[kpsully]

Thinking of buying one of these in an 8 wt. Any opinions? It's tough to really get a feel for a rod casting in the parking lot of a shop. I like the idea of a rod designed to handle all of the cruddy casting stuff like nymph rigs, weighted flies, sink tips, etc.

 

[Porter]

I think many would be happy with an 8100-4 XP for half the price and new. That XP will do everything the 99 will plus more. You can get the 10' 8 weight for 399 new....the special run they made a year or so ago have been discounted deeply.

 

[Jacob Mitchell]

I would get the 99 if I were you. I have cast it and absolutly love it. I will be purchasing the 7 weight very soon.

 

[Steve_Perry]

I have the 99 in a 4 wt and now use it as my prefered nymph rod. Good choice for fishing heavy multi nymph set ups. You'll find it creates a large loop (due to a soft butt section) when casting which is a good thing when casting a setup with indicators, weight, and a couple flies. Tip section of the rod is stiff enough for a good hook set. I do a lot of high stick nymphing with the rod. Also use a RIO indicator line when casting longer distances and use the hunter orange tip as a strike indicator. Not sure I'm sold on the RIO line due to the bright tip, but if you cast so the fly ends up in front of the fish and the line tip does not go over the fish you'll be OK. Not a bad streamer rod either if you don't need to cast great distances. Definately not to be used for dry flies. This is a true nymphing specialty rod. Glad I made the buy, but then again I like to high stick fast water a lot to get the big boys in my home waters in CO.

 

[937]

I think many would be happy with an 8100-4 XP for half the price and new. That XP will do everything the 99 will plus more. You can get the 10' 8 weight for 399 new....the special run they made a year or so ago have been discounted deeply.

I'm with Porter on this one.

You'll find it creates a large loop (due to a soft butt section) when casting which is a good thing when casting a setup with indicators, weight, and a couple flies.

Creating a large loop isn't much of a problem if you know the basics on casting. I don't need a rod to teach me how to do that.

 

[Gone’r]

i've only had limited experiences with the 6wt and sage is definitely on point with that rod. i was pretty skeptical of a rod costing that much with gimmicky sorts of claims. i own an XP which is my primary nymphing stick but if i was on the market and had the coin the 99 would be it, hands down. its amazing just how well it roll casts and throws mends (better than my 8wt XP) as well as feeds line into the drift. its light as a feather and is effortless to fish. i was very very impressed and i went into it thinking it would be crap.

it definitely felt a little one dimensional. you wont be tossing dries and it isnt what i like in a streamer stick but i'll be damned if it isnt the shit for throwing an indicator rig.

 

[Mumbles]

But a stick just to throw an open or Belgian style loop? Really? I can throw an open loop with just about anything. If Sean is getting one just for nymphing, cool. But if he won't use it for dries or streamers then I've got to think there is a better overall tool for the job. Maybe I'm just not ready for a rod that only does one thing. I do tend to use one rod for one thing, but all the rods that I have seem to do everything when needed, at least to the limits of my ability.

 

[Nick Clayton]

I have no experience with this rod, but it does seem funny that most rods are pushed as being able to throw super tight loops into the wind etc, yet with my lousy casting stroke end up throwing big fat loops anyway. So here comes this rod claiming to throw big open loops. I wonder if that means I'd be able to throw super tight laser loops with it. Maybe I need to try one out after all.