Great fly rods have always reflected a specific idea in the minds of their designers. It might be a particular feel or action, or address, a certain technique, but ultimately, a great fly rod stands upon its ability to deliver performance in a variety of situations. The Two Seventy project was conceived specifically around big Western rivers. There’s nothing mysterious about what a rod needs to do here. You’ll be constantly throwing vigorous mends with deep nymphing rigs, or pounding the bank with a sinking line from a drift boat, or punching a dry fly to a new target every few seconds. Sometimes the wind will lay down, but don’t figure on it. A day on this type of water with “not quite enough” rod can be exhausting. Recognition of this fact is the most important and unique thing about our Two Seventy rods. The rest is expert state-of-the-art manufacturing, and top-drawer hardware. All models are 3-piece. The Blank: We chose to work with 85 million tensile modulus graphite. The vast majority of fly rods are built with 40-?45 million modulus, because the denser material can be temperamental. Due to breakthroughs in our conventional rods, we employed a new construction process that increases the hoop strength of the material. It also lends a distinctive look to the blank. Reel Seat: Machined, anodized aluminum. Nothing works or wears better. Guides: Dual Fuji? silicon carbide stripping guides. Not many rods give you a second stripping guide unless you’ve paid over $300. The snake guides are oversized for smooth line travel while mending and casting. Grips: Great cork has less filler and lasts longer. This is the real thing!