4 weight rods

[Craig]

Im looking at buying a 4 weight 4 or 5 piece rod. I would like a some suggestions on what and where to buy one.

Thanks

[cardiac]

Craig, I just got an Orvis Trident 8'6" 4W for Christmas, (actually a couple weeks ago) and I'm pleasantly suprised by it. It's a tip-flex 9.5 and just for s#!ts and giggles, I stuck on a LA Battenkill filled with 6w clear camo. Shot the whole line which I've never tried before. I used SA's XPS DT4 on it to fish the Weber and Lower P and it handles short quick casts with ease also. I'm not trying to sell you on the Orvis but thats my opinion of that rod.
My other rods are a Scott Eclipse in a 3w and I have two 5w's- One a Winston LT5 (5 pc.)and a Sage SP 905 (3 pc). So, I'm not sold on one brand of rod (although I wouldn't mind a LT5 in a 4 w.)
Go cast an Orvis, Sage, Winston, Scott, T&T, St. Croix etc. and pick the one you like.
Check out Orvis or Western Rivers- both stores will treat you right.
Curtis- I think the Winstons at Anglers are only 30% off on certain models as are Sage SP's.

[Ouzel]

4 wt's are nice. I rolled one from a 9' 6" Loomis blank some years ago and enjoy it very much.
But every time I have tried a multi piece blank I have found them wanting.
I travel a lot and take the extra steps to have my normal two piece rods with me if fishing opportunities are available.
I understand the desire to have a rod that can fit into a suitcase when you travel but none of the corp. hype can over come the facts.
:-)But I understand that some of the multi piece rods are good for worm fishing. :-)

[shazerblaze]

How much money are you willing to spend. I think that St. Croix rods are the best for the money. The only thing that changes that is a sale. I know that Orvis has some of their rods (the Silver Label, right) on sale. I haven't cast one for a long time. My father picked up a G Loomis GLX at 50% off. That's a heck of a deal. Aside from the sales, St Croix has great rods at good prices. I personally love my Legend Ultras, but my father and brothers have Avids too, which are great. So, two cents offered, but I don't know how much it is worth to anybody else. Happy hunting (rod hunting).

[stonedfly]

I bought the Winston LT5, 4 weight about two months ago. It is the best trout rod I have ever owned. I cant recommend it enough. Cody

[Ouzel]

It good you like your new Winston but 'why' do you like it. Is it just for its breakdown capability or the flex (full, mid or tip top?) ? Does it balance well with a certain size reel? Does it handle small dries equally as big fat streamers? What? What?

And why did you need a rod that breaksdown that much? Do you travel by air frequently? Or did you have some loose cash and wanted to treat yourself to a new toy? It's your money I'm just asking.

[JayMorr]

Cardiac... I used SA's XPS DT4 on it to fish the Weber and Lower P and it handles short quick casts with ease also


I love that line. I was using it on my 4wt last season. Great line!! I just picked up the SA XXD 5wt WF.

JayMorr

[seabass14]

I bought the Winston LT5, 4 weight about two months ago. It is the best trout rod I have ever owned. I cant recommend it enough. Cody
I will back up this statement, I purchased the 8'9" 4 weight. What a great casting rod.

[Hallbard]

You may want to try a Scott A2 there is a 8' 4 peice I'm getting for the B-day and I cant wait. I know you can try one out down at Lone Peak. It's worth a try.

[fishingod]

i have a reddington 7.5, 4 wt. its not a high dollar rod, but for the price you can't beat it for small stream fishing. go check out fishtech. they are good help at letting you try out rods and what not. god a good variety of rods from st. croix to sage.

[newtyer]

I bought the Winston LT5, 4 weight about two months ago. It is the best trout rod I have ever owned. I cant recommend it enough. Cody

My best buds father just picked up the lt5 5 wt this summer. I value his opinion very highly and he really enjoys that rod. I did not personally cast it but if he is fishing it more than the rest of his zillion rods then it must speak something.

Ouzel, your a dork. JK. I was on the anti multi piece rod kick for a while too. I'm still not sure if i'm over it. the jury is still out for me. One thing i really hate about multi piece is that the butt section diameter is always smaller than the first ferrule. I haven't gotten a chance to build on a internal ferrule blank yet though.

But back to the subject. If I were to buy a 4 wt multi piece I would get a 3 piece. Seems that for a 4 wt you dont necissarily need the faster action, that would seem likely, given by adding ferrule's. 3 piece would still be pretty small segments. If not pick up the cabela's stowaway. cheap, and reviews have been good, except for cheech's. decide if you like multi piece then invest in better model.

oh ya, saint croix's legend ultra are on sale almost anywhere that carries them. 2003 model.

[Curtis Fry]

Multi-piece rods are all good IMHO. If someone can prove to me there is any difference in the casting action, I'd be interested in seeing that.

I just finished building a 4 piece 4 weight and it's a great rod. I got the blank for $15 so it's not too bad. total cost on the rod was about $50.

After having fished multi-piece rods for a few years now, I like them because even when I'm not travelling on a plane, they're still easier to stow in my car, under my seat, in my desk at work, in my backpack etc. Just more compact. I think the 3 piece rods are my weapon of choice as far as size etc (obviously depending on the total rod length).

And Ouzel, I don't buy your "corp hype" argument for a second. What "facts" are you referring to? I know you're old school, but I doubt you fish cat-gut any more do you?

[stonedfly]

Ouzel, I wanted a compact rod for traveling as well as hiking. I needed a compact rod for hiking high into the mountains. The winston5 piece is the most versatle rod around. I can make gentle presentations with a #20 midge or throw cicada patterns on the green. The tip is soft enough to make a 10 inch trout feel like 15, yet it still has enough backbone to punch through wind. The pull of a trout is spread along the length of the rod, right down to the cigar. I was a believer that nothing could beat a two piece rod for feel and flex, but Winston has nailed this rod perfectly. I could get into the technical aspects of why the design is so damn good, but it really doesn't matter. The bottom line is that it casts like a two piece and has a very soft tip so you wont break off many fish on light tippit, coupled with plenty of backbone and a forgiving load, it is my go-to rod. The fact that it is less than 20 in. in the tub is just a nice bonus. Just about any reel will do (I have fished it with an abel and okuma.) I hope this answers some questions. Let me know if you want to get together sometime, and you can throw the rod. It might just make a believer out of you.

It good you like your new Winston but 'why' do you like it. Is it just for its breakdown capability or the flex (full, mid or tip top?) ? Does it balance well with a certain size reel? Does it handle small dries equally as big fat streamers? What? What?

And why did you need a rod that breaksdown that much? Do you travel by air frequently? Or did you have some loose cash and wanted to treat yourself to a new toy? It's your money I'm just asking.