Yes, the very best craftsmanship is still found in rods built here in the US, but the best Korean built rods now rival what is produced here in the US. Her wrist started to hurt, 1 month after making the change. You can accomplish this by adding weight to the grip by using a different type of grip that weighs a bit more, adding an overgrip(s), or adding tungsten putty inside the handle by removing the butt cap. Thanks for stopping by and asking a question happy to help. Now that we have eliminated our Perfect 5 category, this category gives you our opinions on the best rods and how they stack up. Repair is the only solution for many classic cars and custom street rods. It often takes a little time for the rod to settle down from all this movement so we do this procedure 4-6 times and then take the average weight we are getting from the scale. It is silky smooth with better dampening and better tracking ability than any other rods in the Shootout. Also, its worth noting that the level of quality control for different racquet manufactures varies. We gave perfect scores of 10 to the R.L Winston rods, the Thomas and Thomas rods and the Loomis Asquith. [2], Although both grout and its close relative mortar are applied as a thick emulsion and harden over time, grout is distinguished[3] by its low viscosity and lack of lime (added to mortar for pliability); grout is thin so it flows readily into gaps, while mortar is thick enough to support not only its own weight, but also that of masonry placed above it. Winston produces all these components themselves at their factory in Twin Bridges Montana. Stiffer or softer tippets may be used depending on water temperature, visibility, and need for abrasion resistance. Craftsmanship is undeniably better on the most expensive rods, and with a few exceptions they perform better than the less expensive rods. Im thinking 12g (or 36sw points).. is that too much to start with? These taper from about 0.020" diameter to 0.010" for a large fly or 0.007" for a size 14 trout fly. How well are the guides wrapped and how nice are the coatings? On the other hand, the Winston AIR at $975.00 and the Winston Alpha+ at $935.00 both placed close to the bottom in both the Overall and Performance Only standings. DM Harrison, The Grouting Handbook, A Step-by-Step Guide for Foundation Design and Machinery Installation, Elsevier Press, 2013, "Types of Grout: Picking the Right Grout for Your Project", "Influence of thixotropy on stability characteristics of cement grout and concrete", "Selecting and Specifying Mortar and Grout for Unit Masonry", "Grout or General Purpose Non Shrink Grout", "Jointing Grout/ Guide to the Use & Installation", International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association, Faceted Application of Subject Terminology, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grout&oldid=1116695096, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Monofilament is calibrated in thousandths of an inch from 0.020" and larger (used for leader butts or in saltwater fishing) to 0.011" (old size 0X) and as small as 0.003" (8X.) Note: There are heavier older models available for purchase. We talked to Fred at length about the older Loomis LP and why we liked it so much. The Shadow seems like it is running out of gas at this distance. Fly fishing records are classed by tippet diameter, not breaking strength, which varies between material and manufacturers. 4 pts HL is simply a measurement for the balance of a racquet or, more specifically, how heavy a racquet feels when you swing the racquet to hit a ball. The tungsten filament inside an incandescent light bulb reaches a temperature of 4,500 degrees Fahrenheit when turned on. You should be looking to find a racquet you feel comfortable with and one that doesnt put undue stress on your wrist and arm. This rods ability to track perfectly is on fire here. Ultimately this means that the racquet contains more weight towards the handle of the racquet and less weight towards the head of the racquet. In close the slower, softer tip didnt give me anywhere near the accuracy I was getting from the SKY G, although the presentations were delicate enough. Reel seats should lock up easily and hold firmly, without having any tendency to come loose. The amazing new Douglas Sky G wins in both Overall and Performance Only categories! For broken rods that are not registered to the original owners, some companies are going to charge you $150 or more for repairs. EEE Producer Registration No. My advice has always been if you can afford it, buy it and youll never regret it. Reply When casting this rod, the improvement in recovery and dampening was dramatic! For the overall weight, we simply place each rod horizontally on the scale, read the weight and round it off to one tenth of an ounce. I had a tough time getting tight loops; both feel and accuracy were awful compared to the better presentation rods. Midweight tennis racquets tend to be closer to equal balance because the weight class doesnt require distribution toward the head or handle for the racquet to perform. Most tools can be taken on the go, which is great for racers or if you want to work on a car with a friend. If only the tip breaks in an accident, the repair and handling fee is $35 including shipping. However, by their nature, heavier racquets