Author Archives: desertsportsman

About desertsportsman

Desert Sportsman is Scottsdale, Arizona's premier fly fishing, wingshooting, and adventure resource. We're a sportsman's heaven, a destination where you can touch, feel, and appreciate the finest equipment.

G-Loomis Pro 4X Fly Rod Review

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We recently had a chance to play with G-Loomis newest rod, the Pro 4X.  Building on the success of the new NRX series, this mid priced rod also utilizes some Nano Technology.  The bottom 3 sections utilize Loomis GL3 technology while the tip section uses the same technology as the NRX.  We were curious to see how this translated to the cast, but starting at a price of $300-$350, we were all ears.

This rod is not as fast as the premium rods we sell and fish, but can still deliver the fly accurately at distance.  They are lightweight and accurate.  We had a chance to cast an 8′ 3wt and a 9′ 5wt.  The 8′ 3wt would be an ideal rod for fishing the small streams in Arizona.  It had no issues throwing the weight of a small indicator rig and was really fun to cast to dries.  Distance is not a concern when fishing small streams, but the 3wt could still get the line out there although there is a little better timing and slower casting stroke required.  We were very surprised how much line we could get out on the 9′ 5wt. 

Overall we were very impressed with this new offering from Loomis especially considering the price.  If you are just getting into the sport wanting a quality product that you will not outgrow or if you are looking for a great small stream rod without breaking the bank, check out the new Pro 4X.

Sage One Fly Rod Review by Kyle Bourassa

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This year I decided that I needed a new bonefish rod for Belize. There were a few new rods out on the market that I was deciding from, but in the end I decided to go with the Sage One. When I got the rod I was surprised how light it was, and how small the diameter of the rod blank was. With the new Konnetic technology Sage was able to make to make the new One Rod 25 percent lighter. When I first strung up the rod to cast it, I was surprised how much power the rod had.
 
When I got out to the first flat I strung up my new rod, and went out in search in of bonefish. I was surprised on how it could turn over my 14 foot leader with a heavy bone fish fly in the wind. After hooking a few fish, I found that the rod was great at controlling the fish after they made there runs. The rod excelled more at delivering the fly where wanted it to go. I let some of the guys I was fishing with try it out, and they all agreed that it was one of the best rods that they have fished.

Galvan Rush Light Fly Reel Review

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The Galvan Rush is not a new reel to the fly fishing market, it has been a workhorse in the Galvan lineup for years.  They have updated the Rush for 2012 which features a nice reduction in weight.  The weight reduction was achieved by designing a more basic spool with an opened up lighter frame.  We like the reduction in weight, but are glad Galvan did not go overboard with it.  Galvan’s have never been the lightest reels out there, but they have always been a very durable reel.  This does not seem to have changed.

The compression disc drag is unchanged and still delivers.  It is saltwater safe, corrosion resistant and has a very low start-up inertia.  The spool also comes off very easily with a push button release with no tools required. 

The Rush is listed as a large arbor and today many large arbor reels we see, have gone too far, making it difficult to fit backing and a full fly line on the reel.  The Rush really is more of a mid arbor and the spool is also wide enough to fit ample backing and fly line. 

In closing the Rush Light is one of the best values around starting at $220.  We cannot think of another reel that is Made in the USA at this price point that delivers as much as the Rush Light.  This reel will continue to be a workhorse for us for years to come.

Fishpond Dakota Bag Review

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Since the dawn of the TSA and improved airport security we have received many questions on what is the best way to travel with fishing gear.  The Dakota carry on bag from Fishpond has answered many of these questions for us.  It gives you the ability to carry on all your rods and reels as well as giving storage for terminal tackle.  We feel much better having the most expensive part of our arsenal on our person at all times.

The Dakota will fit up to 6, 9′ 4 piece fly rods in rod socks, safely and securely.  This really is much easier than trying to strap bulky aluminum tubes to other pieces of gear or having an oversized PVC tube that is a pain to lug around. 

