Epic Glass Fly Rods

« **on:** 12/02/2014 at 12:10 »

Hi folks

Epic Glass Fly Rods ...... We initially built a prototype demo Epic 580 fly rod on Carl McNeil's blank from New Zealand.

Carl had told me all about his fibreglass blanks quite a while ago, how much development he had put into the project and how awesome they were to cast, I ( like many folk I guess ) thought "why glass?" I don't remember glass rods as being anything special and we moved on to carbon for a reason ......... but I saw more and more people that I know and respect raving about them, curiosity got the better of me and we just had to try one!

To say that we were a little surprised at how good the blank felt when it arrived would be a big understatement and once Sandy had built the prototype and we played with it ..... We could see what all the buzz was about!

I'm not sure that I fully understand all the technical side of this modern fibreglass material used to make the blanks, but I do know that I like it. I would describe the rod as Progressive / Mid flex / Medium fast ...... with an awesome recovery rate, I have never cast a glass blank like this!

Here is the prototype demo rod.

And here are a couple of cracking custom Epic 580 fly rods that Sandy built for customers in 2013

We have a very limited number of Epic 580 blanks in hand. Sandy is going to "do his magic" building some cracking rods with them and these will become available as and when each one is ready.

He has just finished building the first rod for sale, which you can see below with rod bag & tube and each Epic fly rod will be different

The rather cool ( or should that be hot? ) Salsa Epic 580 ..... Which is no longer available

« **Reply #1 on:** 12/02/2014 at 12:35 »

And if anybody would like the original prototype demo Epic 580 ..... this is available for £250

Best wishes
Mike

The original Epic 580 prototype demo rod ( first 3 photos at the top ) is now sold and is heading off to explore the wonderful streams of Austria

« **Reply #2 on:** 12/02/2014 at 23:42 »

Alexandr "Troutist" would like to see a video of somebody casting an Epic fly rod, but I haven't got one and it is unlikely we'll try to make one in the current weather

One for the spring

Cheers
Mike

« **Reply #3 on:** 13/02/2014 at 01:37 »

What is this modern Epic fibreglass all about? ....... Learn all about it here:

http://swiftflyfishing.com/pages/about-the-epics

http://swiftflyfishing.com/pages/epic-specs

« **Reply #4 on:** 13/02/2014 at 02:06 »

I don't have any video, but here's how a 100+ foot cast looks.

« **Reply #5 on:** 13/02/2014 at 08:08 »

So I'm seeing that someone wants a lightsabre instead of a trout rod.
I'm sorry chaps, I don't care how well it casts, but that salsa rod is just hideous.
Where's my shades ?

I'd still like to try one but maybe not in that particular shade of hi-viz.

« **Reply #6 on:** 13/02/2014 at 09:53 »

Quote from: Soundmixer on 13/02/2014 at 08:08

I'm sorry chaps, I don't care how well it casts, but that salsa rod is just hideous.

I take it you don't like this one then Euan

Rods, reels, wading jackets and I guess all fishing tackle ..... are like cars, sofas and shoes ( handbags even

) ..... we all like different things

Don't worry, there will only be one Salsa Epic available and each rod will be a different colour

Cheers
Mike

« **Reply #7 on:** 13/02/2014 at 10:01 »

Quote from: Mike Barrio on 13/02/2014 at 09:53

Don't worry, there will only be one Salsa Epic available and each rod will be a different colour

There was on on Ebay a little while back that had been "dipped" to give it a camo finish. It actually looked pretty good! The chap was advertising that he could colour any blank by water transfer dipping.

« **Reply #8 on:** 13/02/2014 at 10:19 »

These blanks are in the original Epic colours Rob, you can see the colours available by following the links further up the thread

Cheers
Mike

Here are some of the colours available, plus there is an orange, olive and brown. Hey, it rains in NZ too

« **Reply #9 on:** 13/02/2014 at 10:57 »

Quote from: Rich on 13/02/2014 at 02:06

I don't have any video, but here's how a 100+ foot cast looks.

That was fun Rich .... and certainly not what they were designed to do

Cheers
Mike

« **Reply #10 on:** 13/02/2014 at 18:03 »

Quote from: Rich on 13/02/2014 at 02:06

I don't have any video, but here's how a 100+ foot cast looks.

Wow!

« **Reply #11 on:** 13/02/2014 at 18:05 »

Quote from: Mike Barrio on 12/02/2014 at 23:42

Alexandr "Troutist" would like to see a video of somebody casting an Epic fly rod, but I haven't got one and it is unlikely we'll try to make one in the current weather

One for the spring

Cheers
Mike

we all look forward to it!

