Streamer Rod

[Greg]

I think the choice also would depend on the type of "action" you prefer in a fly rod. Some like fast action rods. I don't at all. Obviously for a streamer rod you wouldn't want a slow action or "limp noodle". But is doesn't need to be super fast either. I have a St. Croix rod that is more of a moderate action that will sling a streamer with the best of them. It is truly a pleasure to cast. It is a custom made rod but is built on their SCIII blank - the one used for their avid line.

Just MHO

Greg

[Fox Statler]

Greg,

you would love the ultra-weave Dorber. It is what I call "progressively stiffening". Because the woven material keeps the circle of the rod from collapsing to an oval shape, the rod answers the call of more strenght as you bend it further. You can not break them down but they aren't stiff.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

Is that really true that the Dorber guys ran one over with a van and it didnt break ?

I understand what you mean about the round fly rod going from round to oval - then collapsing, as one day I stood in the Dorber shop taking throw outs out of the trash and trying to wiggle them until breakage, which I didnt succed doing.. as I just couldnt push that far.. I knew I could if I wanted to - just didnt want to endure the result / shattering graphite in my skin perhaps.

That's where this Ultra Weave intrigues me.

screaming reels - Brian

[Fox Statler]

Yes, Tiny, Ray's dad, had one leaning up against his van. When he moved his van it feel under the rear wheel and he backed over it. I lay them on the floor of my store and walk up and down on them for people. Ray will walk on them on the grass and such. If you walk on one in gravel or rough concrete it will etch them and they will break later. I suggested them making a rod out of the Ultra-Weave material because I use it for my handles. The material in the handles is a bigger weave and it is unbreakable.

[Greg]

Fox I'm intrigued by the ultraweave rod you mentioned. Do you know is there anywhere that you can cast one? Do you know if blanks are available? I did find the website but it did not say anything about blanks.

thanks,

Greg

[Fox Statler]

Greg,

I sell the blanks at my store, Willow Ford, in Mountain Home. You can also purchase them direct from Dorber. As far as casting one, I am finishing a 9 foot 9 weight shooter rod for the Sowbug Round Up. I will have it done by the weekend. Every other finished rod I had in Ultra-Weave has already been sold. Dorber is in Flippin and they have several snake guide rods to cast. I have been trying to get my web page up on the Ultra-Weave but haven't got it done yet. If you will just email me the length and weight you want, I will get you the price and the blank if you want.

[Bill Butts]

Fox,

What specific Dorber blank model are you building the 9 wt. from?

From their website, it is unclear to me which model is the NEW one, or do all the models in the line now have the ultra-weave feature?

Would enjoy seeing it at the Sowbug.

Will Dorber have a display also?

The diamond weave pattern sounds like the old Diamondback rods, though there are no close-ups to see.

Does Dorber roll their own graphite, or outsource it by contract?

I'm curious why they haven't offered very many 4 pc. models in their line?

There is no doubt that larger and closer-spaced guides produce a more efficient line flow, but it would be very noticeable in the added swing weight unless the guides are much lighter than standard snakes and strippers on premium production rods.

The finished rod weights I see on their website are all heavier than Sage XP and Winston BIIx rods, from 7 weight and heavier, and about the same on 5 and 6 weights (all 4 pc. I compared).

Do you recommend a little heavier reel to counterbalance the hardware?

Look forward to meeting you at the Sowbug in March.

[Guest flyfishBDS]

To get back to the original question.

I picked up a TFO Professional 10' 6wt for the type of streamer fishing _ plus high water nymphing _ your talking about. _Plus I wanted a longer rod to reduce incidences of streamers bouncing off my head in the drift boat hehehehe.

I love it and have since sold a few after giving people test casts of my rod.

Handles full sink lines very well, loads easy, its not fast but a lot of power to tap into. Down side is _ confidence of handling long pickups and desire for booming casts, plus longer lever to bend means it can be tiring. Then again I fish pretty hard. But a great rod for the right occassion. Havan't used it as as hopper rod, I still throw my XP5wt for that, Might be worth looking at _ $185.

You can come down and cast mine anytime

Cheers

Steve

[Fox Statler]

I don't know if Dorber has them on their website yet, I haven't been on their site for months. They produce the rod themselves. The material is a basket weave not like the diamondbacks. I am bring a 9 foot 9 weight Willow Ford Innovative Fly Fishing Instrument to the Sowbug. I am sure that Dorber will be there with regular snake guide rods. More four pieces are coming, I already have my order in for some. As far as more guides increase the Swing Weight, I never considered the weight of a rod as a indicator of its preformance level. Canes are very heavy and preform excellent. The guides on the rod I am bringing are the top of the line, Fuji T1 New Concept Guides and cost over $300 for the set. The butt guide alone cost over $64. I find that anglers that want to measure a rod's preformance by its weight should never put a line on the rod, It makes it heavier. And if you add a fly and put it in the water you have added considerable more weight. I am fearful for these angler if they catch a fish, they might hurt themselves. All kidding aside, when I was 7 years old I used a rod made from a tank antenna. It was so heavy that my wrist would swell up after a days fishing. A graphite rod with 18 titanium guides and a graphite handle is much lighter than cane, steel, and fiberglass. I will be at the Sowbug so come cast it.