With this technology to hand, we wanted to challenge the somewhat "stereotyped" mindset that saltwater rods have to be 9 ft long. So we designed these rods at 9'3", and in doing so added some obvious performance advantages, to our way of thinking. In this blog post, Guideline's Product Manager Leif Stävmo explains the pros and cons of 9'3" versus 9 ft length in our new LPX Coastal 2021 rod series.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND CHART The new LPX Coastal is the result of 3 years of intense research and sourcing to find the best and most optimal solutions available, both for performance and for "greener" technology in every component and part of the rod. The advanced carbon laminate in these rods features C.A.P (complex axial pattern) technology combined with a unidirectional carbon fibre structure for maximum strength and low weight. Unidirectional carbon fibre cloth is a type of carbon structure that is not woven and has all the fibres running in a single parallel direction for maximum strength along its length. In a complex axial pattern (CAP), the prepreg layers are laid at different angles to one another to maximise strength and stability in every direction. The properties and technical specifications of the materials used in these rods are the next level up from those used in our groundbreaking Elevation Series. Spectacular performance and strength despite an incredibly low weight.
The pros and cons of 9'3" versus 9 ft length in Coastal fly rods
Sea bass fishing, like many other types of coastal fishing, takes place across many different kinds of environment. Mile-long shallow sand flats, high shorelines with rocks and cliffs dropping into deeper water, fly fishing open water and bays from a boat, float-tube fishing, and so on. Looking at the different scenarios, you realise straight away that there is no single rod length that will do it all in an optimal way. Historically, when wading waist-deep along coastal stretches with the swell coming in towards the shore, the need for a longer rod was obvious, and going back in time rods between 9'6" and 10 ft in length were more the rule than the exception. Conversely, those longer rods have never been useful during tropical fishing or in other coastal situations from a boat. The longer rod becomes awkward both in terms of the extra distance to the water that the boat adds, and because a longer rod is harder to manage when handling and fighting a big fish alongside the boat. The trend, and also the misconception, that only 9 ft rods work for coastal fly fishing has led to a situation where the angler does not always maximise the craft and its potential given the circumstances and the conditions or places where they fish.
+ PROS +
With the new CAP M4.0 technology used in our new LPX Coastal rods, we wanted to challenge this stereotyped thinking and decided to test a slightly longer length of 9'3" against the classic 9 ft to see whether we could gain some advantages from the extra 3 inches of length without sacrificing casting performance. The new materials made it absolutely clear that we would manage to build the same crisp, fast, responsive rods at the extra length too. The swing weight stayed extremely low; in fact, the whole weight of these rods is surprisingly light. Casting the rod, we had no difficulty at all with wind or line control in any way different from a 9 ft rod. This was not so surprising, and nor were the interesting advantages we found. The slightly longer rod turns out to be very useful for keeping the fly line and fly a fraction higher above the water's surface, which is especially noticeable when you are fishing at distance and lifting the longer line off the rod tip. When wading between knee and waist depth, the advantages become very obvious. It is simply astonishing how much difference these extra inches make to your reach in these situations.
The same was true when fishing from a float tube, where the low position also significantly reduces the distance between the rod tip and the water's surface. The extra rod length helps stop the fly hitting the water in front of and behind the angler when casting. Fishing steep shorelines where wading is limited also justifies the extra rod length, since it helps keep your backcast away from the rocks or cliffs behind you. The wind has no noticeable effect on the slightly longer rod. It would probably be apparent if the rod were 10 ft, but in this case it is not. When fishing from a boat, the extra inches bring no specific advantage, but nor would we say they are particularly detrimental to performance. Even so, there is a reason for keeping the three heaviest rod models at 9 ft long. Being heavier line weights, they are often used with heavier, larger flies. The extra weight in the rig puts more strain on hands, wrists, arms and shoulders, so over a full day's casting the shorter rod length will help keep fatigue at bay. We also expect these rods to be fished more regularly from a boat, so keeping them shorter is beneficial for that too. Another argument is that they will be used for bigger fish such as pike, tarpon, tuna, pollack and similar species that call for a shorter lever in the rod to be able to apply enough pressure to fight them efficiently.
- CONS - None, except people's misconception that only 9 ft rods work for every kind of coastal fly fishing.
About the different rods in the series:
9'3" #5 and #6 The ideal tools for calm days on the open coast or in sheltered bays and coves where you need to present small shrimp and fry patterns to fish that spook easily. These rods have a crisp, very sensitive action that throws pleasant, tight loops and copes with fishing delicate tippets thanks to a sensitive, well-balanced tip area.
9'3" #7 and 9' #8 The all-rounders for coastal fly fishing in Europe. These rods are built to handle bigger flies, stronger winds and sinking lines or shooting heads when needed. The low swing weight and the great connection between tip and grip make them a pleasure to cast and to work through long sessions. The actions are quite fast, but with a sustained feel of the load towards the lower third of the rod when you push them and put power into your cast.
9 ft #10 and #12 The two heaviest models in the Coastal series lend themselves extremely well to sea fishing for halibut, pollack and tuna, or to tropical fishing for permit, jacks, tarpon and other gamefish that roam warmer waters. These rods are strong but very light, and they are built with enough power to fight big fish efficiently from the lower part of the rod, while keeping a good casting action through a more forgiving, flexible top half.
(Words by Leif Stävmo, Guideline Product Manager. Images by Alvar G Santillan and Henrik Larsson)
