SWoFF Spec - For big, fast fish!

SWOFF SPEC

Our big, fast fish spec.

From estuary thugs that love to bury your flies in secret snags to blue water speedsters that are determined to empty your spool with blistering speed: SWoFF Spec is designed for saltwater. 

Built with corrosion resistant components from REC and Fuji on blanks with fast tapers & actions to ensure you have the power down low to turn stubborn fish and deliver big flies into the zone.

The SWOFF SPEC build is available on the CTS Affinity X in 6,7,8,9,10,11 & 12wt, Sage One in 7,8,9 &10wt and the full range of Sage Xi3 blanks. 

This image gallery features the CTS Affinity X, Ticks all the boxes for serious swoff action: extra fast taper, fast action, plenty of reserve power below, damn nice to cast big flies with and good pick up and cover prowess.

Our CTS SWoFF spec rods are cobalt blue, with matching binds. Business like yet tasteful decor wraps up the titanium guides. Add flor grade cork, a strong REC reel seat and some fine HCE tuning and you have a rod we are proud to put into your hands...

Let's face it, if you fish the salt, then you know that there is no margin for error. Big fast fish test you and your gear - and we design our gear to out last every thing else out there.

Sage One 10wt Feedback...

Hi guys, Bill M has posted some feedback on his 10wt One build we did for him. 
With his permission, here it is:

"Well I gave the 1090 ONE a run the other day with a Wulff TT Lost Tip. I didn't get a chance to bend it seriously with only a few GTs to the boat. 


It seemed to like the chunky Bermuda Triangle Taper, which has a 30 foot head. This rod casts very nicely, going short or long. It feels a lot lighter than most 10 weights and more like your average #8 or #9. It isn't that much lighter than the Xi3 or TCX but the difference is noticeable. When you waggle it you realise it isn't a noodle and is quite removed from its closest predecessor the Z-Axis 1090 - also a great heavy flats rod. 

I will run a RIO Redfish on it next time, which was the line that TJ and Tony suggested sung best on that rod. I was surprised to hear this given the #10 Redfish is 400 grains making it quite a heavy line, even if that is spread over 35.5 feet. Somehow though I'm not surprised because that Redfish line has a taper that loads progressively but throws big flies. It isn't a blunt instrument and still allows some presentation compared with other heavyweights like Tropical Outbounds etc. 


The rod easily handles very heavy flies including a 2/0 Avalon style Voltzy Golden Crab. This fly has big dumbells and 4 beads so weighs a tonne. It still cast well....well, well-ish


At this stage I think it is among the best flats rods I have owned. It has the finesse of the ONE but with some grunt down low. More suited to floaters than the Xi3 and TCX. You can easily fish this rod line on, but it would handle being uplined if you liked that kind of thing. Anywhere from 325 to 400 grains would be fine. I doubt it is overly line sensitive. Some of the new rods around are very line sensitive, they either feel overloaded or alternatively underloaded. Both are bad when you need feel and touch through a range of 40-80 feet.


Don't be fooled. It is a very different rod to the ONE 990. If you are thinking of buying a ONE for flats fishing, cast the 990 and the 1090 side by side. Both are very good rods but for throwing crabs the 1090 has the edge.


I measure all flats rods against the Xi3 990 and this one seems as good, perhaps better. The only drawback is once you enter #10 territory, line choice means many of the bonefish style lines are not available. I think some of the general saltwater tapers would suit this rod nicely as will some of the striper/tarpon lines.


Hopefully it will pin a good golden in the next few weeks and we will know how it pulls against a stronger fish.


Happy Camper."


Bill, we are really looking forward to seeing some pics of your rod with a Golden Trevally soon! - Tony & TJ

Why we like CTS blanks...

CTS prides itself on being at the leading edge of rod design. focussing on intensive product development and continuous improvement in their design and manufacturing processes.

The following information represents why we at HCE have chosen CTS as our major blank supplier...

