In the code I favor, an 864 would be an 8’6 blank/rod sold as a 4wt (even if we all know there’s no such thing). In my hand, this is the sweetest spot of the whole spectrum of carbon blanks before the nanoresins hit the market. I’m not familiar enough with those to assess whether they change something, but plausibly they will. vert1Each generation of material offers their signature key parameters such as new weight to stiffness ratio, that induce a physical space of constraints in which every design philosophy will have to live. I.e.: there are things that work better with this carbon, or with that kind of bamboo split. Or at least better for this fisherman. Well, for me and with the carbons of the nineties to mid 2000s, what really shines is a 4wt 8’6 stick.

And in that category, there’s one I particularly dig. It comes from my friend, pro rodbuilder of understated excellence Eric Montaclair. A while ago, he lent me his 864 for a day we were fishing together. I’ve talked about it here. He’s been kind enough to let me have a blank. I’ve epoxied it last Friday, I’ve been like a goddamn fakir the whole week-end to resist the temptation to give it a go. Today it had cured for 72 hours, which is more than anyone with any sex drive can withstand. I grabbed it and hit the lawn. Boy, how much fun can one have with a carbon stick and a PVC line? Lots. That’s how much.