NEW EURO RODS

[Lance Egan]

Check out the new Cabelas CZN rods.  Designed specifically for Euro style nymphing.  I've fished prototypes for about 6 months now and these are VERY impressive performers especially considering the price.  They are extremely light.  Expect the physical weights listed on Cabelas.com soon. 

Food for thought.....

 http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20431-cat20457&id=0076200321288a&navCount=2&podId=0076200&parentId=cat20457&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IA&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20457&hasJS=true

[Paul Bourcq]

Is there any specs on the total weight of these?  Im assuming also they are a medium to med fast action? If these rods fish well it will def be a contender

[Mark Hanes]

Thanks for sharing.  I like the idea of a 9'6" 3wt there are some streams that I fish where the 10' rod is just a little to much.  I really can't wait to see how these rods fish and the price is right.   How do they compare to some of he other euro style rods on the market?

[Dejon Hamann]

Great tip Lance!  With the price and Cabela's no-hassle return policy I can't see why someone in the market for a Euro rod wouldn't give one of these a try.

[Mark Hanes]

I have almost pulled the trigger on one of these CZN rods.  With the current economy saving some money is sometimes bigger than having the top of the line Hardy or Sage. 

Besides at $199 f the rod is not what I want it could make a solid backup to some of the higher price gear.  Be honest you need more than one Euro style rod if you are a competitive angler one is bound to break sooner or later.

[Chris Smith]

I think one of my teammates, Chris Springs, is going to get one.  If he ends up going with that rod, I'll ask him to post his thoughts.

[Lance Egan]

Gents,

I've fished the CZN's in the 963-3 and 1004-4 for 8 months.  They are very light and well made.  The 1004-4 is a great all around tool, where the 963-4 is best for french style nymphing in small to medium sized waters.  The 1005-4 I haven't fished, but I have one in the shop.  It feels like it would be a better stillwater rod or big water indicator tool. 

My personal fav nymphing tool is the 1004-4 Sage Z-axis and prefer it over the CZN hands down, but if I were looking for a Euro technique rod that costs less than $400 the CZN would be it...

[Jason Baker]

Gents,

I've fished the CZN's in the 963-3 and 1004-4 for 8 months.  They are very light and well made.  The 1004-4 is a great all around tool, where the 963-4 is best for french style nymphing in small to medium sized waters.  The 1005-4 I haven't fished, but I have one in the shop.  It feels like it would be a better stillwater rod or big water indicator tool. 

My personal fav nymphing tool is the 1004-4 Sage Z-axis and prefer it over the CZN hands down, but if I were looking for a Euro technique rod that costs less than $400 the CZN would be it...

Lance:

I second that emotion on the 10" - 4 weight Z-Axis!

[Dejon Hamann]

A couple years ago I bought the 1004-4 Z thinking it was going to be "last river rod" I'll ever need.  Took it out to that competition that wasn't' going to count in Utah on the Provo   Admittedly, I had a few more holes in my game then, but I really felt that Z was responsible for bouncing a lot of good fish that would have placed me well in the comp.  Since I got the 10ft4wt STreamflex the Z has been sitting dusty in the back of my fishing room.

Have you guys A/B'd the Z against some of these other Euro Rods and why do you find it superior? 

[Jason Baker]

A couple years ago I bought the 1004-4 Z thinking it was going to be "last river rod" I'll ever need.  Took it out to that competition that wasn't' going to count in Utah on the Provo   Admittedly, I had a few more holes in my game then, but I really felt that Z was responsible for bouncing a lot of good fish that would have placed me well in the comp.  Since I got the 10ft4wt STreamflex the Z has been sitting dusty in the back of my fishing room.

Have you guys A/B'd the Z against some of these other Euro Rods and why do you find it superior? 

It was the rod, huh? :-)

I say the same thing about my golf clubs D! :-)


I haven't yet fished the CZN or Grey's rods. I feel confident with the Z as it is ultra sensitive in comparison to the 10" GLX 5 weight that I used to fish exclusively when nymphing. I believe Chris Springs is getting the CZN and Smith is getting the Straemflex. I look forward to testing them out.

[Dejon Hamann]

A couple years ago I bought the 1004-4 Z thinking it was going to be "last river rod" I'll ever need.  Took it out to that competition that wasn't' going to count in Utah on the Provo   Admittedly, I had a few more holes in my game then, but I really felt that Z was responsible for bouncing a lot of good fish that would have placed me well in the comp.  Since I got the 10ft4wt STreamflex the Z has been sitting dusty in the back of my fishing room.

Have you guys A/B'd the Z against some of these other Euro Rods and why do you find it superior? 

It was the rod, huh? :-)

Exactly.  I think it's time to pull it out for another test before I dump it.  Gotta wait for some real fishing weather though. 

To me, keeping those little 20cm crazy headshakers on is more important than a little more sensitivity in competition.  I guess you guys don't bounce many fish with the Z?

[Nick Naclerio]

I've never used the 10-4 but I'd have to agree with Dejon's original feeling based upon the other Z-axis rods I've used. Chris has a couple Z-axis rods and we always refer to them as having broom stick action. Great for throwing tons of line in the parking lot (most peoples only test of a rod) but not so great for keeping barbless hooks in little wild fish. Like I said though I haven't used that exact rod so it could be great.

