Here's a gem of a rod we received from Stuart, our friend at Baltic Fly Fishers. This rod, as its branding would suggest is aimed at instructors...
So what's unique about it as an instructors rod then? Jim takes a look...
The rod has been designed by Tim Rajeff. Tim is the co-owner of Rajeff sports and is a highly respected fly caster, angler, instructor and rod designer who distributes a range of fly rods, reels and lines globally under the Echo brand.
The fact that this rod's white is more ground breaking than one would think. Many manufacturers will tell you how difficult a process it can be to formulate and bond a colour like this, especially to carbon without the inevitable cracking and peeling otherwise experienced when something is as flexible as a fly rod.
- High modulus slim profile blanks
- New multi-layer HD cork handles
- SIC stripper guides
- Cloth rod sock with rod size label
- No roll, square, cordura covered rod case
- HiVis white blank
- White thread wraps
- Ultra light chrome snake guides
- Black metal reel seat with ECHO Man logo
- Alignment dots for quick assembly
- ECHO lifetime warranty
The Rod:
- Length: 9'0"
- Pieces: 4
- Line Weight: #5
- Action: Fast
- Weight: approx: 92g
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CCS-DATA:
- IP: 117.87g
- ERN: 5.9
- AA: 72 degrees
- MOI: 73.5 gm²
- What is CCS Data?... read
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I was fortunate enough to receive the rod prior to demonstrating at a local show for a weekend. The show was the ideal opportunity with which to use it, and on an audience that could give some affirmation that it was as visible as it was designed to be. Asking the question as you do... 'Can you see the rod & line?'... the overwhelming response in return was... 'Yes'... Who's therefore better qualified to tell you otherwise?
With a preferred and comfortable reversed half wells grip on good quality cork, I teamed it up at varying stages with a #5 Barrio SLX and a #5 RIO Gold fly line, the rod was both responsive and pleasant to use for both overhead and spey casting. A fast, smooth action with quick recovery, yet ever so delicate and precise when accuracy was called for. It also absorbed with ease much abuse during the do's & don'ts segment of the demo where just about every section was bent, torqued and twisted to show the worst in us all when trying to cast a fly line.
For the distance aficionados this will not disappoint, Tim as with his brother Steve Rajeff are world champion casters in their own right so you'll not need me to tell you that as a result, and in the right hands this rod can hold a good long line as well as cope admirably with aggressive flexing and speedy rotations.
As with all things personal preference has a bearing, I like this rod and feel I can cast well with it... more importantly, anyone watching can see it clearly as I do so.
So is it good for anything else?
Yes... it's just a fly rod... and a very good one at that, it just happens to be white. If you can get your head around the colour it's as much a fishing rod as any other on the market. Unfortunately I've yet to cast it with a view to fishing (soon I hope!). I'm more likely to demo and teach with it, and will very much enjoy doing so.
See the Instructors range of rods amongst others here.
Jim is our ESF in house fly casting contributor and AAPGAI Master level instructor teaching full time in the Cotswold, Wiltshire & Hampshire area... visit his website.