Bruce and Walker 4 piece rods

[fishtail]

Now Bruce and Walker are making a 4 piece 15ft Norway can anyone confirm if the action is identical to the 3 piece.

Will there be a 4 piece rod rated 9/10 I wonder or should the 10/11 cover most situations?

The 9/10 rod seems to be highly rated by some of the forum members. Is this because B&W might under rate their rods a little and therefore the 10/11 is more suited to large fast flowing rivers.

I am thinking of a rod for early and late season using intermediate or sink tips with large tube flies.

Steve.

[jock]

I find both rods very similar. I have the 4 piece and last October had the opportunity to make the comparison when my mate, who has the 3 piece, and I were fishing the Annan. It is a powerful beast and will handle anything. I bought it for the convenience of traveling. I now have three, 4 piece salmon rods, along with a few trout rods. Maybe the purist/expert can tell differences in action etc. but I can cast well enough with them.

[kercock]

I have both rods and feel that the 4 piece is very different indeed,being of course a touch heavier it seems to me ,and a more powerful rod It feels nothing like a 15ft norway,I've had the 15ft 3piece since they came on the market
Don't get me wrong ,the 4piece is a very good rod but I don't think it should have called the Norway. Opinions differ though.

[munrokiller]

Hi Steve,
Ken Walker & Brian Potter from B & W visited the Spey last year with the full range of Norway Speycaster Rods. I found that the action of the 4-piece was not hugely dissimilar to the 3-piece. In my opinion the reason for bringing out the 4-piece was simply pressure from modern anglers who perceived that ease of travel was as equally important as performace. It is of course a matter of personal choice, and in my opinion B & W seem to have retained the performance with the addition of another section. Furthermore, I found that from the many lines that we tested that the Carron Jetstream was more balanced than the others on test. At present they only make the 10-11 in 3 & 4-pieces, which is more suited to larger rivers and copes well with both floating & sub-surface lines, but watch this space, they may well add the 9-10 to the 4-piece range. From your comments, I think that the 10-11 would be more suited to your needs. I personally use a 10-11 Loomis GLX which is vastly overpriced and has no better action than the Norway Speycaster, therefore Steve, I don't think you could go far wrong mate.

Tight Lines

[fishtail]

Thanks for the replies guys.
I think it all comes down to trying before you buy which I am hoping to do before the season kicks off.

Munrokiller, I am expecting B&W will eventually develope a full range of 4 piece salmon rods. In my opinion with the technology available today just for convenience anything over 12 foot should be in 4 sections. Its also interesting to hear what you say about the Jetstream, thats next on my list to buy for the new season.
Thanks,
Steve.

[fishtail]

Thanks steve,
I didn't realise the size range was covered by 4 piece rods.
My initial question was about the 15 foot 9/10 which seems to be the weight preferred on my local? river , the Tyne.
I dont think this rod is produced as a 4 piece yet, but as suggested by munrokiller the 10/11 would probably be suitable anyway.
Steve.

[kercock]

I'd definately agree with munrokiller that the 15ft Norway is very similar in action to the GLX. but in the 3 piece Norway. I will take the 4 piece out to play tomorrow to see if I can convince myself it's closer in action to the 3 peice than I thought. I have my doubts but,,,,,,,,,,,

[JJ]

I have a 4 piece 14 ft Powerlite and I love it.

I wanted to get a 12 ft rod for the Coquet this year but B&W dont do much in that length do they? Any recommendations or advice on 12 ft B&W much appreciated..

[elwyman]

kercock said:

I'd definately agree with munrokiller that the 15ft Norway is very similar in action to the GLX. but in the 3 piece Norway. I will take the 4 piece out to play tomorrow to see if I can convince myself it's closer in action to the 3 peice than I thought. I have my doubts but,,,,,,,,,,,

Any more thoughts on the 4 piece - is it close to the 3 piece Norway, or stiffer?

[kercock]

John, I've been playing around with some other new toys and,sorry I forgot to try out the 4 peice I will do my level best to do so tomorrowand let you know ASAP.You have to bear in mind that I am no expert ,also what I say is only MY opinion.

[elwyman]

Thanks Denis - don't worry, i'm no casting expert either!

It's just that from reading threads on here, I get the impression the 4-piece is perhaps closer to the 10/11 than the 9/10.

[kercock]

Gary and I tried out the 4 peice with various lines,Montieth with various tips and a Bill drury with same ,we chopped and changed with the 10/11 Norway 3 peice, we reckoned that the 4 was stiffer than the 3 and that the only similarity was the manufacturers name ! It was to us, a very different rod, Stiffer and heavier than a three peice 10/11, you could not even begin to compare it to a 9/10. That of course does not mean it's not a good rod,it is different,end of.
By the way, Gary is the other Kercock ghillie.

[elwyman]

Dennis - thanks very much for that info - I think you have help make my mind up to go for the 9/10 3 piece - it sounds more suitable for the medium size rivers I usually fish from spring onwards.

[elwyman]

springer said:

I can feel the makings of a rod pool!

No need - sounds like Graham has most makes, we just need to pop up north to try them out. ;D

[turrifftackle]

Not such a stupid idea.

I have 3/4 of the Deveron lettings early season- so if enough people were able to get some time off during say late March / April I could arrange enough rod space on the river.
Everyone brings their tackle- perhaps we can have all the line pool lines as well and we could all have a huge try out.
Plenty of s/c accommodation available and if everybody was willing to kip down it would work out at peanuts.

Might try and get some companies along so we could try their kit too.


Any takers?

Frank

[betanut]

Frank - I'd be up for that, I'll have a prototype I've been involved with from a small tackle company available for a test by then Be interesting to see how others get on with it

[elwyman]

Good idea Frank, but I've already booked fishing in April and can't spare any more time off work.

[hardygem]

sounds like great idea to me i'd be up for it

[Sloggi]

Sounds good

What next? A "river pool" where a landowner with available rods lets the forum fish the water for a week (for free, of course ) and we post a report on here Hmm, where shall we go first - Kola Peninsula?

[elwyman]

Phoned B&W today and was told that they intend to add a 15' #9/10 to their 4-piece range, couldn't say when.