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I've only used the GPX (and like it!). Chris and I discussed it in another thread and I think now Chris trying to find someone now who has used both and can offer up some additional info. There's got to be someone out there who has used both ;-)

I ordered one from Bears Den too, and it arrived today. I ran up to the pond with my 3 wt Riffle 'glass (considered "fast" for glass), my 3 wt Sage LL, my SA GPX DT3 and the new Rio Grand WF3 to do some comparisons. Up until now I've used the GPX on both of these rods. I had some interesting results. (the short version is that CC knows what he's talking about)

I first tried the Rio on my Riffle 'glass rod using a lightly weighted size 12 woolly bugger. I was *really* disappointed. I had to concentrate on giving it more power just to get the leader to straighten on 30' casts. I was already working up my sales post in my mind, thinking I'd unload the line as soon as I got home. I put the GPX on the Riffle and the life was good again. The line and leader would straighten with almost no effort.

Next I put the GPX on my Sage LL, already knowing that it works extremely well, but I wanted to feel the lines back to back. I fished for a little bit and then put the Rio on my Sage. Wow! It was really weird. The rod seemed to come alive. I found I was more accurate, the leader was turning the same fly over with no effort, and the line worked well for short and long casts. And like CC said, this thing really lays down lightly and lifts off the water nicely. It felt fantastic! I put the GPX back on the LL and it felt a little sluggish and seemed like it made a big splash compared to the Rio.

I fished the Sage with the Rio for the next hour. It's an excellent combination. Before I left I decided to give the Rio one more try on the Riffle. I did and it just doesn't work on that rod.

One more bit of information. When I first got the Sage I tried a H&H WF3 on it and it felt a little light--I didn't like it even though I know the H&H is a good line. So something about the Rio taper just works perfectly on the Sage.

So.... here's what I think: the Rio Grand is an excellent line although it might not be ideal on everything, and the GPX is a great line too but it is being relegated to my glass rods.

I think it's impossible to please everyone. Maybe the guy is used to stiffer saltwater type lines--who knows? The line certainly isn't any more supple that the much beloved peach Cortland 444.

On the positive side:

• The guy at Acid Rod (C&M Custom Tackle), where I bought a 2/3 blank, said that the Rio Grand was one of his favorite lines and I just checked their site again--they don't sell line so there was no financial incentive for him to tell me that.
• Cross Creek One highly recommends it and he's more knowledgeable about this stuff that most folks (including me).
• I bought it and compared it side by side to another popular line on 3 rods (I tried it on my 5' RX7 2/3 late last night in addition to the Riffle 7' 2/3, and Sage LL 7'9" 3 wt), and it was a huge improvement on the Sage LL, it also casts very nicely on the RX7, it just didn't work well on the Riffle but it didn't feel too soft.

It does lay down and pick up much more smoothly than the GPX and maybe that's what throwing the guy on WarmFly. Or it's possible that he tried it on a rod where it just didn't work. For me the line is definitely a keeper.

Chris, that sounds suspiciously like what the line did with my Riffle. It worked great on my LL but not on my Riffle. I've never knowingly broken in a line before so I'm not sure what that's about.