Fiberglass fly rods, E-Glass, S-Glass and why not all fiberglass fly rods are created equal.

Epic Fiberglass fly Rod
Epic fiberglass fly rods are unique in that they are they are the only production rod in the world to be constructed using a fully unidirectional S-2 Glass fibre material.  Even today, most fiberglass fly rods are constructed using older  E-Glass material - And of course that old school glass feeling is a very real part of the affection many anglers have for 'glass'
Fiberglass FLy Rods

Why Epic Fiberglass Fly Rods?

Simple, Epic Fiberglass Fly Rods have no equal
Our glass rods are lighter and have a crisper response than any other glass-fiber fly rod produced.  Our cork, components and build quality are unbeaten by any production fly rod, be it glass or carbon fiber.  

Epic fiberglass fly rod
Why 'Glass'

Fiberglass is the perfect material to build fly rods that are extremely tough, durable and fuller flexing than Carbon fibre. Our FastGlass fiberglass fly rods are perfectly designed for long lazy casting strokes, presenting dry flies like thistledown and slinging serious weight out on the flats.
Due to their fuller flexing nature glass rods are not only kinder on light tippets and the fish connected to them, they are kinder and easier on fly casters. Fiberglass also has a much higher resistance to damage than carbon fiber - an important benefit on our book.
Fiberglass is a very warm, tactile material. Epic glass rods are fun to cast, there's no other way to describe it. Glass rods just have more soul. 


Not all fiberglass fly rods are created equal. 

Epic fiberglass fly rods are unique in that they are they are the only production rod in the world to be constructed using a fully unidirectional S-2 Glass fibre material.  Even today, most fiberglass fly rods are constructed using older  E-Glass material - And of course that old school glass feeling is a very real part of the affection many anglers have for 'glass'

E-Glass

The common E-Glass found in most inexpensive flyrods was originally developed as an electrical insulator in the 1930's (hence the "e") it features cross woven or even chopped strand fibers. Due to its strength, high damage tolerance, low cost and mouldable nature E-Glass rapidly found favour with boat & surfboard builders. 
While a cross woven material might be great for building boats, kayaks and surfboards the very nature of the weave make it less than perfect for building fly rods.  To build a great fly rod we ideally need the majority of fibers to run longitudinally up the bank, and a smaller number of fibers running cross wise to hold the bundle together and contribute hoop strength. (Generally hoop strength is achieved by utilising a fibreglass scrim anyway) However, all those additional cross fibres in conventional E-Glass do nothing but add weight and resin load to the material. This is why most fiberglass fly rods tend to be comparatively heavy and quite slow. Think of the fiberglass fly rods of old.  Overall E-Glass is cheap to produce and relatively heavy.

S-2 Glass

S-2 glass was first developed for military missle applications, and later, armour plating on military vehicles. It is a higher quality product than standard E-glass and is about 30% stronger and 15% stiffer. S-2 Glass is used in applications that require greater strength and less weight than common E-Glass.  A very small number of manufacturers claim to use S-Glass in their fly rods, one manufacturer claims to use a "largely unidirectional" material in their glass rod construction. E-Glass and S-Glass are fine materials for fly rod construction, but for our Glass fly rods we chose the most modern most advanced material available. 

Unidirectional S-2 Glass

Unidirectional S-2 Glass is a modern composite material that exhibits high damage tolerance, high tensile strength, high flexural strength and is extremely well suited to advanced fly rod construction.
Modern unidirectional S-2 Glass is primarily used in the construction of wind turbine blades, helicopter rotor blades and militarily aircraft.  The  Sikorsky Helicopter Corporation even have a patent on it's use. We use it in our fly rods for the very same reasons.
With the majority of fibres running longitudinally - where they are needed most - we can produce fly rods that are not only very strong but are very light and have faster recovery speeds than conventional E-Glass or even standard S-2 Glass
In short, because our FastGlass is so strong we can use less material, this gives us a very strong blank that is light and extremely responsive.
Epic FastGlass fly rods still exhibit the full flexing feel,  strength and casting goodness of fibrerglass, but without the associated weight and that 'Noodle' feeling we all know. 
At Swift, we make great fly rods, not noodles. 

