Hello Pierre, nice review on the rod. I just happen to win a bid on Ebay for a T &T contact II fly rod for $668 dollars. Brand new..... I am excited to try it out. I am just getting into the euro nymphing. I had an Orvis Recon but sold it so I could use those funds to purchase the T & T rod. I enjoy your videos.....Keep up the good work and fly fishing......
I now have a T.&T contact 2. 3 wt 10’ rod. I put the Sage esn reel on it because it’s what I’m using on the Sage esn 2 wt 10’ esn rod. Both are great rods and reels. I’ll m still really liking my sage esn rod, there’s just something about euro nymphing with a 10’ rod that only weighs 2.5 ounces. I can’t say anything bad about the sage esn rod or reel. I’m hoping the t and t starts to impress me like the sage esn has done. It’s hard to compare a 2 wt to a 3 wt. and I’ve fished the sage for a long time. I will report back after I fish the t and t some more.
@@chrishenslick5482 I actually like the T&T better now that I’ve fished it along side of the other nymphing rods. The rod just has the action that I like. It has enough tip section to pitch or cast 2.0-2.5 mm tungsten beaded jig nymphs, which are considered light, and it fishes jig streamers better than any other rod I have. Reason is it has enough butt section and mid section to cast the heavier jigs weighing up to 5.5-6.4 mm tungsten beads. T&T did this rod right!! I have caught some huge wild trout with this blank and it wares the fish down really well. I broke the rods tip section 4 months ago. It wasn’t the rods fault, it was mine. I jabbed it into the wheel well of my car and kept on walking, of course it broke. Turn around time getting it fixed was roughly 2 months, I think. About the same time as Sage and others turn around time. This is the price you pay when buying a hand built rod. I hope this helps you in your buying decision.
@wvlongshooter3912 Thank you so much for the detailed response. It does help. Pretty much have my mind made up on this rod, but confirmation bias is a thing. Now just to square away the length.
This is my next rod. Most probably the 10.8 6wt version unless someone can talk me out of it :) P.S I already own two ESNs #2 and #3 but need something with way more oomph, the barbels around here are no joke.
Hello, thank you for another great review!! I fish two nymph rods, the moonshine epiphany 10’4” 2 wt and the Sage esn 10’ 2 wt. I’m going to purchase a 3 wt nymph rod. I’m concerned about using a 3 wt while using light wt nymphs but I’m going to buy one anyways. I’m in between the Sage esn 3 wt and the T&T contact two 3 wt. I’ve even thought about the moonshine vesper 3 wt. Love the warranty of moonshine and of sage. My sage esn had a guide come off of the blank. Sage offered to send me the exact rod to use while they fixed mine for free. Turn around time was about two weeks and this was while they were re modeling their warranty service building. Sorry for so many words, I’m watching your reviews over and over so to try to make a decision on a 3 wt nymph rod. Do you have anything else to add that might help me make this decision ? Thanks!!!!!!!!
Damn! That’s a tough one. I’ve only fished the contact and Vesper 3wt. I’d say the vesper is good for the price but compared to T&T they are different rods. Most of which in the cork quality and feel in hand. If you wanted I think you can almost buy 2 vespers for a contact 2 so it’s a tough call. Pierre is the only guy on our team currently whose fished all 3 extensively so I’ll ask him.
@@intoflyfishing Thank you for your time and replies!! I like the light wt of my Sage esn but that’s not most important I guess being I’ll adjust reel wt with the esn reel wt system. All recommendations are appreciated!!!!
@@tonyg3091 I bought the T&T contact 2 in a 10’ 3 wt. I really like the rod, it’s as good or better than most reviews say it is. To be honest though, there’s just something special about tight lining with a rod that weighs 2.5 ounces, such as my Sage ESN HD 10’ 2 wt. it’s a 2 wt not a 3 wt but dang it, the Sage ESN fishes really well. Thanks!!
@@wvlongshooter3912 Yep. The ESN has a sort of magic about it I haven't found in any other nymphing rod and I have tried quite a few. The 3# combines the finesse of a 3# and the power of 6# at the butt and its smoothness is otherworldly. It is good they do not offer it in #5 or#6 so I am not going to sweat too much over the choice between ESN and TT Contact. And also I am a sucker for unsanded carbon, so TT here I come. :)
It's all good I have a few decent rods already like a moonshine 3wt vesper it seems pretty good for the money and I have an orvis 1wt. For short casts dry fly fishing it's still my favorite rod and it almost 20 years old still feels amazing to use.
@@jameskocsis7366 Yeah the Vespers are great rods. Also, that Orvis sounds amazing! I love old dry fly rods, they have so much character and feel to them.
I own a few of their rods and they are one of my favorite brands.
Which rods do you own Ron? They are great rods
Hello Pierre, nice review on the rod. I just happen to win a bid on Ebay for a T &T contact II fly rod for $668 dollars. Brand new..... I am excited to try it out. I am just getting into the euro nymphing. I had an Orvis Recon but sold it so I could use those funds to purchase the T & T rod.
