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CTS MX #9 8' 3-pc

Written by Antti Kymäläinen

Monday, 22 October 2007

CTS MX #9 8' 3-pc

Built	October 2007
Line rate	9
Sections	3
No of Guides	9
Manufacturer of Guides	Fuji
Guide types	Strippers: TSVSG Single foot guides: TSG
TipTop	Fuji TFST 8(5)
Threads used	Gudebrod Nylon Orange #221 Sulky Metallics Lt. Copper #7011
Winding Check	none
Handle	Copano burl, Laguna burl and burnt cork from Lamar mfg with heat treated visa birch
Reel Seat	Struble U-22
Fighting Butt	Heat treated visa birch
Rod case	none

Guide Number	#1	#2	#3	#4	#5	#6	#7	#8	#9
Guide Size	8	8	8	8	8	8	10	12t	20t
Distance from tiptop (mm)	110	265	440	620	820	1010	1210	1440	1740

Description of the rod:

Lightest of my heavy single hand rods. MX is a new model from CTS which replaced the famous Affinity S series. I had high expectations towards this rod due its heritage. The rod itself don't feel 9wt when you pick it on your hand, it's light and feels very responsive. So far I had only casted it with few lines during one short fishing trip. Hence my thoughts and feelings towards this rod will be revised after few more fishing sessions. So far feelings are easily positive.

The casting stroke this rod needs is little different when compared to my Affinity S for example. MX doesn't like very strong double hauls, which I'm used to do so some adaptation to my casting needs to be made to get best out of this little gem. When cast hits right timing, line goes out with ease and you need to believe that casting with 9wt rod hasn't been never this light. It again and again fashinates me. On the other side, the line I used wasn't good at all to cast against wind. It just didn't get the job done. So like said, after some more testing with different lines, I will fulfill my thoughts.

Pros & cons:
+ Very light in hand and in casting
+ Suberb quality blank as usual from CTS with absolutely the best joints available in market these days.
+ For 8ft long casts very nice underhand with enough heavy line.
- Some problems to cast on open windy areas (can be lack in my casting skills though)

Above will be fulfilled later this year as I gather more experience with this rod.

Fly lines:
- Rio Riomax shooting head , 9wt S2
- Vision BigMama 9wt S2
- Vision ACE shooting head SLOMO 8/9wt, 29g

Conclusion:

After some field testing I can say few more things about this rod. I firstly thought this rod to be one of my pike tools. Well, seems like it didn't happen. MX is a fine rod, but for lines tested so far, it ain't a casting tool for big slinky pike flies (This might change when more lines are tested).

So far field tested 4-5 lines for the rod and found 3 to work well with the rod. Those lines are totally different compared to each other. Rio shooting head worked alright with bigger flies while casted overhead. BigMama line I was able to cast all out. Worked well in overhead casting. Much more heavy - 29 gram - Vision ACE shooting head made MX to be my favourite heavier trout river rod. It casts perfectly underhand and overhead if able due limited space at most of the trout rivers.

Pictures:

» 3 Comments

3Comment
at Monday, 22 October 2007 09:21by Antti

Thanks guys

All cork rings used at this handle are from Lamar manufacturing and I have used Copano, Laguna and burnt cork rings. Link to these corks is below:

http://www.lamarreelseats.com/ cork.htm

2Comment
at Monday, 22 October 2007 03:12by Michael Abraham

Beautiful work. I recognize the Copano exotic burl, but what are the other cork rings and the black rings in the grip. Thanks. Michael

1"Comment about your new fly rod"
at Sunday, 21 October 2007 19:57by Ellis Mendiola

How you describe your rod, it looks like my 8 weight CTS Maxim. Very easy to cast but not very good on a windy day. Mine is the lightest 8 weight that I own. I can really feel this rod load but I have to be careful when I double haul and not do it too agressibly. I was looking forward to building an Affinity S but we are having problems getting those CTS blanks here in the USA. Again I say that you have produced a work of art.
Cheers, Ellis Mendiola (Houston, Texas)

» Post Comment

Last Updated ( Friday, 09 October 2009 )

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CTS MX #9 8' 3-pc

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