have been looking into CTS Affinity X blanks going for a 7wt instead of 6wt. I want an extra fast action rod.
PS. I don't the opportunity to try different blanks because of the small selection of rodbuilders in EU. I have tried a couple in the store and I like the TFO Axiom II-X 9ft6wt and Scott Sector 9ft6wt rods.

What would be your choice?

Br,

Alexander

I'd go with the CTS Affinity X, in either a 6wt or 7wt. What would make me choose between a 6wt and 7wt, the size of the fly patterns you would be casting and the size of the sea trout. I'd lean a bit more towards the 7wt, which will work better in the wind, but still have enough feel that a smaller trout, 2-4lbs will still put a bend in it, but also able to tangle with one that might reach 8-10lbs if they get that large. I have a couple of friends in Norway that use both 6 and 7wt Affinity X rods for this purpose.

Thank you Bill.
Alexander,
Unhide your email - or email me to get my Rb.Org special pricing.
I would have the CTS Factory ship direct to you.
Herb
CTS Rep

I've had no problems catching 30 inch rainbows, steelhead, and char on a 6 wt., like Bill said it's all in the presentation used, steelhead have been caught from San Francico and north on the small Optics series flies on 5 wts. for many decades.

Thanks for all the feedback. I have send you an email Herb.

I think i will go with the 7wt:
- Recoil guides (black):
RECOIL FLY ROD DOUBLE FOOT GUIDES - 16 x 1
RECOIL FLY ROD DOUBLE FOOT GUIDES - 12 x 1
RECOIL SNAKE GUIDE - 5 x 1
RECOIL SNAKE GUIDE - 4 x 1
RECOIL SNAKE GUIDE - 3 x 6
- Real Seat (black):
REC Aluminum Fly Reel Seat Model RSLL
- Fighting Butt:
Kork duplon
- Grip:
Kork

What do you think of the guide sizing and reel sizing?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/18/2023 09:42AM by Alexander Ulslev.

That guide sizing will work, but to make it better, use all #3's after the #12 double foot, so skip the #5 and #4.

Your objective when sizing guides, use what will pass your line connections and the least amount of changes in size, 3 sizes in change is plenty. You want to create the straightest line path.

The last 5 fly rods I have built, 1-6 wt, 2-5 wts, 1-4 wt and 1- 3wt have all had the 1 stripper guide then I ran all #1 single foot guides the rest of the way. All REC recoils

Stan:

I am about to finish a 9 ft. 6 wt. Epic 690G blank, which is super light. I am using one 12 stripper and then Recoil single foot guides from there. Like you, 1's. I may use one size 4 Recoil to transition between the stripper and the 1's.

My question, on the 6wt did you use the light wire Recoils (RSF) or move up to the heavier wire version. (RSFX)?

Thanks.

Heavy, RSFX. I purchased the lighter ones but REC recommended them to be used on 4wt or less.

Senior moment above. The 6 wt was my first fly rod to build and it has snakes. If building a 6wt today I'd use the RSFX single foot guides. The 5 wts have the single foot RSFX REC guides. The 3 and 4 wt have RSF single foot guides.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/21/2023 06:37PM by Stan Vogel.

Do you notice that they make a humming noise when casting? Also, how much did you have to ground down the feet?

I did grind the feet, enough to work. The singing I hear could be that I don't clean the line as often as I should. I'm getting better at that. I like the guides.

Re-reading this thread I see that the OP was interested in 7/8 wt rods. My next build at those wts will have a stripper, with 1 reduction guide, then all running guides the same size.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/23/2023 09:19AM by Stan Vogel.

Alexander:

As to your 7 wt, I just built a 9 ft 8 wt rod with Recoil snake guides. You can easily terminate with size 2 running guides instead of size 3. Size 2 is plenty large enough. I went 16, 12 in double foot stripper-like guides then to Recoil double foot snake one each of 5-4-3 and all the rest size 2. Normally I don't taper that much, but did so at a suggestion. You could go 16, 12, 5 and all 2's. Or even 16, 12 and all 2's. Taper or not is up to you, but I'd finish running guides in size 2.

I don't think you can go wrong with the CTS. I am sure Herb can help you out. Its like shooting at the ground, you can't miss. Why a shooting line, what's the situation?