 The other side of the case features 3 velcro dividers which create 4 compartments for reel storage.  This will accommodate 6-8 reels depending on size of reels.  Fly Boxes could also be stored here.  Flies are technically approved by the TSA to carry on, however we have heard of some isolated incidents of flies being lost, so beware.  The bag also has a zippered 3 compartment storage for terminal tackle such as leaders, tippets, indicators, etc.

The only downfall we have found with this bag is, it does not have a waterproof or water resistant bottom making it a poor choice for a boat bag.  However for its intended use a carry on for your most expensive gear, rods and reels, we think this bag will solve many of the challenges of modern air travel.

G Loomis NRX Fly Rod Review by Kevin Krai

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G-Loomis NRX 9' 6wt

It seems that almost every year there is a new “breakthrough” technology introduced into the fly fishing market. Sometimes it hits the mark, sometimes not so much. When G-Loomis announced the NRX Series of fly rods a year ago, with new “Nano Technology”, we were interested to check them out and see for ourselves. The new technology utilizes a stiffer, lighter and higher density carbon married with 3M’s proprietary Nano Silica Resin systems. When we recieved our initial shipment we took them out front and started casting to see if there was anything to this new technology.

Our first impressions of the rods were that they were slower than some of the other premium fast action rods on the market, but we were surprised to see how much line speed we could generate with minimal effort. This translated into tight loops at both short and long distances. Our only concern was how they would handle the wind and heavy indicator rigs the West is famous for. I decided to get the 9′ 6wt and get answers to those questions.

The first place I took the rod was to Nevada, fishing for rainbows and cutthroats in heavy wind with lots of weight. It did not take me too long to figure out that I had a great rod in my hand. It casted the big rigs into the wind as easily as it cast the first day in the parking lot. What impressed me the most with the rod was how well it hooked and played fish. I lost some fish, but cannot think of one fish where I broke my tippet off. This rod had a ton of strength, but was extremly flexible and helped dampen any head shaking by the fish.

After this trip the NRX became my go to rod for big fish in tough conditions. It has not dissappointed. To date I have landed an 11.5lbs and 10.5lbs rainbow as well as several others over 7lbs on this rod. The only advantage I would give to the Sage TCX is in roll casting. The NRX can still lay a great roll cast down, but the stiffness of the TCX gives it a slight edge on these short stroked casts. I just find I can get as much done with NRX with much less effort and hands down the best rod I have fished for setting and playing fish.

11.5lbs Rainbow

10.5lbs Rainbow

Fade to Black

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There are many questions coming up about the Black River since the start of the Wallow Fire.  The fact that 30 miles of the headwaters are right in the middle of the burn area is spurring all sorts of speculation.  We are as interested as anyone to see what the long term effects of this giant fire are on one of our favorite watersheds.  

Despite the low runoff we had this year, we found some of the best fishing we have seen on the Black in years, maybe ever, from early this spring until the start of the fire.  We can only hope for the best for the future of this outstanding fishery.  It would be a tragedy if the fire has a severe negative impact both in the burn area and in the 60 miles downstream.  Many of our customers and employees have been fishing this water for their whole lives and it holds a sacred place in our hearts.  We all are happy that we got a chance to get into some of our favorite spots on the river this year. 

Here are some photos from our multiple outings into the river this year

Springtime in the West – Photo Essay

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We have spent the last few weeks checking out some of our favorite spots in the West.  We put close to 5,000 miles on the truck in search of some big fish.  Winter still seems to have on hold on much of the West, with lots of snow, wind and cold weather along the way.  Most mountain ranges still have snow down to the foothills, so expect a late runoff in Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming.  Arizona is the exact opposite this year, with runoff already subsiding and all of our water accessible.  

Havasu 03/10

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Matt and I headed out to Havasu last Thursday.  The spawn is just starting to take shape.  We saw a lots of fish cruising and lots of beds, the fish just were not committed to the beds yet.  With temperatures as high as they have been the past few days I am sure all that has changed.  The water is cystal clear and it is a blast to watch everything happen.  Now is the time to get out there, fishing in summer attire in March.  You have got to love Arizona this time of year.