Reasonably priced rods

[3wt]

Here's the situation. My younger brother is graduating from college and my family has decided to buy him a new flyfishing outfit as a gift. I have been charged with picking it out for him. Now, I know basically what he wants, and have a pretty good idea of what he likes (since I taught him how to cast, and he's been using the same rod I learned on).

So here's the ground rules:

Rod will be used for trout, generally for the current river or similar streams.

4 wt.

8-9'

graphite

moderate fast - fastish

I would like to find something that will delicately handle down to trico size dries (down to 24 or so), and still be able to chuck a Mohair around with some authority.

Oh and i would like the rod to stay under $200.

So my initial thoughts are TFO Pro series. I like what Cabelas offers as packages. Any other thougths? Cabelas, St. Croix models (I own a legend ultra but don't know too much about their lower models)

And just to head off the inevitable...I know that he will have to cast the setup and decide what he likes, and he will get to, but I would just like to get an idea of what to look at.

[Danoinark]

I would agree on the TFO Pro in 4wt. You can get the entire Pro combo package for the amount you are looking to spend. But I think I would get the 9ft'er, gives him a bit more length for mending etc. Dano

[Terry Beeson]

I'll second TFO... I'd also look at a Scott...

But I'm wondering if you want to go from 24s to big mohairs you might want to consider a 5 wt? I'm a bit on the fence between a 8 1/2 and 9 foot for what you want...

[3wt]

He currently has been "borrowing" my 5wt. Sage discovery (?) series that I bought a dozen years ago, and he would like to step down a line wt. My tendancy is to go with the lightest line for the job. I would rather sacrifice ease in roll casting a weighed streamer for a delicate dry fly presentation. Also from my experience on the Current and other small medium streams, I can roll out the big flies just fine with my 3 wt. at the distances required.

I would lean towards the 8'6", but that's only based on my feeling towards having as light and delicate of a rod as possible. I don't like having too much rod when you need to get in tight somewhere.

Have either of you cast the TFO Pro series? How dose the series one stack up to it? My dad and other brother both have the seris one 4wt, and for the price you can't beat 'em...so is it worth the extra $50 to step up a model?

[Crippled Caddis]

I'd check out the offerings at dorber.com. in beautiful downtown Flippin, Ark. High quality American made products at great prices IMO.

[Terry Beeson]

Come to the Nature Center in Springfield tomorrow (Thursday) night... Dorber will be at the SMFF meeting giving a demo on how graphite blanks are made. I'm sure he'll have a few rods to check out as well. Fly tying at 6pm, meeting at 7pm, program to follow...

I have to vouch for the RebRods as well (Dorber blanks) as I have a 9 ft 4 wt UltraWeave. A bit slow for what you're talking about, but I LOVE that rod... especially for high sticking.

[John Berry]

I think you should consider the TFO finesse 4 wt 8ft 9in rod. I bought one recently and really like it . It is quite similar to my beloved Sage Light Line except it is much less expensive and its a four piece.