Hullukala - Custom fly rods & Fly fishing stories

CTS MX #9 8' 3-pc PDF Print E-mail
Written by Antti Kymäläinen   
Monday, 22 October 2007

CTS MX #9 8' 3-pc


Built October 2007
Line rate9
Sections 3
No of Guides 9
Manufacturer of GuidesFuji
Guide typesStrippers: TSVSG
Single foot guides: TSG
TipTopFuji TFST 8(5)
Threads usedGudebrod Nylon Orange #221
Sulky Metallics Lt. Copper #7011
Winding Checknone
HandleCopano burl, Laguna burl and burnt cork from Lamar mfg with heat treated visa birch
Reel SeatStruble U-22
Fighting ButtHeat treated visa birch
Rod casenone



Guide Number #1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9
Guide Size8
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)
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