[jwskiff]

For many applications fiberglass (or slower graphite) works better for me. Like others have said shorter (<40') shots at reds in the spartina. Modern slower, salt graphite isn't easy to come by.. but glass is readily available (Deep Bend, EPIC, BAG, etc). Yes it's heavier but easy enough to get balanced with an appropriate reel.

 

[el9surf]

For many applications fiberglass (or slower graphite) works better for me. Like others have said shorter (<40') shots at reds in the spartina. Modern slower, salt graphite isn't easy to come by.. but glass is readily available (Deep Bend, EPIC, BAG, etc). Yes it's heavier but easy enough to get balanced with an appropriate reel.

I understand what you're trying to achieve, I don't like a fast rod for short shots either. Many of the low end graphite rods are on the moderate to slow action side of the spectrum. From there you can tune and manipulate the feelf further with line choice. Just seems like that would be a lighter weight and less expensive way to achieve the same thing.

For anyone looking for a short-range red fish stick for slot size Reds, the sage bass 290 grain rod with 8wt Rio Bonefish quickshooter has been pure magic for me. The rod is short, very accurate and has a good amount of flex to it. It really shines in the 30 to 50 foot range , but can go 60 to 70 foot if you need it to.

 

[Greg Allison]

Why Glass?
The glass is less brittle material, which can make it a better from an abuse stand point. The rods are slower and can give you a softer presentation. You can also put the wood the fish and not worry about breaking your leader since they are typically slower and will absorb the shock loading of the leader. Once I good a hook set on fish with a glass rod, it very rarely comes off. And we need more toys. They also can be relatively cheap compared to some other rods. The Cableas rods go on sale often for under $75, and the Asian produced stuff ranges from $200-300.

I fish the new Fenwick Fenglass stuff some. The 7wt is my go to trout streamer rod. Most new unidirectional S2 glass stuff these companies are coming out with is generally great. I have really enjoyed the Epic stuff, the 686 is a fine rod.

 

[cj.james]

Sorry to revive this thread, just curious what lines you guys are throwing on this rod are these days and what reels to balance it out? I'm looking at the 7 or 8wt for bones

 

[commtrd]

I bot a 6wt BAG using a Nautilus NV 6-8 reel, seems to balance well. I like the rod for casting, just got it and no fish on it yet.

 

[Rookiemistake]

Looking to build a few how does the echo compare to blue halo?

 

[ERK]

I've got a 6wt BAG with Solitude 4 reel and Airflo Super-Dri Bonefish in 6wt. Very well-balanced and fun to cast and fight fish with

 

[cj.james]

I've got a 6wt BAG with Solitude 4 reel and Airflo Super-Dri Bonefish in 6wt. Very well-balanced and fun to cast and fight fish with

Thanks for the input! The Airflo bonefish lines are all a full head weight heavier, I'm assuming the rod doesn't feel overloaded with the heavier line?

 

[ERK]

I don't think so, but Airflo is all I have known for the past 10 years. I typically use this setup for redfish/snook from the paddleboard, so lots of short, quick casts. Rod loads fine in those scenarios. Have also used in Exuma for small bonefish, requiring long casts, and had no issues there either.

 

[texasag07]

Looking to build a few how does the echo compare to blue halo?

unless blue halo has drastically changed their blank construction they are much much slower action rods than the echo bag. The epic, echo bag quick shot, and fenwick fenglass all kinda play in the same niche with subtle changes, where has blue halo and a few of the others are way slower action rods.