For us Stateside anglers, Guideline may not be a household name. Popularized in Canada and Europe, they have developed a cult-like following for building some of the best salmon rods available. As a gear junky and naturally curious angler, when I saw Guideline turn their focus to the US, I had to see what they were all about.
I got my hands on the Guideline NT11 Saline in both 8 and 9wt, their flagship single-hand model. An 8wt is an excellent all-around stick for both fresh and saltwater fishing, while the 9wt is perfect for slinging big flies at big fish. To put it through its paces, I have fished for everything from striped bass to bonefish and even slung a few flies at golden dorado. After a year of fishing and thoroughly abusing this rod, I can confidently share our thoughts on how it stacks up against other rods on the market.
Specs & Features
The Guideline NT11 is $749.99 (USD) and is by no means a budget rod. However, while it is expensive compared to other flagship rods—$1000 and up–it is certainly more affordable. The rod itself features FLOR-grade cork, the highest-density cork available. This improves long-term durability and keeps the cork from chipping out. The blank is paired with titanium stripping and single-foot guides to maximize corrosion resistance and improve casting distance. The reel seat is built in-house with a strong anodizing finish for the best performance in saltwater. Every Saline NT11 comes with a 25-year original owner’s warranty.
Each rod comes with a designated grain weight for suggested fly lines. For instance, the 8wt calls for a 293-325 grain weight line, and the 9wt calls for a 325-355 grain weight line. Depending on the fly line, the actual weight designation may vary, but be sure to match it with the proper grain weight to optimize performance.
Feel
The first notable aspect of the NT11 Saline upon handling it is how incredibly light it is in hand. Paired with the guideline HALO reel, this setup feels more like a 6wt than an 8wt in terms of swing weight and overall mass. The graphite is ultrasensitive, and the rod has a voice. It’s not afraid to talk through timing in your cast and brilliantly communicates what’s happening in the air and on the water.
That said, this rod packs a punch. I’ve used this rod for golden dorado, striped bass, carp, northern pike, and smallmouth bass. It handles large flies with the same ease that it delicately presents a sz8 bug in front of a cruising carp at 60 feet.
Big Bugs
A two-week adventure in Argentina chasing large golden dorado on the Rio Parana was the debut journey for NT11 Saline. Here, we fished the 9 wt, tasked with throwing intermediate lines with bushy 6-7” streamers tied on heavy wire hooks with dumbbell eyes. These flies are a challenge for any setup. I paired it with a longer taper 330-grain line (in between the 325-355 grain recommendation) built to throw streamers, and the rod began to sing. It could carry 60 feet of line effortlessly with a massive Andino deceiver and deliver shots at 90-100′ with admirable accuracy.
If you don’t plan on chasing dorado anytime soon, this rod equally excels at slinging meat in the States. Over the last year, we’ve fished for striped bass, pike, and smallmouth bass, throwing different lines and flies with incredible accuracy. Make no mistake–this rod is more than capable of throwing heavy dumbbell flies one day and light baitfish flies the next with power, accuracy, and repeatability.
Finesse & Accuracy
The NT11 paired with a SA mastery bonefish has been my go-to carp setup. I have a unique carp fishery. I’m presenting to strings of cruising fish just below the surface at a distance of 30-70’. I use a long (16’) 3x leader and a very small size 6-8 fly. It’s able to hold line, shoot quickly, and lay long slow-stroke casts precisely. In lament terms, the fly goes where I want it to.
Tested against other premium rods, the tip wavers slightly off track when quickly changing directions. By no means is this a dealbreaker, as it’s simply an extra casting stroke to land the fly where I want. The NT11 Saline, however, had incredible sensitivity and responsiveness compared to these other rods. It’s that feeling where the rod says, “Okay now,” and springs as you shoot line on the forward stroke. It’s a wonderfully responsive rod. If you pick one up and cast it, you’ll immediately know what I’m saying.
