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Redington Butter Stick Redux

December 23, 2018 by Leigh 2 Comments

Back in 2013 I reviewed the Redington Butter Stick. To see that review, click here. In the 5 years that have passed, they’ve made some nice improvements that I’ll mention during this review.

I’ve always been a fan of fiberglass rods, especially for kayak fishing and small streams, so I was very interested to see what updates they would make to a pretty solid offering.

Last time I worked with a 3wt. This time I went with a 4wt for better distance casting and a little more backbone. The 4wt kept the flexibility that I expect from a Butter Stick.

One of the first things I noticed is that the rod has a new look. I would call it retro, since it reminds me of some of my barn finds. That said, the quality of the blank, guide wraps, grip and reel seat reflect the benefits of modern technology and quality control. It’s a good looking, well made stick.

For this test, we paired the rod with a Redington ZERO Reel and RIO Gold fly line.

If you’ve read my other reviews, you know I am a big fan of RIO lines. The Gold line is no exception.

The RIO Gold product sheet says that it has incredible loop stability, a unique taper that easily loads fly line at close range and perfect presentation of flies between sizes #22 and #2. I would agree with these statements, and add that the overall quality is in line with other RIO products.

The ZERO reel is light for a large arbor reel, and the click system is smooth and easy to use. The Dreamcicle Orange color is an added benefit and compliments the colors of the Butter Stick.

I started by taking the Butter Stick to the local paddling lake, my go-to for rod testing. It allows me to cast from different perspectives. The wind kept me from staying long, but using a thin mint woolly bugger, I caught this perch.

Next stop was a nearby farm pond. The winds subsided, and I proceeded to pick up a string of these. The Butter Stick’s sensitivity allowed me to detect the subtle takes.

What I noticed about the new Butter Stick is that it has the backbone to bring a fish to the net quickly, while delivering the soft presentation you’ve come to expect, even when chucking streamers. Distance casting is solid and straight for a fiberglass rod, yet it still has that familiar waggle.

The ZERO reel complements the Butter Stick, both functionally and aesthetically. It’s light and effortless to retrieve. I did give it a chance to play a fish and it was happy to see how smoothly it performed.

I attribute some of the softness of delivery directly to the RIO Gold line. The quality and performance of these lines is undeniable.

What I like about this combo:

The Butter Stick did well even in windy conditions. I used it to cast dry flies, nymphs and streamers. It delivers a smooth presentation, solid distance casting, but never lets me forget the forgiving nature of fiberglass
The ZERO reel feels like it was made for this combo. The simplicity of the click system adds to its appeal
RIO Gold line loads well for short range but also shoots effortlessly for distance and target casts

The bottom line: If you’re a fiberglass rod enthusiast, or are looking to add glass to your collection, the Butter Stick is a great choice. I thought it would be hard to improve on the original Butter Stick, but Redington has done it.

I’m not the only fan of the Butter Stick. Check out the reviews below.

As I finish this post, I realize that it will probably be my last of 2018. Hope this year was a good one for you, both on and off the water.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours. All the best in 2019!

The Sage Dart Hits A Bullseye

October 6, 2018 by Leigh Leave a Comment

I’m always excited to see a package on the doorstep with a return address from Sage and RIO. It usually has some of the latest products inside and an offer to test them.

I was pleasantly surprised to open this box and find a new Sage Dart 3wt rod, Sage Click reel and RIO Creek fly line. Ever since I saw the Dart I’ve been wanting to give it a try, and the timing couldn’t be better.

I live in New England. The recent rains have pushed some of the larger rivers to relatively high water levels, and small streams have been looking more attractive.

The Sage Dart is a great choice for small streams. I am testing the 3-piece 7’6″ 3wt.

If you’ve read any of my prior reviews, you know that I typically test the product outside the intended use. This review is no exception. While I used it for small stream trout, it was also tested on my local bass pond.

