California Glass Fly Rod

Sale price£349.00 GBP
Suits Intermediates & Pro's

✓ Ultra light fast glass fibreglass blank
✓ Premium Flor grade cork grip
✓ Exceptional roll / Spey casting rod
✓ Superb smooth loop delivery
✓ Great for rivers, stillwater, carp, trout etc.

Model: 8' #1

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Free instructor support with every purchase. The Masterclass.

94 fly casting videos to your inbox. Supporting you through every question you'll ever have about tackle and casting. From complete beginner questions to the most advanced fly casting techniques and trick casts.

The performance of carbon fibre with the feeling and shock absorption of fibreglass. The California is a modern fast action, fibreglass, fast, fly rod that casts smooth loops and plays fish on light tippets.

California Glass Fly Rod

"The California Glass Rod is the best 8' 4" #6 Fly rod I have ever used. Had 2 fish on this Rod the other day no problem fantastic Fly Rod."

Rivers & small stillwaters. Fishing lures on short head lines. Dries on presentation lines.

Rod action

The California is a fast action, modern fibreglass blank. It bends fully down into the handle, but recovers quickly to a straight position. Best with short head fly lines which load the road fully to shoot fast accurate loops, punchy casts, perfect action for fishing dry flies & streamers on rivers or still waters. A great rod action for fishing floating flies for carp.

Features

Titanium Fuji Torzite® strippers & smoked nickel snakes guides. AAA cork handle, cnc aluminium reel seat. Fibreglass rod tube, airmesh breathable rod sock.

Airmesh. Breathable rod sock.

Protect your investment

Hexagonal perforated breathable mesh rod sock. Allows the rod to dry when you put it back in the tube. A wet rod can develop mould. Airmesh protects your prize rod.

Tom Bell

Meet the designer.

Tom is an advanced fly casting and fishing instructor with AAPGAI. The Advanced Association of Professional Game Angling Instructors certificate is regarded as one of the hardest casting and teaching qualifications in the World.

Designing the California Glass Fly Rod

"I wanted a fast action fibreglass blank"

I've always loved the feeling of glass but i didn't like the weight and tip recovery. We set out optimising length and taper and I think we ended up with the perfect glass blank.

The trend towards stiff 'fast action' rods started in the late 80's and hasn't stopped. Sunray have been repairing that trend since 2014.

Our fly rods absorb the shock of fighting fish.

A fly rod's primary function is shock absorption. Absorbing the head shakes and sudden runs of a fish means you can fish lighter tippets. Fishing lighter tippets means you can present smaller flies which represent the naturals more accurately.

You're in good hands. We've been shipping rods around the World for the last 15 years.

It's as good as buying a rod from a shop.

Free Worldwide Shipping on all Rods. That's right, zero, zilch, de nada.

I ordered on Friday and it arrived on Saturday morning, amazing.
It took 7 days for the rod to reach me from the UK. It was faster than rods I've bought here in the States!
I couldn't believe how quick it was delieverd. It felt like I had just placed the order and it was there! All the way from the UK in a matter of days.

Customer Reviews

Based on 18 reviews
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Chad Goymer (Dover, GB)
Amazingly robust and pokey little rod

I was interested in this rod after being so impressed with my 7wt volition. I was lucky enough to win this rod in a competition that Tom was running on his facebook page the other week so I was over the moon as I was considering purchasing the rod if I had not won it. I have never used a fibreglass fly rod before but after half an hour of adjustments and slowing my cast down a bit I was rocking and rolling.

My main intention for this rod was to use it for stalking big specimen trout in difficult to reach places such as under the trees etc especially in the summer months where if you was using a 10 foot 7 weight you simply would not be able to have the room to cast with a full size rod.

Tom has stated that he has taken carp up to 15lbs on this rod so I was hoping i was up to the task of what I wanted to ask from it......I was initially worried when I felt initially how bendy the rod was......however my fears were put to rest straight away I put this rod through its paces yesterday talking four decent trout including a golden trout around the 5lbs mark.

