Fly Blog

By Mark Waldin Custom Fly Rods – Streamers are good to use in early spring and in the fall when the hatches are light and far between. In the spring the water is cold and high and the fish are sluggish. In the fall the fish are starting to move to finding food on the bottom rather than the surface and big fish are starting to migrate. Streamers can also be used in mid-summer especially in certain conditions. A summer thunderstorm that makes the water turbid lends itself to a streamer. In silted waters where insect hatches are sparse, minnows are often prevalent and spinners work well. And in low clear creeks along deep pools, heavy runs, and undercut banks, streamers can be the best solution.

Streamers can be a critical part of your arsenal any time of year, under the right conditions.

by Mark Waldin Custom Fly Rods – I built a new fly rod last week. This rod is truly sweet. The rod has a Batson RX-7+ 8′ 6″ 4wt blank. It is a medium fast rod in a beautiful carmel color that I paired with deep cinnamon thread and yellow trim. I decked it out with the usual…a gorgeous cocobolo insert Struble nickel silver reel seat, a flor grade half well grip, and a nickel silver winding check. For guides I used single foot Fuji guides; titanium alloy frames with silicon carbide inserts. These are extremely lightweight, extremely slick, and hard as nails.

Today, I took the rod out on the North Fork of the Snoqualamie river (western Washington in the Cascade mountains for the uninitiated). The rod performed beautifully. It was effortless to cast and doing all the work for me. The Fuji guides were phenomenal..no kidding. The line flowed through the guides like butter as if their were no guides there at all. I was in heaven. Caught two nice cutthroats.

That’s when it happened. Deep, fast water. One mis-step, lost my balance. On regaining my footing, I dropped down a small slope which increased the force of the water and pull me off my feet altogether. Moments later I was floating down a 50 degree river, lost my hat, lost my prescription glasses,  broke my rod and lost the top three sections.

Well, that rod was so awesome, I’m going to have to rebuild it.   Whoa, a good day, a bad day, an ugly day.

by Mark Waldin Custom Fly Rods - today I am posting user comments from various forums talking about the Sage VT-2.  Personally I really like the VT-2 for several reasons.  First it is a Sage which means it has the best finish and construction of any rods I have built.  Second, it is Sage’s value rod blank so it can be had for a lower price but being a Sage, even their value rod blank is exceptional.  It has a sweet action and is more of a mid taper rod with a good feel.  Enjoy the reviews below.

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.

Kevin Mihailoff www.snookin.com is an endorsed Sage Guide and carried a Sage VT-2 9-weight aboard for me to use.

In the two days I fished with the VT-2 I enjoyed its easy loading and Tip-sensitive accuracy. More often than I expected, I had compliments from my boat mate 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. –posted www.fliesandfins.com

I have been curious about these (Sage VT2) new rods, so I bought the 905/4 blank assembled one. I fished it with a RIO classic WF 5 line and was very impressed. The rod is very light and has a wonderful medium fast action. The rod tracks very well and with two false casts shoots 70 ft. of line with ease. The blank is a thinner wall and larger diameter than the SLT or XP series. It also cast great at 20 ft. 40ft. and out to 70 ft. I could feel the rod digging into the butt section when trying for 70 ft. but had plenty of power to punch out the line. The blank color is a blue green that is one of the best looking I have ever seen. As with all Sage blanks the ferrules fit perfect and the surface finish was flawless. The blank was also very straight. Without a doubt Sage produces the most consistent blanks as far as fit and finish go, of all the rod makers. A very user friendly rod, that will make a wonderful trout and bass rod. This rod feels so smooth and fluid when casting that throws very tight loops with ease. In my opinion a much improved action over the VPS rods /blanks that were the old RPL series. –posted www.flyfish.com

my buddy has one (Sage VT2) and really likes his. 9ft 5wt. I’ve cast it and it is a cannon. good for the wind. i would not describe it as a delicate rod if that means anything. my 5wt Winston Biix feels like a 4wt. The VT2 feels like a 6wt. It would be a great nymph rod and good all around rod for the money. –posted www.washingtonflyfishing.com

I am very happy with my VT2(9ft, 5 wt.). It is a very fast action rod which is great for my casting style. I have the FLI 8 wt but like the VT2 a little better. –posted www.washingtonflyfishing.com

Have fished and still fish the VT2s along with the XI2s and TCRs. We field tested the VT2 from 7 to 10 wt at Harkers Island and use the 7 and 10 in our charters. The final product survived Cape Lookout ablies with no worries and the 10 wt slung T-14 all winter. The 7 was the most popular rod in our spring fly school. Good rods and they are made in America. –www.stripersonline.com

I have a Sage VT2 9′6″ 6 wt. and a 9′ 10 wt. G. Loomis Cross Current and love them both. However, I don’t think that there are really very many “bad” rods around. You might also want to consider the Sage Z-Axis. Your best bet is to go and cast each of the rods, to find out which you like best. –posted www.fliesandfins.com

So back to the unsung VT2. The 590-4 is a great all-rounder that will fish everywhere you want to take it and I’ve always had a hankering to throw the 9’6”5wt too, just to see… The 8’6” 3wt is a great low water rod for the tailwaters, and we have had a lot of fun with the 8-weight. … The 379-4 ( 7’9” 3 weight) is a gem, crisp delicate yet throws a Sage loop, that we really like. The 691-4 we mentioned earlier is another exceptional rod for tossing streamers on the White River tailwaters, for chasing hybrids, white bass and walleye in the Ozark rivers and lakes, and even for sea trout, and smaller redfish in the salt. –posted moutainriverjournal.wordpress.com

The folks recommending the TFO rods are making a good suggestion as well, but having fished with both the TFO rods and the VT-2 in 8 weights, I found the VT-2 suited my cast better, I was more precise at longer distances, and still able to make short casts and have the rod loaded suitably. –posted www.talkflyfishing.com

Right now I am using my 5wt 9ft sage VT2, with okuma helios reel with orvis wonder line. I got the Sage 5wt from Lake City,CO. This rod is great, I love how it cast. –posted www.paflyfish.com

Max, I am quite satisfied with the Sage VT2 series. I own a 4 wt and it is quite impressive given that it is a “value” rod. –posted www.flyfishingforum.com

Another rod series that is hardly ever talked about is the VT2. This is the ’son’ of the VPS which again is a RPL with cheaper clothes. The RPL as you may or may not know is one of the greates successes of any flyrod. They have “modernised” the action a bit and given it a new look, but the legendary “Sage feel” is still there. I reckon it must surely be one of the best value for money rods out there at the moment. –posted www.flyshop.co.nz