Have been planning to add a higher end rod to my collection. I attended a fly fishing expo in S/E Michigan so had the opportunity to cast various rods...Sage, Winston, Ross, Loomis, etc. I came across the manufacturer Mystic. I gave the 6 wt. 9'3" a try. It has full well grip with fighting grip (not common on a 6 wt), flawless gorgeous constuction...and cast like a dream...the equal of any other rod I tried. The fact it was $400 was a big attraction too It is also made in the US...in fact a city pretty close to where I live, Clarkston, Michigan. I was so impressed I bought it...and also a new Sage 3850CF reel.

The rod can put out delicate deliveries, long or short casts and while a fast action, has a softer tip. I like that in a rod as it tends to save tippets and flies when I get a little too sloppy in my cast. It certainly is a "gun" though...capable of nice long casts as well as accurate delicate presentations. It is also very versatile...with a light tippet it can toss the lightest flies, with a heavier tippet it can toss bigger flies, poppers and streamers. I was especially impressed with the wooden insert and unusual bracing. Generally when you get into fighting butts you lost the fine wood inserts...not on this one.

The Sage reel is a full frame model which has been a blessing with light shooting tips. It helps prevent trapped line. I noted that there aren't many reels that have this feature....too bad. The drag is a carbon fiber one with excellent performancer, reel is strong and light and the ability to adjust the drag on the fly is well executed. The carbon fiber replaceable reel is nicely designed...can be replaced without any tools and has a unique curve reel bottom that helps wind the backing and fly line. I am using Scientific Angler GPX 6 wt. based on the reps recommendation. The 1/2 wt addition helps a fast rod cast longer.

I guess my choice was a good one...since than I have seen several reviews of that rod and it got very good reviews and won a few multi rod reviews. While at the expo I had a chance to talk to my fishing guru...Ray Schmidt of Schmidt Outfitters and he recommended the rod. That was especially impressive since he doesn't carry that brand yet!

Bob Berta

Since my original post I have have spent a lot of time fishing the rod/reel combo..the last 2 months I have been out nearly every day (ain't retirement great). I am really fond of this combo. It can toss the lightest flies when used with a light tippet or switch to heavy streamers and poppers with heavier tippets. It makes a superb rod for roll casts (used a lot in some of the areas I fish that have a lot of brush behind me) and also responds beautifully to side casts. It is very accurate...I can place the fly anywhere at will and accurately. In short it makes me perform like a much better fly caster than I am! it works fine at very short casts or really puts them out if you want a long cast. I was even able to figure out a way to finesse a cast "around corners"...line shoots out and at last moment can be made to take a left or right turn for a few feet of the tapered mono and tippet. This is handy for putting the fly behind reeds, etc.

The Sage reel is the perfect balance complement for this rod. The center of balance is right at the forward tip of the cork full well grip so I can cast this all day and never work up a sweat. I had a chance to use to my old Heddon Black Beauty 5-6 Wt. 9' split bamboo rod and Pflueger classic reel a few days ago. The difference was astounding...just a hour or two worth of fishing and I was already beat. Those old rods were heavy! I like the tradition and workmanship on the old split bamboo rods but the new materials make for a superior tool.

Bob Berta