When I saw the first pics of the Hardy rods, I figured the blanks were black with grey wraps. Wow was I wrong! I'm not disapointed though(what's the
wrap color? Brown? Garnet?) The tube and cap looks like the same one Fenwick uses with their yellow glass rods. I'm happy to see it has the same cap/ring
seat as on the Glass Perfection. I'm also pleased to hear the action's quicker than the G.P.(which is a fine rod but NOT a good windy day rod). I agree
with Andy's comments about prices. $300-$400 is what folks pay for intermediate and even "starter" graphite rods. Face it: these prices are quite
modest vs. what you'd pay for premium graphite or bamboo. These prices may encourage a few more bamboo and graphite users to give glass a try. Now, I'm
eager to hear more reviews and hope to get a chance to cast one soon.
 |
||
| logo by Silver Doctor |
Featured Topic History of Fiberglass at Winston | |
- Welcome, Messages, Claves, News, and FAQs
- Fishing with Fiberglass Fly Rods
- Glass Tech
- Collecting Fiberglass Fly Rods
- What's New on the Market
- Rod Pictures
- Classic Fly Reels
- Another Spin on Glass
- Rod Building & Tackle Tinkering
- The Tying Bench
- Fiberglass Fly Rods For Sale
- Fiberglass Fly Rods Wanted
- Fiberglass Flyrodders Wiki
Hardy introducing glass fly rods
| Author | Comment | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 scud dog |
|||
|
Master Guide
Posts: 1061 (11/08/08 18:21:28) |
|
||
|
Kenov |
|||
|
Guide
Posts: 41 (11/08/08 20:33:11) |
Glad they seem to have kept the traditional Hardy cap and ring. They look good, not I'm eager to see how the cast. Thanks, to those who posted pic's.
|
||
 kinzua |
|||
|
Guide
Posts: 71 (11/09/08 11:30:39) |
Very attractive looking rod. I love the Hardy Wedge reel fastening seat and am glad they continue to use it. From the earlier photos, it appears that the
smaller models may get the cap and ring of the old Marvels. Hardy sweats the details with ferrule plug and rod tube cover - they know how to do things up
right. Look forward to casting/fishing assessments by OYRCS, LCC.
Last Edited By: kinzua
11/09/08 11:40:15.
Edited 1 times.
|
||
|
invariamt |
a couple more shots.. | ||
|
Sport
Posts: 4 (11/11/08 12:00:15) |
Regards, Mike |
||
|
OLD YANKEE |
|||
|
Master Guide
Posts: 171 (11/11/08 20:23:03) |
Hello
Mike can you provide some details about the rods . Number of guides per model and weight of the rods themselves ?? Thanks in advance ! Tight Lines and Curious Loops Andy M
'FISH AND VISITORS STINK AFTER 3 DAYS' " DON'T FORGET THE BACKBONE" " REMEMBER TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FISHERY"
|
||
|
invariamt |
|||
|
Sport
Posts: 5 (11/12/08 06:29:55) |
Andy, I sure will....I'm home today with a nasty cold but hopefully will be back in the shop tomorrow and will list models, prices, and specs.
Regards, MikeK |
||
|
jcrumbacher.clarksclassicfl... |
Fair price for the new Hardy Glass rods | ||
|
Sport
Posts: 3 (11/12/08 18:05:14) |
Hello all,
This is my first post since joining the board. Sorry for the delay. As to the price of the new Hardy Glass rods, all I can say is I think it's fair. While I have yet to cast one of these, the cosmetics of the rod and case look absolutely gorgeous. I know the rod is made in Korea, but we have to be realistic. This is now a global economy, and most of the computers we are now chatting on are made overseas. The graphite market has left those of us soft-rod fanatics behind and forgotten. I'll gladly pay 300.00-400.00 for this stick if it casts as well as I hope. All of my buddies who are fast rod graphite fanatics are rushing to shell out 750.00 for the new Orvis Helios which feels like a telephone pole to me. Hardy has done us all a favor by putting this rod right in the smack of an affordable price range for quality glass. Let's remember that they underpriced the Scott Fibertouch (which went up to nearly 600.00. The glass/carbon fibre mix (shades of Diamondglass anyone?) I think will draw a lot of converts looking for resopnsive, softer rods. The rest of the industry has forgotten about the small stream, soft rod fan. Also, let's remember that the Hardy name still has plenty of cache in the U.S. no matter where the rod is made When all of my buddies are bragging about their new Sage or Orvis, I just say that I fish Hardy. We've lost the Heirloom (now there was an expensive stick) and Diamondglass, let's just be thankful for this rod if it lives up to its billing. Just my two cents. Jay |
||
|
Cameron |
|||
|
Posts: 2665 (11/12/08 20:08:15)
Administrator &
Chat Room Host |
jcrumbacher...welcome to Fiberglass Flyrodders! These new Hardy's have me thinking I might need another four or five weight in the rod basket.