tend to be more challenging to maneuver and harder on a players wrist and arm, which can cause new players problems. The epoxy job over the guide wraps was too heavy, one of the reasons we downgraded the craftsmanship slightly. This rod is midnight blue with darker blue wraps. Is it because of the vibration during the serve or should i prefer HL over HH? Learn More. We'll help you bring professional-quality car body repair supplies to your home garage so you can get the job done right, no matter how big or small it is. Again the slower action didnt allow me to form the nice tight loops I was getting with the SKY G and LP+, and the accuracy suffered. From pulling small dents out of the doors to doing a full frame-off restoration, Eastwood is a one-stop shop. The rest of the guides are the finest, flexible, titanium Recoil single-foot guides that you will never break. Starting at $ 0.00. These nickel-silver components are simply gorgeous. A silver anodized double uplocking seat is used. We think that the best guides above the stripping guide are the flexible nickel/titanium single foot and snake guides, but these are much more expensive than the heaver, hard chrome versions. $50 handling fee. You call in and they charge your credit card $100 but you get a brand new rod in 3-4 days. To get a 10, repair charges had to be $35 or less with a quick turn around time of less than two weeks. With the inexpensive warranties that most manufacturers now offer, you are going to use your new rod for many years, which makes it easier to justify buying one of the more expensive rods. Next, you slowly rotate the bar toward the left until the head of the racquet drops toward the table. I have given you my choices for the best Presentation 5-weight Rod and the best Power 5-weight Rod, but at the end of the day I know that anglers want an answer as to what are my choices would be for the best all-around 5-weight rods. Fly boxes are designed to store and carry artificial flies in an organized manner. The best 5-weight rods need to have excellent loop control and the ability to throw very tight loops, especially if you have some wind to contend with. Probably the most famous fly boxes are made in England by Richard Wheatley who have been manufacturing these since 1860 and may be the oldest continuous makers of fly fishing tackle in the world. If they had cast the rod, I dont think they would have voted it as the best freshwater rod! 5. A small hook keeper is used. We have found that the only way to fairly compare rod performance under identical conditions is when there is little or no wind either by casting indoors, or outdoors when the wind was negligible. The feel you get through the handle of the rod that imparts confidence helps you put the fly exactly where you want it. This 5-weight will be a pleasant rod to fish all day, especially with dry flies. This is one incredible rod! When it comes to kids, I like to err on the side of caution to protect their health and ensure they can enjoy the game injury-free for years to come. For these Power Rods, the scores at 25 feet are not as important as the scores at 45 and 70 feet. Hopefully, these thoughts help you in your decision-making process. 2.5%: 2.5%: 5% : I: 150: 2612: Uranium or thorium ores and concentrates. 8wt, 9wt, 10wt). No mechanics shop is complete without a selection of auto body repair supplies. Although she is 12, she does not have too much strength when she hits, compared to other girls her age. Good, just not great. With these 5-weight rods Ill usually start off with 45 feet to get the feel of each rod, then try them at 25 feet, and finally at 70 feet. The perfect line: S.A. Amplitude Trout in WF-5-F. Steve Rajeff specifically designed this rod to cast best with the Amplitude Trout. Sage Lifetime warranty to original owner. But the soft tip did earn the Paradigm the best score in Light Tippet Protection. McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 700,000 products. If you eventually want to hide the lead tape under the bumper guard, Id encourage you to start with the weight to the inner part of the racquets hoop where its visible to start, so you can easily add or subtract until it feels right. Beulah came up with a new Platinum G2, an extremely light rod using a new resin system that complements their existing Guide Series II. Your work doesnt end once the main repair is complete, either. The Expeditor service for the NRX+ or NRX+ LP rods is $100, while the IMX Pro rods are $85.00. Hi, Id like to increase the swing weight of my racket. Another perfect performance at mid-distance. Although their comments will differ slightly from mine, you will see that we all drew the same basic conclusions as to which were the top rods and how they finished. I also like the handle design it tapers outward, allowing you to quickly get and maintain a solid grip. The increased dampening and recovery also result in superior accuracy, which immediately impressed me when casting and comparing the SKY G to the other top 5-weight rods. The Loop rods are designed in Sweden, while the Hardy and Fenwick rods are designed in England. Fly anglers typically carry a variety of tippet sizes at one time. Leaders and tippets play a key role in the presentations of the fly to the fish and the subsequent landing of a fish when caught. Can you suggest