G. Loomis Asquith 690-4

Reviews

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   The Asquith 690-4 has another gear for handling awkward rigs like streamers, nymph/indicator, the largest dry flies and bass bugs, all of which tend to “wag the dog.”  The rod seems to understand the task and take control of the situation.  I prefer it with a Rio Gold XP and other heavier weight forward lines.  It feels slightly underloaded with a Rio Gold, but the XP optimizes the flex profile and taps the insane power found within the middle sections of this fly rod.  With a Rio Gold XP WF6, it becomes “automatic.”

   The Asquith 690-4 comes with a small Wells grip and modest fighting butt.  For me, these are clear improvements over the original Asquith 6-weight.  The grip is ergonomic and supportive for aggressive casting.  Around here, the ASQ 690-4 will be a streamer rod, but it will certainly become an all-around favorite for any place where “a 6-weight is your 5-weight.”  Its raw casting prowess is unequalled, yet the rod maintains a light-and-playful character typical of the freshwater models in this series (whereas the the 7-12 weights take more of a “razed earth” approach).  This rod will handle any common streamer or bass line with ease, whether a Rio Outbound Short, Rio Predator or SA Titan.  It has plenty of backbone for sink tip and full sinking lines, too, regardless of their taper.  Many will say this is the ultimate 6-weight.  It is notable that one of the Loomis rod designers consider this his favorite rod in the series.

   John Duncan (Telluride Angler)

2. Rated 5 out of 5

   There aren’t many truly well-rounded 6wt rods on the market; most are dedicated dry fly rods for bigger flies, nymphing-focused rods, or streamer fishing machines. The taper of this rod accommodates several different fly lines, allowing the angler to match the fly line to their specific needs. It’s a fair bit stiffer than the 5wt but still has the touch and feel we’ve come to expect from a rod in the Asquith family. With the appropriate line it throws beautiful loops at all distances and is surprisingly smooth given how stiff it feels in hand. I was shocked at how well the rod loaded immediately with very little fly line out the tip. This is a rod that I would want in my hands on any 6wt class river, whether I was nymphing, dry fly fishing, or pulling streamers around. It will be equally happy wade fishing or fishing out of a boat. I’ve had the chance to play around with several different lines but my favorite for all around fishing by far is the SA Amplitude Infinity WF6F. It will handle all variations of the Rio Elite Predator and SA Titan streamer lines as well.

   Parker Thompson (Telluride Angler)

3. Rated 5 out of 5

   Sometimes you can tell when you pick a rod up the first time. The new Asquith 9 foot 6 weight is a rod to take notice of. The rod seemed to hum when I picked it up and gave me a feeling of energy transmission along and through the blank that is uncommon and lively in my hand. I use that term often, but the Asquith 9 foot 6 weights feels alive to me. Feedback is sensational, the blank returning every micro measure of nuance back to the casting hand. Short shots rock back and forward with intuition and exactness. Long shots unroll with the casting image you’ve conjured in your mind in real time. You don’t feel like you’re casting farther, more like the target moves closer, like a rangefinder is wired from the blank to your mind. I believe the new Asquith 6 weight is the rod in the Asquith lineup that is approachable to all anglers and will encourage all anglers into becoming a better caster. An experienced caster will get the most out of this exceptional fly rod, and this holds true for most of the new Asquith lineup. This 6 weight is highly capable of crossing over into saltwater. I would fish a grasshopper too, but I would not pick this rod as a dedicated indicator rig. A skilled angler will find this rod mends with an exactness that requires a micrometer to measure, but a more novice angler will struggle with the fine touch required to mend expertly with this tool. Streamers in the midsize articulated range on sinking lines, smallmouth poppers, blind-casting to coastal cutthroat or light surfcasting, the Asquith 9 foot 6 weight is ready for whatever 6 weight work you could imagine. These rods are built as a complete rod family, meaning the actions of the lighter models are complimentary to the heavier models. If you like the feeling of the new Asquith 9 foot 6 weight, consider putting that same feeling in your higher and lower line weights.

   Richard Post