The Materials: The Nooksack is built with high modulus IM6 graphite to offer a good balance of low total weight, power, and sensitivity. The rod was neatly finished and coupled with the lightweight aluminum reel seat felt quite light overall. One of the very notable choices in materials was the use of titanium stripping guides, which are not only extremely durable but among the best materials when it comes to friction reduction, making line management exceptionally effortless. To cap it all off the Nooksack comes with a protective rod sock, and the option of a attractive aluminum rod tube. While this option costs an additional 30 dollars, it is well worth it if you plan on traveling on planes or shipping your rod to your next destination. Overall the entire build of materials impressed me, no part of this package felt like a low-cost or less then premium component.

The Casting & Feel: The Nooksack feels well balanced with the fighting butt in place, and is considered light when paired with a quality cast aluminum reel. The rod felt great casting all day thanks to the high quality ergonomic cork full wells grip. I much prefer the complete shape of the full wells design over half wells when fishing for larger saltwater fish, as the grip provides a more comfortable leverage point in your palm. We loaded the test rod with 8wt Scientific Angler's Air Cel Supreme 2 Wet Tip line, and proceeded to conduct scores of cast tests. The Nooksack casts very well and loads line efficiently. The butt of the rod is stiff while the middle and tip of this rod offers a nice medium-fast action. This rod will be able to accommodate a wide range of anglers as the IM6 graphite delivers a very accurate and predictable action. The Nooksack's removable fighting butt helps balance out the entire package while delivering that extra bit of leverage and comfort. The use of foam on the end of the butt adds comfort and helps protect the rod cork from damage.

When I asked John to field test the rod we positioned ourselves as close to the rocky bank as possible, but couldn't get as close as we wanted due to the water conditions near the San Juan Islands. Standing on the front of the Triton he began a series of casts and was able to reach the rocky edge with ease. While John is an excellent caster he did remark at how well the Nooksack roll casted, turning over near 30 feet of line with each cast.

The Sensitivity: Did this 4pc travel rod overcome the sensitivity dead spots that many other multi piece fly rod's exhibit? Absolutely. The tight ferrule design and high quality graphite blank do an excellent job of translating quick takes even in deep fast moving water. I was so impressed by the level of sensitivity that this sub 300 dollar rod produced that I later went back to ask Eric Lubbers about the design. He answered that in Michigan many species of varying size like Steelhead, Salmon, and Brown Trout have seasons that overlap, so they made sure to build a rod with extremely high quality graphite to better deal with the broad spectrum, but still be strong enough to land the larger species. Travel anglers who are worried about losing sensitivity with the addition of ferrules and sections will savor the solid consistent feel the Nooksack offers.

While I haven't had a opportunity yet, I believe that with a smaller reel and 6wt floating line it is very feasible to use this sensitive rod for trout in small backcountry rivers.