some racquets that I can try out? Next, holding the rod horizontally, we position the grip over the foam pellet so that the pellet is centered under the exact spot where you will most likely hold the rod. The keys are knowing which solution is the best for a given job and having the correct bodywork tools to make them happen. Ones with a heavy swing weight feel clunky in your hand and are not going to be pleasant to cast and fish all day. You are familiar this term if you play golf. Strike indicators Small floating cork, yarn, or foam devices attached to the leader at some point (typically 12 48) above the fly to assist in the detection of strikes while fly fishing with nymphs or other wet flies. Two series, As your game progresses, your choice of racquet will likely evolve to help complement your level, style of play, and preferences, so its not the end of the world if you dont get it perfect the first time. FOX International Group Limited. Body fillers, seam sealers, polishers, sandpaper and other accessories are perfect for when you're straightening out and repainting imperfections. It is light and powerful with excellent craftsmanship. The best thing about the Air is its appearance and craftsmanship. For the most part, customization of a racquet will involve adding weight. Beulah has given us a lovely new rod that is incredibly light the lightest rod in this Shootout in overall weight combined with a very light swing weight. This is a very pleasant rod for fishing dries, where you are doing a lot of false casting. Rods are repaired or replaced. Most rods rated 9.5 had a $50 fee. Usually takes 1-2 weeks. New Relic Instant Observability (I/O) is a rich, open source catalog of more than 400 quickstartspre-built bundles of dashboards, alert configurations, and guidescontributed by experts around the world, reviewed by New Relic, and ready for you to install in a few clicks. Generally, tennis racquets that are head heavy will provide players with more power. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Click on the images below to see how James, Logan, Francis and Chloe ranked the rods. If youre handy, you may opt to customize the racquet yourself. As you can see, they are both rounded up to 2 points HH, but the actual measurements are slightly different, resulting in a minor change in the swingweight. Save clean-up time, money: 100 tear-off mixing sheets on masonite board, Includes robust 2,000-amp stud welder gun to help repair dents fast, Contoured to suit many trim-forming needs. A point equals 1/8 an inch. Once we did all the casting to compare the two rods, it was obvious that the SKY G was a lighter rod in swing weight, and performed better at short to medium distances, where we gave it perfect scores. It is also important to keep the same tippet length, as well as the same size small yarn indicator we use on the end for visibility. Lots of people are using 5-weight rods for nymph fishing, often using a strike indicator, along with a combination of two nymphs and possibly some split shot or tungsten putty. Instead of a chart with all the rods, we are breaking this down into multiple charts for easier viewing. [3] Non-shrink grout is used beneath metal bearing plates to ensure a consistent bearing surface between the plate and its substrate, which adds stability and allows for higher load transfers. Now youll be able to launch a medium sized streamer seventy-five feet with ease. $35 handling fee. One-weight (1wt) rods and lines are the lightest; the weight designations increase in whole number increments as the rod becomes heavier. However, by understanding these specs, you can better evaluate racquets and make a more informed purchase. Watching Howard cast, the only guy Ive seen that could match him drilling long tight loops is perhaps Steve Rajeff. If you make those changes to your racquet, the new head light balance would have to be measured using a balance board to be absolutely sure of the changes impact. Rods are repaired or sections replaced. Interestingly, it was one of the lightest of all the presentation rods in overall weight, but the heaviest in the more important swing weight category. 160 Fox Boat; 215 EOS Boat; EOS 300 Boat; EOS 250 Boat; Fox EDGES Power Grip Tungsten Rig Putty; Fox EDGES Pellet Pegs; Fox EDGES Micro Rig Swivels; Fox EDGES Micro Alignas; Fox EDGES Leader Silicone; After winning the Best Freshwater Fly Rod at IFTD in Denver in mid-October we were excited to cast this new Sage LL. In general, the best rods are in the higher price brackets, and are usually worth it, even if you have to save up to buy the one you really want. A slightly softer tip would help in close. Note their head heavy balance to help offset their lighter weight. A burled blackwood insert is used. When Im nymph fishing I often switch to one of our Hot Butt Leaders that utilizes five feet of fluorescent red Amnesia for the butt section, followed with the same clear Maxima we use in our Clear Butt leaders. If the paint got scratched when the panel was popped, Eastwood is a leading auto body paint supply store with OEM finishes to do seamless touch-up. If she changes strings, this could also be a contributing factor. Keep in mind that what you read here are only our opinions. For example, if youre serving with improper technique or using a racquet that is too