|
||
|
invariamt |
|||
|
Sport
Posts: 6 (11/13/08 13:15:52) |
Hopefully I'll be back at work tomorrow. In the meantime I can give all but guide counts.
The Aln 5' 2wt. 1.53 oz. The Brooke 6' 3wt 2.25 oz. The Stream 7' 3wt 2.96 oz. The Test 7'6" 4wt 3.17 oz. Trout Fisher 8' 5wt 3.40 oz. all are 2 piece rods with spigot ferrules and cigar grips. And gang, I've fished glass for over 40 years...all of 'em...these are sweet and will stand up to any I've cast and fished...and they're kinda pretty 
Regards, Mike |
||
|
docbluedevil |
|||
|
Master Guide
Posts: 68 (11/14/08 22:01:51) |
invariamt wrote: Mike, Thanks for the info. Can you compare the various actions along the range of models (even only with a waggle test)? Any faster or slower compared to the others? Which one is the "sweet spot" in the line up, in your opinion? Guys, IMO, it looks like Hardy did pass the savings onto its customer base by moving production overseas, at least in the lighter lines (~$300). To those who wondered if they would, do you think Hardy did? For $400 for a glass rod, I'd rather have a McFarland though. |
||
|
Arctic Grayling |
|||
|
Master Guide
Posts: 125 (11/14/08 23:52:56) |
Yeah, but Doc, right now ordering a new McFarland is not an option.
If the new Hardys are high quality, and Mike says they are, then the price seems pretty reasonable to me. Some of them are in the range of the Diamondglass and they are quite a bit cheaper than a Scott. Sure, I'd rather have a McFarland, if that was possible, but ................. |
||
|
Rockthief |
|||
|
Master Guide
Posts: 977 (11/14/08 23:57:07) |
if these were released in October why can I not find a website with any information?
|
||
|
jgestar |
|||
|
Posts: 2928 (11/15/08 00:47:26) ezOP |
First the Wiki page about these rods. The Wiki
information came from the 2009 catalog and discussions with Joel of Old Time
Angler. The new Hardy North America website is not up and running yet. The old Hardy USA site is still connected to former distributor Cortland Line, so
there will not be any information there about new products. The British Hardy & Grey's website does not yet have the 2009 products listed.
Earlier in this thread, Kinzua posted the link to the Japanese Hardy & Greys page (glass is at the bottom). Hopefully this translated link will work. Note, some translator programs will indicate grass instead of glass. Given the current exchange rate for the Japanese yen, we are getting a better deal on these rods here in America. Finally, Great Feathers has these listed on their website also. At last check, Mike had a few of these still in stock. Tom
Last Edited By: jgestar
11/15/08 00:53:12.
Edited 1 times.
|
||
|
docbluedevil |
|||
|
Master Guide
Posts: 70 (11/15/08 02:42:31) |
Arctic Grayling wrote: Well, I'm thinking about an 8.0 ft-ish 5 wt as the next glass rod. Hmm . . . If I had to consider a Hardy for $400 or a McFarland for $375-$550, I know what I would do. I'd wait. I'd wait for others to buy the Hardy and give their reports. And as reports trickle in over the next several months, McF might be up to speed and taking orders again. Plus, I'm eagerly anticipating Tom Morgan's glass rods as an option in the next month or two. I don't need "the next rod" so urgently that I'm not willing to wait for the right one. Plus, the telemark ski and fly tying season is imminent anyway. That said, I am pretty impressed with these Hardys so far! |
||
|
Arctic Grayling |
|||
|
Master Guide
Posts: 126 (11/15/08 03:43:12) |
I'm with ya Doc! The 8' 5 weight is the hole in my glass lineup.
