Waterworks Lamson Velocity 9-foot, 6-weight fly rod

I picked up a 6-weight Velocity fly rod from Waterworks Lamson soon after I got an invitation from an old friend to fish some private water--a tiny stream known for having huge trout--in northern Georgia. Twenty-five-inch and bigger trout are not uncommon, and I thought I might need something stouter than a 5-weight but nothing as big as an 8 weight--and those I have. I also have known for many years that the reels from Waterworks Lamson have a great reputation, and I didn't feel like I was risking anything with the rod, so I picked up the 6-weight. When it arrived, I was impressed with its looks, which are very handsome for a fly rod aimed at the mid-range market. Once on the water, I was able to test the rod right away. I fished a deep pool with a nice foam line running right down the center. I drifted an egg pattern below a strike indicator and was retrieving line at the same speed as the current. On the third drift, the indicator hesitated, and I set the hook. Immediately, I could tell it was not an average North George trout (see the picture). For the next few minutes, I fought the big rainbow to a draw. The fish made several runs, but whenever it neared limbs or root balls or rocks, I fought the fish like I would a tarpon--with the rod parallel to the water instead of overhead--and was able to change its direction when I wanted until it finally tired enough for my buddy to land it. Over the course of the evening, I caught eight or nine more fish, including two that were every bit as nice as the trout in the picture, but one got off when I grew overconfident in the strength of the tippet. The creek we fished was very narrow with a lot of overhanging limbs. Fortunately, most of the casts weren't more than 25 or 30 feet, which the rod handled very capably with either a roll cast or water haul. Only once, did I fish a stretch of water that required a longer cast-40 to 50 feet-and the rod displayed a good bit of feel and punched out tight loop after tight loop. Overall, I'd certainly recommend the Velocity for anyone looking to add a solid rod to their collection. The rod is ideal if you need something on short notice and don't want to break the bank, think that you need a specific-weight rod but may not use it often, or need a rod for clients to use. This rod has a lot of backbone and can take some abuse. At the Guidefitter price, it's a steal.