1st Impressions: Cabela's CZN rod...

[Dejon Hamann]

Just received a 9.5ft 3wt CZN Cabela's Czech Nymph rod in the mail.  Literally just unpacked it and gave it a wiggle.  Preliminary impressions: it's very light in the hand and seems well balanced even before adding a reel/line.  Seems to have more then enough softness in the tip through midsection to protect light tippet and not-bounce fish, yet it may have a nice little backbone too.  Understated, yet handsome dark olive finish with bright green thread accents.  Looks like a winner thus far, but we'll obviously have to do extensive field testing.  It will be very interesting to see how the 10footers balance out when they arrive.

Over the next few months I'll be looking to accumulate many of the dominant competition rods in the market and offering, hopefully, an in depth and analytical 3rd party review and comparison.

[Nick Naclerio]

I was thinking about getting the same rod. The 11ft is just overkill for small creeks.

[Pete Erickson]

Dejon,

I'll get your check in the mail before you do the rod review!  

I'll have to ask Lance if there is a pro-price for those rods...


Dejon,  have you had a chance to weight the Cabelas rods yet?  does it have their rod weights listed at the Cabelas website?  I'm just curious...

[Dejon Hamann]

I'm not in the habit of taking checks from teachers these days 

Pete, seriously speaking I'm really looking forward to testing your rods.  From what I've taken from your posts and communications it really seems that you have your finger on the pulse of what it may take to form that delicate fusion of the necessary elements like: price, flex, sensitivity, back bone, weight, etc.  With Echo on board it seems this may become a reality.  So, what's the eta again ?

Stopping to type this and weighing that rod now....

...90.7grams on my $20 digital scale.

[Pete Erickson]

the eta on sending out a few test rods from the final prototype batch should be within a week or 2...but the finished product will hit the stores in about 7-8 weeks I think...

91 grams...for a 9 1/2 foot rod is very light imo...Cabela's knows what they are doing that's for sure...I'll be interested to try one...  I think the sage Z-axis 9ft for 5wt weighs about the same at 91 grams...and that is 6 inches shorter....

[Paul Bourcq]

Good stuff.  Im about to drop the hammer on another french nymphing/long leader rod and am having a hard time figuring out what i want.  Keep us updated.

[Paul Bourcq]

Did some research here is some euro nymph rods and there weights for reference.  Still dont have weights on the 10 foot cortland french nymph rod, petes rod, and a handful of oversees rods.

CZN rod 91 grams?  Right Dejon?

Loop Opti Peak 11' 3 or 4 weight 120 grams-4.2 oz

Guideline Le Cie 10' 3 weight 107 grams-3.7 oz

Sage Z-Axis 10' 4weight 98 Grams-3.4 oz

Greys Streamflex 10' 4wt is 96 grams-3.38 oz

Modern Flies Technia 10' 3/4wt is 90 grams-3.17 oz

Sage 99 9'9" 4 weight 90 grams-3.17 oz

Admira 10' 3wt is only 86 grams-3.03 oz

Orvis Helios 10' 4 weight 70.8 grams-2.5 oz

As reference a 9 foot 5 weight
z-axis is 90 grams or 3 3/16 oz
BIIx is is 78 grams or 2.75 oz

[Chris Smith]

Thanks Paul...good comparison.

[Brenton Greubel]

Still dont have weights on the 10 foot cortland french nymph rod, petes rod, and a handful of oversees rods.

I have the Cortland 10ft #4, it is listed at 4 oz.  Don't have a scale to make sure this is accurate.  From the look of Cortland's site, it looks as though they discontinued this line.  Maybe there will be some good discounts on these coming up.

[Nick Naclerio]

Thats a shame if they discontinued that rod. That rod has a nice feel to it and a good action. Also looks like a much more expensive rod. Not a bad rod at all and for under $200 tough to beat. I think lack of marketing for that rods was its downfall.

[Chris Springs]

Thanks Paul.,, I'm a likin' that CZN more and more! 

[Mark Hanes]

I agree Chris these rods really do seem like a serious contender on the market.  With these and the Pete's Echo rod there are some nice new options out there.

[Bret Bishop]

I have a question: Besides  Cortland, Cabelas, Greys, and now Echo, are there any other rod companies (with US distribution) that are marketing specifally to Euro nymphing anglers?

[Todd Oishi]

I have a question: Besides  Cortland, Cabelas, Greys, and now Echo, are there any other rod companies (with US distribution) that are marketing specifally to Euro nymphing anglers?