This rod had no problem at all tacking the hard fighting trout of Rockbourne Trout fishery in the New Forest. The rod certainly bends but at no point did I feel my rod was in any danger. I always play my fish on the reel anyhow so the fight is distributed 50/50 between the rod and reel.......If you want to yank a big trout in using hand stripping then you probably should be using a 10 foot 7 weight rod.....using a bendy fibreglass rod backs fighting fish fun and in my mind thats wha fishing is all about.....FUN

As other reviewers have stated this rod also casts like a rocket for a 4 weight too

I'm over the moon with this rod and cannot wait to get some real lumps on the end of my line and put another bend on this rod

Cheers Guys

D
Dave Warren (Bulkington, GB)
Glass California.... Amazing

I’ve been using this rod for 2 months now, it’s quite simply awesome. Casts a #4 line like a dream, throw a #5 El Guapo like a bullet! A #6 line loads superbly when I’m fishing the canal for perch and Zander. The only thing I’ve not tried yet is a #3 on small streams but that won’t be long!! The power is quite unbelievable, it’s a pleasure to use!

S
Simon D (Kendal, GB)
This has become my weapon of choice

After watching a few of Toms videos YouTube, I decided I wanted a new little river rod. The California in the videos looked like it fit the bill. I read a few online articles about glass rod before committing, as always having used carbon rod (just my age I guess) I was a little worried about glass of old been soft and spongy... But let me tell you that defiantly isn’t the case! The California arrived and I was instantly impressed by the build quality, having always used sages this is just as good, the cork is first class, the blank a beautiful color and the fit and finish is perfect. Having used the short head weight 4, let me tell you, it’s casts just as good as it looks. No sponginess only perfectly formed accurate loops, the tip although soft has fast recovery so ‘carbon casters’ don’t need to worry. It’s just smooth and a joy to cast. It’s fantastic!

N
Neil St Quinton (London, GB)
It’s frigin awesome!!!

It’s awesome it feels like a 3 weight bends like a 3 weight and casts like a 6 weight but it’s a 4 weight, I can cast 90’ the whole line!!! Like Tom shows on the video but also will cast short I’m so impressed with it!!!

D
Darren Reski (Chessington, GB)
Incredible piece of kit

Been fly fishing for over 20 years and never have I been more blown away by a incredible piece of kit!
This rod casts effortlessly, I put the sunray 5wt competition float through it today, it flew out like an arrow to the other side of the lake! Yet it presents the flys so delicate, it’s totally rewritten fly fishing for me! Can’t thank you enough Tom, keep up the good work. Inspirational!!!

M
Mr DAVID LEE (Skelmersdale, GB)
Microlight 10' 6" 3#

received in a couple of day of ordering and I am very pleased with the purchase the finish is 5* and matches everything Tom highlights in the videos and livestreams and this will be my go to dry fly set up no doubt further purchases will follow

O
Owen Vaughn (Lodi, US)
Great product

Great product great service highly recommend this

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Who for?

Suits Intermediates & Pro's

Suits Intermediates & Pro's

Suits Intermediates & Pro's

What for?

Nymph & Dries | River & Stillwater

Large Flies & Short Casts

Dries & Nymphs / Lures Stillwater & River

Good for?

The ultimate light line rod. River dries, nymphing and stillwater delicate fishing.

Think big stuff. Delivers bigger flies with great line speed and accuracy.

Exceptional delicate presentation rod. Great for stillwaters bank & boat.

What people say

Lovely progressive action with great build quality and components. Delivers casts softly and accurately - very effective on spooky trout in clear water. Oh and 5 pieces make it easy to transport.

Best Pike Rod I've Ever Used. The action was perfect to cast medium sized flies with very little back casting space.

I now have 2 10ft 7 weights, I use them for nymphing from the bank at Farmoor, I set up one straight line the other a washing line, even with brutal takes my tippet doesn’t get smashed, lovely rods.