Has anyone built on this blank? If so what are your thoughts? I’m considering it, but would appreciate any input.

Nothing?? Must not be so hot I guess.

We can't give input till you tell us what you need, otherwise you can just read the sales brochures and absorb the sales speak they throw at you. I wouldn't recommend many western style open spaces designs for many eastern conditions for instance, there are rods out there that suck at roll casting and other closer quarters techniques.

I guess I don’t know that much about fly rods to be that specific. I want something for dry’s and smaller streamers. Going to fish the Missouri River in Montana. I currently have a 9wt and a 10 wt I use for pike fishing but don’t have much experience chasing trout.

Very good blank for the money, and now on sale for I think $83. Good all around rod. I have built the LMX FAF 905-4 and 908-4.

Unsanded blank with ridges is somewhat more difficult to wrap. Ferrule fit is superb. Fairly fast rod, and I have used for dries to size 18, nymphs and bead head buggers, mostly 4 and 5 x tippet. While fairly fast, not a board, and tip section has decent amount of bend and sensitivity.

If you want slower go with an NFC classic, or a gamma alpha, the latter costss a lot more. Batson Eternity2 costs about double and is a good fast action rod, but you have to like the cobalt color.

Fish the rod with a 1/2 above AFTMA standard line.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/04/2024 02:21AM by david taylor.

Thank you David!!

I have built several, in the 5wt asw well as a 4 and multiple 6's. These went to a guide friend and he loves them!

What does “fish the rod with a 1/2 above AFTMA standard” mean? A 6 weight line on a 5 weight rod?

Yes, fishing a 1/2 above AFTMA standard means to use a half powered heavier line. Many companies specify if the line runs true to rating, half size, or full size heavier.

I.E. SA Infinity Plus taper is a full size heavier; SA Amplitude Infinity is true to size, SA Mastery Infinity taper is a half size heavier.

Overlining the rod will make a fast rod a tad slower which, depending on your use, will help load the rod fir better casting especially with delicate flies.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/2024 09:17AM by Evan Cobb.

Evan Cobb Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>"I.E. SA Infinity Plus taper is a full size
heavier..."

Perhaps there is more to that statement than I am aware of. I can buy the 1/2 size heavier concept, as a particular rod may in fact be better suited for a somewhere in between line weight between one line designation and the next. But when a manufacturer states that a particular series of line is a full size heavier than its designation, does that not simply make it the next size larger? Why play silly games like that?

Thank you for the explanation! I’m very interested in learning more about fly angling.

Yes, when a line weighs a full size above AFMA standards for its 30-foot head weight, it should be labeled a line wt higher. It's a bit of a game they play, and while there exist AFMA standards, in some ways there are no standards in line weight or fly rod line ratings.

When you buy a line go to the manufactures web site and look at the line taper and head weight in grains. Some put it on the box.

A 5 wt rod is theoretically made for a 5 wt line which at standard weight has a 140 grain head. I would say a faster rod such as the LMX FAF 905-4 can be fished with a 140 - 155 grain head. The majority of lines these days are made about 1/2 line weight over standard, but you can buy plenty of good 5 wt lines that weight 140 grains in their frist 30 feet.

This is the most popular blank type I build on. Fast action that needs to be cast with authority. People love them. I tell them FAF stands for Fast as........Freddie? They can be a bit of a pain to wrap, there are noticeable grooves that trap thread and try to pull or push the blank in a power wrapper like a threaded bolt.