Fly Rods... 4 pc. vs. 2 pc. - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

fishweewee · 05-31-2004, 08:35 AM

I was just browsing the wares at a few local tackle shops this weekend.

Is it just me, or is the 2 piece flyrod going to the way of the dodo bird?

Seems to me the 4 pc. setups (which are ideal for travel) are gradually becoming the norm.

Portability is nice if you need it...but I think it also costs a bit more (or at least the manufacturers charge more). You also need to keep track of 3 ferrule connections (and worrying about associated wear and tear) instead of one.

What gives?

maddog2020 · 05-31-2004, 10:57 AM

Lower shipping costs for manufacturers.

Lower manufacturing cost to make short sections verses long sections.

Lower cost - manufacturers can use different butt and mid sections on different line weight rods.

Portability - less likely to get broken because sections are shorter.

Those above are my best warped guesses.

Bigcat · 05-31-2004, 12:45 PM

I dumped all my 2 piece rods after US Air lost my rods on a tarpon trip 10 years ago.
Now all my rods are 3&4 piece, they fit in the overhead and never leave my sight

Skip N · 05-31-2004, 01:09 PM

I dumped all my 2 piece rods after US Air lost my rods on a tarpon trip 10 years ago.
Now all my rods are 3&4 piece, they fit in the overhead and never leave my sight

__________________

I had trouble bringing my 4 piece rods a couple years ago to Montana. The airline refused to let me bring them on as a carry on. Had to check em in with my checked baggage. Anyone else ever have that problem with airlines? So much for a travel rod I guess!

28inches · 05-31-2004, 04:32 PM

Never had a problem going to Bozeman, Jackson Hole, Salt Lake or Denver. Always use the overhead for my 4pc SAGE. Sometimes the stewardess kept it in the little cubby the stewardesses use.

Skip N · 05-31-2004, 04:40 PM

Never had a problem going to Bozeman, Jackson Hole, Salt Lake or Denver. Always use the overhead for my 4pc SAGE. Sometimes the stewardess kept it in the little cubby the stewardesses use

It was the lady at the check in counter who gave me the hard time. She kept telling me rods were not allowed as carry ons. She must have been new or something or just uninformed. That was the first time I had tried bringing a rod on the plane so I didnt know either! I least I know its OK for the next time I fly.

28inches · 05-31-2004, 04:59 PM

Good luck. Where are you fishing?

Pete_G · 05-31-2004, 08:40 PM

A lot of people feel there was a performance hit with multi-piece rods in the past, with the 2 piece always being the "better" rod, at least in terms of casting performance.

These days though if a manufacturer even makes a 2 piece version of a rod it doesn't feel at least in my hands to be superior to the multi-piece. Most of the time it's just the opposite, I prefer the action of a multi-piece over a 2 piece.

Sage's new saltwater rod isn't even available as a 2 piece.

28inches · 05-31-2004, 10:29 PM

Pete, if you blindfold 98% of fishermen they can't tell a well-made 4pc from a 2pc. SAGE,Loomis,Orvis, etc have come a long way. And if you keep your ferrules clean, thet're not much of a problem if you're careful when you rig up.

jeffsod · 06-01-2004, 06:42 AM

I think all the Temple Forks are 4 piece rods.

I like having a two piece rod so I can leave the rod in the aftermarket case that allows the reel to remain on the rod and the rod fully rigged. Slide the rod out line up the one ferrule pull a little line off the the reel and ready to go. I even leave the fly on it. Fishing time is a premium and if I only have an hour I don't want to be spending it fishing the line thru all those guides. Granted you can leave a four piece rigged but I like the protection and porability of the two piece cordora reel on rod tube.

Roger · 06-01-2004, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jeffsod
I think all the Temple Forks are 4 piece rods.

I like having a two piece rod so I can leave the rod in the aftermarket case that allows the reel to remain on the rod and the rod fully rigged.

TFO series 1 are two peice, and under $100.
Re set up, I do the same as you do since it's easy to quickly assemble two sections already rigged. I just break down my 4 pc in the middle and still use those 2 pc cases. IOW, 4 pc rods can be used like 2 pc, but a 2 pc can't break down into 4 pcs.

fishweewee · 06-01-2004, 08:03 AM

I had a chance to test-cast one of the newer Sage rods (the model # slips my mind but it was a 4 pc 10 weight). Very nice action in middle - the rod seemingly does all the work for you. Was able to reach 70 feet or so (with a floating line) with just one backcast and no hauling.

Only thing was... $650 for the rod (roughly what you would pay for a Charlton 8500 1.2 reel a few years ago!). Ouch. I thought prices were supposed to be coming down with newer competitors in the market.

I guess from a marketing point of view, fly fishing is still a small segment of the overall fishing market.