Hardy Glass Fly Rod
“Glass fiber has been largely ignored over the past twenty years in favor of lighter and faster carbon fibers. It’s true that carbon is a superior material for lots of rod construction purposes, but not all. Adding glass to the mix gives a rod incredible durability and resistance to impact –
making it ideal for the toughest fishing on back-country rivers and streams.”
By mixing glass to carbon we have achieved an easy loading, smooth action, with controlled, well-dampened recovery. The easy loading nature of these rods makes them sensational. They allow short range, controlled presentation with the absolute minimum of fly line beyond the tip ring. For the light, stream angler working in the tightest situations, the
Hardy Glass is the perfect choice.
Here are some of
- Rods are made from 10% carbon and 90% glass fiber
- Easy loading, durable blank for toughness
- Lightweight blanks and sliding reel fitting
- Tapered cork handle with classic styling
- Includes tube and canvas cover.
Glass fibre has been largely ignored over the last twenty years in favour of lighter and faster carbon fibres. It’s true that carbon is a superior material for lots of rod construction purposes, but not all.
Adding glass to the mix gives the rod incredible durability and resistance to impact – making it ideal for the toughest fishing on back-country rivers and streams.
For 2009, Hardy designed a new line of five fiberglass/graphite rods which contain 10% carbon fiber, again to provide hoop strength. The rods are faster than the recent Hardy Perfection fly rods, but the family resemblance is apparent. Unlike the Perfection or the Zephyrus, the new Hardy Glass is a series of two piece rods. The 5 and 6 foot rods have the pictured cap and ring reelseat with a cork spacer. The remaining rods have the classic Hardy reelseat with a tapered sliding ring that was seen on the Perfection. The rod grips are a long tapered cigar shape. The rod blank is a dark, glossy green with a translucent white spigot ferrule. The wraps are also dark green with silver trim threads at the signature wraps. The fit and finish are superb.
Hardy has introduced a new line of fiberglass fly rods for 2009. There are five rods in the line-up, and they are something special. The selection includes the Aln, a 5-foot 2-weight, the Brooke, a 6-foot 3-weight, the Stream, a 7-foot 3-weight, the Test, a 7 ½ – foot 4-weight and the Trout Fisher, an 8-foot 5-weight.
The Hardy Glass Rod looks as good as its
pedigree suggests it should.
One of the more unique and striking aspects of the Hardy glass rods is the rod tube and sack. The Hardy rod tube features a varnished, sculpted cork stopper (!) instead of a screw cap. The entire rod tube is outfitted with a form-fitting sock complete with a drawstring closure at the top. It’s a very classy package.
Fishing the Hardy Trout Fisher is eye opening. The rod is quite different from the TL Johnson, with which it shares some technology. Both are 8-foot models and both are specified as a 5-weight rod, but the similarity stops there. The Hardy is equally different from the McFarland Rod Company Spruce Creek model. One is reminded of the tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. “This fly rod is too fast!” Goldilocks might have exclaimed after casting the TL Johnson. “And this fly rod is too slow,” she may have said upon waving the McFarland. Certainly Goldilocks would have followed true to the tale and, after casting the Hardy, proclaimed “Ahhh, but this rod is just right.”