I own three modern graphite rods (Epic 4wt 7'6" Fastglass I, new Orvis Superfine 2wt 6'6", and a Cabela's C.G.R 2wt 6'2". I've only lawn casted the Superfine and C.G.R. I've found the Superfine to do ok with a variety of lines I own, showing preference to my Scientific Anglers Amplitude Trout Smooth 3WF-F. I still haven't found a line on it that I like as much as the line I had on the same Superfine when test casting it at ORIVS. I am still looking for a not-so-aggressive WF line to help load the rod in close for dry/droppers on trickle sized creeks. The C.G.R. was casted on a RIO Trout LT 2WF-F. I hated the noodle-like feel of it so much that I doubt I casted it for even a minute!
I have fished my Epic Extensively in 2019 and 2020 before I added so much graphite to my rod quiver that I forgot about my glass rods. I may fish it this year on slower creeks where rollcasting is needed or when fishing with my friend's dad who fishes an old Kunnan graphite rod in a 4wt 7'6" configuration (not a bad rod, especially considering he scooped it at a flea market for $20). I try and match the wt and length of the rods of the people I am fishing with. This helps me to use more of my rods. I enjoyed fishing my Epic. It is an accurate rod with a lot of feel. I fished it on the Wyomissing in Reading and would say it is an ideal rod for fishing there with dries with or without a dropper or even light indicator nymphing. It's very sensitive, I could feel 2 inch minnows tugging on my flies. The rod definitely struggles with heaver and wind resistant flies. I wouldn't run one of my 4.5mm beaded egg patterns on this rod. I found with Scientific Anglers Anadro in 5WF-F (175gr shooting head) that this rod could really rollcast well, maybe more so than any rod I own. Overall I am very satisfied with the rod and recommend it to anyone looking to get a glass rod with a faster recovery rate. It's a good glass rod for those who are used to modern graphite rods.
My only cosmetic issue I have with this rod is that it is unpainted ("naked" finish as Epic calls it) and looks like the color of a certain reproductive fluid. The Epic looks much better in the olive or salsa paint. Even blue is nice for someone wanting a little more vibrancy. The reel seat on it is a bit large as I think Epic only has one size reel seat for all of their rods. The workmanship is impressive. Mine is a studio built rod and the wraps are the tightest and cleanest of any of the rods I own (I have H3's and SAGE X's with sloppy and uneven wraps and epoxy). Just goes to show the level of dedication one has with custom rods that simply can't be replicated with mass production.
I have no doubts the new Superfine 2wt 6'6" will be a great small stream rod I just to have conduct more testing with it and eventually fish it to provide a more thorough analysis. I can't say for sure if I will even get it out this year. I have 5 small creek rods that will all do what I require of them. Tonight I am buying a SAGE Dart 1wt 7'6" to add to the small creek rod test. I have too many rods to choose from... first world problems. I also acquired a SAGE Little ONE 1wt 8'2" at the end of the summer last year. After lawn casting that I don't know if I posses a rod that can out-do it. From what I gathered on it I think it is the pinnacle of what a small creek dry or dry/dropper rod should be... but we shall see!
My cosmetic issues with the Superfine lie in the hilt. I don't like the use of the modernized anodized black hardware that accompanies H3's on a glass rod, even if that glass rod is pretty fast (fast for glass) and is modernized. I just think older style hardware goes better with glass rods. It is odd because the blank itself features older style hardware. I would have preferred nice nickel hardware. I like a bit of bling on my rods, matte black and gray is used too much nowadays IMHO.
TL/DR, I love glass rods, but fish graphite primarily.
Future glass rods I'd like to get;
I'd like to get would be a Chris Barclay 2wt 6'9". I've heard raving reviews about Chris and his rods look beautiful. I have a two tone (black and green) Bauer MSL 0.5 that would balance and look wonderful on this particular model. This rod would definitely put my Epic to shame cosmetically (primarily because of the unpainted rod color and the goofy over-sized reel hardware on the Epic). I have never owned or even casted a rod built by Chris and I am anxious to try him out.
Epic 3wt 7ft Fastglass II in olive. Just because there's one sittiing on EBay for under $500 and because it would be a sweet rod to take along to my trip to Penns at the end of April to hit some of the tribs with. I am also curious to see how well a smaller newer generation Epic fishes. My current 3wt 7' is a Hardy UL SR that has since been rotated out of my quiver in my last small creek rod shootout, kept only because it looks good.
Redington Butterstick (second gen) 5wt 8ft. I'm typically opposed to Redington but I find the second gen Butterstick to appeal to me cosmetically. I like the white blank and the red/orange/yellow wraps. It looks retro, like something you'd see in the 70s. I've heard the butterstick is a fairly slow action and "loose" rod so it might just be fun to get one just to mess around with. I have a creek in mind where I could put it's leverage to good use on stocked trout. I don't own any 5wts shorter than 9ft. so I find the 5wt 8ft. configuration intriguing. I also know of a man overseas who will make me a reel that pairs well with it cosmetically. Line color choice for this rod will be orange.
