Diamondback Gen. IV Nymph Rod

Diamondback Gen. IV Nymph Rod – Cork Handle 

Not long after completing the Ideal Nymph range, a new tip material technology became available for Joe Goodspeed to work with. He spent nearly two years carefully developing rod blanks to optimize lighter, more efficient carbon rod tips. The success of the Ideal Nymph series allowed him to take my time with this project, and make sure the new rods reflect the changing landscape of the euro nymphing market.  Anglers are nymphing with thinner and lighter leaders and tippets, and Joe forced himself to fish the prototype rods with this rigging to understand how the new blanks needed to load and recover to fish most effectively. After spending far more time with these rods on the water than with any previous rods, Diamondback is excited to launch the new Generation IV Nymph rod series.

Generation IV Nymph rod initial lineup will be 10’ rod models in 1wt, 2wt, 3wt, and 10’7” models in 1wt, 2wt, 3wt, 6wt, and 7wt. These rods will be sold with Flor grade cork grips and a carbon grip option.

10’ 1wt model

Rod weight: 3.15 oz / 89 grams
Reel Balance weight (for empty reel, assuming 1oz backing and
line, to achieve roughly 60 degree tip up balance from hold point)
5.0 oz / 142 grams
This rod model will perform best for fishing situations that fall
within these parameters:
Optimal hook size range: 14-26
Optimal tippet range: 6x and lighter
Optimal fish target size: Best for fish under 18” / 45cm
Optimal AFTMA line weight for casting: Not designed to
overhead cast, but will load with the smallest floating lines or
level floating line .022-.025”
Rod Application Description: I designed the Generation IV 10’
1wt to be the ultimate finesse tool for the lightest leaders,
smallest nymphs, and spookiest fish. It will load and recover
under the weight of the rod itself, allowing you to deliver
lightweight flies with ease. This action profile performs best
hooking and retaining small and medium-sized trout while
protecting fine tippets, but has the backbone to fight the
occasional larger fish as well.

10’ 2wt model

Rod weight: 3.35oz / 95 grams
Reel Balance weight (for empty reel, assuming 1oz backing and
line, to achieve roughly 60 degree tip up balance from hold point)
5.2oz / 147 grams
This rod model will perform best for fishing situations that fall
within these parameters:
Optimal hook size range: 12-24
Optimal tippet range: 5x-8x
Optimal fish target size: Best for fish under 21” / 55cm
Optimal AFTMA line weight for casting: Lines that fall within the
AFTMA standard for 2wt lines will be the best match, but 3wt
class lines will load the rod more easily when most casts are
going to be short.
Rod Application Description: I designed the Generation IV 10’
2wt to be a finesse tool with the versatility to cover most light
nymphing work and some overhead casting. This rod loads easily
and with small to medium sized flies or multi-fly rigs on micro
leaders. The 10’ 2wt model will cast overhead with a true 2wt fly
line and single dry or nymph. For dry dropper style fishing or
indicator work, the 3wt models are a more suitable choice in
Generation IV nymph rods.

10’ 3wt model

Rod weight: 3.4 oz / 96 grams
Reel Balance weight (for empty reel, assuming 1oz backing and
line, to achieve roughly 60 degree tip up balance from hold point)
5.3 oz / 150 grams
This rod model will perform best for fishing situations that fall
within these parameters:
Optimal hook size range: 8-20
Optimal tippet range: 5x-7x
Optimal fish target size: Best for fish under 25” / 64cm
Optimal AFTMA line weight for casting: Lines that fall within the
AFTMA standard for 3wt lines will be the best match.
Rod Application Description: I designed the Generation IV 10’
3wt is a highly versatile tool that covers a wide range of
applications and techniques. This rod loads easily with light to
medium weight multi-fly rigs on micro leaders or heavier leaders,
and fishes well with a jig streamer up to hook size 6 or 8. The 10’
3wt model will cast overhead with a true 3wt fly line, and has the
perfect action for fishing dry-dropper rigs. It will also handle
small indicators with nymph rigs too heavy to support with a dry
fly. This is a great rod model to choose when larger fish are in the
mix, but you still need small flies and precise presentations to
fool them.

10’7” 1wt model

Rod weight: 3.36 oz / 95 grams
Reel Balance weight (for empty reel, assuming 1oz backing and
line, to achieve roughly 60 degree tip up balance from hold point)
5.2 oz / 147 grams
This rod model will perform best for fishing situations that fall
within these parameters:
Optimal hook size range: 14-26
Optimal tippet range: 6x and lighter
Optimal fish target size: Best for fish under 18” / 45cm
Optimal AFTMA line weight for casting: Not designed to
overhead cast, but will load with the smallest floating lines or
level floating line .022-.025”
Rod Application Description: I designed the Generation IV 10’7”
1wt to be the ultimate finesse tool for the lightest leaders,
smallest nymphs, and spookiest fish. It will load and recover
under the weight of the rod itself, allowing you to deliver
lightweight flies with ease. This action profile performs best
hooking and retaining small and medium sized trout while
protecting fine tippets, but has the backbone to fight the
occasional larger fish as well.

