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Lateral view of a Female Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Dun from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
Hex Mayflies
Hexagenia limbata

The famous nocturnal Hex hatch of the Midwest (and a few other lucky locations) stirs to the surface mythically large brown trout that only touch streamers for the rest of the year.

Artistic view of a Perlodidae (Springflies and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
This one seems to lead to Couplet 35 of the Key to Genera of Perlodidae Nymphs and the genus Isoperla, but I'm skeptical that's correct based on the general look. I need to get it under the microscope to review several choices in the key, and it'll probably end up a different Perlodidae.
27" brown trout, my largest ever. It was the sub-dominant fish in its pool. After this, I hooked the bigger one, but I couldn't land it.
Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

Kschaefer3
Kschaefer3's profile picture
St. Paul, MN

Posts: 376
Kschaefer3 on Jun 5, 2019June 5th, 2019, 8:00 am EDT
Hi All,

It's been a long time since I've posted. Hope everyone is doing well and fishing lots.

I recently bought a Sage Graphite II LL. Been trying to find a Graphite II LL for a long time, and this is the first I've seen. To that end, if anyone has any Graphite II or III LLs they wish to part with, I'd be happy to pay a fair price to take them off your hands :). And, thanks to crepuscular for selling me his 486 and starting a bad (good?) run of buying used rods.

On to the real reason for posting though. Most my 5 wts are modern, fast action graphite rods. Given this, I'm using the standard half line weight heavy lines that pair with them. Does anyone own a 581 LL? If so, would you be able to assist with line selection? I know older, slower, rods tend to be a bit more line picky, so trying to determine what to get for it.

Appreciate any help.
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Jun 9, 2019June 9th, 2019, 9:32 am EDT
Hi Kyle,

So you are embracing old school graphite. I have owned at least six Sage LL rods. I built five of them and still have one 9' #4 2 piece LL. I sold my custom 8' 9" #3 2 piece for $500. I also had a #4, #5, and #6 3 piece LL with blackened nickle silver reel seat hardware and exotic wood barrels that I built from blanks and ultimately sold for faster graphite rods.

I have very little sentimentality about fly rods. I've owned cane rods from Leonard, Orvis, Thomas, and Gillum and they have all been sold because they are too heavy and too fragile for the size of trout and steelhead I catch. I have kept one 7.6' #5 Carpenter rod that I use for 2 - 3 days a year on the Henrickson hatch on the Yellow Breeches in PA and I've saved, but not fished, that Sage 9' #4 LL for at least 25 years. It is still in perfect condition. I told my wife I want it to be put into the furnace when I get cremated and spread my ashes in the Delaware.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Kschaefer3
Kschaefer3's profile picture
St. Paul, MN

Posts: 376
Kschaefer3 on Jun 21, 2019June 21st, 2019, 3:09 am EDT
Matt,

I am! I was always fond of casting. When I splurged on my Sage One, I thought it didn't get any better. While I still like my newer, faster graphite rods a lot, I've come to enjoy casting a variety of different rods, and it's hard to beat the feel of the older ones. I find myself becoming a better caster the more different rods I cast.

You must have SOME sentimentality about rods if you haven't fished that one and want to be burned with it!

Good to hear from you. Hope you're doing well and still fishing a good amount.

Cheers,

Kyle

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