Carbon Helix Core

§ Superior hoop strength

§ Improved response                       

A single carbon spiral is at the core of the blank. This type of structure is commonly regarded as the most effective way of maintaining cross section stability during bending.

Our carbon helix core will minimize cross sectional deformation during loading, improving power and response.     

In a flexing situation, the blank is undergoing pressures that can cause it to change from a round shape to a slightly oval shape.

Even a small 2% reduction in section height caused by these pressures will reduce the stiffness of the rod by around 10%.

A non woven fiber can achieve 100% of its tensile and compressive loading, unlike woven based scrims which exhibit large amounts of fiber crimping resulting in greatly reduced fiber loading potential.

The higher the loading, the softer the blank will become, reducing its ability to fight fish. All CTS carbon helix core blanks boast 100% non woven fiber.

All CTS carbon helix core blanks boast 100% non woven fiber.

A non woven fiber can achieve 100% of its tensile and compressive loading, unlike woven based scrims which exhibit large amounts of fiber crimping resulting in greatly reduced fiber loading potential.

100% Carbon Construction

§ Super light weight construction

§ Superior strength

Through the use of the CTS carbon helix core, blanks are able to boast a true 100% carbon construction. This ensures response and agility are optimized through utilizing the lightweight and high strength characteristics that only carbon can give.

Modulus Replacement Technology (MRT)

This new type of construction enables us to place totally different modulus materials at each part of the blank. Unlike traditional multi modulus systems which lay up materials of differing modulus materials together, our new Modulus Replacement Technology is all together different, taking blank manufacture to a new level.

Variable fit length

§  Reduced section-to-section flat spots

§  Reduced swing weight

§  Smooth load transfer           

The join lengths between each section within our multi piece blanks are varied according to the load that they are designed to carry. This ensures flat spots and swing weights are minimized.

Computer Aided Engineering CAE

Computer Aided Engineering has enabled CTS to design precise blank ranges with perfectly progressive actions through the entire range. 

Multi carbon construction

CTS works closely with its boutique carbon suppliers to obtain the optimum fiber types and resin systems to ensure all CTS blanks are at the leading edge in terms of material development.

Up to five different types of carbon are used in each blank. Each type is placed at various parts of the blank to optimize strength and weight.

Internal High Strength ferrule

A high strength ferrule is placed at each join, to provide superior crush and split resistance. 

Target Zero Fibre Alignment

Fiber alignment along the length of any blank is critical. Even the smallest deviation in fiber alignment from the axis of load will greatly reduce the strength of the blank.   
All CTS blanks are designed and produced to ensure all fiber is aligned as near perfect as can be with the load.

Wow! Another 'One'! This time a 5wt...

Our client Dave was not keen on the original 6.5" Sage factory grip and wanted some thing a bit different for New Zealand and some freshwater Tarpon, Saratoga & juvenile Barramundi. 

Dave wanted a small fishing butt and our Evo Spec reel seat. He also liked the HCE Spec REC guide set up. So he got it in a great looking (and performing) combo! And he got his 7" full wells grip. That's the beauty of custom!






The REC recoil stripper comes first, then a snake to provide two firm anchors for pulling against the backbone & it is a larger diameter for better line flow then finally finishing of with a series of lighter single foots to reduce swing weight and aid faster tip end recovery for great casting accuracy. This set up is used in our HCE Specs and Dave wanted the same for this One. Coupled with our unique tuning process, it really helps a rod sing!

And here is Dave's first fish on his new rod! A very respectable New Zealand brown.

"The all important first fish on the new rod! Beautiful rod, can't believe how it improved my trout style fishing."

RETRO SPEC - Our first new spec for 2012!

Yesterdays look and feel, today's technology...

Nostalgia is the theme & gorgeous smooth casting is the feel you get.
This rod blends the tradition of cane actions into the most high performance materials and features a very gentle loading action..