[Randy Hanner]

The 4100 z axis is my go to nymphing rod. I LOVE it. The first comp I used it in was the south east qualifier in 2009

[Randy Hanner]

Stupid blackberry.....wouldn't let me finish my post.I haven't found it easy to bounce fish with it either. Its light enough that your arm won't wear out after the first session. But stout enough in the rear to horse around some 50 cm toads. Just my two cents.

[Loren Williams]

My vote goes to the Z too.  However, one aspect I think many guys neglect, which Devin really drove home to me recently, is that of hooks.  We talk allot about bouncing small fish and blame it on the rods.  I think the hook is equally, if not more, important.  Small fish offer less resistance and therefore are more difficult to set into.  All these fancy competition hooks are actually quite dull out of the box--despite the awesome bend and great hook point:shank ratios.  If the point does not penetrate, the best rod is not going to save the fish.

How many of us have dropped points because of a single dropped fish?

I have re-opened my eyes to hooks.

[Dejon Hamann]

Dam you guys.  Lance, Loren, and Randy pumping the Z!  That seals it - I'm really going to have to put my 1004 back in rotation.

L, so are you saying you just need to take a hook sharpener to these comp. hooks like knapek, dohiku, etc before you fish em'?

[Chris Smith]

Even if you don't sharpen them out of the box, these hooks have to lose their edge after bouncing across the stream bottom for a few hours.   Sounds like a ritual that needs to occur between fishing sessions, if not during.

Whew...another thing to add to the list.

Randy...did you sharpen that magic fly often during the SE?

[Paul Bourcq]

I have a ceramic hook stone.  I also worked 5 years in a fine dining restaurant and have sharpened knives on wet stones thousands of time.  Im curious the technique you guys use to sharpen hooks though.  I know japanese steel knives like pressure to be applied as you push away from the edge in the sharpening process.  Maybe jap hooks would benefit fromt the same.

[Randy Hanner]

Chris: I did not sharpen that hook once during the whole comp. I haven't really had a problem with the dohiku hooks at all. One thing that is good about their ability to stay sharp is the beak that is on the point. Its not a straight point so I think they will stay sharper longer than say grip hooks or tiemco spbl. I think more and more it is anglwr error as opposed to rods or hooks that account for bounced fish. Now I'm not saying that dull hooks or rods that are out of range for the size of fish you are fishing for don't bounce them, I just think it is more in the way the angler fights the fish or sets the hook.

[Jason Hearle]

Having both the streamflex 10' 3wt and the Z-Axis 10' 4wt, I like the Z-Axis better if I am switching techniques from euro-nymphing to dry-dropper or fishing streamers.  The streamflex is great, but just doesn't work as well once you take it out of the euro-nymphing game.  Plus, in comp, the time you spend wading back to shore to grab another rod is time that you could be fishing, or at least part of it, if you are switching techniques.  I have, however, overwieghted my Z-Axis with a 5wt SA Trout taper and have a straight 3 on the streamflex.

As for what LW said about hooks, the long points can make a huge difference compared to traditional fly hooks with the barbs pinched down, especially on those crazy8 inch rainbows.  If you compare, you will see that most teimcos, mustads, daiichis, etc... have hook points that are around 2-4mm shorter than competition hooks like Knapek, Skalka, and Dohiku. Longer point=more fish in the net.

[Bret Bishop]

Now I'm not saying that dull hooks or rods that are out of range for the size of fish you are fishing for don't bounce them, I just think it is more in the way the angler fights the fish or sets the hook.

Good point Randy. A stiffer rod may well bounce fish, but it will also get it to the net faster than a noodle.

[Dejon Hamann]

Good point Randy. A stiffer rod may well bounce fish, but it will also get it to the net faster than a noodle.

I don't mean this facetiously at all. Do you guys find a stiffer rod helps to bring fish under say 2lbs to the net any faster than a "noodle"?  For instance a 10'4wt-Z vs 10'3wt-Streamflex.  I haven't really done any A/B introspection in this regard. I have a ton of experience with steelhead and can clearly see the difference of fight time on a 6wt vs 8wt, but we're working with larger tippet there.

[Lance Egan]

I find the 1004-4 Z-axis to be VERY good at retaining fish.  During session 5 of the PA Nationals I landed all 14 of the fish I hooked on spring creek, most of which were 25cm or smaller.

I tend to fight fish hard and fast, often aerializing them and catching them in my net.  IMO the "Z" has the best blend of finesse and backbone available.

That said, the CZN 1004-4 is a tiny bit lighter than the "Z", but suffers a bit with the backbone factor.  For $200 It won't be easily beat!

The streamflex is a hunk of junk in my opinion.  WAAAAAYYY too soft and noodly.  Recovery speed is VERY slow (if you have the patience to wait for it to recover).

Just my .02 cents.... 

[Dejon Hamann]

Good stuff Lance.  Nice to see a completely different opinion on these rods here.  Characteristics like "responsiveness, recovery, & backbone" aren't terms we've covered much when tolling the attributes of good Euro Rods. I think it is a really important viewpoint we should spend some time on.

First question that comes to mind:  When you're fighting fish "hard & fast" are you using tippets 5x & lighter? Or are you normally 4x and heavier?  Or is it not really an issue?

[Mark Hanes]

Interesting with all the high marks on the streamflex it is refreashing to see a different point of view. 

The CZn is lighter than the Z-Axis wow that is impressive.  I think I will be getting one of these before spring.