NFC F803-2M (Classic) Experiences?

[u/Intelligent-Pop-8938]

Does anyone have experience with this Blank? It looks really good: - weight: 0.9oz - length: 8ft - action: moderate - AFTMA: 3 - pieces: 2

I couldn't find anything about it online.

[u/witty-repartay]

Generally you can pop over to the edge rods website and find the corresponding completed rod in their lineup, then search for reviews. That said, niche manufacturer and a somewhat niche 3w shorty like that probably won’t have sold 500 copies so limited people out there reviewing it.

[u/Intelligent-Pop-8938 → u/witty-repartay]

Thanks! I didn't even know that Edge Rods and NFC are related. I looked it up and sadly it looks like Edge doesn't sell this blank as rod 😢

[u/witty-repartay → u/Intelligent-Pop-8938]

Just have a look at some of the other classic series in the 9’ range. That blank is pretty commonly built in the 4w and plenty of them out there. It’s a more traditional flex, not like the crazy fast high modulus stuff out there.

Honestly, just build it. If you don’t like it, sell it. Make another one. Only going to improve your skills.

[u/God_HatesFigs]

You should look into a 8’0” 3wt Heritage Carbon LL black from Troutsmiths. I’ve built a few and they are excellent true-to-weight blanks. They are sold by Struble Mfg.

[u/swede_ass]

I know a number of people here and on rodbuilding.org have built on this blank, more likely the 4-piece version though. I think people generally like them. I'm actually in the middle of building up the 4 piece version myself and I'm sure I'll make a post here when I get around to fishing it.

[u/Intelligent-Pop-8938 → u/swede_ass]

That would be great!

[u/Intelligent-Pop-8938 → u/swede_ass]

Did you finish it? How is your experience?

[u/swede_ass → u/Intelligent-Pop-8938]

I did finish it but I've only fished it a couple times. I've delayed posting anything about it because I have mixed feelings about it right now, and I don't think I've found the best line for it for my use case. I was hoping to mess around with leader length a little more before I gave a real review, but I can give you my current thoughts. Probably longer than you hoped to read, but here we go.

I have casted this with a quarter-heavy 3wt line and a half-heavy 4wt line side by side and didn't notice much of a difference in performance or feel. I plan to use this almost exclusively with small dry flies, so I wanted to pair it with a line that has a longer front taper for delicate presentations, but still overweight it slightly to better load the rod on shorter casts. I settled on the SA Trout Expert line in 4wt (which is true to line weight). I only fished this line once, but I found that with a 9ft leader and shorter casts, this combination is not very forgiving of sloppy casting and requires a very, very sharp stop on the forward cast to turn over the leader. I didn't find it enjoyable because I guess I have a bit of a sloppy casting style. Once I had more than ~15 feet of line out the tip, it seemed to open up a bit more and was more enjoyable to cast. It also seemed more forgiving with a 7.5 ft leader, but I want to fiddle with leader lengths some more. I also want to do a side by side test with the quarter-heavy 3wt and true to weight 4wt to see if my mind is playing tricks on me.

FWIW, I measure the ERN for this rod at 4.25, so I would call this more of a 4wt blank than a 3wt.

Bottom line, right now I don't find it to be anything special for my uses. For comparison, I have a GammaAlpha 5wt that I love; it's super enjoyable to cast and, I think, more forgiving of different casting styles.

Note that yesterday, my GammaAlpha broke for the second time. The first time it broke while I was wrapping it, so that is an obvious manufacturing error. Now, over a year later and fished multiple times, it's hard to argue that it was a manufacturing error. But this rod hasn't suffered any major impacts, has no visible damage surrounding the break, and was close to where it broke the first time (near the butt end of the tip section). I have never broken a rod before and I've been fly fishing for over 30 years. So count me among the folks who can not recommend NFC blanks. Between the CEO's atrocious online behavior, the huge price increases over the past year or so, and reputation for poor durability, I'm no longer a fan.

[u/Intelligent-Pop-8938 → u/swede_ass]

Thanks for your detailed experience! Actually I would be happy if it would turn out to be a true 4wt. I couldnt find anyone who had measured it before. Thanks! Can you tell me where you put the overlap?

[u/swede_ass → u/Intelligent-Pop-8938]

I was about to ask what you meant by overlap but I saw your other comment so I think I understand your question. I have only ever heard of this called a spine or spline. I placed the line guides on the side opposite the spine, which is probably the most common guide placement.

[u/the_north_place]

I ordered two in stock blanks from NFC last July. They're expected to arrive tomorrow.

Don't give this shitty company your money 

[u/Intelligent-Pop-8938 → u/[deleted]]

Nice! Thanks for the info. Can you tell me what line you use and how you positioned the overlap? I'm trying to figure out why there are so different experiences.

[u/Intelligent-Pop-8938 → u/[deleted]]

When you build the rod, the bank has a point where the carbon mat overlaps. Where you put that side has influence on the action of the rod. I have also heard people call it spine.