Orvis Seven/Four Vs Alder Creek Kestrel
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Orvis Seven/Four Vs Alder Creek Kestrel
#1Hi all,
I loosely follow a few auction sites (estate auctions) for a couple of my interests and sometimes I get lucky...this time I did twice.
At the end of July I went to an estate auction and came home with an Alder Creek Kestrel which is a 7ft 4-5wt rod based on a Payne 98 that Ron Barch describes as crisp/fast. I haven't had a chance to fish it yet, but I've lawn cast it quite a bit and I'm more than pleased. There are a number of places I've fished in the past where I know this would be a wonderful choice and I have plans to go back to them, so that all works nicely.
Then a couple of weeks ago I stumbled on a listing for an auction in Maine. I saw they had some nice fly fishing stuff, including a beautiful Orvis Seven/Four with a CFO III. This auction was only in person, but they allow for absentee bids, so I went that route. Surprisingly I got the Seven/Four but it'll be a week or two before it gets here. Going off memory it's around a 1999 production...black tube, wood reel seat, etc.
I certainly won't complain if I wind up with two similar rods, but I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas and thought maybe somebody can comment on any similarities/differences. Has anybody cast both rods or maybe another Payne 98 clone to compare?
I loosely follow a few auction sites (estate auctions) for a couple of my interests and sometimes I get lucky...this time I did twice.
At the end of July I went to an estate auction and came home with an Alder Creek Kestrel which is a 7ft 4-5wt rod based on a Payne 98 that Ron Barch describes as crisp/fast. I haven't had a chance to fish it yet, but I've lawn cast it quite a bit and I'm more than pleased. There are a number of places I've fished in the past where I know this would be a wonderful choice and I have plans to go back to them, so that all works nicely.
Then a couple of weeks ago I stumbled on a listing for an auction in Maine. I saw they had some nice fly fishing stuff, including a beautiful Orvis Seven/Four with a CFO III. This auction was only in person, but they allow for absentee bids, so I went that route. Surprisingly I got the Seven/Four but it'll be a week or two before it gets here. Going off memory it's around a 1999 production...black tube, wood reel seat, etc.
I certainly won't complain if I wind up with two similar rods, but I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas and thought maybe somebody can comment on any similarities/differences. Has anybody cast both rods or maybe another Payne 98 clone to compare?
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- Bamboo Fanatic
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Re: Orvis Seven/Four Vs Alder Creek Kestrel
#4The seven/four is a medium action rod, it is a very nice rod and a true 4 weight, so the rods are quite different.
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- Master Guide
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Re: Orvis Seven/Four Vs Alder Creek Kestrel
#5Two different animals. I think I have had both of what you describe.
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- Bamboo Fanatic
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Re: Orvis Seven/Four Vs Alder Creek Kestrel
#6Crisp and fast would NEVER be used to describe the fabulous seven four taper. I hope that you enjoy both!
Re: Orvis Seven/Four Vs Alder Creek Kestrel
#8Oh I never ever compare Christmases, I love them all…wait a minute.
Re: Orvis Seven/Four Vs Alder Creek Kestrel
#9Hello
I have a 98 clone and a 7/4. The 98 is a nice 4 wt. with a stiffer butt/mid and light tip. The 7/4 has more flex in mid/butt, but for me it takes a 5 wt. to load it. Both are great rods. I like them both.
Have fun.
Vern
I have a 98 clone and a 7/4. The 98 is a nice 4 wt. with a stiffer butt/mid and light tip. The 7/4 has more flex in mid/butt, but for me it takes a 5 wt. to load it. Both are great rods. I like them both.
Have fun.
Vern
Re: Orvis Seven/Four Vs Alder Creek Kestrel
#10Thanks for the comparison! I found a few threads here where Ron Barch (Alder Creek Rods) said that there are a couple of slightly different variations of the 98 taper. He copied one he was able to cast in person and fell in love with...not sure where it falls in the spectrum, but I recall he described it as crisp and great with a 5wt or something along those lines. I'll have to try and find those threads and go over them again.