Just trying to share a helpful suggestion on certain rods and their performance:

On a particular high end rod, I was once underwhelmed with its performance in my hand. By selecting this rod, it occupied a particular niche (length and line weight needed to fill a "hole" in the line-up of tools used to fish with).

I cast the rod with its recommended line weight. For some reason, we did not jive.  I felt that the rod lacked something that other tools of this brand were giving me on a regular basis.  Because of the way this rod felt in my hand, I would leave it in the corner and take those that loaded and delivered with the feel I expected.

Later, experimenting with the rod in question, I over-lined it one size and found that it flexed, recovered, and delivered much better.  Essentially, the rod came to life.  Rather than cull the rod, I now use it with the higher line size and love it....... and yes, it has a spot in the rack that I feel needs to be filled. I did not originally obtain this rod for the line weight presently being used, but I like the way it performs so much, that I do not regret its purchase in the least.


Customer "A" comes in and wants a 8 foot # 5.  I have had a long, wonderful opportunity to become familiar with literally hundreds of different fly rods, old and new.  Some of these rods need to be tuned by changing line sizes.  When I suggest over-lining a particular 8 foot # 4, a very few get a puzzled look after viewing the manufacturer’s numbers on the rod shaft.  Some know me well enough not to question and accept my idea immediately.  But all seem to be willing to take the rod out for a spin with the larger line.  After casting with the higher line size and once they are convinced that the rod performs as they want it to, most forget what is marked on the blank and are pleased.


At some point in your rod buying career, almost everyone will end up with a rod he/she does not like because it fails to perform as they wish.  My suggestion is to try different lines on said rod, rather than quickly and carelessly dump it.  If the rod can be brought to life in that particular person's hand, and they have a "slot" for it in their rack, then this may prevent them from selling it at a loss and seeking something else.


Just some thoughts and examples from a feeble minded rod freak......