Fly Fishing

WoodyCT · Newbie Joined: Jan 25, 2007 Posts: 2

A Sage dealer near my home is dropping Sage and clearing out their rods at 20 percent off. I'm looking for a rod to fish stripers, blues, pike, largemouth bass and bonefish. I'm thinking an 8wt VT2. Problem is that they only have 9s and 10s left. Will a 9 be different enough from my 10 year old 10wt Redington to make buying it worthwhile? I'm thinking the advances in rod technology and the jump in quality will make this a good purchase, even if the 9 isn't significantly lighter than my 10. Your thoughts?

jeremy · Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:58 pm Post subject: hey

hey ... i fly fish for stripers alot .. and you mentioned one of those as being the species you will be targeting ...

i always fish a 9 weight ... yah, i could get away with a 7 or 8 ... i guess even a 6 for that matter ............... but in all my years of doing it ... a 9 weight is like a well suited comfortable baseball glove ... and, i can't really explain why ... but a 10 weight is just too much .

so bottom line -- i'd get one ... because having a little more when its windy is key ... and having a little less is nice when spending all day on the flats or breakwalls casting and a 10 weight is just to much work ..... for those reasons ............. 9 wt. is what i roll with ............

MarshallD · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 4:38 pm Post subject:

Woody,

You will soon see a post here I recently submitted with pictures of Snook and Redfish I caught using a Sage VT-2.

The sage VT-2 is an excellent rod for multi-species fishing. I know first-hand how it compares with the Orvis T-3, another excellent rod. I broke the tip of my T-3 a few weeks ago and sent it back...(wow! I expected just a new tip section, but the Orvis Co. replaced the entire rod!...and, sent it back within 14 days!) Anyway, they are a good company and because I was without my T-3 and fishing with a top guide, I asked the guide if I could use his rigs.

Kevin Mihailoff www.snookin.com is an endorsed Sage Guide and carried a Sage VT-2 9-weight aboard for me to use. I fished 2 days with this rod, anTibor Everglades reel (also the best) loaded with a Monic clear floating line...beacuse as Kevin said, "the fish are spooked with colored line in such shallow water, and it was on sale". You can take all that to the bank for future SW Fla fishing.

In the two days I fished with the VT-2 I enjoyed its easy loading and Tip-sensitive accuracy. Moer often than I expected, I had compliments from my boatmate and surprisingly from Kevin himself ( Kevin rarely compliments anyone's casting). There is hardly ever a perfect cast. Maybe a perfect retrieve....but rare.

So I can say that the VT-2 has everything the T-3 has and maybe it's a tad smoother. My T-3 is a tip-flex 10 and I can punch it into a wind and deliver the fly with my thumb....neither rod is for wimpy deliveries and casual casters...this VT-2 cut the mustard! One back cast at 50+ feet. Go with the nine.

WoodyCT · Newbie Joined: Jan 25, 2007 Posts: 2

I appreciate your input on the VT2. I think the 9 will make a great New England saltwater rod. In a jam it could be used for pike or even largemouth, but I don't fish for those much with a fly. The 9 should also be great for my trip to Isla Blanca (bones, permit, snook, smaller tarpon) in Mexico in late June. BTW- I scored a Ross Canyon 5 on closeout from a small shop in CT for only $290 yesterday. SCORE!