Les drove up from Ft Worth today so we could spend several hours on the ponds here performing the excruciatingly difficult task of playing with a bunch of flyrods. The things we do for you people--I swear!
Today's outing started off with a simple purpose; to answer the question
Is the Redington CT really based on the Sage LL series? This has been coming up a lot and I don't know if Sage/Redington started it off but we figured it was time to put it to rest.
Since I already had a 7'9" 3 wt LL I bought a 7'6" 3 wt CT ($129 shipped) and started to put them to the test. I already stated earlier that the CT and LL are not even close to being the same taper--I think all or our testing today backed that up, however the CT is a great little rod all the same. Just to mix it up a bit we also threw a 7'9" St Croix Legend Ultra into the mix. So here we go:
I've already fished these rods a lot. Even though I just got the CT I have 5 or 6 hours on it. For today I strung the LL up with the ULA reel and Sage WF3 Performance Taper II and had Les start with it, while I fished the CT with a CT 2/3 reel and an $11 Orvis Silver Label line. When it came time to trade rods we removed the reels just so that would not be a factor in Les's testing. He put the ULA and Sage line on the CT while he fished it as well.
Top to bottom: Redington CT, Sage LL, and St Croix LU
Jerry's Results in order of preference:Sage 379-3 LLOkay, so you guys already knew I was going to stick with my LL. This is really one of the best all-around rods I've owned for fishing for the type of stuff I do. Silky smooth medium/fast-action. Very sensitive tip. For me it does everything well. Tip casting in close, nice and smooth at medium distances, and it'll put out some line if you need a little distance. The St Croix is a better roll-caster, and the CT will carry more line in the air, but the LL does everything smoothly. One big difference I saw between the LL and the CT is in the feel with a medium size bass or 'gill on. The LL transmits all those little pulses better than the CT and just feels like it's livelier in the tip. This is all pretty subjective, of course, and others will no doubt feel differently. This LL is the rod I fished on the South Platte last fall when we were slinging weighted nymphs with droppers and it performed very well there with fish up to about 22". This is my "if you could only have one rod" rod.
Redington 763-4
Absolutely not a LL. But I think whoever is making this comparison is doing the CT a disservice. This is a fantastic little rod! Not as soft in the tip as the LL, the CT is 3/4 of an ounce lighter and feels very good in hand. It's a very accurate rod and carries a *lot* of line in the air if asked to. If someone is familiar with LLs and buys this rod thinking that's what they're getting they'll be disappointed. However if someone is looking for one of the best 3 wt rods around for under $300 this is the rod for them. I'd also say that this 3 wt will give a lot of the high-end 3 wts a run for their money. Just quit comparing it to a LL--they feel completely different.
The CT is another rod that does almost everything well. Although it's faster in the tip than a LL it's still pretty easy to walk around doing those little 15' casts in close. It's seems to be accurate at all distances and has an edge over the LL at 40' and over. It's also a fun rod to cast. My son Sam was with us today and he's been fishing the St Croix LU the last few times we've been out. He's a beginner but has picked it up pretty quickly and is doing well. He was off fishing the St Croix and after Les had had a chance to fish the LL and CT I called Sam over to have him try it. He picked it up and immediately started throwing some very nice tight loops. He said it felt way better to him than the St Croix and his casting backed that up. This is an amazingly good rod.
St Croix Legend Ultra 793-4
Okay, so out of the three rods this one came in last for me, but not because it's a bad rod--it's just not as good as the other two. Of the three this one was the best roll-caster and despite a softer tip than the CT it could really belt some line out on regular casts as well. This one wasn't part of the original question so we didn't spend as much time on it, but it did help to put things into perspective. This is a beautifully built $300 rod and is another fun rod to fish. But with the exception of roll-casting, the CT was a little better in most areas. One thing we noticed on the St Croix was tip-bounce. When Sam switched to the CT he mentioned that the St Croix felt like something was clunking around. I checked to make sure the sections weren't coming loose and then watched him. It was quickly apparent what was happening and after that I noticed it too when I was fishing it. For some people it might not be an issue at all, but for some it will be disappointing.
Again, this is not a bad rod at all. In fact Les fished it for one long stretch and was ready to make a trade or buy it from me. He was getting some impressive distance out of it and Les is also a roll-casting machine and really appreciated that aspect. This is also arguably the best looking rod of the bunch. Curly Maple seat, nickel-silver hardware, good cork and very nice looking matte green blank. But after I handed the CT back to Les I think he changed his mind.
The St Croix is a rod that I would be very happy with if I didn't own the LL or CT and know in the back of my mind they're better rods. It's a very good all-around 3 wt.
Fit and Finish
I'm doing all three rods together here because this had little (nothing?) to do with how the rods performed and all three rods are very nicely put together. I think the St Croix is the best looking of the three, with the CT and LL so close it's a toss-up for second. I did have to turn about 3/16" off the diameter of the CT grip before it was comfortable for me. Some folks like beefier grips though so I can't knock it for that. The cork on all three are comparable. The CT has a large void right on top of the grip but it's in a spot where you won't feel it, and it's just the luck of the draw and could happen on any rod once all the filler comes out.
The CT was the lightest by 3/4 of an ounce at 2.25 with the LL and St Croix coming in right at 3 oz (stinkin' nickel silver!
). All three rods come with a tube and the St Croix has an integrated bag (compartments). The CT and LL have conventional rod bags.
In Summary
I've owned and fished a *lot* of 3 wt rods under $300, including St Croix Avid, TFO Pro, TFO Finesse, Cabelas TQR, Kettle Creeks, Albright A5, Elkhorn Travel, etc. and I think the CT beats them all. That's just me though and you may very well prefer something else.
The LL is in a different class though and I think there are some other rods there as well. If someone gave me $300 I'd go with the CT and have a bunch left over for a great reel. If money were not a problem (like that's ever true) I'd find a used LL or buy a new 3 wt TXL. The CT is a really a great rod but there are a few nicer rods out there--it just seems like they cost a more... a LOT more!
While we're waiting for Les's writeup here are a few more pics:
Les laying out a nice loop with the LL
Les with another nice loop with the CT
Sam cranking out some nice loops with the CT
I know the rods are upside down but this angle give you a better idea of the color of the blanks. CT on bottom LL on top.
Unfortunately, this was about as big as they got today.