To complement the Dart, I received a Sage Click reel along with RIO Creek line, which is specifically made for small streams. Sage reels are always light and dependable, and I’ve been using RIO lines for some time.

The first day of testing began on the Farmington River. Almost immediately I caught a juvenile smallmouth on a nymph. It was good to feel a fish on the line, but the winds picked up and I wanted to use this rod for what it was intended for – dry flies and small streams. We packed up and I started thinking about where to go next.

Five minutes from my house is a small stream that runs thru town. It is stocked lightly in the spring, but by late summer holds few remaining trout and it is mostly dominated by panfish. It was a longshot, but turned out to be the right decision.

I tied on a small caddis dry and started catching panfish. Nothing of size, but it gave me the opportunity to cast to different targets. I’m pleasantly surprised by the distance and accuracy you get from the 7’6″ 3wt Dart. For such a light rod, it shot much more line than I expected. The RIO Creek line delivered the fly softly to the surface and did not spook the other fish.

On one cast I had an interested follower that looked like it might be a trout, but it quickly turned away.

I dropped down to a size 2o midge, and this brown appeared. As is typical, he refused the fly 3 times before turning and crushing it on the surface.

The second outing I took the Dart to a local bass pond.

It was a beautiful fall day and I decided to tie on a size 10 baby complex twist bugger from Fly Fish Food.

I cast from the dock into the glassy water. Within minutes I had this perch on the line.

Followed by this juvenile largemouth bass.

Even though the Dart is a 3wt, it provided enough backbone to cast a size 10 streamer 60 ft, and pull in this bass with no issue. Again, I really like the smoothness and distance of cast with the RIO line.

What I like about this combo:

Casting is effortless – it is a very light rod and I was happily surprised by the distance you can get with the Dart
The Click reel felt like it was made for this combo, smooth and light
RIO Creek small stream line was perfect for small streams – loaded well at close range but has enough body for casts beyond 50 feet

The bottom line: If you’re a small stream enthusiast, give the Sage Dart a test. It is an excellent dry fly rod, and worked well with small nymphs and streamers.

If you’d like to check out other review on these products, see below:

Sage Dart Fly Rod Review

HATCH Magazine Review

Link to the RIO Creek line video.

Note: I received a Sage Dart rod, Sage Click reel and RIO Creek line to test, but no compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Enjoy!

CFFCM Summerfest 2018 – Plan B

August 5, 2018 by Leigh 4 Comments

The Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum’s Summerfest is always a great way to spend a day or two in late summer. The property has a field filled people casting, fly fishing vendors and those who just want to enjoy a day outside in the Catskills. There are a number of programs and events. CFFCM also has a museum and art gallery/event center.

I’ve been a few times and written about it before. Here are a few of my past CFFCM Summerfest posts:

Catskills Fly Fishing Center & Museum Summerfest 2015

Catskill Museum of Fly Fishing Summerfest

A Day in the Catskills with Walt from Rivertop Rambles

The museum has plenty of items on exhibit, including flies, rods, books, signs and other related items.

There’s also an adjacent space that pays tribute to Lee & Joan Wulff. Joan is still involved with the museum, and on occasion gives casting lessons.

Every time I visit there is something new to see. This year a Gyotaku exhibit caught my eye.

It has almost become an annual pilgrimage, usually topped off with some end of day fishing with my friend Walt Franklin and his wife Leighanne. Walt writes the blog RiverTop Rambles, which I would recommend adding to your reading list.

Unfortunately, this was not going to be a fishing trip. Rains came thru the night before, leaving most of the rivers, including the Willowemoc, the color and consistency of chocolate milk.

In essence, the fishing license I purchased for the trip was little more than a contribution to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

So with a couple of hours on our hands before we headed in opposite directions, we discussed what the best non-fishing options might be. We were also pretty hungry and thirsty.

The Roscoe Beer Company turned out to be a great Plan B.

Not too far from CFFCM, Roscoe Beer Co. is pet-friendly, and has a good bar menu for hungry anglers. They have several craft beers on tap. The growler of stout went down nicely while we had lunch on the back lawn and caught up.

