There are many questions that need to be answered when selecting the correct fly rod for your needs.
Our first three questions for your consideration are:
1) For what type of fishing do you want the rod ? (Example 10-14" trout in small creeks or 14 lb. trout at Lake Lenore, WA? Will you be fishing from a pontoon boat, a float tube, a drift boat, from the bank, wading, etc? It can make a big difference!
2) What can you afford? If you cannot afford a Premium Custom Winston or Sage, we do not want you to buy one! Now, if you are single and choose to drive a '72 Chevy pickup so that you can afford to own 12 custom rods, that is totally understandable and we will willingly help you expand your collection!
3) Do you already own at least one other rod? No one should own just one fly rod. Fly rods are easy to break so we strongly recommend that you never go fishing without a backup rod. Many trips have been ruined by a closing car door!
4) Will the rod ever be used in saltwater? If it will be used in saltwater, you do not want any nickel silver fittings.
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We have some of the best prices anywhere on custom fly rods! No matter which one you choose, you are getting a great deal! But, we do not want you to spend more than you can afford. If you are in the market for a superb rod but need to buy a rod on a limited budget, look at our $299 CreeklordTM models in 4, 5, and 6 weight, four piece rods plus shipping. (includes rod tube and sock)
These are true Custom rods at amazing prices and they will catch fish just as well as our Premium Winston and Sage rods. They are also darned good looking and your fishing partners will probably still say ooooooh! Maybe not the oooooooooooooooh that you would get from one of our Custom Sages or Winstons, but close.
Looking for an inexpensive saltwater Rod? "Creeklords"TM cover that as well -- all the way up to 10 weights -- for only $319-! (including rod sock & Aluminum tube.)
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Now, if you want the very best, and can afford it, take a look at our rods made from Winston and Sage premium blanks. We believe that we have the best prices anywhere for the quality received. Our rods average a bit LESS than factory rods and most people that try them think they are better. Just read the comments from some of our recent customers. These are truly fine custom Rods.
We specialize in buiding rods incorporating blanks manufactured by R.L. Winston, Sage, and we use our own blanks. We can obtain any of the top of the line blanks manufactured by either of these companies. We individually inspect and mark every blank for proper spine alignment. This step is by-passed by almost every rod factory by their own admission. All of the blanks used are warrantied by the manufacturer and are first quality blanks--not seconds. We do not choose to construct rods using the mid line and lower lines of blanks from Winston and Sage. Some of them are not available but even if they were, we believe that we can match and beat their quality and price through our "Creeklord"TM series of rods.
If you desire a top of the line medium-fast, sweet feeling rod that is sensitive enough to handle size 28 dry flies with a gentle presentation in light weight blanks and strong enought to battle tarpon in the heavy weight blanks, we suggest that you consider a Winston Boron IIX. As far as we have been able to determine, it is currently the lightest rod in any given line weight and length in the world. A 5 or 6 weight in this rod will cast streamers into a Madison River headwind, have the backbone to land a 20" Rainbow quickly and still retain the tip flexibility to mend line quickly and efficiently, fight that bruiser and not break him off when it gets close to the boat!
The seven through twelve weights make incredible saltwater rods. We consider the Winston Boron IIX and the new Sage Z-Axis rods to be the best overall flyrods on the market today followed closely by our very own Creeklord. We handcraft all models of Winston and Sage Premium rods!
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Rod Recommendations
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Our recommendations for you are as follows, (if you like very light medium fast to fast action rods select either the BIIX, the Z-Axis or the Creeklord) (If you prefer a very light rod with a bit more relaxed casting tempo, choose the new Sage ZXL or the Winston BIIT. The Winston WT and LT are slightly heavier rods. If you want what is possibly the fastest rod in the world, look at the Sage TCR.):
(The following comments are based on Winston's and Sage's own recommendations as well as our own experience.)
Small creeks:
Winston BIIX, BIIT, LT, or Sage ZXL in 3 or 4 weight <8'-9' depending on your taste or a 4 wt. Creeklord in the length of your choice (We love the 7'6" 4 piece Creeklord TM)
Spring creeks and technical waters:
Sage ZXL, Winston BIIT, BIIX, LT, WT, Sage Z-Axis, or Creeklord 9' in 4 wt.
General purpose from small creeks to big freestones:
Winston BIIX, Sage Z-Axis, or Creeklord in 4 or 5 wt. 9'.
General purpose lake or river fishing from a pontoon boat:
Sage Z-Axis, Winston BIIX, or Creeklord in 5 or 6 weight 9' or 9'6".
Streamers and nymphs:
Sage Z-Axis, Winston BIIX, or Creeklord 5 or 6 weight in either 9 or 9'6"
Steelhead and small salmon:
Sage Z-Axis, Winston BIIX, or a Creeklord in 6, wt.(small steelhead), or 7, or 8 weight in 9' or 9'6".
Bonefish or bigger steelhead:
Winston BIIX, Sage Z-Axis in 8 or 9 weight or a Creeklord 8 weight in 9' or longer.
Stripers, Big Salmon, Blues:
Winston BIIX or Sage Z-Axis or Creeklord in 9 wt. 9'
Permit,, small tarpon, bonita:
Winston BIIX pr Sage Z-Axis or Creeklord in 10 WT. 9'.
Big Tarpon:
Winston BIIX or Sage Xi2 in 11 or 12 weight. 9'
Note: The new Sage Z-Axis line of rods was chosen by Sage to replace their very popular XP model. Frankly, We hated to see the XP go. In a 4 or 5 weight, it was an incredible rod trout rod The 6 weight was a bit stiff for our tastes but it could fire streamers incredibly well. However, it did tend to break off fish when they got close to the net due to its stiff tip. The Z-Axis design has solved this problem. We believe that Sage learned a bit from the Winston BIIX tip. Competition makes companies and rods better!
If you are looking for a bit slower action than that of the Winston BIIX, there are many choices available, including the Winston Boron IIT and the new Sage ZXL. (We love these rods in 9' 4 wt.) The BIIT comes in 3, 4, and 5 weights and has a superb feel and presentation. The ZXL is available in 3 through 6 weights
We strongly believe that everyone needs at least one backup rod on every trip. (On a 2006 trip to Montana and Idaho, both my fishing partner and I broke rods.) Lord of the Streams makes a suberb line of rods that fit this category that are unbelievably inexpensive for their quality. These are our "Creeklord"TM rods. They are based on a 43 million modulus improved IM6 blank. In a 7'6" four piece, 4 weight, this rod is an absolute jewel. When customers test cast it, they cannot believe how far and how accurately they can cast line. Comments like, "Wow," "I cannot believe how inexpensive this rod is for the quality!."; "This rod is beautiful!"; and many others are routinely received. Some of our customers have actually benched their Sage, Winston, Scott and other top of the line rods in favor of our "Creeklord " TM. The following two pictures are of "Creeklord" rods.
Whichever Rod you choose, make sure it is the one that you want, not one that your neighbor thinks you should buy. If it feels right to you, it is right!