JCH Posted January 20, 2021 Report Share Posted January 20, 2021 I'm interested in buying a 7wt or 8wt fiberglass rod for schoolies in the estuary. People seem to like the Orvis and the Echo BAG. Curious if anyone has experience with them - or with Blue Halo. Anything else I'm missing? Mass Trout 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonefish79 Posted January 20, 2021 Report Share Posted January 20, 2021 Can't help you with any of the modern glass stuff, but my schoolie rod is an old Fenwick FF856, 8 1/2' for 6wt but I fish it with a 7wt intermediate. 8wts in glass start to get a bit heavy for my taste if I'm doing a lot of casting. I'm curious what kind of responses you get. Doug Peter D, JCH and theshadow 3 "If you think fly fishermen are strange, try having a conversation with a mushroom picker." John Gierach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theshadow Posted January 20, 2021 Report Share Posted January 20, 2021 Like Bonefish said;An older Fenwick Fenglas rod.I picked one up,a 6wt 2 piece that still had the original plastic bag [opened] over the rod tube for $70.Look around you'll find them pretty reasonable and a real blast to fish.Yard sale season will be coming when the temp. warms up.Good Hunting! Peter D and JCH 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
South Shore Fly Posted January 20, 2021 Report Share Posted January 20, 2021 It's been awhile since I've held one, but Fenwick still has well regarded products. If you're looking for a low-cost option, the sale boards have them. If new, here's one place: https://www.purefishing.com/collections/fenwick-fly-fishing-rods I use a Steffen Brothers fiberglass rod for trout in a 3/4 weight, but I've often wondered how much fun a 7/8 weight glass rod would be like for schoolies. Be interested in what you decide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEFFSOD Posted January 20, 2021 Report Share Posted January 20, 2021 There is an 8wt Fenwick Fenglass on the Bears Den discount rod page for under a $100 if you are ok with a two piece. theshadow, albcorb and Mass Trout 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xp800 Posted January 21, 2021 Report Share Posted January 21, 2021 I just built a Northfork Composites 8wt glass for schoolies this up coming season.. I have not fished it yet but have casted it. It’s a true 8wt to me with the feel of glass but a touch faster than what I’m use to. Carrot, saltyh2ofly, Bonefish79 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
South Shore Fly Posted January 21, 2021 Report Share Posted January 21, 2021 48 mins ago, xp800 said: I just built a Northfork Composites 8wt glass for schoolies this up coming season.. I have not fished it yet but have casted it. It’s a true 8wt to me with the feel of glass but a touch faster than what I’m use to. Very nice work. What is the length of that rod? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xp800 Posted January 21, 2021 Report Share Posted January 21, 2021 3 mins ago, South Shore Fly said: Very nice work. What is the length of that rod? 8’6” Iconoglass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnookFly Posted January 21, 2021 Report Share Posted January 21, 2021 The Echo 8’ 6-weight BAG is a lot of fun for school stripers and LM bass in ponds and a nice rod for fishing in a kayak. With a Cortland floating 6/7 compact it’s well balanced. Also still use a nearly 50 year old fenwick ff806. saltyh2ofly 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mass Trout Posted January 21, 2021 Report Share Posted January 21, 2021 I love fiberglass fly rods for schoolies. A well designed modern glass rod is not the heavy noodle that many of the older 7-9wt glass rods were. 6 or 7 years ago I built out a McFarland 8ft 8in 8wt 4 piece blank and have enjoyed fishing it in the salt from Maine to Florida. As much as I like it, I think the blanks and rods McFarland is putting out now are even better. Last year I had a friend build out a McFarland 8 1/2ft 6wt 4pc GTX glass blank and wow! It is light in hand, fast tip recovery, will handle a 250grain sink tip and really shines with an Orvis 6wt intermediate striper line (which is overweighted and really a 6.75wt line I believe). I was really surprised by how thin and light the GTX blank was. Very comparable to a 6wt graphite rod but has a fun factor that graphite can’t touch and does everything I need/want a light line saltwater fly rod to do with no compromise in performance. The BAG quick shot rods (8 ft) have a great reputation and are very attractively priced. The Orvis 6wt and 8wt have also been well received. theshadow and xp800 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killiefish Posted January 21, 2021 Report Share Posted January 21, 2021 (edited) Don't overlook the Cabelas CGR 7/8wt rod. I posted some photos of various fish caught using it (from online user reports), here, see page 3: There have been two versions (based on reel seat). I have the older model with the brushed silver reel seat. It appears to be reasonably saltwater safe. I think it was only around $70 or less on sale. Edited January 21, 2021 by Killiefish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darter Posted January 21, 2021 Report Share Posted January 21, 2021 23 hours ago, Bonefish79 said: Can't help you with any of the modern glass stuff, but my schoolie rod is an old Fenwick FF856, 8 1/2' for 6wt but I fish it with a 7wt intermediate. 8wts in glass start to get a bit heavy for my taste if I'm doing a lot of casting. I'm curious what kind of responses you get. Doug I have the same rod, and it is a great schoolie rod. Early in the season, I also use that same rod in a 5 weight, with a 6wt intermediate line. They really are fun rods to fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mightyrime Posted January 21, 2021 Report Share Posted January 21, 2021 i also have the cgr 7/8 and got a ton of striper on it when i lived in port washington. I now use it for LMB but i will admit i do not like glass in the salt. I dont see the benefit of its classic action as many times when fishing for schoolies i would run into bigger fish, bigger winds, longer casts. I would rather have a fast action lightweight 7wt for schoolies any day of the week. Which allows me to adjust to conditions. Glassphemy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mightyrime Posted January 21, 2021 Report Share Posted January 21, 2021 And to take it one step further if you want a really fun rod for schoolies check out the sage bass2 smallmouth model. it is an amazing rod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip S Posted January 21, 2021 Report Share Posted January 21, 2021 As already mentioned,a Fenwick would fit the bill.I have two 8 footers,an ff806 & an ff807.The 807 is an excellent schoolie rod as well as a LMB rod.These can be picked up for short money and easily rebuilt if needed. Peter D 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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