NEW EURO RODS

[Chris Springs]

Hope to get my hands on a new Cabela's CZN in the next week or so. for $200 bucks I guess I can't go wrong. Hell, if I don't like it ; I'll send it back. Thanks for all the input. This is a great site with outstanding info and resources. Thanks to u all. And especially you, Dejon.

[Dejon Hamann]

You're most welcome Chris! 

I should have the 9'6" this week and will be putting up some initial thoughts. I'd like to wait for Pete's rods and the 10'czns though to do a full comparison and launch a larger review.

[Mark Hanes]

The weights are up on the Cabelas site.  Wow they are very light.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0076200321288a&navCount=2&podId=0076200&parentId=cat604800&masterpathid=&navAction=push&cmCat=flyfishing_2010_012710-catfeatflyfsh&catalogCode=IA&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat604800&hasJS=true

[Kalvin Kaloz]

I had a chance to briefly use the 9"6" 3 wt on Sat; I must say the rod was very nice to say the least!!!

Dejon is a hell of a lot better writer than I and I dont want to steel any thunder... With that said here is my short first impression; first the looks are better than I expected for a low-end Cabalas brand rod, very light in the hand (seamed to balance well with #2 Konic) the action felt limber but with a light sense of power in the butt section!

I did not get to hook or land a fish with it...thats my 2 cents for what it is worth! I currently use a 10' 4wt Streamflex for reference.


Not sure what imput you had Lance but seams like a really niece rod for 200

.......................

Lance, Pete or Brett you all talked about theses any chance you could help define and elaborate some of these terms:

"Tracking Accuracy(Loss)"

"Recovery Speed"

"Slow on the Dampening"


Thanks for your time guys!

Later

[Mike Nutto]

has anyone tried the echo shadow pe 4wt or the winston 4wt ?

[Lance Egan]

Kalvin,

Glad you liked the CZN.  I agree with you.  The CZN's are one of the best Euro rods available, and I think based on their cost, unbeatable at the price.

My input consisted of planting the seed with Cabelas buyers, offering suggestions on actions, lengths, weights and testing prototypes.

The terms in question:
Tracking= straight path of the rod tip.  A rod that is too soft at the tip or all the way thru the blank will generally be sloppy and lose its ability to "track".

Recovery speed/dampening= the rate at which a loaded blank (rod) goes from flexed to straight.  Recovery speed is IMO what separates the men from the boys in rod design.  Physical weight plays a role here.  A rod that physically weighs less or has less mass will come to rest (recover) more quickly.  Combine a very light fiber with super fast recovery (and keep it durable) and we have a winner.

Hope that helps

[Kalvin Kaloz]

Thanks Lance!

If I had to guess what the terms meant I would have been close...Thanks for taking the time to clear things up!

[Lance Egan]

FYI

The CZN physical rod weights are now listed at cabelas.com  Here is a link:

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

[Mark Hanes]

I really did like this rod but it does suck that they are on back order for 8 weeks!!  I really want to see how the 10' 4wt is in action.

[Lance Egan]

Mark,

Call the Lehi, Utah store.  We have 2 in stock and can ship directly to you.  801-766-2500 then ask for the fly shop.  I'll be there after 12pm MST but anyone can help with this.  There may also be other stores with a few in stock if anyone else is looking, let me know.

[Mark Hanes]

Thanks for thi info Lance.  I wil be thinking about it over the next few days.  You might get a call.

[Kevin Lowe]

What about a 10' 3wt Zaxis?
I have used a 4wt and love it. Just wondering if any of you guys have fished the 3wt?

[Dejon Hamann]

The 3wt is a fun stick, but I'm pretty sure it's only offered at 9'.

[Randy Hanner]

Yeah the longest 3wt is 9ft.

[Lance Egan]

Mark,

I'm don't want to pressure you into a purchase but make sure you don't wait too long to order.  I'd hate to see them all go before you get one.

For those looking for a CZN there are still a few in the retail stores.  Call me at the Lehi, UT store if you are having trouble finding the rod you want.

In a 3 weight Z-axis a 9 footer is the longest option.  I think some emails to Sage are in order to politely request they make a 3100-4 Z-axis.  That would be an awesome euro rod!

The 390-4 Z is a great tool for medium to small streams.  It is a very fun rod to fish!

[Kevin Lowe]

   Well dang Dont know where I got that. I thought for sure they made the 10'z in a 3wt. Oh well thanks. Sorry about that

[Mark Hanes]

Lance,

You sure are a heck of a salesmen.  I an thinking about it today at work. I do need a better competition rod and I know I can't beat the price of the CZN.  I have bad feeling I will end up with a few new nymphing sticks before the year is over.  I guess it is the upside of being single.

[Jason Baker]

Any experience with the Hardy 11 foot, 5 weight Drifter? Thanks!

[Reid Bacon]

I know Nick has one so I'm sure he'll give ya insight on it.  I hear it is a great rod for many applications.  There is rumor of an 11' #4 don't know if its true or not, but that would be something to think about also.

[Nick Naclerio]

Great rod! I love everything about that thing, well not the price tag. It has a very light feel for an 11ft rod, the action is a true medium action. This rod keeps barbless hooks in small wild fish very well and protects tippet on larger fish. The fact that its a 5wt is a little deceiving since it actually has a nice soft tip but plenty of backbone (Torrey landed an 18lb steelhead on his). You get a choice of two fighting butts or just a cap. The grip is a full wells which I find to be much more comfortable. Their customer service is very quick. If you want a strictly Euro nymphing rod you might want to look at some other rods designed for Euro nymphing (This would be my first choice either way) but if you want a rod to Euro nymph, fish wets (perfect rod for this), roll cast indie rigs and just about whatever else you could want then check this rod out.

I fish this rod every time I go out unless I'm going to a small creek or I know I'll be fishing dry flies. I have however all in the same day Euro nymphed, fished dries, fished a cast of three wet flies and tossed streamers on a 12ft sink tip with this rod. I really can't say enough good things about it!

[Jason Baker]

So you like it? :-)

Thanks,

JASON

[Reid Bacon]

Nick have you heard anything about them coming out with a 4 wt.

[Nick Naclerio]

I have not but I wouldn't be the one to know. Torrey might know maybe he will chime in.

An 11' 4wt would be really nice though.

[Bret Bishop]

Reid,
Echo has an 11' 4wt in their line up and it should be available really soon. Pete got the latest batch yesterday and all the rods are significantly lighter.

[Pete Erickson]

updated weights on ECHO Shadow Rods--these will most likely be the final weights when they hit the stores next month:


here are some other rod weights(roughly!) for reference:

Orvis Helios 10' 4 weight 70.8 grams-2.5 oz

Admira 10' 3wt  86 grams-3.03 oz

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

Sage 99 9'9" 4 weight 90.5 grams-3.19 oz

Echo Shadow 10 ft 3wt (3100) 92 grams-3.25 oz

Cabela's CZN 10ft 4wt weight 94 grams 3.32 oz.

Greys Streamflex 10' 3wt is 94 grams-3.31 oz

Echo Shadow 10& 1/2 ft 3wt (3106) 96 grams-3.38 oz

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

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

Echo Shadow 11 ft 4wt (4110) 101 grams-3.57 oz

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

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



As a general reference a 9 foot 5 weight

z-axis is 90 grams or 3 3/16 oz

9 1/2 ft 5wt
Winston Boron 2-MX  96 grams or 3.38 oz