hi ime looking at replacing my greys grxi 8"6 5wt rod as it getting a bit tired.I dont want to replace it with greys or hardys so has anyone got any suggestions

Sonik do some good, inexpensive rods. I bought a Sonik 3, 8'6", #4-5 a few weeks ago for around £85 and love it to bits. I've used a #5 WF floater and a #4 DT floater, both cast well and it's an absolute pleasure to use.

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How poor a thing, sometimes I find,
Will captivate a greedy mind - Isaac Walton.

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Yes, try a Diamondback Flawless, fabulous rod.

Last time I looked, Tacklebargains had a few left for £99.

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Roy

Hi
Interested in your comment GETTING TIRED do you mean your ready for a change or the rods worn out?
Pretty new to this game have just bought a Greys 9ft 5# it seems to cast great on the green that is I've still to use it on the water but it certainly casts easier than my previous Daiwa 8#
I have been looking at the custom built rods under the Sage label there are some guys in the states (Grand River Rods Colorado)hand making them at around half the price as factory ones.
Does you know if they are as good?

Aha! A few weeks ago I had a guest with me whose rod was too heavy for the water we were about to fish. My cane rods were not to his taste so I lent him a carbon rod that I bought a long time ago and had sprayed all over (except for the handle) in matt black paint to make it more suitable for actually fishing with. Afterwards he expressed an interest in getting a similar rod (8' 6" #5) in matt black with matt black guides and fittings, did I know of something I could recommend. No I couldn't. I still cannot. No one seems to make anything that is not all glittering like a Pantomime Fairy Godmother's wand!

It would appear many in our ranks prefer jewels to tools...

richard

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Who resides on the right bank of the Derbyshire Wye and is lulled to sleep each night by the mutterings of a weir, dreaming that "When the rivers and their inhabitants come first, we ALL win..."

Can't help with the original query, but re the above, my 9ft 5wt Zenith rod has a matt black finish which I gather is Steve's standard finish. Admittedly, the rings are chrome (well, silvery looking at least) but Steve would be happy to put any rings you want on it, provided they can be got, of course.

Neil

I mean matt all over, including the whippings as well as the fittings...

richard

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Who resides on the right bank of the Derbyshire Wye and is lulled to sleep each night by the mutterings of a weir, dreaming that "When the rivers and their inhabitants come first, we ALL win..."

Richard, I think Kevin Baynes at Anglers Workshop can build them like that on Harrison blanks. Haven't bought one so can't advice on price.

Unit 38
Winpenny Road
Newcastle
Staffs
ST5 7RH

phone: 01782 561515
email: kevin@anglersworkshop.co.uk

cjw, you may need to be a bit more specific about:
why you don't want Hardy/Greys;
how much you're prepared to/want to spend;
rod length;
type of fishing;
your favourite #5 line
for starters

I've just sold several high end rods (Scott, Sage, Winston) and replaced them with a #5 8'6" Greys X-Flite; it's lookin good so far

I would have a look at Steve Parkes site, Zenith fly rods.

The finish looks superb, better than a factory rod and you can try before you buy. For around £250, thats hard to beat, particularly when you look at the rip off prices of Sage/Loomis/Hardy these days.

You are also getting the rod built exactly to your requirements.

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