Bruce & Walker Norway

[pond321]

Folloing on from my last post - the other contendor is a B&W Norway.

I see the 15ft comes in two line weights 9/10 and 10/11.

As mentioned, I will be needing to use sunken lines & tubes - which one should I go for (bearing in mind that this will be my only salmon rod and I want to be able to use it in the summer/autumn as well)

Will the 9/10 be up to the job or will the 10/11 be an overkill later in the year??

[pond321]

Thanks Graham

[redshrimp]

I woud agree with Graham completely on that one. Exactly my findings.

[MichaelL]

graham said:

The B&W Norway is definitely your best option. The 9/10 will be the better of the two if you also intend to use it during the summer months. They are rated a bit on the light side by B&W, the 9/10 is more of a 10/11 and the 10/11 is more of a 11/12. I frequently use my 15ft 9/10 Norway with 1 1/2 inch copper tubes on sink tip or full sinking lines with no problems.

Does that mean you would put a 10/11wt line on the 9/10 rod?

[MichaelL]

graham said:

I use a Loop Quatro tip 10/11 on the 15ft 9/10 Norway for the heavier work during the spring or late autumn. For a full floating line the Partridge Ian Gordon 10/11 65ft head works very well.

Thanks, I've got one rod which I'll be learning on (won't mention the make in case WG reads it and gets annoyed with me) and am going to get a B&W rod too, just got back from hols, so have to have some lessons before my first Salmon trip... so many people have recommended the 9/10 Norway.

[MichaelL]

graham said:

The B&W rod would be a better rod to learn with than the Bloke, it has a more forgiving action.

I'll be getting one tomorrow. The price looks quite reasonable , considering how many highly rated there are, specially when they are lots of very highly priced alternatives.

[beanieboy]

It depends on which Bloke Salmon rod you have - the 5 piece is quite forgiving compared to the fast 4 piece.

graham said:

The B&W rod would be a better rod to learn with than the Bloke, it has a more forgiving action.

[fishingd0]

You would be hard pushed to find a better all round rod than the B&W Norway range for beginners or advanced anglers.

As Graham has said the 9/10 is the most forgiving. It is also worth notting that B&W produce the most durable blanks on the market, and their own for that matter. You will find "slightly" lighter rods on the market, however their durability is often questionable.

[ceilidh]

The 9/10 Norway is certainly the best all rounder, the only slight drawback is that it is a three piece and so not quite so convenient for travelling. Unfortunately the only 4 piece B&W rods are the Powerlite Deluxe range which are much more expensive.
I did hear a rumour that B&W were planning to release a new range of 4 piece rods this year, but no sign of this yet.
I agree with Beanieboy that the 5 piece Bloke is less demanding than the 4 piece, but you would still find the Norway more forgiving.

[easky]

has anybody tried the new Partridge IG salmon rods, they are a similar price to the B&W. I had a look at one and they have a great finish - I have heard good reports about their casting ability as well but haven't tried one yet.

I have an old 13.6 B&W and its time to replace it so the Partridge was one I was considering.
thanks

Easky

[williegunn]

I have cast the 15s and the 16. They are very nice rods. Lighter and more modern than the B&Ws. The carbon has a faster recovery. I feel that if you clipped the branch of a tree with a Partridge rod and a B&W the B&W would come off the best.

Where are you in the world? I couldget you a Partidge to play with i you are in the North East

[easky]

Hi Willie

Thanks for your helpful offer but unfortunately I am over in Belfast so it could prove difficult I know a guy who has just bought the 14ft (fast action version), so I will speak nicely to him to see if he will give me a flick with it.

The Partridge sounds good but maybe a little less robust from what you are saying - not sure what sort of guarantee they have compared to the B&W?

Easky

[munro]

Think its a 12 month guarantee - could be wrong. Beautiful looking rods tho'

[easky]

thanks Munro, what about the B&W - what sort of guarantee do they offer?

[robson]

"Lifetime quarantee against manufacturing faults"

[williegunn]

Smashing down trees are not covered then?

[robson]

You have to pay trees yourself.

[sagefly]

How much pay do trees expect and does the payment expected differ from species to species?

[ceilidh]

Yes. Sage bushes are the most expensive!

[woburn]

Hi

I called B & W earlier this year when i was looking for a new rod. they are bringing out the Norway as a four piece. Should be in the shops soon. They are taking orders.

Sam