Although I don't have any three weights either. From the link above it sounds like maybe when Great Feathers sells their stock there might not be any available until January. |
||
|
invariamt |
|||
|
Sport
Posts: 7 (11/15/08 07:41:12) |
Arctic Grayling wrote: True, we ordered heavily and are friends with many of the folks at Hardy North America. The rods we have now are all that's available untill the first of the year. As to cost, action, fit and finish....I used to carry Mcfarland rods in the shop, they are lovely. I'd love to see Mike in a position where he could keep production up with demand. That being said, while the Hardy's are factory rods and do not have the impecable look of the higher end Mcfarlands, I believe that the majority of glass rod lovers would pick the Hardy in a "blind taste test." And the Hardy's are pretty. I'm excited because this is my passion, and not afraid to say, in my opinion these sre hands down the best glass rods I've cast since my San Fransisco Winston's, maybe better. If you get a chance to cast one do so...I'd love to hear others thoughts. Regards, Mike |
||
|
scud dog |
|||
|
Master Guide
Posts: 1070 (11/15/08 17:49:42) |
DocBlueDevil: I'm afraid the $400 McFarland is history. His prices will be higher when he resumes taking orders. I'm also a big fan of the Hardy rods.
The prices look right to me, though you could readily argue they're more money than a Steffen 2pc. (IMO, best value for a new rod). The Hardys look sweet
and I now wish they were ugly! Mike's not helping any with his " best rods I've cast since my San Francisco Winstons". I hope there's
some sort of "glass hell" for you Mike. I have enough gear, but because of you I'm trying to figure out a "need"! LOL!
|
||
|
Mojorizing |
|||
|
Master Guide
Posts: 347 (11/15/08 18:50:19) |
Rods are made from 10% carbon and 90% glass fibre....................
By mixing glass to carbon we have achieved an easy loading, smooth action, with
controlled, well-dampened recovery. The easy loading nature of these rods makes them sensational. They allow short range, controlled presentation with the
absolute minimum of fly line beyond the tip ring. For the light stream angler working in the tightest situations, Hardy Glass is the perfect choice.
|
||
|
Duff |
|||
|
Master Guide
Posts: 344 (11/15/08 19:26:33) |
It's kind of funny that when Winston first started building their graphite rods it was the other way around. They (I guess Fisher) were mixing fiberglass
to the graphite to add "hoop"strength, making the blanks 94% graphite and 6% fiberglass. They wrapped fiberglass around the carbon fibers to
achieve a stronger and more versatile blank. I wonder why Hardy found the need add the graphite - weight reduction perhaps? I must admit that the rods do
look very nice. Hopefully they will be successful. In any case Hardy has to be commended for taking a chance with fiberglass.
Last Edited By: Duff
11/15/08 22:58:00.
Edited 1 times.
|
||
|
docbluedevil |
|||
|
Master Guide
Posts: 73 (11/16/08 00:44:51) |
scud dog wrote: scud dog, I agree with everything you said. I forgot that McFarland plans to increase his prices. I guess we'll see how much more eventually. I'd agree that Steffen seems to be the best value (from what I've read) in a 2 pc rod and need to consider his rods more. These Hardys sure appear to be a contender as well! I agree, it would have been easier on me if they were uglier! I'm a big fan of the San Fran Winstons too. I need to spend less time reading this forum; there's too much temptation here. : ) I'm sure glad I'm more into glass than bamboo. The nicest modern glass rods still approximate the starting point for bamboo. |
||
- Welcome, Messages, Claves, News, and FAQs
- Fishing with Fiberglass Fly Rods
- Glass Tech
- Collecting Fiberglass Fly Rods
- What's New on the Market
- Rod Pictures
- Classic Fly Reels
- Another Spin on Glass
- Rod Building & Tackle Tinkering
- The Tying Bench
- Fiberglass Fly Rods For Sale
- Fiberglass Fly Rods Wanted
- Fiberglass Flyrodders Wiki