In addition to blogging, Walt is a gifted writer. I was lucky enough to get a signed copy of his latest book, Streamwalker’s Journey. The essays in Streamwalker’s Journey are a celebration of the fly fishing life, with a focus on the triple divide of watersheds in north-central PA and upstate New York. His books are listed on the Rivertop Rambles web site, and I’ve always enjoyed his writing.

So how do I judge a good trip these days? See the pic below. Tippet had a full day of sightseeing and making new friends. It was a quiet ride home.

Hope your summer includes some opportunities to get out and share fly fishing with others. Enjoy!

Nothin’ But Gnat – An Evening On The Housatonic

June 8, 2018 by Leigh Leave a Comment

My first trip of the year to the Housatonic River is a mix of anticipation and trepidation. The hour long ride through northwest Connecticut is relaxing, and the back roads remind me what a beautiful state this is. The scenery becomes lush and canopied, and the car’s outside temperature gauge drops by a few degrees. For the last few miles, the road parallels the river, adding to the beauty and the temptation. On days when I am unable to fish, I sometimes take my motorcycle along the same route.

Stepping out of the car onto the dirt parking area, the air is crisp and filled with the scent of local flowers. You can feel the mist of the river. Aside from the river sounds it is peacefully quiet – a much appreciated benefit after a long week.

And while I usually wait until late spring, when the water flow and air temps are reasonable, it doesn’t always translate into a fish catching expedition. Tonight I was in luck. The thermometer read high 60’s, light winds successfully carried a sulphur hatch, and I was greeted by hungry brown trout, compliments of the state’s stocking program.

Stepping into waist-deep water, sporadic rises surrounded me. I tied on the small yellow and white dry fly and proceeded to catch about a dozen 12″ – 14″ brown trout over the 2-hour session, all eager for my pattern.

This was truly a one-fly night. All fish were caught on this sulphur gnat pattern, the same one I teach in my beginner fly tying class. I want to than Jim Misiura for this pattern, and encourage you to follow his channel on YouTube.

Best of all, I had the water to myself for the entire time. An increasing rarity as the weather becomes more favorable.

I look at the picture below much like a kid walking through the gates leaving Disney World. Sad to see it end, but happy for the day and the memories made.

Hope you have the chance to get out and make some memories. Enjoy!

A Night for Bass

May 27, 2018 by Leigh Leave a Comment

Spring has taken its sweet time coming to the northeast. Between cold, rain and most recently tornadoes, there has been little time to fish.

After a full day of playing catch up on yard work and chores, I had roughly 2 hours to fish. Traveling to a decent trout stream would take about half of that window. Yet 10 minutes away is a relatively shallow pond loaded with hungry bass that see little pressure. Decision made.

And it was the right one. I quickly loaded the kayak on to the rack and within minutes was on the water. Only one other kayak angler in sight, and he was at the opposite side. Almost no wind, water like glass and the sun starting to set behind the trees. Perfect.

I pulled an unlikely candidate from the box – a nondescript white balsa popper. It wasn’t a high confidence fly. I’ve been far more successful here with streamers. I tied it on planning to switch it out shortly.

I was wrong. For the next two hours I consistently caught 1-2 lb. largemouth bass (and lost a few 3-4 lb. bass) on the same popper.

Slowly paddling 20 feet from the bank, I plucked bass from small coves 4-6 feet in width, often canopied by brush just one to two feet above the water. They ran, tugged, jumped and shook, ultimately posing for a quick photo or an equally fast release.

I used a sidearm cast – not my most graceful, but I have low expectations for popper presentations anyway.

By the end of the night I landed about a dozen, and a handful of panfish as well. Kudos to the white balsa popper.

I loaded the kayak and took one last look at the pond, happy to live in a country that allows this type of access for all Americans, and grateful to the men and women who served to keep it this way.

Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Weekend!