I need to choose a 9wt rod for a SW trip to Grand Bahamas in June. We will mainly be bonefishing. I need to choose between these (and only these) two rods:

Sage Xi3 9ft 0in #9 4pce
Hardy Proaxis 9ft 0in #9 4pce

Thanks!

I have fished with most of the Xi3 range since they came out and have cast them all and can say they are all superb and IMHO a vast improvement over the Xi2. I have had the chance to cast the full range of the proaxis rods and have been impressed but have not as yet had a chance to fish them, one of my work mates had a trip away with the #9 and was impressed. In short you won't go far wrong with either! Slap a nautilus NV on the **** end and go cause some hell for some bonios!!! ;-)

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Tomo

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Don't believe the hype. The Hardy felt dead in my hand when I tried it. I think there are better rods at £150 out there!

The Sage Xi3 is the best saltwater rod Sage have ever made. I hated the RPLXi and don't like the Xi2 but the Xi3 is very very nice.

Just my opinion. I would try them yourself.

Interesting, I thought the RPLXi was one of the best rods ever made (for its time) and are still sought after? However, we will leave that debate alone...

Unfortunately, I'm not able to try them, which is why I'm posting here. I already own the 8wt Xi3 but I have not cast it yet on the water -only in the park!

My first instinct was to go for the Sage but there seems to be alot of hype about the Hardy (and Loomis NRX) rods which says they are a huge leap in rod technology. Is this true???

Sorry I wouldn't buy either! vastly overpriced as the previous writer stated there are as good as and cheaper rods out there, I cannot justify the doubling of costs just to support their warranties? Suggest looking at Peregrine SW2, built from Harrison blanks (British throughout) and casts like a dream even in strong winds, I have cast the Sage xi2 and xi3 agree the 3 is vastly better, the 2 was a pig to cast with in windy conditions - sorry but that was my opinion as for the Hardy! not met anyone who owns one so cannot suggest which is better the Sage or the Hardy?

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Alan

I was afraid this might happen... please refrain from the brand bashing!

As I stated in my post I wanted opinions and comparisons between two specific rods and nothing else.

Having cast both i would say that the Xi3 is by far the better rod.
Lots more feel and for some reason much easier to cast.
Of course if you would like to try another rod i can suggest one.

T

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What is the point in asking opinions? Everyone is different, and what rod suits one person doesn't necessarily suit another.....

Can I ask, why are you asking for opinions on two different rods???....

Hopefully, rather than just listening to all the hype, you have tried casting with a number of rods, and have narrowed your own preferences down to just these two. if this is the case, then at the end of the day, if the choice is that close that you are asking for opinions to sway you one way or the other, quite frankly you really would be better off in tossing a coin to make your choice.

You have obviously made up your mind that you are going to purchase one or other of these rods, and by asking for opinions on which one is the better, you are going to get hugely differing opinions. There will be those that think one or other of your choices are the best rods made since sliced bread, and just as many, if not more, who feel the best use for either or both is to stick the joints in their allotment to help grow their runner beans...... And every one in these opinions is going to be absolutely correct. Therefore so as long as you have tested both of your choices out, if at the end of the day, they are in your opinion the rods best suited to your own casting style, and there is that little differential between them, as far as you are concerned, then a simple coin toss will alleviate any of the obvious doubts brought about by asking for others opinions.

Reading this back, it does sound a little harsh, but I assure you it is not meant to be that way, and I do hope you will take what I have said within the spirit of its intent.

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Brian G

Thanks for your honest feedback and I completely agree... BUT... where am I supposed to properly test these rods in London? Even taking it to a park (if they let you) is only going to give you a rough idea. Furthermore, I freely admit that given my skill level it probably makes no difference to me so I could flip a coin. What I was looking for is the opinion of more experienced people who have actually fished either of these rods extensively and give their real-world feedback.

If you have never even tried these two rods, I am at a loss to understand why you ultimately are looking to purchase one or other and that is it....Both in your hands might be a total pile of c..p!! and this is despite what the opinion of others may seem to suggest.

Having said that, Reading is not too far from London, and if I were going to spend all that money on a rod which ultimately in my own hands might possibly turn out to be totally unsuited to me, I would take the time and trouble to go down to Sportfish and test them out.

Admittedly in all probability you might not get the opportunity to put them through their paces in the windy conditions you are quite likely to find in the Bahamas, but half an hours play about with each model will certainly give you a 1000 times more insight as to the suitability of each rod or not, as the case may be, than obtaining opinions from even the most experienced of Destination SWFF on this, or any other Forum.

You never know, just 'cos it is a Sage, or a Hardy, that in no way whatsoever guarantees that either or both of these rods will not be absolute piles of **** in your own hands.

I can't give you any better advice than that, and believe me I am talking from experience(or rather bad experience) here, not in any way a holier than thou position....Some few years back I decided that my 11wt Scott STS was perhaps not quite man enough for of some of the Tarpon we were encountering, so I looked to obtain a 12wt, and naturally as I have, and still use the STS models in 9-10 & 11wts for all my SWFF, I immediately looked for a 12wt STS,. For some reason however, this rod didn't suit me, when I tested it out, and as my next trip loomed ever closer, I did exactly what you are doing now, and asked others for their opinions on what 12wt rod they recommended for big Tarpon......Without doubt, the overwhelming consensus of opinion pointed me towards the Loomis GLX Crosscurrent, and as probably the greatest Tarpon Fly Fisher of modern times Andy Mill, categorically stated at the time, that he only ever used these rod for his Tarpon fishing, I went and purchased a pair of them.

Now in the fishing world I am a mister nobody, but as far as opinions are concerned with regard to the rods I use, I am the biggest name in the game, as is everybody else when it comes to the rods we as individuals each fish with......And as far as the Loomis GLX Crosscurrent is concerned, Andy Mill and all the others who swayed me towards buying them, simple cost me loads of money, for that which I consider to be the very worst saltwater fly rod that I have ever had the misfortune to attempt to cast with. Fortunately they are absolutely brilliant for sticking in the ground and training my runner beans to grow up them

Many will knock me down completely as far as that statement is concerned, and quite rightly too, for in their hands, my runner bean poles, will be the best 12wt fly rods they have ever handled.

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Brian G