We were very pleased to recently receive the following review from member Graham Moulds who was the winner of our prize draw for a brand new Purecast rod at the British Fly Fair last autumn at Trentham Gardens. Thanks for writing in Graham!

On attending the BFFI at Trentham Gardens I filled in several forms hoping to win a prize and forgot about them all expecting not to win.

I was extremely surprised then a little while later to receive an email from Fish & Fly saying that I had won a rod. More precisely a Sportfish Purecast 9'6" 7wt rod.

With the bad winter and my club lakes not being open until March 1st and then work commitments I have only just been able to try the rod out.
First thoughts - winning a rod, it is probably not going to that good, how wrong that is!

Accompanied by a well known brand of cassette real and one of their premium 7wt lines the balance was spot on. The rod was comfortable to hold and light in weight. I used a leader of 20ft with a GHHE on the point and a buzzer type as a dropper 6ft up. Turnover was good.

I would describe the action as middle to tip, I am more used to a faster action rod but the performance of the Purecast was excellent, consistently achieving 20 - 25 yd casts with ease and accuracy.

I have used the rod twice now for three fish (2+1 rainbows of approximately 2 1/2lb each) each fought well but were soon in the net despite several last moment lunges which the rod action easily dealt with making it a less nerve-wracking affair.

I am a fishery manager (voluntary) and have had the chance to use members rods in all price brackets and configurations. I would not honestly say that this is the best rod I have ever tried but I must say it is up there with rods costing several times more than the Purecast. It was a pleasure to use and I am sure that I will be regularly using it at the lakes. I was tempted to use it on a river trip the other day I think the action would suit as an all round rod for anyone on a budget and only able to purchase one rod I refrained since it was the first river trip of the season but next time I will give it a try and add a further feedback.

As a prize it would be too easy to praise a rod simply out of gratitude for winning it or slate it for not being what one would have chosen as an option given the chance but I really would recommend the rod not just for a beginner but also for experienced fly fishers. Well worth the money if having to pay for the rod as a prize excellent in all ways.

Graham Moulds

Sportfish are currently running a forum members only promotion with us for the 10' 7# version of this rod - click here for details.