The Drift - Fly Fishing, Fly Casting and Fly Rod Building

Epic® 370 Reference Series Fly Rod, Reel & Line Combo Our renowned Epic 370 fly rod, matched with our Backcountry Fly reel, spooled up with our Epic 3wt DT presentation fly line & quality gel spun backing ready to fish. Small creeks, small trout, big performance - the Epic 370. The 3 weight you don't have to babysit. Our Epic 370 is a subtle, lightweight yet very strong fly rod perfect for small trout, Cutties and Brook trout.  Utilizing the same industry-leading blank & high-quality components as our Studio Built ™ custom collection but without the customisation options, the 370  Reference takes it up another notch. Our 370 is a small, lightweight precision fly rod that boasts the same precise response, strength and quality that Epic rods are famous for.   Built using FastGlass® II - this is the 3 wt that really is one tough customer. Far stronger and robust than any Carbon Fibre (graphite) fly rod, the 370 allows you to fish very fine tippets and leaders yet have confidence in a rod that is tough and extremely robust. Experience the Epic® difference Industry-leading 476 FastGlass™ fly rod blank in translucent Amber Stunning FLOR grade cork grip Epic reel seat ensuring a lifetime of service Premium quality stripping guide Corrosion-proof black Ion-plated snake guides SureFit™ Ferrule System for immediate section replacement Stealthy and chip-resistant SnakeBelly ™ Finish Superior service and ongoing customer support Finished in matching translucent wraps Natural fiberglass rod tube and rod sock Finished in stunning classic translucent Olive with matching guide wraps Our SnakeBelly™ finish is scratch and chip resistant making for an extremely tough and durable fly rod that is less prone to stress fractures caused by collisions with weighted flies. In stock and ready to be delivered direct to your door   Recommended Line Weight: AFTMA #3 Length: 7'Pieces: 4Colour: Olive Got questions? - Drop us a line, we'd love to hear from you. Recommended line weight: AFTMA #3Length: 7'Pieces: 4 Total length: 2,265mmELN: 3Optimal Grain Window: 94 - 106 GrainsEffective Line Range: AFTMA 3Action: Progressive / Mid Flex / Medium  slowTaper: Medium slowBlank Weight: 44gButt Diameter: 9.20mm   These are the smoothest, most beautiful fly rods you’ll ever cast. Purposefully designed and exquisitely handcrafted using only the very best components available. Premium quality stripping guides exquisitely finished in translucent wraps, each wrap incredibly strong and stunningly beautiful.  Every grip is of premium FLOR grade Portuguese cork traced from the source; a more perfect grip you will not find anywhere. No aspect is overlooked, each fly rod as perfect as we can make it and of heirloom quality. You’ll be passing this fly rod on to your kids. Light in the hand and an absolute pleasure to cast; There is simply no better fly rod made - and your absolute delight is guaranteed. Built Epic ToughEpic glass rods are incredibly tough. Our S2 FastGlass II has a far higher strength-to-weight ratio than Carbon fibre (graphite) rods. Epic FastGlass rods can endure more acute and severe bends than the equivalent Carbon fibre or even regular S2 glass, tip sections are stronger and far less susceptible to breakages due to high-sticking and problematic rod angles when pulling against load.