I enjoy your videos.....Keep up the good work and fly fishing......
Thank you for this excellent review!
I now have a T.&T contact 2. 3 wt 10’ rod. I put the Sage esn reel on it because it’s what I’m using on the Sage esn 2 wt 10’ esn rod. Both are great rods and reels. I’ll m still really liking my sage esn rod, there’s just something about euro nymphing with a 10’ rod that only weighs 2.5 ounces. I can’t say anything bad about the sage esn rod or reel. I’m hoping the t and t starts to impress me like the sage esn has done. It’s hard to compare a 2 wt to a 3 wt. and I’ve fished the sage for a long time. I will report back after I fish the t and t some more.
Is your Sage the HD?
Yes. It’s the newer Sage esn rod and the HD.
@wvlongshooter3912 So how do you like it now? I'm saving for the contact 2 and I'm curious about your experience. Thanks in advance for your time.
@@chrishenslick5482 I actually like the T&T better now that I’ve fished it along side of the other nymphing rods. The rod just has the action that I like. It has enough tip section to pitch or cast 2.0-2.5 mm tungsten beaded jig nymphs, which are considered light, and it fishes jig streamers better than any other rod I have. Reason is it has enough butt section and mid section to cast the heavier jigs weighing up to 5.5-6.4 mm tungsten beads. T&T did this rod right!! I have caught some huge wild trout with this blank and it wares the fish down really well. I broke the rods tip section 4 months ago. It wasn’t the rods fault, it was mine. I jabbed it into the wheel well of my car and kept on walking, of course it broke. Turn around time getting it fixed was roughly 2 months, I think. About the same time as Sage and others turn around time. This is the price you pay when buying a hand built rod. I hope this helps you in your buying decision.
@wvlongshooter3912 Thank you so much for the detailed response. It does help. Pretty much have my mind made up on this rod, but confirmation bias is a thing. Now just to square away the length.
Another great video!
Thank you!
This is my next rod. Most probably the 10.8 6wt version unless someone can talk me out of it :)
P.S I already own two ESNs #2 and #3 but need something with way more oomph, the barbels around here are no joke.
Hello, thank you for another great review!! I fish two nymph rods, the moonshine epiphany 10’4” 2 wt and the Sage esn 10’ 2 wt.
I’m going to purchase a 3 wt nymph rod. I’m concerned about using a 3 wt while using light wt nymphs but I’m going to buy one anyways. I’m in between the Sage esn 3 wt and the T&T contact two 3 wt. I’ve even thought about the moonshine vesper 3 wt.
Love the warranty of moonshine and of sage. My sage esn had a guide come off of the blank. Sage offered to send me the exact rod to use while they fixed mine for free. Turn around time was about two weeks and this was while they were re modeling their warranty service building.
Sorry for so many words, I’m watching your reviews over and over so to try to make a decision on a 3 wt nymph rod. Do you have anything else to add that might help me make this decision ? Thanks!!!!!!!!
Damn! That’s a tough one. I’ve only fished the contact and Vesper 3wt. I’d say the vesper is good for the price but compared to T&T they are different rods. Most of which in the cork quality and feel in hand. If you wanted I think you can almost buy 2 vespers for a contact 2 so it’s a tough call. Pierre is the only guy on our team currently whose fished all 3 extensively so I’ll ask him.
@@intoflyfishing Thank you for your time and replies!! I like the light wt of my Sage esn but that’s not most important I guess being I’ll adjust reel wt with the esn reel wt system. All recommendations are appreciated!!!!
That’s a tough one. Sage ESN in #3 is very hard to beat. It is a phenomenal rod.
@@tonyg3091 I bought the T&T contact 2 in a 10’ 3 wt. I really like the rod, it’s as good or better than most reviews say it is. To be honest though, there’s just something special about tight lining with a rod that weighs 2.5 ounces, such as my Sage ESN HD 10’ 2 wt. it’s a 2 wt not a 3 wt but dang it, the Sage ESN fishes really well. Thanks!!
@@wvlongshooter3912 Yep. The ESN has a sort of magic about it I haven't found in any other nymphing rod and I have tried quite a few. The 3# combines the finesse of a 3# and the power of 6# at the butt and its smoothness is otherworldly.
It is good they do not offer it in #5 or#6 so I am not going to sweat too much over the choice between ESN and TT Contact.
And also I am a sucker for unsanded carbon, so TT here I come. :)
Is there a snake guide just below the tip?
Sweet stick maybe in one of my finest dreams one day.
Never say never. Maybe you'll get one of those calls saying you're a distant descendant of a royal family and you inherited a ton of money. Dream big.
It's all good I have a few decent rods already like a moonshine 3wt vesper it seems pretty good for the money and I have an orvis 1wt. For short casts dry fly fishing it's still my favorite rod and it almost 20 years old still feels amazing to use.
@@jameskocsis7366 Yeah the Vespers are great rods. Also, that Orvis sounds amazing! I love old dry fly rods, they have so much character and feel to them.