Some of the early-season smallmouth fishing I do requires fishing heavy bugs with light leaders near the bottom of a river in 6-8’ of water. This technique requires staying tight to the fly, a sort of hybrid between nymphing and streamer fishing. The takes are subtle, and this was my rod of choice for this presentation. You can feel every little tick through the blank and detect strikes easily.
Fighting Fish
This rod has a notable backbone. I’ve horsed in 45” northern pike, 6lb smallmouth, golden dorado, and 20lb carp. The sensitive tip offers excellent protection with light leaders, and the strength of the butt section allows you to turn large fish with ease. I have no complaints about its ability to bring in any quarry (that’s within reason for an 8wt).
Versatility
Having tested the major categories (distance, accuracy, and fish-fighting ability), this rod series excels as an all-around salt stick. It consistently delivers flies accurately and throws the heavy lines required to do so. With salt-specific guides and a reel seat, it is more than capable of handling the corrosive conditions synonymous with salt water. A simple rinse extends the life of this rod for years to come. The same factors that make this an exceptional rod in the salt directly translate to freshwater. Below are a few of the species we targeted and how the rod performed.
Bonefish:
Bonefish can be finicky, wary creatures and, when hooked, present blistering runs. The Saline NT11 has the finesse and accuracy to land soft presentations to wary fish. The sensitivity that comes with this translates into detecting subtle takes. When you hook a fish and the blistering run ensues, the backbone this rod has shines through. I quickly tamed long runs and consistently landed fish with relative ease.
Redfish:
There are a million ways to catch a redfish, and that’s why we love them. Finding a rod that can handle the different techniques is key. The Saline NT11 has ample power to throw larger flies required and accurately land patterns tight to fish (especially when fish are tailing). From poppers to spoon flies and everything in between, the Saline was more than up to the task.
When you hook a redfish, the ensuing battle is not one of long runs but more quick bursts and powerful headshakes. The backbone of the NT11 has plenty of stopping power to tame the initial runs. Paired with the soft rod tip, there is more than adequate tippet production to defend against headshakes.
Stripers:
There are few things better than feeling the thump from a striped bass eating a big bug. Throwing large flies, like beast fleyes is my favorite way to target stripes. To consistently throw these flys requires a rod with adequate backbone to turn over heavy lines. The 9wt NT11 has become my go-to all-around striped bass rod. It has plenty of power to deliver casts where I want while also being delicate enough to throw smaller flies when bass are picky. While the 8wt can do the job, the 9wt excels in all aspects of striped bass fishing.
Carp:
In many ways, carp combine the best aspects of bonefish and redfish in freshwater fisheries. They readily cruise flats and tail like bones, and will dog you like a bull red. The 8wt NT11 Saline translates its saltwater capabilities directly to this technical fishery. I was able to consistently deliver accurate casts up close and at distance. The sensitivity in this rod also detects the slightest strikes, something critical for carp slurping flies in darker water. While the Saline may be a saltwater rod, it is just at home on freshwater flats as it is saltwater.
Final Thoughts
Action: Fast
Flex:
Ease of Casting:
Accuracy:
Weight:
(medium-light)
Durability:
Looks:
Price:
(MSRP: $749.99)
After a year of putting the Guideline NT11 through the paces, it has quickly earned itself a home in my collection. The combination of performance and premium components makes it an exceptional rod for saltwater fishing. Dubbed the Saline, this model goes far beyond the salt. Precisely throwing casts for carp, smallmouth, and dorado this rod is just as at home in freshwater. Guideline may not be as popular as other big-name rod manufacturers, but their product is certainly on par with premium flagship rods.
Conclusion
While Guideline may not be as popular in the states, it is not for a lack of a premium product. Having fished the NT11 Saline extensively over the past year it is apparent why it has the following it does. Light in hand, uber-sensitive, and surprisingly powerful, it is a true do-it-all stick. The 8wt we fished offers exceptional all-around versatility, while the 9wt delivers the added power needed for big files and big fish. At a notably cheaper price than other flagship rods from big companies, the combination of value and performance is best in class. As Guideline continues to grow Stateside, we are eager to see whats next.
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