Epic Reference 476 - 4wt fiberglass fly rod, fly reel & fly line combo Our renowned Epic 476 fly rod, matched with our Backcountry Fly reel, spooled up with our Epic 4wt DT presentation fly line & quality gel spun backing ready to fish! Utilizing the same industry-leading blank & high-quality components as our Studio Built ™ custom collection but without the customization options, the new 476  Reference takes it up another notch. Looking for a shorter fly rod to fish in tightly confined creeks but still want the backbone and pulling power of a larger rod? The 476 is the real deal. The 476 is a fast, lively, and extremely accurate fly rod perfect for small stream and spring creek fishing.  The 476 is a real pocket rocket. Our most fun casting rod (can we say that?), the 476 boxes well above its weight, easily horsing out fish in the 2 - 3 kg range (that's 3 to 6 lbs) Experience the Epic® difference Industry-leading 476 FastGlass™ fly rod blank in translucent Amber Stunning FLOR grade cork grip Hard anodised Epic reel seat ensuring a lifetime of service Premium quality stripping guide Corrosion-proof black Ion-plated snake guides SureFit™ Ferrule System for immediate section replacement Stealthy and chip-resistant SnakeBelly ™ Finish Superior service and ongoing customer support Finished in matching translucent wraps Natural fiberglass rod tube and rod sock Finished in stunning classic translucent Amber with matching guide wraps Our SnakeBelly™ finish is scratch and chip-resistant making for an extremely tough and durable fly rod that is less prone to stress fractures caused by collisions with weighted flies. In stock and ready to be delivered directly to your door Recommended Line Weight: AFTMA #4  Length: 7'6"Pieces: 4 Got questions? - Drop us a line, we'd love to hear from you. Recommended line weight: AFTMA #4 Length: 7'6" Pieces: 4  Total length: 2,265mm ERN: (Unwrapped): 3.96 ELN: 4 Optimal Grain Window: 120 - 135 Grains Effective Line Range: AFTMA 4 / 5 Action: Progressive / Mid Flex / Medium  Taper: Medium / Fast  These are the smoothest, most beautiful fly rods you’ll ever cast. Purposefully designed and exquisitely handcrafted the 476 Reference is light in the hand and an absolute pleasure to cast;  your absolute delight is guaranteed. FastGlass II™All Epic "Glass" rods are produced from industry-leading 8-micron Unidirectional S-2 Glass. This next-generation fiber is specifically engineered for fly rod production and features 8-micron fibers developed and produced in the USA. These fibres are almost half the diameter of other unidirectional materials, resulting in tighter, more precise and stronger fly rods.  SnakeBelly™SnakeBelly™ delivers the toughest exterior finish possible. After production, blanks are first painted and then clear coated. This two-step process produces blanks that are incredibly scratch resistant and durable. SureFit Ferule™Break a tip? we've got you covered  This ferule system is so precise that breakages can be addressed by simply sending out the replacement part. Gone are the days of having to return a broken section. Built Epic ToughEpic glass rods are incredibly tough. Our S2 FastGlass II has a far higher strength-to-weight ratio than Carbon fibre (graphite) rods. Epic FastGlass rods can endure more acute and severe bends than the equivalent Carbon fibre or even regular S2 glass, tip sections are stronger and far less susceptible to breakages due to high-sticking and problematic rod angles when pulling against load.

Epic Reference 476 Packlight Backpacking 4wt fly rod, fly reel & fly line combo Our renowned Epic 476 Packlight fly rod, matched with our Backcountry Fly reel, spooled up with our Epic 4wt DT presentation fly line & quality gel spun backing ready to fish! Head for the hills, answer the call and pack in your favourite adventure stick. We've taken our amazing 476 and reconfigured it as a 5 piece travel rod, now small and compact enough to easily slip down the side of a backpack or rucksack.  Incredibly light. An astounding 72 grams (2.54 ounces) Incredibly convenient. Only 495 mm long (19.5 inches) Incredibly tough. Made from fully unidirectional S2 FastGlass The Epic™ 476 Packlight is crafted from Unidirectional S2 Glass, this material is stiffer and stronger than e-glass or standard s-glass. The 476 Packlight is a powerful and extremely accurate fly rod.  Experience the Epic® difference Industry-leading fly rod blank specifically chosen & high graded for your fly rod build Premium quality stripping guides (Titanium, or hard chrome depending on model) Stunning FLOR grade cork grip Alignment dots for easy assembly Personalised inscription  Laser engraved winding check proving authenticity & ownership  Exquisite Japanese silk thread wraps Hard anodised reel seat ensuring a lifetime of service Painstakingly handcrafted in our Wanaka workshop ensuring quality and durability Superior service and ongoing customer support  Proudly handcrafted to order for you in New Zealand Delivered direct to your door Recommended line weight: AFTMA #4 Length: 7'6" Pieces: 5  Total length: 2,265mm ERN: (Unwrapped): 3.96 ELN:4Optimal Grain Window: 