References – Zimsen Fly Rods
Karpen Flyfishing has an uncompromising philosophy… we deliver the highest quality, selected and serious fishing tackle to the sport’s most discriminating anglers. The staff at Karpen come from the fly fishing industry and the Zimsen fly fishing rods we now work with, design and build are produced with the same attention to detail, refined design and finish as the fly rods we have spent our careers working with.
Thomas Berggren brings years of graphite rod engineering knowledge to the processes we use to design the Zimsen rods. All of our rods are assigned specific values during the design process and are measured for consistency during construction and assembly. We carefully control the processes in order to confidently assure the quality and consistency of the finished product. The result is a product of industrial-style design and construction which lives on to fish year after year as opposed to a cheaply produced consumer product bought off the shelf at a tradeshow and styled to order with paint and logotyping!
Karpen Flyfishing AB is formed of three principals with many years experience within the flyfishing industry together with an innovative, strategic business-investment organization which provides high-level guidance and calculated professional direction. From the design, testing, manufacturing and packaging processes, to logistics, delivery, administration, guarantee and customer service, absolutely nothing is left to chance. We welcome you to compare our products with other brands in same price category.
The manufacturing technique we are using for our Zimsen fly rods is called Helica Core Construction and the material is a mix of high modulus carbon prepreg with a new and stronger resin. This technique with a new mix of carbon and glue have made these rods stronger and lighter than the last generation of rods that was produced in Helical Core Construction. One important part in our work have been to reach a strong enough blank with the lowest grade of breakage. But the main focus has been to create a fly rod with the highest possible performance and regarding to just the performance we have made no compromises. The cork handle is high quality AAAA grade and reel seat is titanium coloured and matte green coloured hardwood. The colour of blank is a green tone with matching windings on hard chrome snake guides. The rod model 9 ‘ line 6 have a full wells handle with a fighting butt and a full metal titanium coloured reel seat.
Zimsen Triple T 590-4 is available in three different actions and 690-4 is available in one model with fast action. Reason for that is to offer an alternative action for each personal preferences of favourite action. For simplicity we call them Medium, Medium Fast and Fast. Deeper explanation of action and properties can be read in table just below and this data can work as a guide for clients who knows what properties they are looking for. For them who’s unfamiliar with action angle and ERN there is a traditional explanation about the properties for each rod below.
Zimsen TripleT 590-4 F:
Zimsen 590-4 F is a 9-foot fast action rod for line weight 5 and designed for perfect match to all our Zimsen fly lines.
This rod is considered as a stiff rod among most people. It suits casters with a style of powerful stroke and fast acceleration of the rod when casting. The action angle is 70 degrees and the stiffness rate (ERN) is 6,4. That gives the feeling of a fast rod with tip action. The model is designed to match the casters who wants a fast and stiff rod, but the rod is not as extreme fast and stiff as the stiffest rods on market.
Popular fly line combinations:
Zimsen MXD LB22 WF5
Zimsen MXD LB16 WF5
This rod is mainly the choice of the experienced casters and casters who priories distance. But another category of caster that have found it very useful is the ones that often fly fishing “put & take” and wants to cover big distance casts with these typical heavy and bulky rainbow flies. This group of fly fishers have found this rod, regarding to the stiffness grade can easily be loaded with a heavier weighted line. With the 6 wt line it’s easier to cast heavy flies and if you load it with Zimsen XPL9 WF7 you can throw massive flies. The advantage these people have discovered is that they can use this same rod for two different purpose. Big fly fishing with a 6-7 wt line and distance casting with a long belly 5 wt line. Some people choose this rod only for the simple reason they think other 5 wt rods they have tested is too soft and wants a stiffer rod.
