Picked up this collection recently (plus a 1961 Orvis bamboo I posted earlier). I don’t typically fish anything heavier than a 7wt, so the 9wt and 10wt are new territory for me, but the whole lot came together so I went for it.
The Loomis IMX 4wt is intriguing, but I wish it were a bit longer.
Curious how others would approach this lineup:
What would you keep vs sell? My plan is to sell enough to get my money back. I didn’t pay too much.
Where do you see a significant difference when using a 9wt or 10wt?
Anyone fish a shorter 4wt like this regularly?
Would love to hear how you’d build a setup around these:
Cabela’s – PT908 – 9’ 8 wt – 2 pc
Temple Fork Outfitters BVK – 9’ 10 wt – 4 pc
Hardy Zephrus Sintrix 440 (SWS) – 9’ 9 wt – 4 pc
G. Loomis IMX – 7’6” 4 wt – 2 pc
Headwaters Bamboo – 6’6” – 3 wt – 2 pc (2 tips)
Unknown Bamboo – 7’ weight unknown
Regal Vise
Posted by Accomplished-Buy2509
5 Comments
Dang! A TFO BVK in 10wt. That’s my 5wt trout rod to this day. That’s a solid rod. Nice Hardy too.
Edit: Hold on. WTF? That Hardy still has the plastic on?!?!
I often fish a 4 wt 7’6. Easy to maneuver around trees and through the woods. I also use it to canoe fish as its size makes it very manoeuvrable in a 15ft canoe going between lakes and rapids. I chose the 4wt over a 3wt as I’d like the feel of the 3wt but wanted a little more omph for casting from the canoe in bigger water as I run the rivers.
I also have the temple forks rod but in a 8 wt. Great for pike and stripped bass. I have that hardy in a 5wt. It’s my big fresh water rod for trout… casts a mile… or so it seems compared to the short 4wt.
My home river is relatively small and tree lined – maybe between 15-30’ wide for most of the stretch I can fish. It’s also in the Yorkshire Dales so can get breezy at times. A 4 weight between 7’6” and 8’6” is the most commonly recommended all-round rod to newcomers.
I also have a 6’ 6” 3 weight bamboo rod that gets an outing every now and again to fish some sheltered small streams near my in-laws at the other end of the country. Fun to play fish on.
The gloomis is probably the only one of any use. Headwaters is Teastick is Zhus is.. uh.. whaterver their other name was. It was their original name and well regarded as being utter shit. I actually *had* that one, and I took it back for multiple reasons.
Thje Regal is nice. The blued jaws aren’t as good as the stainless, they can and will chip, but it’s still the best vise design ever imnsho.
The unknown bamboo is probably a 9′ blue collar junker since it that’s the bulk of what they were: 9′ 6/7wt tomato sticks. Some exceptions exist. If there’s no markings at all its probably been refinished.
I fish a 7’6 3w and it’s my favorite. I’d keep the 4w you’ll love it. The TFO BVK 10w is a good rod but can wear you out as it’s got kinda heavy swing weight. The 9w is maybe better for stripers, especially if you’re shore fishing. The regal vise is a keeper for sure.