heavy, then these could also be the cause. Fly line is typically attached to a length of braided or gelspun line wound on the fly reel known as backing. To make it easier to examine each rod we have used different colors with a chart below each deflection board. This reel is the one that won our 2016 5/6 Reel Shootout. From the different types of grout, a suitable one has to be chosen depending on the load. My Q is, how much weight will I have to add to feel a difference? Bamboo rods vary in action from slow to fast depending on the taper of the rod. As for reels, this year we again decided to use one of our all-time favorites, the Galvan Torque(T-5), loaded with 100 yards of 20 lb. Plus, we have a full line of our own auto body supplies developed specifically for do-it-yourself applications. When used in the top half of the rod, this creates a thin diameter tip section with excellent swing weight, but more importantly helps the rod to recover and dampen quickly. New rods must be registered at time of purchase. Wilson put this analogy to use with their popular Hammer line of tennis racquets. The length and breaking strength of the backing required depends on the overall line capacity of the reel and the type of fish being sought. However, many retailers often list the strung weight, since you wont use a racquet without strings installed. Helpful Tip If possible, work with a racquet technician or tennis pro to help determine the appropriate racquet weight. One thing we have tried to do with our Shootouts over the years is to cut through the massive amount of marketing BS we see coming from the manufacturers, and give you our honest opinions about their products. The SKY G is an attractive rod, finished in a dark gray color, with black wraps. The best Presentation Rods are ones that will often be used with very light 5x, 6x, and 7x tippets. But is that high priced rod really $300-$700 better? The rings should be easy to grip and tighten and the best ones often use thin nylon spacers between them to assure a positive lock up. Lastly, you measure the distance from the 27-inch reference mark to the racquets butt to determine its balance. The lighter, standard size fly line, like the Scientific Anglers Amplitude Trout, is the fly line we picked for these Presentation Rods, while the half size heavier Amplitude MPX is a better match for the more powerful Power 5-weights. We have found that these hand-tied leaders, with stiffer Clear Maxima butt sections, turn over better and give greater accuracy than any of the knotless leaders on the market. We have found that faster action rods with softer tips give you better feel, improved accuracy, and more delicate presentations, especially at closer distances. I developed a reputation as one of the best anglers in both fresh and salt water and many leading many rod makers and manufacturers consult with me in their rod design process. It is often color tinted when it has to be kept visible and sometimes includes fine gravel when being used to fill large spaces (such as the cores of concrete blocks). This is another rod that is smooth and very well dampened. This is another rod that has a strong butt and mid-section but a softer and more flexible tip. A great looking vehicle starts with having the Right Tool for the job. The black-anodized skeleton reel seat utilizes a single up-locking version with a nylon locking ring on the front side that gives a nice secure lock up. At mid-range, matches the perfect score of the SKY G. If anything it is smoother than the SKY G and I really notice how well this rod is dampened. Said another way, its how difficult a racquet is to swing. Galvan uses a counterbalance so that the reel runs perfectly smoothly when a big fish is smoking away from you. We were particularly interested to see how this new SKY G would compare to the re-designed Loomis NRX+ LP. As in the past, we again use the Scientific Anglers Amplitude lines in WF-5-F. For the lighter and more flexible presentation rods, we picked the Amplitude Trout line, which is a standard sized line that handles better with the lighter rods. This article is an absolute gem and anyone looking for racquet advice, should stop by. Tippet sizes were traditionally expressed as X sizes in a scale based on silkworm gut leader material, but nowadays gut has been superseded by a variety of synthetics, mainly monofilaments. $35 handling fee. If youre in the market for a new racquet, be sure to check our 2022 guide to the best tennis racquets. Nearly as good as the LP+ and SKY G. A very pleasant rod to cast, giving me smooth tight loops and excellent accuracy. More butt power would help here but still a lot better than the Scott G or Sage LL. The best presentations are somewhat a factor of the fly line used. A Power 5-weight rod needs to be versatile; often you will be doing some dry fly fishing as well as nymph fishing during the same day. Rods that are light in overall weight and swing weight, and ones that have softer tips, eliminate a lot of break offs caused by an inadvertent heavy-handed hook set. They also posses the backbone and power to handle multiple nymph rigs with indicators, which require a lot of mending. Youll see my comments in the main body of the Shootout, but youll want to also read the comments from James and our other staff members- Logan Brown, Francis