Next time out I will take my Sage......and use it as a walking stick!!

Although I haven't used one, I think that R L Winston makes a very satisfactory walking stick.
Orvis makes some nice skewers for those that like shish-ka-bobs

This is a fun topic unless it gets out of hand so I�ll try to behave my self: ...

Expensive fly rod: Sage - Winston � etc� ~$600.00
Inexpensive fly rod � TFO � ~$200.00
Cheap fly rod � big box fly rod�. $30.00 - $50.00

No one in a lifetime will ever convince me that a �rank� beginner cannot tell the difference/�feel between a TFO and a whippy big box fly rod � blindfolded.

I respect all you guys that fish itsy/bitsy flyrods with itsy/bitsy flies but I have never owned a fly rod smaller than a 5wt.

Now don�t any of the �expert� salmanoid� types get on my case - I�ve fished salty stuff, sweetwater, cold water and remote Alaskan streams accessible by helicopter.

I own, or have owned 14 Sages RPLX�s from 7wt to 12 wt that would retail around $600.00 but in my case, maybe $200.00 - $300.00 for components.

I own, or have owned 11 TFO rods from 5 wts to Mini-Mags and will never build another fly rod due to TFO performance.
I�ll defy any amateur to tell the difference by �feel�, between a TFO Axiom and a Sage RPLX � blindfolded.

I don�t believe in light tackle because of CPR type of fishing I do, there is always a chance to catch a large fish, and they will fight til � they die on light tackle. That�s a personal choice because I don�t like to clean fish and my fish are too valuable to catch only once.

I love to teach beginner fly-casting fundamentals and sure wouldn�t start them on a whippy big box fly rod�. then send them to Rex W. and other experts to straighten them out after teaching my bad casting habits...

It�s all for fun anyway ...

Ah George, don't me you've bought into the "small rods kill fish theory"? I use ultralights, and I haven't had it happen yet.

BTW I view this issue as matching the tool to the fly. If I want to throw big flies, I use a big gun and that can be a 7 or better. If I'm in smaller water with lots of overhangs I use a 6- 7.5 foot rod -sometimes that's old glass 6 weight rods or the lighter 3 wt and under.

Just my $.02

Les

Sorry Les, you haven't fished for Hybrid Striped bass on light tackle.
They will fight 'til they die if you don't land them quickly and revive them, unless you want to keep them for table fare...
George

Hill shepherd..yea I have been in that shop quite a lot. Their tying section is one of the biggest ones I have seen in a while. I found all my stuff for tying my flies for Belize there even though they are a far away from any coast...

George is right about this for his tank raised H-S bass, and maybe for the lakers too. It is my experience that less than a 6wt for H-S bass is ultra light tackle for this species. They are hard charging and when they get sideways it takes a fair amount of pressure to gain line. So to the original post I say spend on rods the same way to spend on golf clubs. You will want a rod for the tee box a heavy hitter(8wt+),fairway rod(6-7wt),chipping rod(4-5wt),and a putter(1-3wt). Like in an earlier post the rod is a tool. You do not drive a telephone pole in the ground with a tack hammer just like you do not use a 5lb sledge to nail crown molding.

... and Hybrid Striper's are industrial strength fish but then again its probably a good idea to let all your backing out every once in while