$ 595.00 USD
4The 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 worldwide 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.
In stock and ready to be delivered direct to your door
Got questions? - Drop us a line, we'd love to hear from you.
Recommended line weight: AFTMA #6
Length: 8'6"
Pieces: 4
Total length: 2,580mm
ERN: (Unwrapped): 6.4
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
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 TonkavichSnowman 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 micronfibers 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 Tough
Epic 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.
My Reference 6wt 686 FastGlass is a true all around fiberglass rod well-suited for big Colorado trout. I've used it for streamers, small dry flies, heavy indicator rigs on still water, and even while nymphing more technical waters with yarn and midges... this rod does it all!
Was amazed how easy the rod fired out the line with hardly any effort at all should have purchased one sooner
Finally got to fish with this rod. I would be the first to say my casting is generally a 3/10. Without wind I found the rod easy to cast & control but had trouble picking 10+m of line up off the water, particularly with a head wind and the line all out to the side. Fish control at distance seemed good once hooked, although I had an unusual number break off on strike. Not sure why - I would have thought a softer rod would have the opposite effect. Fish control while trying to net seemed sloppy with fish being very hard to guide into the net (I was by myself). Overall very happy with the rod, just need to get to use it more and get used to it.
Love this rod! its my first fibreglass rod and I'm hooked! the feel and power is next level , Nice work Epic flyrods.