If you read my earlier article on the 6-weight Stowaway 7, you might recall that I opined the 4-weight from the series might be even better. Cabela’s sent me the Stowaway 7 4-weight, and I must tell you it is equal to the best 4-weight I have ever thrown, and it gets the edge because of the price. That’s saying a lot because I happen to have several rods in this weight class, all of which cost far more than this little 7-piece 4-weight at $130 dollars. (Yes, Cabela’s raised the price by 5 bucks, but it is still the deal of a lifetime.)

Why do I hold this rod in such high esteem? For several reasons. I tend to be impressed anytime I can pick up a 7-piece rod that beats a 2-piece in overall performance. From short delicate casts with a 5X tippet to distance throws with a 3X, this stick performs. In addition, it has guts and remarkable lifting power.

If one of my students asked me what a 4-weight is good for, I would reply small waters, small fish, fine tippets, and delicate casts to a maximum range of between 40 and 50-feet. (All should know, a 4-weight is not recommended for Jaws, the Great White.)

As many of you may know, Scientific Anglers (SA) has been about “tweaking” their already excellent Mastery Series fly lines. (How you make something as good as the Mastery AST lines better amazes me…) SA kindly sent me a Mastery XXD 4-weight to be used in this evaluation. (XXD stands for extreme distance.) Since I have two earlier versions of Mastery AST 4-weights, running a comparison where the line is the only variable isn’t too difficult. My conclusion? In a word: the XXD is Superb!

Those of you who follow my work know that I am not an advocate of false casting endless times simply to gain a few more feet. What I am into is lifting into the backcast, throwing no more than one false cast, and shooting line on both the second back and forward casts as I go final. When I can average 75 feet using this methodology with a 4-weight rod, I am more than satisfied. This sort of distance is ordinarily the range of a fast, big water, 9-ft., 5-weight.

No question about it -- Scientific Anglers has done it again. The XXD enjoys about an effortless 10-foot edge over its brethren. And while 10 feet doesn’t sound like very much, it can be the world if you can’t get the fly to the fish.

By the way, I particularly like the new artwork SA incorporated into their new packaging. The cast demonstrated on the face of the XXD box looks exactly like my loop. You folks who ask about loops need to study this picture.

In a separate article next up, I will feature other “tweaked” lines by Scientific Anglers including the Bonefish and the Striper, two of my favorite lines. Suffice it to say that I am very impressed with the XXD. Not only does the XXD reach out to touch someone when called upon, it much improved in mending or, more importantly from my point of view, its ability to roll cast, a feature all to often missing from a weight-forward line. So be sure to stay tuned.

In summary, both Cabela’s and Scientific Anglers have developed winners for us fly fishers. The Stowaway 7, 4-weight, will remain in my inventory. Only a fool would let it go since it is perfect for Texas Hill Country fishing where either smallmouths or trout are the target. And while I grow older with each passing day, I am not yet a total fool, only a little foolish. Let me hasten to add that the Stowaway series has been expanded. The series now includes (1) an 8-foot 5-weight, (2) an 8½-ft. 5-weight, (3) a 9-ft. 5-weight, (4) the 9-ft 6-weight earlier reviewed, (5) a 9½-ft. 7-weight, (6) a 9-ft. 8-weight, and (7) a 9-ft. 10-weight. Later this Spring I hope to review the 10-weight.

If you are looking for an affordable multi-piece fly rod, I really believe you would be remiss if you didn’t checkout the Stowaway 7 series. Cabela’s is a great company that carries a very broad line of fly rods well beyond those articles carrying the house name. They also happen to be one of the very best in backing anything they sell. If you aren’t satisfied, send it back for either a refund or exchange.

More folks should be like those at Cabela’s or Scientific Anglers!

For more information about the Stowaway 7, contact: Cabela’s, One Cabela’s Drive, Sidney, Nebraska 69160. 1-(800) 237-4444. For more information about the new Mastery XXD fly lines, contact: Scientific Anglers, St. Paul, MN 55144-1000.

To read the first Stowaway review and other great fly fishing product reviews and articles, please view my writer profile here at LBF.