ASQ 790-4

Reviews

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   Rich and I cast this 7-weight on the pond, looked at each other and struggled for the right words. What came out first was “freakshow,” followed by, “best 7-weight in the world?” This is a saltwater 7-weight to be sure, but also well suited for smallmouth, largemouth, pike and other species for which the rod’s primary purpose is pure casting. It is too short and stiff to do much roll casting or mending (anglers pursuing steelhead should choose a rod of at least 10’), but in the casting department, it can’t be beat.

   Line Pairings: Rio and SA Bonefish and Redfish Tapers, SA GPX Sharkwave, Rio Gold, Rio Grand, SA MPX, Rio 15’ Sink Tips, SA Sonar Sink Tips

   John Duncan (Telluride Angler)

2. Rated 5 out of 5

   I wrote down “Flats Rock Star” in my notes after I cast this rod. This rod was very sweet and had remarkable power and control, I was truly impressed by this rod. Line speed was intuitive, as was loop shape and the rod was otherworldly light in the hand. Fish it with an SA or Rio Bonefish taper and move to the saltwater for good. Its a rod you could carry line with all day. You almost regret letting the cast lay out because it feels so damn nice to throw loops with this thing. Get one. A standout 7 weight among some all time 7 weights I cast at IFTD 2016.

   Richard Post (The Telluride Angler)

3. Rated 5 out of 5

   (2nd review): I was blown away by this rod the first time I cast it and it still impresses me every time I pick it up. The amount of power you can generate with a 7-weight line coupled with the lightness of the rod in hand is second to none. This rod generates major league fastball line speed and it is an exceptionally long caster. If you need to get your rocks off and throw the whole fly line, this is a great place to start. I was very surprised by how well the Asquith threw the Amplitude taper. If you’re a serious carp-on-the-fly angler, pay attention to this combination. It is exact, intuitive and automatic. The rod sort of guides you to perfection and holds your hand while it does it. As a streamer rod I believe it is better than the NRX+ 790, but not quite as right as my favorites. The grip is saltwater-sized and the rod wants a little more from the caster with a heavier headed line. Everyone that loves the 7-weight line should get this one in their hands, especially if you’re going to be on a bonefish flat sometime soon.

   Richard Post (Telluride Angler)

4. Rated 5 out of 5

   This is a 7wt rod cut from the same cloth as all the other rods in this Asquith series. It is light and has a delicate feel to it. Having said that, it will rip the fly line from your hauling hand as it dumps your whole fly line with ease. It is a smooth, gentle beast. I would not overlook this rod when it comes to fishing for bass or if you are looking for a light, smooth, commanding streamer rod for trout. The SA Amplitude Infinity Taper is a great floating line on this rod and the Rio Big Nasty makes for an exceptional sinking line.

   Jim Harris (Telluride Angler)

5. Rated 5 out of 5

   This is a 7wt rod that can really do it all. It is as powerful as it is light and a totally sweet caster. Most people will pick this rod up for saltwater fishing and that is understandable. It will be very happy on the bonefish flats, but don’t count it out as a freshwater streamer stick. It casts great with an aggressive streamer style line like the Rio InTouch Big Nasty or SA Titan taper and excels with heavy articulated streamers. Similarly to the Sage IGNITER 790/4, the Asquith eats the wind right up. Windy day on the flats? No problem. Windy day in Montana on the drift boat? No problem. You’ll have a hard time finding something that this rod doesn’t do well. If you’re planning on taking this rod to the salt, the Rio DirectCore Bonefish line is my favorite.

   Parker Thompson (Telluride Angler)