We want to take you back to yesteryear - a slow, graceful action and a taper so progressive that you never miss a split-second of the sensation of the cast - time stands still briefly as the fly gently lands in the pocket... then, once taken, the fish becomes part of the rod: part of you.

You will feel every bit of the tussle down to the grip. It's earthy. It's beautiful.

It's Retro - From the Snake brand chrome guides, Mildrum red agate stripper guide to the hand lettering to the classic cigar shaped flor grade cork grip, the retro folding hook keeper and the simple yet beautiful Walnut wood insert (that matches the blank!) nickel silver reel seat- all the old style fittings that will make this spec, a classic in itself.

Our feature build in this spec is a 3wt 7' 4pc - based on the CTS Vintage blank in walnut.

You can have from 0wt to 5wt in any length you like but our base offerings are as follows: 

0wt 6' - 1wt 6' - 2wt 6'6" - 3wt 7' - 4wt 7'6" - 5wt 8' 

Welcome to 2012!

September 2011 saw the official launch of HCE... But work had been going on well before that. 'Work'? More like creating and having fun, really!
So last year we introduced a few build specs: HCE, Evo, SWoFF and the sensational Native Spec. And offered local guys a real custom fly rod option in that you could design your blank if you wanted to.
We launched the website, complete with store socked with Teeny fly lines, apparel and stream-side accessories - all coming via free post in Australia.
We became an authorised REC fly rod components reseller here in Australia and started supplying CTS & Sage blanks to local builders.
We became sponsors of the FlyLife Magazine forum - where we have have been long time supporters.

So what is in store for 2012?

Hyper Spec & Hyper Spec Trout are coming. Another proprietary design that is looking very promising - adding a rod that will do anything you ask in the most extreme conditions... No excuse now not to "Fly fish the Now"!


Euro Spec, designed to be the most dedicated, specialised Czech Nymph rod build on the market today...

Code-name "Truth" Trout Spec - Yes, a code-name! But why 'truth'? This new spec will be true to weight, will reflect the true pleasures of trout fishing... Stay tuned for what we feel will be the best damn dry fly stream rod ever rolled.


Retro Spec - something special for the nostalgics amongst us... (Released 2 February 2012)

We will end up with one or two purely one off special rods for the connoisseur of fine & differentiated fly rods to collect: and perhaps late in 2012, a very special little project, code named "Aotearoa..."

Sponsorship of the Australian Saltwater Fly Fishing Forum... We are stoked to be on board guys!

That makes for a pretty exciting 2012 for us - and we hope you like what we bring. Everything we do at HCE is a team effort... Tony, Me and You! Let's make 2012 a great year for fly fishing!

FEED-BACK: HCE Spec Affinity X 6wt, 4pc 10'er...

Some feedback from Adam L on the HCE Spec Affinity X 6wt 10'er...


"Had an extended play with TJ's 6 weight 10 foot Affinity X yesterday. Was very impresed.
When HCE builds a rod you know it's going to be a quality build and of course I wasn't dissapointed. Fantastic colour on the blank.
When I first started to cast it I took some time to get used to the jump up to the 10 foot length but once I did I could comfortably cast the full GPX. 
Man I was having fun with it...giggling like a child. And when I finally hooked a fish I could feel the fish through the rod. 
The best thing was that where I was fishing I sometimes have backcast issues on my longer casts with catching tall grass behind me (which is entirely my casting technique problem!), but not yesterday. Even when I was getting tired at 10pm when I find the most problems occur, not once did I catch the grass...
Really enjoyed it!! If you get a chance, have a cast of this beast. It is certainly more powerful than my TCR but still responsive.

- Adam L. - Melbourne Vic. (Magpie)


Thanks Adam! Great feedback and very much appreciated! Glad you enjoyed fishing with the rod so much mate!  (Tony & TJ)
TJ's personal favourite lake rod! - You'll have to mug him for a cast now!