Bret,

G.Loomis has a Euro Numphing fly rod, which is called "Max Czech Nymph GLX Rods". One of my friends has one and has been impressed with it so far...

Here's what they about it: "A lightweight 10-foot, fast-action nymphing rod designed for the Czech Nymph technique where lighter leaders are required. Features a light, responsive tip for sensitivity and a very stiff lower 3/4th of the rod to help flick weighted nymphs in runs where trout are feeding on the bottom."

Here's a link to the webpage for more information: http://products.gloomis.com/gl/products/family.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302061654&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181201&bmUID=1265995967358

[Pete Erickson]

damn those guys at Loomis!    that rod description sound an awful lot like the my write-ups on the Shadow

I wonder how much they weigh?

gotta say from the pictures, they look cool....but 700 bucks though...


Now both Rajeff brothers have a Euro-Nymphing rod on the market! (Steve of course is the rod designer for Loomis)... lol

[Bret Bishop]

Thanks Todd. I think it is interesting that they don't assign a line weight to these rods. Pete and i have talked about how that system of classifying rods doesn't seem to apply to rods designed for this technique.

[Todd Oishi]

Ahhhhh..... So many choices and options, and so little disposable cash....

FYI, Sage launched their brand-new "99 Series" fly rods a few months ago. It has a unique taper design where the mid-section is softer and slower than the tip section, which is sounds like a winner for nymph fishing.

Here's what Sage says about the 99 Series fly rods:

"Built with the same advanced G5 Technology as our Z-Axis rods, the most obvious nymph-specific feature of the 99 is its namesake 9-foot, 9-inch length, which makes short work of long, drag-free drifts. But that’s just the beginning. The 99’s unique taper loads lower on the blank to generate open loops, helping avoid tangles with multiple fly and indicator rigs. At the same time, a stiffer tip section handles heavy payload delivery but retains the sensitivity needed to detect subtle takes."

Here's a link to their website: http://www.sageflyfish.com/dyn_prodlist.php?k=299013

[Pete Erickson]

Ya Todd,

I've seen those Sage rods...interesting, it's almost the exact opposite design as what we were after for the Shadow 

I wonder if they are great for indicator fishing?  I've never fished one...

cheers
Pete

[Todd Oishi]

Sorry, not intentionally trying to side tracking this thread, but since you asked... they'll work great for roll-casting and picking up those ultra-long leaders that many stillwater anglers use for chironimid fishing in our interior lakes. In my opinion, the stiffer tip will allow a quicker hook-set, while the softer mid-section will provide some tippet protection and advantages while playing smaller fish.

Congratulations by the way, for the release of your new rod! It sounds like a winner, and I am sure it will be very popular and well received not only by the competition anglers, but also by the general public!

Cheers,
Todd
 

[Bret Bishop]

I have only given the 99 a wiggle at the shop. They seem well suited for chucking heavy flies but not really a good match for light long line nymphing. I would have loved to have one on the Whangahui.

[Todd Oishi]

gotta say from the pictures, they look cool....but 700 bucks though...

I gotta admit that the price of some of the more expensive fly rods will most likely effect their ability to appeal to the average angler given the current economic difficulties that we are ALL experiencing...

Quote from Bret: "I would have loved to have one (the 99) on the Whangahui."

I hear you Bret! I used Sage's ZXL on the Whanganui (very similar to the 99 in my mind) and felt it was an ideal match for the size of the fish as well as the patterns and techniques that I used to targeting those fish (I scored 26 trout in my session on that venue using the ZXL).

[Paul Bourcq]

Brett, Im not sure if it counts but Joe Roope at Castaway sells the Loop Opti Peak which is an 11 foot 3 or 4 weight. 

[Pete Erickson]

Todd,

no worries on the side tracked thread...we shouldn't just be discussing Echo rods here...we should be comparing all of the new Euro-Nymph rods so we can enjoy the thread.

It's kind of cool that the industry is exploding right now with these rods...hopefully there will be different styles of rod actions for different angler preferences...

[Paul Bourcq]

I have money burning a hole in my pocket.  I need a new long line nymph rod.  Im a Sage guy but im not opposed to anything.  With our comp season starting in two weeks im not sure I can wait that long.  Decisions Decisions

[Todd Oishi]

My thoughts exactly Pete!

It's exciting to see the advancements and all of the energy that is being put into developing and refining the Euro Nymphing rods...