Epic fiberglass fly rod

FastGlass®

Materials may come and go, but fly rods are all about tapers.
Each blank in the Epic series was developed by IFFF Master Casting Instructor, Carl McNeil.  These unique tapers are rolled using ultra modern full unidirectional fiberglass produce something greater than the sum of it's parts - we call this FastGlass®. Cast one and try not to grin.
FastGlass® is a Trademark of the Swift Fly Fishing Company.


Quality. 

Our fly rods are produced using superior materials from top to toe. Our fly rod blanks, many with a translucent finish, are difficult to produce (our technology partner constantly reminds us), many blanks are rejected, and only the very best quality blanks from each batch go on to carry the Epic name.
We use superior cork & components and each fly rod is made one at a time, as the customer orders it, right here in our small studio workshop in Wanaka, New Zealand. We proudly state that our product is not mass produced using cheap components or cheap Asian labour. 
We take great pride in our originally of design and workmanship - even our natural glass rod tube is unique.

One at a time, really.

While its true that you can really only make fly rods by hand, all production rods tend to be mass produced, shipped out and marketed in the hope that each will find an owner. This is a fairly conventional "PUSH" based commercial model. 

However
, a new Epic fly rod comes into existence only after it is ordered by one of our customers . Each Epic fly rod is then commissioned and hand crafted with tender loving care, right here in our small studio workshop in the gorgeous alpine resort town of Wanaka, New Zealand.  We know the name of the owner of each rod and where its home will be throughout every step of the process. At the end of the build, we have the distinct and very real pleasure of uniting each rod with its new owner.
And that is about the biggest thrill we get.


The Very Best, We Guarantee it.

We are so very confident that every fly rod we make is of the highest quality possible, we guarantee your complete and absolute satisfaction or your money back. Read more about our Epic promise
Epic Fiberglass fly rods
CUSTOMER FAVOURITES

