"Whit Whittle" wrote in message
...
I am looking to purchase a new 5 wt Rod, and have set a budget at no more
than $300...

I am looking at the Scott A2, Sage FLi, Winston IBIS, or St Croix Legend
Ultra...

As for background on me, I took up Fly Fishing about 3 years ago, and my
casting skills are not yet too refined, but they are getting better...

I'd appreciate any feedback anyone may have about these rods...


Have you considered building your own rod? I started building my own rods
this year, and will never again purchase a factory rod unless the price is
too good to pass up or I am physically unable to do so! You would be amazed
at how easy it is to build a rod for less than $100.00 (if you purchase
wisely) that casts and looks as good as a factory rod costing two or three
times as much. A wrapping jig is easy to build and your first couple of
rods can be rotated by hand if you do not want to build or spring for a
motorized dryer.



Additionally, I would stay away from the high-modulus, fast-action tapered
rods for non-sal****er/hair bug use (I have the SCIV in 8wt, but I would
never purchase a rod based on this blank for use as a trout rod). You would
be better served by purchasing a rod that is built on a quality IM6,
progressive action blank--you would be amazed at the difference that it
makes for the non-technical caster.



One thing to consider is that if you build instead of buy, you can have it
your way. For example, on a production rod, if one wants the rod to have
titanium carbide guides, one usually has to purchase a high-end stick (this
is the work of marketers who design lines to up sell buyers).



One last thing: if you decide to build instead of buy, please be aware that
many of the name brand blanks are expensive because their producers spend
enormous sums of money on marketing (a company that juxtaposes its rods with
a glass of a famous wine maker’s product comes to mind). High-quality
blanks can be purchased under lesser-known names such as All Star (a company
that manufactures blanks for many of the OEMs), Rainshadow, Dan Craft (for
the technical caster, the Dan Craft FT competes well with the TCR the most
expensive member of this family costs $109.00) et al. St. Croix seems to
be the one lone exception to the major brand name perceived-value pricing
scheme.