686 FastGlass Fly Rod Blank

The Epic 686. The ultimate 6wt fiberglass fly rod Blank. Often imitated, never beaten.

The Epic 686 is the most popular 6 weight glass blank on the market.  Hang on, you're in for a wild ride.

The Epic 686 has gained cult status over the past few years and we've seen many imitators try to replicate the magic of this fly rod. There is only one - and this is it!

Regarded by industry pro's and glass aficionados world wide as the best glass 6wt made, the Epic 686 presents beautifully but packs a bad ass attitude. Perfect for tossing big flies, swinging streamers and light saltwater work. The 686 is as strong as an ox, super smooth and extremely versatile. 

FastGlass II™
The Epic™ 686 is produced from industry leading Zentron 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 a tighter, more precise and stronger material. 

SnakeBelly™
Not sanded and not unsanded. Our SnakeBelly™ finish is produced by a unique radial production process. 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 very durable.

Sure Fit Ferule™
Break a tip? we've got you covered  This ferule system is so precise that parts interchange between models. Gone are the days of having to return a broken section to the manufacturer or outlet where you purchased from. Breakages can be addressed by simply sending out the replacement part.

Length: 8'6"
Pieces: 4

Recommended line weight: AFTMA #6
Length: 8'6"
Pieces: 4 
Total length: 2,580mm
ERN: (Unwrapped): 5.9
ELN: 6
Optimal Grain Window: 140 - 175 Grains
Effective Line Range: AFTMA 5 / 6 / 7
Action: Progressive / Mid Flex / Medium Fast
Taper: Fast
AA: (Action Angle): 68° (Fast)Blank Weight: 63g

The Experts

"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 market 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

The Epic Promise

Carl McNeil - Founder, Wanaka, New Zealand.

The Epic Lifetime Warranty.

Every Epic fly rod that we produce is covered by our lifetime, original owner warranty. This warranty covers failure due to defects in material or workmanship of our product. 

This warranty is limited to repair and replacement of the rod or blank and does not cover direct, indirect, consequential, incidental or any other type of damage resulting from the use of the product. This warranty does not cover fire, theft, missing rod sections, intentional breakage, modification or customization of the finished rod, or damage during the assembly of a blank into a finished rod. 

Epic Fly Rods reserves the right to determine whether to repair or replace any Epic Product covered by this warranty and the right to replace any discontinued models with comparable models when necessary. Colors and components may vary between original and replacement parts.

This Policy applies to the original owner only and may not be transferred to another person.

We will always do our very best to get you back out on the water fishing our gear again as soon as possible.