Zimsen TripleT 590-4 MF:
Zimsen 590-4 MF is a 9-foot medium fast rod for line weight 5 and designed for perfect match to all our Zimsen fly lines. The properties in this rod will be recognized when you cast with it. The function of this rod is in the area to be similar as of what the majority of 9-foot line 5 rod is. The most common action among all! But please don’t mistake this for average and boring, instead see it as the majority of fly casters favorite type of action. In field testing and voting by a mixed group of 10 fly fishers from beginners to advanced level, I would say 5 will choose this medium fast rod, 2 will choose the fast and 3 will choose the medium. I you found yourself often choose as the majority and if you categorize yourself as average style caster that are not too fast and aggressive or not very slow tempo caster. Choose this rod!
The action angle is 68 degrees and the stiffness rate (ERN) is 5,8. That gives the typical feeling of a medium fast tempo in the. A smooth feeling, but strong enough rod for powerful casts. All our Zimsen wt 5 lines is tested to match this rod. We would like to highlight the use of two of our most popular lines in combination with this rod.
Popular fly line combinations:
Zimsen MXP12 WF5 – For presentation of dry flies and small nymphs.
Note! This line is accurate rated as a AFFTA WF 5 and some casters that are used to over rated lines may think it’s a bit light weighted, but it’s not! The line is accurate. Use our MXP12 WF 6 if you want more line weight.
Zimsen XPL9 WF5 – For streamers, zonkers and bulky flies.
Zimsen MXD LB16 WF5 – for distance put & take fishing.
Zimsen TripleT 590-4 M:
Zimsen 590-4 M is a 9-foot moderate action rod for line weight 5 and designed for perfect match to all our Zimsen fly lines. This is a comfortable medium action rod that suits casters with calm and relaxed casting style, or all casters that prefer a bit softer rods. Another reason to choose this rod is for fishing with small flies and very thin tippets. This medium soft rod combined with our Zimsen lines that have an adapted stretch factor for thin tippet fishing will save many leader breaks. This action relates more to close target fishing than distance competition.
The action angle is 64 degrees and the stiffness rate (ERN) is 5,1. That gives the typical feeling of rod that bends deep all the way down to handle.
Popular fly line combinations:
Zimsen MXP12 WF5 – For presentation of dry flies and small nymphs.
Note! This line is accurate rated as a AFFTA WF 5 and some casters that are used to over rated lines may think it’s a bit light weighted, but it’s not! The line is accurate. Use our MXP12 WF 6 if you want more line weight.
Zimsen XPL9 WF5 – For streamers, zonkers and bulky flies.
Zimsen TripleT 690-4 F:
Zimsen 690-4 F is a 9-foot fast action rod for line weight 6 and designed for perfect match to all our Zimsen fly lines WF 6 – 7. This is a very strong rod with a relatively stiff and fast feeling. The action angle is 73 degrees and the stiffness rate (ERN) is 7,2. That gives the typical feeling of fast top action rod.
The rod has a wide spectra of use as single handed salmon fishing, sea trout fishing, coast fishing and windy days on tundra. It works very well and perform one of its best side in windy conditions and it allows the caster to add a huge amount of force into the cast. This rod is perfect for all kinds of single handed salmon fishing, and particularly when it’s about small fly presentations in combination with Zimsen MXP12 WF 6-7. Another use is to load it with a 7-8 weight line for pike fishing. Yes! You heard right. The stiffness and the strong blank will allows you to carry a 7-8 weight line even though the rod is designed for a 6 weight. If you cast a 6 weight line the rod will act stiff as the fast action rod, it’s meant to be. If you load it with a 7 weight line is will still perform well, but act as a moderate action rod with a slower tempo. That properties will save your wrist to be tired after a day’s casting for pikes.
Popular fly line combinations:
Zimsen MXP12 WF6 – WF7 – For delicate presentations.
Zimsen XPL9 WF6 – WF7 – For heavy flies.
Helical Core Construction
Helix Structure wound carbon thread like sheath of electric wire to minimize the kink and the spine result from the Laminated Composite Structure.
It applies the equal stress to every spot of blank and strengths instant power.