10’7” 2wt model

Rod weight: 3.42oz / 97 grams
Reel Balance weight (for empty reel, assuming 1oz backing and
line, to achieve roughly 60 degree tip up balance from hold point)
5.3oz / 150 grams
This rod model will perform best for fishing situations that fall
within these parameters:
Optimal hook size range: 12-24
Optimal tippet range: 5x-8x
Optimal fish target size: Best for fish under 21” / 55cm
Optimal AFTMA line weight for casting: Lines that fall within the
AFTMA standard for 2wt lines will be the best match, but 3wt
class lines will load the rod more easily when most casts are
going to be short.
Rod Application Description: I designed the Generation IV 10’7”
2wt to be a finesse tool with the versatility to cover most light
nymphing work and some overhead casting. This rod loads easily
and with small to medium sized flies or multi-fly rigs on micro
leaders. The 10’7” 2wt will cast overhead with a true 2wt fly line
and single dry or nymph. For dry dropper style fishing or indicator
work, the 3wt models are a more suitable choice in Generation IV
nymph rods.

10’7” 3wt model

Rod weight: 3.55oz / 101 grams
Reel Balance weight (for empty reel, assuming 1oz backing and
line, to achieve roughly 60 degree tip up balance from hold point)
5.4oz / 153 grams
This rod model will perform best for fishing situations that fall
within these parameters:
Optimal hook size range: 8-20
Optimal tippet range: 5x-7x
Optimal fish target size: Best for fish under 25” / 64cm
Optimal AFTMA line weight for casting: Lines that fall within the
AFTMA standard for 3wt lines will be the best match.
Rod Application Description: I designed the Generation IV 10’7”
3wt to be a highly versatile tool that will cover a wide range
applications and techniques. This rod loads easily with light to
medium weight multi-fly rigs on micro leaders or heavier leaders,
and fishes well with a jig streamer up to hook size 6 or 8. The
10’7” 3wt model will cast overhead with a true 3wt fly line, and
has the perfect action for fishing dry-dropper rigs. It will also
handle small indicators with nymph rigs too heavy to support
with a dry fly. This is a great rod model to choose when larger fish
are in the mix, but you still need small flies and precise
presentations to fool them.

10’7” 6wt model
Rod weight: 4.13 oz / 117 grams
Reel Balance weight (for empty reel, assuming 1oz backing
and line, to achieve roughly 60 degree tip up balance from hold
point) 7.3 oz / 207 grams
This rod model will perform best for fishing situations that fall
within these parameters:
Optimal hook size range: 2-12
Optimal tippet range: 1x – 4x
Optimal fish target size: Best for fish under 18 pounds / 8.2 kg
Optimal AFTMA line weight for casting: Lines that fall within
the AFTMA standard for 6wt lines will be the best match.
Shooting Head weight 250 – 275 grains.
Rod Application Description: I designed the Generation IV
10’7” 6wt to be a versatile tool that will cover a wide range
applications and techniques for Steelhead and similar size fish.
Migratory freshwater and saltwater trout, Bull Trout, Alaska
Rainbows and smaller salmon, Carp, European Huchen, and
also handling the largest and heaviest jig streamers for big trout
are all a perfect match for this rod model. The 10’7” 6wt has a
great action for fishing weighted flies or bouncing bottom with
incredible sensitivity on mono rigs, while also effectively casting
a floating fly line with an indicator rig or shooting head system.
This model has the backbone for the biggest Great Lakes
Steelhead and most West coast Steelhead, with a powerful
bottom end to help steer and turn big fish in the current.

10’7” 7wt model

Rod weight: 4.38 oz / 124 grams
Reel Balance weight (for empty reel, assuming 1oz backing and
line, to achieve roughly a 60 degree tip up balance from the hold point)
7.65 oz / 217 grams
This rod model will perform best for fishing situations that fall
within these parameters:
Optimal hook size range: 2/0 – 6
Optimal tippet range: 0x – 3x
Optimal fish target size: Best for fish over 10 pounds / 4 kg
Optimal AFTMA line weight for casting: Lines that fall within the
AFTMA standard for 7wt lines will be the best match. Shooting
Head weight 300 – 325 grains.
Rod Application Description: I designed the Generation IV 10’7”
7wt to provide the power and backbone necessary to target the
meanest and biggest fish that swim in rivers. King Salmon, big
chrome fall Steelhead, Hucho, and Taimen are all fair game with
this rod model. The 10’7” 7wt has an excellent action for fishing
weighted flies or bouncing bottom with mono rigs, while also
effectively casting a floating fly line with an indicator rig or
shooting head system. This model has the backbone and wall
thickness to put some serious pressure on a big fish, with a
powerful bottom end to help close the deal at the end of the fight.