The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

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carl otto
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The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#1

Post by carl otto »

We couldn't take it anymore!!

This ones better than that one!

No, no this is the best taper!

A group of us involved with some adult beverages agreed to convene a shoot out. Pool all of our 8 foot 5 WT's in one location. Devise a rating system and have at it for a couple days. Write down our personal ratings and comments. Compile the results and bring them out to the public.

Coming together will be:

Dickerson 8013
Garrison 212
Payne 102
Heddon Model 35 1 3/4F
Payne 202
Gus Nevros
E C Powell
Walton Powell
Yerxa
Winston
Hidy
Hanson
Reams, 2/2 and 3/2
Karstetter
Schroeder
Pezon et Michel, Special Normale
Young Para 15, 4 1/2T

Rods will be judged on, via a 5 point score:

General cosmetics/presentation: tube, bag, finish, graphics.....
Quality of build: node work, wrap work, hardware, ferrule fit, reel seat fit to various reel feet......
Casting range
Line performance/control in a cast: loop size, roll cast, curved casts.....
Casting accuracy: close in with line just out of tip, at 30 feet, 50 feet and 70 feet (if it can)(9 foot 5X leader with a #14 Adams)

Lined with:

Cortland 333 peach
Sage Performance Taper
Rio Gold
Cortland Sylk

Reels: God knows at this moment.

No drinking before and during testing. Group consists of 2 FFF casting instructors along with no one else with less than 35 years of bamboo fishing experience. 6 souls total.

What else do you think we should look at? Seeking considerate additions.

I hope some fun will be had and a concerted effort to put some questions to rest.

Working to get done before the snow flies.

Onward,

Carl

PS: Yes, there will be some photos.

jimwright
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Re: The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#2

Post by jimwright »

Orvis 2 pc. 8' 4 1/8 oz.

driftless angler
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Re: The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#3

Post by driftless angler »

Exciting! Looking forward to the results!

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quashnet
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Re: The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#4

Post by quashnet »

Well, I love this plan. It reminds me of the Paul Young rod comparison casting that chestatee, RyanAK, czkid, myself and others undertook at Penns Creek in 2017 (see photos below). In this case I fear that my beloved Young Para 15 will suffer badly in the "general cosmetics" category (after all, you've got two Paynes to stare at!), but it may make up ground in the casting and performance categories. I might have chosen to go full tilt parabolic with a 5/64" tip top, but I'm sure you've got the situation under control. Enjoy!

Image

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Please visit and bookmark the Paul H. Young Rod Database
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Other rod databases: Dickerson , Orvis , Powell

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ibookje
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Re: The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#5

Post by ibookje »

Really looking forward to this shoot out results!

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archer829
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Re: The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#6

Post by archer829 »

Your list needs a Granger 8040!

sagegrouse715
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Re: The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#7

Post by sagegrouse715 »

I love the concept and look forward to reading the evaluations.

BigPine
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Location: Tustin CA

Re: The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#8

Post by BigPine »

This sounds like a lotta fun and a great read! You may consider adding the rod weights, all using the same postal scale.

GANGGREEN
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Re: The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#9

Post by GANGGREEN »

BigPine wrote:
09/12/22 13:11
This sounds like a lotta fun and a great read! You may consider adding the rod weights, all using the same postal scale.
Yes, I was going to suggest adding the weight of each rod as well. In addition, I'd rather like to know the general action of each rod. It may be that these expert casters can handle just about any action in a fly rod, but I'd like to know which ones would suit my casting style the best.

St Vrain Angler
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Re: The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#10

Post by St Vrain Angler »

How about swing weight--another subjective measure, like action?

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cdmoore
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Re: The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#11

Post by cdmoore »

Is the Powell a Maslan or EC? And the taper? Could make a big difference...

And thanks to everyone giving their time to do this.

NewUtahCaneAngler
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Location: Utah

Re: The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#12

Post by NewUtahCaneAngler »

Isn't the Leonard #50 a 5 wt? How about Phillipson's 3/2 4 1/4oz rod?

tyghguy
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Re: The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#13

Post by tyghguy »

What a grand idea !! And yes a Leonard needs to be on the list. And who could argue about the Phillipson.

G-ManBart
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Re: The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#14

Post by G-ManBart »

I'd second the Granger 8040, Orvis 8' 4 1/8oz and I would love to see an Orvis 1856 added to that mix just for fun.

red 1
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Re: The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#15

Post by red 1 »

Leonard 50 and a FE Thomas Special need to be on the list.
I want to be buried with my favorite rod.
I hear the Styx River has Fish.

canefisher

Re: The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#16

Post by canefisher »

Brandin
Heddon Featherweight 35 or 50
Summers 856

billems
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Re: The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#17

Post by billems »

Jenkins GA80

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carl otto
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Re: The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#18

Post by carl otto »

Thank you for the responses:

The list of 8 foot 5 WT's is made up of rods in the collection of the six testers. So any omissions from a comprehensive list of known 8' 5WT rods is because of this. Some suggested rods are cross over rods 5/6 WT. so did not meet the criteria. Some searches by this group of 6 in their respective lockers and safes have turned up some more additions. The list now stands at;

Dickerson 8013
Garrison 212
Payne 102
Heddon Model 35 1 3/4F
Payne 202
Gus Nevros
E C Powell
Walton Powell
Yerxa
Winston
Hidy
Hanson
Reams, 2/2 and 3/2
Karstetter
Schroeder
Pezon et Michel, Special Normale
Young Para 15, 4 1/2T
Morris Kushner
Granger 8040
Phillipson Peerless
Jenkins GA80
Early Summers (pre model numbers, before his 856 taper)

23 rods! We have our work cut out for us.

Best,

Carl

Arctic-Grayling
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Re: The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#19

Post by Arctic-Grayling »

Looking forward to the results. Glad to see the added 8040 to the list.
I would like to see a Wulff Triangle Taper line in the mix, a lot of us use it as our favorite fly line.

Tom McCoy
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Joined: 06/26/18 12:18

Re: The 8 Foot, 5 WT. Shoot Out

#20

Post by Tom McCoy »

Man, if I could I'd contribute about a gallon of good scotch, you're going to need at least that much. If you need a 5wt TT line I'd be happy to send one over for the test...or an SA Trout taper...or any other 5wt line I happen to have. Love this kind of science.

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