I recently picked up a used 6wt St Croix Legend Ultra to replace my broken Redington DFR. The rod was only $120 and was only used a couple of times. When the rod arrived, it did indeed look brand new. So far so good. Over the years, my good buddy Ben Lamb would always mention how well the Legend Ultra's performed. He was right on with this rod. It has turned out to be a very capable replacement rod for the old Redington. This rod is my primary heavy nymphing/windy day nymphing rod.

The rod is a fast to medium-fast action and turns over the Rio Nymph line very well. The rod is indeed softer than my old favorite Sage XP. I actually like how the rod bends a bit deeper into the butt section, compared to the Sage. Of course I sitll like the Sage...

I still see some of these rods popping up on eBay and other places and I would certainly recommend this rod as a viable second boat rod or in many cases a great primary rod for western fly fishing.

Love those legend ultras,I have the 9'3wt. you can feel the flex in the rod clear to the butt.Alas though it was discontinued by St.Croix last year. I had to look hard to find a new one to replace the one I broke last year.

Also a fan of the LU old series. I have the 9' 6wt, with a Gunnison reel, as my heavy nymph/streamer rod and love it for that purpose. A little heavy and soft for a dry fly rod, imho, but still great overall. Glad to hear you can find the rods on e-bay, because the reel is rare as hen's teeth these days.

Ian

I like my 9' 4wt. - its got a great action. It seems a little heavy for a 4 wt but it throws anything I tie on it. Its become my everyday go to rod.

I've got a St Croix LU also. It was a discontinued blank I picked up for like 58 skins. It's a 9'9" 6wt. I should have it completed in the next couple weeks. Basically, rod is done and I just need to epoxy the guide wraps. Waiting on my new rod dryer is the only hold up. I plan to put a Ross Gunni #3 that I have lying around on it and use it as a nymph/ streamer....steelhead/big trout rod. Should also make a good stillwater rod.

Look forward to trying it out.

Ciao

Mike

I have a 7wt LU 9'9" and really like the rod. It does get tiring at the end of a long day, though. I guess the extra 9" increases the leverage and makes the rod more tiring.

Mark

Mark

What line are you using on your LU? I picked up a SA Steelhead line to try figuring with the long belly it might be a good match for my rod. Mainly nymphing being able to roll cast etc.

Mike

Mike,

Up until last year, I was fishing 4 different brands of flylines. Cortland 444 SL and Spring Creek, SA XPS and Ultra 3/4, Rio Grand and Wind Cutter, and Airflo Tactical Clear Tip. It was difficult dealing with so many different lines. Different tapers, various coatings and different characteristics, depending upon the weather, made life a bit confusing.

All that changed when I switched all my floating lines to Sage Performance Taper. I'm really happy with them so far. They all have the same casting characteristics, and I feel comfortable with them. I treat them all the same way, and they seem to be holding up well.

Mark

I busted my 9'9" 7 wt a few weeks ago, for the second time.

That rod has been my go to rod for just about everything. small dries on the Bighorn, #2 yuck bugs on the N. Fork of the Shoshone, and dead drifting nymphs on the N. Platte for big old piggies.

Run an Airflo Tactical WF line on it for years. Love the way that line mends and casts.