Cabelas glass rods for LMB

[allenro]

Wondering how these would work out vs the Flystix or Preditor type rods. Only need to cast 40ft ot so. Any opinions?

[andanb]

I know some of the conventional guys like glass rods for some of their types of presentation, but there are some fundamental differences between what they do and what we do.

You are right that the cast distance isn't that significant but hook set is the biggest difference for the sage bass and redington predator rods. Those rods are designed to throw a very big bellied line in order to accelerate and turn over big bugs with lots of wind resistance (top water). A glass rod would be too slow to throw those kind of lines (without weighing twelve pounds). The other thing to consider is presentation...you want the fly to hit with enough splat factor to attract the eye of a bass but not spook them. I think it is easier to control this with these newer rods and a KD style cast. (This style of cast is a great way to present flies into cover with an appropriate amount of splat factor. The side arm type of cast puts the fly right side up into holes in the cover and around obstacles. It is also much easier to throw long casts with heavy lines and big flies all day long.) You also need to be able to set the hook with a lot of power...especially for big fish. With a glass rod there is way too much flex when add in the slack and stretch of the fly line. You need a rod that will get you to the power portion of the rod quickly when you are trying to set the hook. Otherwise the fish will be off before you can drive the hook. With topwater you have to wait long enough for the fish to turn, but not long enough for the fish to spit the fly.

The other thing to consider is that these rods and lines cast much easier in the wind...they greatly reduce the frustration factor. The lines are much less prone to tangle for loops of stripped line in the wind.

[allenro]

Thanks for the info - bought a used 6wt Redington Preditor