GUIDES CHOICE

Epic Gift Card - Gifts For Fly Anglers
Epic Gift Card - Gifts For Fly Anglers from $50.00
Give the Gift of Choice No Delays, No Shipping. The Perfect Fly Fishing Gift On Time Every Time - Instant Delivery! Looking for the perfect gift for the Fly Angler in your life? Give them the gift of choice with a gift card. Gift cards are delivered by email from you directly from our website and contain instructions to redeem them at checkout. Gift cards are charged and redeemed on our stores base currency - $US For customers outside of the USA you can still shop and check-out in your native currency, our store does the conversion for you. Shopping for someone else (or yourself) but not sure exactly what to choose?Not sure what to get? Length, color or size?  It's very easy with an Epic Gift Card. You give - they choose! Schedule a Time to Send!You can even prescheduled  time / day / date that you would like your Gift Card delivered What is this?Gift Cards are delivered to you the purchaser by email and contain simple instructions to redeem them at checkout for products in our store. Each gift card features a unique code. Your gift card can also be printed out and gifted to the recipient, or it can be emailed to them immediately. Need Help? - drop us a line and we'll help you or your gift card recipient choose. How does it Work? Simple, you purchase the gift card you would like to give and check out just like you would for any online purchase. Our system will send you an email the recipient your gift card with your custom message. (That gift card has a unique voucher code on it) The recipient uses the voucher code to redeem against the purchase of their choice. Questions: Gift Cards work just like cash Any unspent balance can be used later Purchases can be topped up with cash, credit card or Paypal for larger purchases Customers can check their balance by visiting the unique gift card link sent via email Gift Cards have no additional processing fees. Purchase in your native currency to be redeemed at any time.Any questions or problems, just email us
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Double Fly Rod & Reel Vault Bag Epic Backcountry Double Fly Rod & Reel Vault Bag
Backcountry Double Fly Rod & Reel Vault $83.99 $119.95
Backcountry Double Fly Rod & Reel Vault Fish faster and smarter with the Backcountry Double Fly Rod Vault! This powerhouse of a storage solution is designed to carry two 9ft fly rods and reels, rigged up and ready to roll. Durably crafted from tough, water-resistant 600D Cordura material and reinforced by 210D Ripstop Polyester inner, you can rest assured your valuable fly rods and reels will be safe in all conditions. Waterproof YKK zippers keep moisture and dust out while the thickly padded interior protects your precious fly reels from being scratched. A hardshell outer helps look after your fly rods no matter what terrain awaits you. This is an unbeatable way to transport two complete setups. Save time and be ready to fish at a moment's notice!
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Best fly reel for fly fishing as voted by field and stream best of the best Best fly reel waterproof fly reel
Backcountry Fly Reel $295.99 $399.95
Large Arbor Backcountry Fly Reel II The best looking fly reel on the river. Our Backcountry fly reel features a smooth, sealed ceramic drag mechanism that boasts 3kg of drag and is easily swapped from left to right-hand wind. Super smooth sealed drag, lightweight large arbor, stealthy satin finish. Suitable for both fresh and saltwater use. CNC machined from cold-forged tempered 6061-T6 aluminum, High capacity large arbor spool Waterproof sealed stacked ceramic drag Type III military spec hard anodised finish Suitable for both fresh & saltwater use Large Arbor Spool The large arbor spool features a curved U shaped design that adds strength and assists in line levelling upon retrieval. The exposed reel edge makes for easy palming. A no-nonsense, tough, waterproof and lightweight fly reel. Epic in every way. Finished in a stealthy low sheen type III hard anodised satin finish available in any color as long as it's black.  Backcountry 3/4 Backcountry 5/6 Backcountry 7/8 Weight: 115g (4oz) Weight: 131g (4.6oz) Weight: 139g (4.9oz) Capacity: line + 50m  Capacity: line + 100m  Capacity: line + 150m  Dia:  84mm Dia: 94mm Dia: 104mm Got questions? - Drop us a line, we'd love to hear from you.
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Fly Tying Tool Kit by Epic Fly Tying Tool Kit by Epic
Backcountry Fly Tying Kit $138.99 $199.00
Backcountry Fly Tying Kit Equally at home on a trip or on your fly tying bench, our Backcountry Fly Tying kit features the very best Italian made tools by Stonfo and a pair of remarkable hand crafted fly tying scissors by Renomed of Poland. There are no finer fly tying tools made. We've taken the best of the best and presented them in a thoughtful waxed cotton canvas tool roll featuring genuine leather trim and straps fastened with classic brass catches. The hand stitched waterproof tool roll houses & protects these high quality tools and features two additional pouches to tuck away fly tying materials and hooks. The Renomed "Fly Tier" scissors feature a 'super cut' finely serrated blade that makes cutting deer hair and fur a breeze, and the larger scissor handles afford comfort and extraordinary durability and functionality. Tool Collection  Renomed Fly Tier Super Cut scissors (retail US$45) Stonfo Dubbing Twister Stonfo Hackle pliers Stonfo Elite Bodkin (Stainless Steel) Stonfo Dubbing Brush Stonfo Bobtec1  Adjustable Bobbin With Ceramic Insert (Stainless Steel) Stonfo Elite Bodkin (Stainless steel) Stonfo Elite Whip Finisher (Stainless Steel)
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Stainless steel Hip Flask Hip Flask
Good Libations Stainless Hip Flask $23.99 $34.95
The Good Libations Stainless Steel Hip Flask  Carry your favourite adult beverage in style with our Good Libations Stainless Steel Hip flask. About the size of a small fly box it's the perfect addition to your fly vest or bag. Smooth rounded corners make for quick extraction in times of celebration. Stainless steel and about as tough as they come, at a hearty 9oz ( 28 ml) there's plenty to share! Stainless Steel Silicon cap retainer Easy sippin' ergo design Bigger than most Cheers! Capacity: 9oz ( 266 ml) Dimensions: 127mm x 83mm x 29ml Material: Stainless Steel Positive Mood Adjustment
Stroft Tippet carry system Stroft Cutter and Carry System - 3 spool Set
Stroft Cutter and Carry System - 3 spool Set $27.95
3 Spool Stroft tippet system Three high quality German made Stroft Cutter & retaining rings - made to fit over standard Stroft tippet Spools. Spool Holder Stroft short strap - Vest strap & Carabiner The ideal system to hold, dispense and trim Stroft tippet A retainer rings and high quality cutter ring. Cutter is razor sharp, and coated in some magical stuff that is corrosion resistant. (We couldn't even spell the alloy) Fits all Stroft spools from 25m to 50m (ABR, GTM, FC!, FC2, Fluer) Includes colour coded easy peel labels  This is an incredibly well made tippet system! *does not include spools of tippet material - Stroft Tippet Spools available for purchase separately  Got questions? - Drop us a line, we'd love to hear from you.

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