120 - 135 Grains Effective Line Range: AFTMA 4 / 5 Action: Progressive / Mid Flex / Medium  Taper: Fast Rod Weight: 72g (2.54 ounces) These are the smoothest, most beautiful fly rods you’ll ever cast. Purposefully designed and exquisitely handcrafted using only the very best components available. Premium quality stripping guides exquisitely finished in translucent Japanese silk wraps, each wrap incredibly strong and stunningly beautiful. Every grip is of premium FLOR grade Portuguese cork traced from the source; a more perfect grip you will not find anywhere.Light in the hand and an absolute pleasure to cast; There is simply no better fly rod made - and your absolute delight is guaranteed. FastGlass II™All Epic "Glass" rods are produced from industry-leading 8 micron Unidirectional S-2 Glass. This next-generation fiber is specifically engineered for fly rod production and features 8 micron fibers developed and produced in the USA. These fibres are almost half the diameter of other unidirectional materials, resulting in tighter, more precise and stronger fly rods.  SnakeBelly™SnakeBelly™ delivers the toughest exterior finish possible. After production, blanks are first painted and then clear coated. This two-step process produces blanks that are incredibly scratch resistant and durable. SureFit Ferule™Break a tip? we've got you covered  This ferule system is so precise that breakages can be addressed by simply sending out the replacement part. Gone are the days of having to return a broken section. WorkmanshipThe level of craftsmanship on each Epic fly rod is unrivalled. You will not see a better-built fly rod anywhere, better components, better workmanship, and better attention to detail. Built Epic ToughEpic glass rods are incredibly tough. Our S2 FastGlass II has a far higher strength-to-weight ratio than Carbon fibre (graphite) rods. Epic FastGlass rods can endure more acute and severe bends than the equivalent Carbon fibre or even regular S2 glass, tip sections are stronger and far less susceptible to breakages due to high-sticking and problematic rod angles when pulling against load. Delivered direct to your door Got questions? - Drop us a line, we'd love to hear from you.

The Epic Reference 5wt 580 FastGlass Fly Rod, Fly Reel & Fly Line Combo Our renowned Epic 580 FastGlass fly rod, matched with our Backcountry Fly reel, spooled up with our Epic 5wt DT presentation fly line & quality gel spun backing ready to fish! Smoother than Barry White. Utilizing the same industry-leading blank & high-quality components as our Studio Built ™ custom collection but without the customisation options, the new 580 Reference takes it up another notch and claims the top rung on the smoothness ladder, this rod really is butter to cast. Did you say dry fly old chap?The 580 FastGlass is super versatile and super smooth. Our personal favourite, the 580 presents with grace and is the perfect presentation dry fly rod.   Our Epic™ 580 is crafted from Unidirectional S2 Glass, this material is stiffer and stronger than e-glass or standard s-glass.   Experience the Epic® difference Industry-leading FastGlass™ fly rod blank Stunning FLOR grade cork grip Hard anodised Epic reel seat ensuring a lifetime of service Premium quality stripping guide Corrosion proof black Ion-plated snake guides SureFit™ Ferrule System for immediate section replacement Stealthy and chip-resistant SnakeBelly ™ Finish Translucent fiberglass rod tube and rod sock Superior service and ongoing customer support Finished in matching translucent wraps Finished in classic translucent Amber & matching translucent guide wraps Our SnakeBelly™ Satin finish is scratch and chip resistant making for an extremely tough and durable fly rod that is less prone to stress fractures caused by collisions with weighted flies.  In Stock and ready to be delivered direct to your door. Recommended line weight: AFTMA #5  Length: 8'Pieces: 4Weight: 115 grams (4 ounces) Got questions? - Drop us a line, we'd love to hear from you. Recommended line weight: AFTMA #5Length: 8' Pieces: 4   Weight: 115 grams (4 ounces)Total length: 2,438mm ERN: (Unwrapped): 4.8ELN: 5Optimal Grain Window: 130 - 155 Grains Action: Progressive / Mid Flex / Medium  Taper: Fast Rod Weight: 112g Butt Diameter: 10.28mm Got questions? - Drop us a line, we'd love to hear from you. These are the smoothest, most beautiful fly rods you’ll ever cast. Every grip is of premium FLOR grade Portuguese cork traced from the source; a more perfect grip you will not find anywhere.Light in the hand and an absolute pleasure to cast;  your absolute delight is guaranteed. FastGlass II™All Epic "Glass" rods are produced from industry-leading 8 micron Unidirectional S-2 Glass. This next-generation fiber is specifically engineered for fly rod production and features 8 micron fibers developed and produced in the USA. These fibres are almost half the diameter of other unidirectional materials, resulting in tighter, more precise and stronger fly rods.  