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Yelcho region Patagonia - two beautiful video clips from this stunning region.
A 12 weight rod should do a few things well. It needs to cast a 12 weight line. It needs to cast the size flies you would expect of a 12 weight - billfish flies, aerodynamic dogs like big crab flies, and oversized poppers and gurglers that generally look like seagulls ploughing into a stiff breeze. And it needs to pull hard on big fish. The Boca Grande does this very, very well.
Being somewhat of a fan of the Epic fibreglass range for the past couple of years and having enjoyed the soulful experience they offer fly fishers I have to confess I wondered “why on earth is Carl of Epic bothering with Carbon”? Hell that is such a well catered and competitive market - right? 
For the past forty years, like most of us, I've been in love with stiff fly rods. They kept getting stiffer and faster, and they couldn't get fast enough for me. Recently, the top end rod makers have been offering softer, gentler, more 'fishable' actions. Maybe its because al lot of us are getting older and our pace is slowing a bit, but a lot of young anglers have been taking the slow lane as well. One reason is, simply, that the stiff rods are too hard to bend. They lack the cushioning feel of the classic medium action and demand a fine tuned sense of timing and a sophisticated stroke. The Epic 690-C, and it's little sister, the 590-C, have been a revelation to me.
Andrea and I have been beating around on the 590C (Andrea) and 690C (myself) for slightly over a year now. First impressions; mmmm black, I love the image of the raw carbon in lightly sanded state. At this point of the inspection phase I realized they are crazy light for a 5 and 6 line. Who doesn't love a light rod?
Well, I've been fishing this rods for 2.5 weeks since completing the build of my 686 (Green). Not only is the rod F&CKING EPIC, but it casts tight loops, very accurate caster, has a great feel and response, and the rod has a great backbone when needed
Here at Swift we get to build fly rods for some pretty interesting customers and from all walks of life. There are more than a couple of rock stars and at least one mega movie star (that we know of) out there casting an Epic fly rod, but the customers that give me the biggest thrill are those that teach fly casting.
After the recent club casting day, Tony Ong described it as casting “like a cut snake” and I agree with him.
Today we launch our Epic range of Carbon Fibre.
No we've not forsaken our first love, Glass.
Great shots from Markus Haldin of You Name It in Finland. These guys are big supporters of our Epic brand and have been building some really tricked out rods.