Clougherty and Chloe Nostrant. Ive seen some articles online where people have done their own, but Id rather see how much one costs before I start looking at DIY. Note their head light balance to offset their heavier weight. Usually takes 4-8 weeks. Sage uses a lovely brown anodized aluminum single up-locking seat with a beautiful walnut burl insert. We have found that trying to judge the accuracy and the ability of a given rod to form tight loops and track well is almost impossible if you have winds of more than 5-10 mph. Rods are repaired, not replaced. As youll see on the deflection chart, this rod bends much like the best rods, with good power in the butt and mid section but has a slightly stiffer tip than the Zephrus. Using a rod that dramatically reduces the number of break-offs makes a lot of sense. Leaders and tippets are generally constructed of monofilament or fluorocarbon fishing line. Using the charts you can examine each rod and see how stiff it is compared to other rods and how much the tip bends. Nice and light in hand, extremely smooth and accurate. When you have the right supplies at your disposal, you'd be amazed how often you can make a busted-up body panel look like it just rolled off the assembly line. In general, the more expensive the rod, the more likely it'll be designated for a single line weight rather than a range. Would you be able to search for your racquet online to dig up the exact specs so I can provide some recommendations for you? We have found that the new 5-weight rods are getting better and better each year. I love how easily I can cast off the tip of the rod with a flick of my wrist. A rods ability to make delicate and accurate presentations with small flies and long leaders is the key to scoring well here. Alignment dots are helpful and T&T puts the serial number on each section, which helps you to keep from mixing sections if you have multiple T&T rods of different weights. The blank is finished in a deep ruby metallic red. For sure, one of the best presentation rods at 45 feet. Comparing the two, a racquet that is 7 pts HL will have more of the racquets weight distributed toward the handle, while the 4 pt HL racquet will have more distributed toward the head. These rods offer grace, form, and, with their solid mass, surprising strength. Its also nice to admire at your rod and appreciate the craftsmanship as well as its performance. The heaviest rods (1216wt) are mostly used for bluewater species (billfish, tuna) while fishing from a boat. Broken sections are replaced. Here is another very attractive rod that youll be proud to show off to your fishing friends. Usually takes 2-4 weeks. The new Sage LL and the Winston Air were disappointing and finished at the bottom of the pack. Performing well at 70 feet is obviously more important in the Power Rod category than with the presentation rods. The epoxy coatings are excellent. Next, it is important to match the line to the weight of the rod. It is at the bottom of our presentation rods for a reason it is not a pleasant rod to cast, and the performance at all distances were not good. It gave me a wonderful sense of feel, especially at short distances. It doesnt seem like a huge change, but it could certainly be the culprit. But they should also be able to easily form the more open loops youll want fishing nymphs. Some fly lines are specifically formulated for warm water and cold water conditions, fresh and salt water conditions as well as designs that target a specific type or fish or fishing. Im having trouble getting good tight loops and the accuracy was not nearly as good as with the best rods. The reel seat may also be equipped with a short extension often called a "fighting butt". The weight printed on a tennis racquet is the unstrung weight. Nearly all the top rods today are using extremely good quality cork in their grips. A gold anodized aluminum double up-locking skeleton seat is used with a very good-looking olive wood burl spacer to complement the color of the blank. As in our past Shootouts, it is crucial to make an effort to eliminate any variables that will have an effect on the scores at the different distances. With that said, Id say around 2-3 grams is where the addition of weight becomes apparent for most players. $75 handling fee to original owner, $150.00 charge to all others. As fly fisherman, we are always dealing with wind. 1. As a result, heavier racquets tend to feature smaller head sizes and flexible frames that allow advanced players to find power through full swings and proper technique while maintaining excellent control. However, if you flip the hammer and hold it from the opposite end and swing, it will feel lighter because the weight is in your hand, which is the same sensation youd get with a lower swingweight. Because of the cost, we downgraded the Asquith to 8 points. Fly fishing tackle includes: Fly rods normally vary between 2m (6ft) and 4m (13ft) in length with the most common length sold being 2.74m (9ft). As a result, these racquets are great options for beginners or players who have limited strength and shorter, compact swings. The underbanked represented 14% of U.S. households, or 18. Usually, the weight printed on a frame will be the unstrung weight. Some of these characteristics are based on industry standards and norms while others