SnakeBelly™SnakeBelly™ delivers the toughest exterior finish possible. After production, blanks are first painted and then clear coated. This two-step process produces blanks that are incredibly scratch resistant and durable. SureFit Ferule™Break a tip? we've got you covered  This ferule system is so precise that breakages can be addressed by simply sending out the replacement part. Gone are the days of having to return a broken section. Built Epic ToughEpic glass rods are incredibly tough. Our S2 FastGlass II has a far higher strength-to-weight ratio than Carbon fibre (graphite) rods. Epic FastGlass rods can endure more acute and severe bends than the equivalent Carbon fibre or even regular S2 glass, tip sections are stronger and far less susceptible to breakages due to high-sticking and problematic rod angles when pulling against load. Delivered direct to your doorOnce ordered it usually takes around two weeks to build your new fly rod, then we deliver priority tracked and insured courier direct to your door. We'll email you with tracking info as your rod leaves our studio workshop.

The Epic Reference 686, often imitated, never beaten. Our renowned Epic 686 fly rod, matched with our Backcountry Fly reel, spooled up with our Epic 6wt WF fly line & quality gel spun backing ready to fish! The Epic 686 has gained cult status and we've seen many imitators try to replicate the magic of this fly rod. There is only one - and this is it! Utilizing the same industry-leading blank & high-quality components as our Studio Built™custom collection, but without the customisation options, the new 686 Reference takes it up another notch. Regarded by industry pro's and glass aficionados world wide as the best glass 6wt made, the Epic 686 presents beautifully but packs plenty of attitude. Perfect for tossing big flies, swinging streamers and light saltwater work. Smooth as silk yet with a ton of reserve power this Epic really is beauty and the beast rolled into one. You are going to love casting this fly rod. The ultimate 6wt fiberglass fly rod.  Our Epic™ 686 is crafted from 8-micron FastGlass II. A unidirectional S-2 Glass, this material is stiffer and stronger than e-glass or standard s-glass. The 686 is as strong as an ox, super smooth and extremely versatile. Experience the Epic® difference Industry-leading FastGlass II fly rod blank  Stunning FLOR grade cork grip Hard anodised Epic reel seat ensuring a lifetime of service Premium quality Fuji titanium stripping guide Corrosion-proof black Ion-plated snake guides SureFit™ Ferrule System for immediate section replacement Stealthy and chip-resistant SnakeBelly ™ Finish Superior service and ongoing customer support Finished in matching translucent wraps Natural fiberglass rod tube & rod sock Artic colourway In stock and ready to be delivered directly to your door Got questions? - Drop us a line, we'd love to hear from you. Recommended line weight: AFTMA #6Length: 8'6"Pieces: 4 Total length: 2,580mmERN: (Unwrapped): 6.4ELN: 6Optimal Grain Window: 140 - 175 GrainsEffective Line Range: AFTMA 5 / 6 / 7Action: Progressive / Mid Flex / Medium FastTaper: FastAA: (Action Angle): 68° (Fast)Blank Weight: 63g These are the smoothest, most beautiful fly rods you’ll ever cast. Purposefully designed and exquisitely handcrafted using only the very best components available.  Light in the hand and an absolute pleasure to cast; There is simply no better fly rod made - and your absolute delight is guaranteed. "I really believe the EPIC 686 is by far the most popular GLASS streamer rod on the market. More often than not, I get requests for the 686 and most of the time in Salsa. Carl has created a wonderful, and powerful taper and folks love them!"  - Shane Gray Graywolf Rods. "I will only touch on this for a second because everyone keeps hearing how phenomenal the 686 is. This is a phenomenal blank. The beauty is in the fact that the rod can lay out ten feet of line with the delicacy of a full flex cane, but when called upon fire 95' of line into a stiff breeze. It does all of this with a great deal of feel and composure that most rods will never achieve. It is quite possibly one of the best 6wts on the mark glass, graph, or grass."- Zeb Tonkavich Snowman Custom Rod Works"the Epic 686 is (f#$%'ing) magic in my hands. This fly rod is responsive, quick to load, and a powerhouse that lays out very long accurate casts with relative ease."- Cameron Mortenson The Fiberglass Manifesto FastGlass II™All Epic "Glass" rods are produced from industry-leading 8-micron Unidirectional S-2 Glass. This next-generation fiber is specifically engineered for fly rod production and features 8-micron fibers developed and produced in the USA. These fibres are almost half the diameter of other unidirectional materials, resulting in tighter, more precise and stronger fly rods.  Built Epic ToughEpic glass rods are incredibly tough. Our S2 FastGlass II has a far higher strength-to-weight ratio than Carbon fibre (graphite) rods. Epic FastGlass rods can endure more acute and severe bends than the equivalent Carbon fibre or even regular S2 glass, tip sections are stronger and far less susceptible to breakages due to high-sticking and problematic rod angles when pulling against load. Got questions? - Drop us a line, we'd love to hear from you.

