Monday, December 15, 2008

Five Rivers? (english version)

Interesting things sometimes come from small, "uninteresting" places...
I say this because it happened to me often to be surprized of things that happen and nobody has seen or heard of...But of what I am about to tell you in these lines below, looks like a lot of folks are talking about...
Some very talented rod builders in a small town of Oregon, are rolling graphite blanks under the name of "Five Rivers". Their goal is one and very simple: building the best quality graphite blanks, at some fair prices... and I am amazed of what they do, especially when I first received the Signature V 8'9" in lenght, 4 weight, 3 pcs., the old model, too me with pretty fast action and a great feeling. They would compare this blank with the very best Sage XP and Loomis GLX at that time, in terms of lightness and action...
Dan Craft, the blank designer, described them very precise and it catched my attention right away and decided to give them a try..."Dan Craft Enterprises is proud to present The Five Rivers Signature V Blanks. These blanks are 60 million modulus, Mod-Fast High line speed action, “Exploded Ferrule” design, Graphite Power Scrim"...
Unfortunately, I got only one blank at that time, and shortly after that, Dan changed the old 3 pieces "exploded ferrule" design with the new but very efective "tip over butt", and in a 4 pieces configuration...I'm still fishing with my old rod, but I also have other favorites...
The new "Signature V Finesse" is a bit different that the older one, with a softer action, but excelent recovery rate. The major improvement being the change in the ferrule type...available in the AFTMA from 3 to 8, with lenghts from 8'6" to 9'6"..."FIVE RIVERS SIGNATURE V FINESSE SERIES FLY ROD BLANKS ARE 60 MILLION MODULUS, ULTRA LIGHT WITH MEDIUM FAST "FINESSE" ACTIONS. THE FINISH IS MATTE CLEAR (GLOSS) THESE BLANKS WILL DEVELOP HIGH LINE SPEEDS AND ARE UNRIVALED IN THE INDUSTRY TODAY!"
For me , and I think not only for me, a good fly rod is one that can cast a line no matter what the conditions are, in close, medium or long distances, and in the same time won't dissapoint me when some wind occurs...
Here in Europe there are a lot of people that have not heard or seen rods built on these blanks...I have heard of a few frech and german folks that really like them but that's about it...
If I mention someone the name of "Five Rivers" here in Romania I often hear the same funny question:" Are they made by Loomis?...lol"
But anyway, talking to people in the business and not only to them, and also reading reviews, just to see what people think of these blanks, is always the best way to demonstrate that they are great blanks...and indeed to a lot of folks out there, including me, they are just oustanding.
Five Rivers rod blanks are between the very few still made in the USA, being designed by Dan L. Craft, with a 25 years of experience in rod blanks making, and they are constructed from hi modulus graphite fibers (51-60mil. modulus) and bounded with advanced resins.
These blanks have in general one very important caracteristic: they are very light. And from this major improvement, they come up in an amazing variety of lenghts and weights, all very light and responsive because of the hi-modulus graphite, with an extraordinary recovery rate even on blanks rated as mod-fast (Signature III-V si FTL). This is a great achievement, to have crisp actions and smooth feeling in the same time.
Five Rivers Signature III and FTL are for the more relaxed casting folks, even the least experienced casters feel great casting with them. But not only for them...I personally love their smooth feeling and ability to make precise presentations at any fishing distance, in small creeks or big rivers.
Five Rivers Signature III , are moderate fast actions, with great feel and extremely low weight, are my favorite for small creeks and medium size rivers, available in the AFTMA 0-3, with lenghts from 6' to 9', from 2 or 3 pieces, and some 4 pieces on special orders..." SIGNATURE III MEDIUM FAST ACTION BLANKS. BLACK FINISH 51 MILLION MODULUS. LIGHT WEIGHT AND FEEL."
Five Rivers FTL (Fast Taper Light), from 4, 5 or 6 pieces, AFTMA between 3 and 6, and lenghts from 6'6" to 9'0", are for those who fish remote places and not only. These blanks are among the sweetest blanks in Dan's line and they are also very light. The ferrules type is perfect and a 6 piece rod built on these blanks actually performs just as any other 2 or 3 piece, or even better...it' s hard to believe but it's a true fact... they are reminiscent of the older Signature IV, a very representative, custom cut line of blanks, that also had excelent recovery rate, smooth feeling and light weight..."FTL MEDIUM FAST ACTION 57 MILLION MODULUS BLANK. LIGHT WEIGHT AND FEEL."
Five Rivers Signature V Finesse, 8'6" 3 weght , in action...
Five Rivers FT (Fast Taper), are the "rocket launchers" in Dan Craft's line. They have very fast tip action, excel in windy conditions, achieving amazingly hi line speeds with very tight loops, making them excelent tools for lake fishing with fast sinking lines, medium or large sized rivers, pike or salmon fishing and not only...four piece configuraton, with great ferrules...They don't feel like broomsticks don't get me wrong...they have flexible tips that load easy (with at least one weight up) that protect fine tippets and they are great for playing fish. I use the 9' 2 weight in my local river for trout or greyling with a 3 weight rio Grand and it's great...
Available in the AFTMA 2 to 10, and 9' in lenght and one 8'6" model..."FIVE RIVERS FT FAST ACTION FLY BLANK. 57 MILLION MODULUS, STRONG AND POWERFUL DEVELOPING HIGH LINE SPEEDS."
The FT (Fast Progressive Taper) are 10' in lenght, and they are different from the 9' models, with fast-progressive actions. I find them very versatile and very light for their lenghts. From czech nymphing, classic nymphing or lake fishing and also for the most discussed rods lately, the switch rods, a hybrid for fishing either single hand or double hand whenever distance fishing is required, in lake or river. Available in the AFTMA from 3 to 10..."FIVE RIVERS FT FAST ACTION, PROGRESSIVE POWER FLY BLANKS. 57 MILLION MODULUS. HIGH LINE SPEEDS ARE EASILY ACHIEVED AND MAJOR AMOUNTS OF LINE CAN BE KEPT IN THE AIR. THESE 10' MODELS MAKE GREAT SWITCH RODS!"...Dan L. Craft, Dan Craft Enterprises...


Tightloops and easy selection!!

3 comments:

Jay said...

I was just reading your older postings on rods built on Dan Craft blanks.
These blank sure sound good. I'm sure they cast amazing.
Probably better than most current fast rods from Sage as I think they have no 'soul' anymore...

George said...

Jay, I haven't built on them lately. Dan had an old series called "Signature III" that wass my favorite for trout due to their ultralight feel and extremely smooth action. Too bad I don't have any left and Dan quit making those as well.

Jay said...

I was just looking at their 'web site' and found this:
http://dan-craft-enterprises.myshopify.com/products/five-rivers-signature-v-rod-blanks

Is this any good?