vary considerably between manufacturers. Accordingly, we have separated the tested rods into two categories, thus comparing each rod against others, which are best suited for the same fishing application, as follows: 1. If Im fishing a more wind-resistant fly like a hopper pattern or stonefly, Ill cut the leader down to 9 feet or less and end up with a 3X-4X tippet. Of the Helios 3 rods, this 3F (F standing for finesse) has a softer tip and is more suited to accurate, delicate presentations we are looking for in the presentation rods. This weight is measured by placing a strung racquet on a scale to calculate its weight. The species pursued, under which conditions, will largely determine the weight of rod selected. Of course, racquets are always changing, too, so if you notice anything becomes out of date, please let me know in the comments. I think the slower action and stiffer tip on the LL killed its chances to perform well. Head heavy racquets have weight distributed toward the head. We look at many things to determine craftsmanship What types of guides are used? It tracks beautifully and is giving me very good accuracy and feel. The SKY G was far better in both feel and accuracy. We have awarded scores prioritizing the lowest repair charges and the quickest repair turn around. First, we zero out the scale with a small foam packing-pellet in the center of the scale, which we will use for a fulcrum on which to rest the grip of the rod. The G Series uses spigot ferrules rather than the more standard slip over ferrule found on the Radian. The weight featured on a racquet is the unstrung weight. Starting at $ 0.00. I like the guide set-up, with a hook keeper above the handle, then one titanium SIC stripping guide, followed with the excellent single foot and flexible nickel/titanium guides similar to what Loomis uses on the NRX+ LP. Keeping these in mind, youd need to decide which is more important: maneuverability or stability. Epoxy grout offers protection against moisture. Same day or next day shipping if they have the parts in stock, if not, usually takes 2 weeks. Whether you need to add weight to your double nymph rig depends on the river youre fishing. When evaluating racquets, its worthwhile considering this measurement based on your preference. For this Shootout, we again checked the warranty policies in detail, as many have changed slightly. The slightly shorter 88 Scott G series is a far different rod than the fast action, 9 foot Radian. The Fenwick Fenlite Streamflex is our pick for the best mid-priced rod. Better than the Paradigm and G Series out long but the Helios 3F and Zephrus were definitely superior with more power and better tracking. Better at mid-distance and this seems to be the sweet spot for the G2. From there, you can continue adding weight if you feel its warranted. These are sometimes listed on websites, but not always, which can make it tricky. Also, by having 8-10 rods set up, 2-3 testers can simultaneously do the casting in the same positions. In the past we have traced the outline of the rod with different colored Sharpies, but this year we just took a photo of each rod and then used different colors in Adobe Illustrator to trace the curve. Hopefully that helps. The Radian was far better. 160 Fox Boat; 215 EOS Boat; EOS 300 Boat; EOS 250 Boat; Fox EDGES Power Grip Tungsten Rig Putty; Fox EDGES Pellet Pegs; Fox EDGES Micro Rig Swivels; Fox EDGES Micro Alignas; Fox EDGES Leader Silicone; Removing the spool is easy just a simple click of the button on the handle side. Great rods dont make great casters, but there is no doubt that they will improve any anglers casting skills and his ability to catch fish. I would like to move to a lighter racquet, of slightly larger head size (not more than 105 sq.in., and head-light. Larger yarn indicators with more wind resistance can really throw off the scoring. At long range, things are starting to fall apart. Helpful Tip While racquet swingweight is an exact measurement calculated by a machine, its most beneficial as a comparative data point. However, other factors could be causing her discomfort as well. The cork handle is a cigar style grip with very little swell and feels good in my hand. 2020 Power 5-Weight Rod Shootout Here. The reel seat is pretty drab for a rod in this price range, utilizing an anodized black aluminum up-lock seat with a synthetic gray insert no fancy wood here. Were happy to assist with repairs of any size. The earliest fly rods were made from greenheart, a tropical wood, and later bamboo originating in the Tonkin area of Guangdong Province in China. The two most common that Ive come across are the Alpha Viper and Dunlop Balance Board, but unfortunately, to your point, theyre not always widely available. This is an absolutely gorgeous rod, and along with the T&T rods, the Winston rods get a perfect score for craftsmanship. Nice and delicate but the tip felt too slow to give me really good accuracy as I was getting with the top four rods. There are many types of grouts available, and Each has its benefits & drawbacks. Usually takes 1-2 weeks. For reference, tennis strings will generally add roughly 15 -20 grams or a little over a half-ounce to a racquets static weight. I much preferred the Radian and the top four Presentation rods. 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