Meet the very lucky Epic 888 888  Fly Rod  + Backcountry Fly Reel & Line Combo The stunning Reference Series 888 fly rod matched with our 7/8 Backcountry fly reel & Scientific Anglers MPX general purpose 8wt fly line spooled up and ready to go! Our mighty 888 was designed specifically for chasing Bonefish but is just at home wrangling large freshwater species like Carp, Pike and monster Muskie too. Given there’s not a flat where the wind doesn’t blow we’ve given the 888 an extra powerful butt section, strong tip and fast recovery rate to help punch a line out into those skinny water breezes. The easy casting soul and incredible strength of S2 FastGlass™ Experience the Epic® difference Industry-leading FastGlass II fly rod blank  Stunning FLOR grade cork grip Hard anodised Epic reel seat ensuring a lifetime of service Premium quality Fuji titanium stripping guide Corrosion proof black Ion-plated snake guides SureFit™ Ferrule System for immediate section replacement Stealthy and chip-resistant SnakeBelly ™ Finish Superior service and ongoing customer support Finished in matching translucent wraps natural fiberglass rod tube & rod sock Electric Blue colour-way Includes our Epic translucent glass rod tube and unique flip top rod sock In stock and ready to be delivered direct to your door Recommended AFFTA line weight: #8 Length: 8' 8"Pieces: 4   Got questions? - Drop us a line, we'd love to hear from you. Recommended grain window at 30ft: 202 - 218 GRAINS. 13 - 14 GRAMSRecommended AFFTA line weight: #8Length: 8' 8"Pieces: 4Action: Progressive / FastTaper: Fast Butt Diameter: 12.26mmTip Diameter: 2.12mmRod Weight: 150 grams S2 FastGlass™ - not your papa’s fiberglass fly rodEpic™ blanks are made to exacting standards using a proprietary Unidirectional S2-glass composite. Unlike other fiberglass fly rods, this material features a fully unidirectional fibre layup which aligns fibres longitudinally along the blank where they are most needed. This recipe, rolled to our Epic tapers combine silky smooth loading with trophy pulling power that we call FastGlass™. The result is an incredibly strong, light and powerful tube with a crisp, precise response. Hand crafted one at a time.Each Epic fly rod is specifically hand made for you as it is ordered.  Please allow two to three weeks for us to do an Epic job for you. We’ll be in touch with a build time and shipping details as soon as we receive your order. Each Epic fly rod features: FastGlass™ fly rod blank with internally reenforced ferule system High quality fiberglass rod tube in satin black Premium hand sewn rod sock. cleaning cloth. Finest quality Portuguese cork grip. Full cork fighting butt with composite cork end (no cheap close cell foam) Epic reel seat in either black or Titanium finish. Guide set (Snake brand Universal guides USA) Premium quality Titanium stripper guides. Our signature Epic Ghost Wraps in premium Japanese silk with fine one turn pinstripe midway over each guide foot