B & W rod comparisons

[Top Cat]

I used for several years one of the original 15' Walkers without any problems. Then one of my friends packed up salmon fishing and I bought his 15' Powerlite 10-12 HD which had hardly been used. This rod I imagine is about 10 years old if not older and although slightly lighter than the Walker is more powerful, slightly stiffer but with a through action and needs 11/12 lines for me to get it to cast

The question is how do the newer Norway's compare, would I feel a noticeable difference with the newer rods, are they a faster action or about the same .

Finally the new Guideline 15' Lpxe seems to get good reviews and I would think it be lighter and faster actioned than a Norway but whats it like spey casting with a 65' headed spey line, has anyone tried it?

T.C.

[storlaks]

TC, I have both a Norway and a Guideline rod and here's what I'd say in comparison to the Powerlite Speycaster, which I also owned but sold along time ago.

Norway - quite a stiff rod but with a very nice medium to fast action. You'll find it lighter than the powerlite but maybe not as forgiving. Good all-round rod.

Guideline LPXe - almost identical to the Loomis GLX (same guy designed them) therefore fast , middle to tip action. Very light in the hand and a lovely rod to cast. However, IMO, it's not that forgiving and not ideal for less competent Speycasters. Completely different from a Powerlite Speycaster. For the money it's one of the best on the market....if you like fast action rods.

Like anything else it's a matter of preference. Faster action rods are great if you can work them, but timing is more crucial for Speycasting. Then it comes down to whether you prefer a rod to bend right to the butt or have a mid-tip action.

It's obviously best if you can try before you buy.
hope this helps...

[Top Cat]

Thanks for the quick and informed answers.

I fancy a quicker actioned rod and being lighter in the hand and for lighter work the LPx sounds to be just the job.

I did have a go with a Sage last season which brought it home to me just how light a 15' rod can be, but having not tried any of the new Bruce & Walkers I can't compare. One thing though the Sage had a Windcutter loaded on the reel and the head just felt miles too short after being used to one 65' long, the thing was coming out of the water barely raising the rod. Yet a couple of years ago I had a go with one on my old Walker and it felt great, positively flying out of the rings which I suppose only goes to show how you adapt to whatever your using at the time.

T.C.

[storlaks]

I saw an LPX for sale in this forum....200 quid I think. Great deal!

My friend just got a deal on the Guideline Le Cie 14ft 8", which is an even better rod (IMO)...paid 300 Uk pounds.

[madkeen]

I have a 16ft b+w powerlite speycaster 9/10 and was wondering what the difference between this rod and the norway speyccaster 16ft 9/10 is.Is it the same blank or merely cosmetic differences.