STILLWATERS
TWO GREAT
NORTHWEST
STILLWATER RODS
By Luke McKee
Building a rod quiver to effectively fish Northwest
stillwaters can be mildly confusing. Many
accomplished anglers have very specific ideas
on rod performance, which is understandable
considering the variety of techniques to catch
fish in lakes and reservoirs.
Generally, we experience two trains of thought.
First, we want the most diverse tool for the job, the
“Do-All” theory. Second, we want the specific tool
needed to make the most of a situation, which is
the “Specialist” theory. Following, I have suggested
to sticks that would suffice in either of these
categories. And, armed with any of these, your
stillwater success should be grand.
For the “Do-All” camp, the choice was difficult
because so many rod manufactures build a similar
profile rod and spec. After all why wouldn’t they?
It’s a “Do-All” rod; the same reason Winchester,
Browning, and Thompson Center all make butt-
kicking .270 rifles.
We don’t have the time to discuss every good
9’ 6-weight in our North 40 Omak shop, but for
an all-around standout in function, form and price
the Sage 9’ 6-weight Pulse stands out. A great
Echo E3 10ft 5wt
Sage Pulse 9’ 6wt
9’ 6-weight stillwater rod must pick up line well,
generate line speed, yet have enough tip sensitivity
to detect the subtle subsurface takes of finicky fish
that have all day to evaluate their food. The Sage
Pulse is superb in all criteria—it’s fast enough to
pick up line quickly and efficiently even with heavy-
sinking lines; it generates the line speed needed
to keep line off the water when fishing from a
pontoon or float-tube; and because of its high-
modulus graphite, unique taper, and weight, it is a
very perceptive when it comes to strike detection.
This rod stands out in its ability to detect strikes
and allow you to make a good hooks, which is one
of the major challenges to the stillwater game. For
instance, it is hard to get hook-sets on fish at depth
while fishing a sinking line, especially with a soft,
slow action rod. By the time the rod loads to the
point a hook set is possible the fish has already
experienced a slow sting, which causes fly drop.
However, if the rod is too fast the subtle sip of a
trout won’t be felt. The Pulse has the appropriate
tip so when fishing with a quality braided-core line
the advantage is to the angler—those cunning
stealthy veterans won’t have time to spit a hook
before their lips are welded shut.
The Pulse’s action allows a caster to easily
keep line speed up and deliver laser-tight loops.
The action isn’t so fast your elbow will ache, but
provides a smooth, progressive power-curve, which
can really sail the line even when you’re seated at
water level. The Pulse 690-4 is a beauty to behold
especially when you consider her mid-level price
point.
When talking with most lake fly fishers who
champion the “Specialist” rod theory, the first
qualification is length. Rods need to be in excess
of 9’ feet long with 9’6” to 10” being ideal. Some
people even prefer long rods. The added length is
a nice attribute and helps pick up line and keep
it off the water during the cast. Building a longer
rod, that achieves balance and fish-ability can be
tough. It requires the use of the most high-grade
components, carbon fiber, nano coatings, and
guides to help reduce swing weight, and increase
strike detection and hook-set. Generally, the less
expensive rods in this category don’t possess
those attributes to the point a true “Specialist”
would accept.
World champion fly caster and world-class
angler Tim Rajeff, of Echo Fly Fishing, is acutely
aware of how materials and physics collide to
impact the specifics of rod performance. Out of this
diligence arose the Echo3 10’ 5-weight, a rod that
is a spectacular tool for most stillwater situations.
The only thing this rod doesn’t excel at is picking
up the heaviest sinking lines. But then again that’s
why Rajeff created its big brother the Echo 3 10’
6-weight.
The reason I am focusing on the 5-weight is
that it is so much more unique. It is hard to find a
10’ rod that is as refined as the Echo3, particularly
in a 5-weight. Most every manufacturer has a 9’
5-weight, some a 9’6” 5-weight, but a 10-footer