Equipment Review:
Black Diamond Fly Rod and Scientific Anglers Tippet Spool Fly Reel

Testing was performed on the upper Nigu River and on Ivotuk and Otuk Creeks, fishing for 6"-13" grayling.

The Rod

This is Black Diamond's first entry into the already crowded multi-piece fly rod market. The design is unique in many respects. Fast setup is facilitated by a pre-assembled telescoping construction—no dropping rod segments and then stepping on them or fumbling with loose or sticky ferrules. This also provides an adjustable length, particularly appreciated in small stream situations. The theme of simplicity is continued with the line guides, of which there are none, save an ingenious tip top shaped something like a snowflake with holes through which the line can be fed (left). The designers have also chosen to leave out a reel seat. Whether or not this was done to save weight or in keeping with the ultra-simple design theme is not clear.

Casting performance was unlike any other rod I have ever used, though in part this is explained by our failure to bring a fly line to the testing sites. The rod felt a bit heavy in the hand, and the tip lacks the suppleness necessary to protect light tippets. (The latter was not a problem for us since we were using 10 lb. test, 0X tippet.) A rumored carbon fiber model might well address both of these shortcomings if/when it is released.

My overall impression of the Black Diamond fly rod is quite positive, despite the problems described above. It is quick to set up and, under the right circumstances, easy to fish with. Unlike most of its competition, in an emergency it can also be used as a wading staff.

The Reel

The Scientific Anglers Tippet Spool fly reel is named for it uncanny resemblance to an actual tippet spool. It is almost certainly the lightest fly reel every produced. Light weight and small size come at a price, however. In particular, there is noticeable drag chatter and winding is quite uneven. Scientific Anglers has chosen to leave out any means for attaching the reel to a rod, but this fits well with the Black Diamond decision to leave out a reel seat on their rod. As with the Black Diamond product, despite its shortcomings the SA reel is well suited for its intended purpose.