« **Reply #12 on:** 13/02/2014 at 22:19 »

Quote

That was fun Rich .... and certainly not what they were designed to do

Cheers
Mike

Quite right, Mike, but being blasted by some of the best casters in the world to distances over 100 feet left me impressed with many things. They sure can take a beating, they're wicked smooth and very fast. All things I doubted prior to casting them.

« **Reply #13 on:** 18/02/2014 at 23:47 »

Quote from: troutist on 13/02/2014 at 18:05

we all look forward to it!

By the way ..... Check out Alexandr's website folks http://troutist.ru/

« **Reply #14 on:** 02/03/2014 at 08:27 »

We have a very limited number of Epic 580 blanks in hand. These are Limited supply and will become available as and when each one is ready.

The first rod is now for sale, which you can see below with rod bag & tube and each Epic fly rod will be different

This one is 'Salsa' and has a Nickel silver and Rosewood reel seat, Fine wire Snake rings and a cracking Flor grade Cork Grip. It is whipped with a spicy ginger pearsalls silk and has 3 very thin coats of Epoxy to the whippings to keep things slim and transparent.

The rather cool ( or should that be hot? ) Salsa Epic 580 ..... Which is no longer available

The next rod in production is an Olive green one, whipped with Transparent Ash Grey Silk and a Burled Elder And Nickel reel seat

which should be ready in the next couple of weeks. I'll post the pictures once things are properly cured and ready for use.

Following this there are just 3 blanks remaining , One Nude, one Flame and one Amber, if anyone wants to pre-order one and get to specify the build then drop me a PM and we can discuss it further, otherwise i'l build them as i think they should look and they will be posted for sale

Thanks for looking.

Sandy

« **Reply #15 on:** 06/03/2014 at 15:49 »

very good!

« **Reply #16 on:** 05/04/2014 at 16:29 »

I've decided to Keep the Darkside's Lightsaber for myself as i think it looks great

Its great fun on the Ythan were it acts like a mini Switch rod and is spot on for fun with the finnock

So I have done some photo's for the Olive rod which is finished now and no longer available
It has a flor grade handle and a nickel silver and Burled elder reel seat, fine wire double leg snakes and is whipped in Ash Grey silk. It comes with Epic bag and rod tube.

Hope you like it, i think the olive looks fantastic in the daylight and adds another interesting twist on the Whole Epic concept.

As an update on the remaining Blanks, we have a Flame and an Amber left in stock as the Nude is currently in Construction for a customer in Finland

He has gone for a Modern twist on the build with single leg rings and invisible wraps with a highlight, great fun to be building something different. Every Epic so far has been quite different in terms of build but all equally great in terms of performance.

Cheers

Sandy

« **Reply #17 on:** 05/04/2014 at 17:14 »

They are just getting better and better Sandy ..... Nice, very nice!

Cheers
Mike

« **Reply #18 on:** 05/04/2014 at 18:54 »

They sure are beautiful colours and you're doing them justice sandy

« **Reply #19 on:** 05/04/2014 at 18:55 »

« **Reply #20 on:** 05/04/2014 at 21:47 »

So that's where recycled Mountain Dew bottles go when they get binned......
Still fugly but not as fugly as the red one. I'm sure they are lovely things to cast but OMG the colour schemes make my eyes bleed.
Any chance they might make a 9'.#4 weight in black?

« **Reply #21 on:** 05/04/2014 at 22:12 »

Like the colour of that green one Sandy, what thread have you used that has gone transparent on the feet but olive on the blank?

Cheers

Ben

« **Reply #22 on:** 05/04/2014 at 22:31 »

Quote from: Soundmixer on 05/04/2014 at 21:47

So that's where recycled Mountain Dew bottles go when they get binned......
Still fugly but not as fugly as the red one. I'm sure they are lovely things to cast but OMG the colour schemes make my eyes bleed.
Any chance they might make a 9'.#4 weight in black?

Sorry Euan,

I think it looks pretty cool and if I was not buggering off for a few years I would be tempted if it casts as good as it looks. Then again I do have a green sage and a blue Helios 2.

Eddie.

« **Reply #23 on:** 05/04/2014 at 22:56 »

Ben

It's Langley super fine silk #10 smoke.
I thought the effect was pretty cool too

Thanks for all the comments

Sandy

« **Reply #24 on:** 09/04/2014 at 13:15 »

Wow! These rods are amazing. Must get my hands on one to try.

Campbell

Mike Barrio

Mike Barrio

Mike Barrio

Mike Barrio

Rich Knoles

Euan Innes

Mike Barrio

Rob Brownfield

Mike Barrio

Mike Barrio

troutist

troutist

Rich Knoles

Mike Barrio

Sandy Nelson

troutist

Sandy Nelson

Mike Barrio

Noel Kelly

Marc Fauvet

Euan Innes

Ben Dixon

Eddie Sinclair

Sandy Nelson

Campbell S