adh-fishing Test: Guideline LPX Coastal Sea Trout Fly Rod

With the latest additions to the LPX rod family, Chief Developer Leif Stavmo has outdone himself, creating rods for nearly all facets of modern fly fishing - and we've put them to the test for you! In this video, we've grabbed our favorite models for the coast and show you our favorite combinations with matching reels and lines for different situations.

The Guideline LPX Coastal fly rods are truly remarkable! New materials, a strong focus on the environment, and a new approach to the development of rods for saltwater and predatory fish angling come together. An uncompromising rod series made for hardcore fishing with streamers, hunting sea trout along the coastlines, or your dream trip to tropical destinations. Thanks to new processes and technologies, the Norwegians prove that longer rods can be built with the same feel as a shorter rod. You can feel it from the first cast!

The new materials of the LPX Coastal and the carbon layup result in rods with an exceptionally lightweight tip, allowing you to extend the rod while maintaining the fast acceleration during the cast. The lighter blank also reduces wrist fatigue and feels like a 9ft rod when casting. In practice, this means more reach! That's why Guideline manufactures the rods in #5, #6, and #7 classes with a length of 9'3". The additional length of about 7.5cm creates additional space between the water and the rod tip. This brings better line control when casting, especially while wading. These rods are not more affected by wind than normal 9ft rods and are far from tip-heavy.

We tested the LPX Coastal in #6 and #7 classes. In our opinion, the most versatile classes for the coast.

In the higher classes (#8, #10, and #12), the rods are kept at 9ft to efficiently fight larger fish and to reduce pressure on the wrist. These rods are also more focused on pike and tropical anglers who often fish from boats and don't need the extra reach. The action is fast with a quick recovery speed. Compared to Guideline's earlier saltwater models, the LPX Coastal rods are lighter, crisper, more lively, and have a slightly deeper bend. This makes them easier to cast and more tolerant to raw power or excessive wrist movement, which we fly fishermen often use "accidentally" while trying to achieve the longest casts.

The Guideline LPX Coastal is the result of 3 years of intensive research to find the best available solutions for both performance and "greener" technology in every component and part of the rod. The advanced carbon layup in these rods features the C.A.P Technology (complex axial pattern) coupled with unidirectional carbon fiber structure for maximum strength and light weight. Unidirectional carbon fiber fabric is a type of carbon structure that is not woven, with all fibers running in a single, parallel direction to achieve maximum strength in the longitudinal direction. In a Complex Axial Pattern (CAP), the prepreg layers are arranged at different angles to maximize strength and stability in all directions. The properties and technical specifications of the materials used in these blanks are the next level up from those used in Guideline's Elevation series. Spectacular performance and strength despite incredibly low weight!

At the coast when fishing for sea trout, in brackish water pike fishing, and tropical fishing for bonefish, permit, tarpon, and more, the LPX Coastal feels at home. Based on years of experience with the needs of demanding fly fishermen and cutting-edge rod building technologies, Guideline's product developers have made a big splash with this comprehensive rod series!

A colored male sea trout is carefully released back into the water to let it swim again.

Our Recommendations for the Coast

• 9'3" #5: The ideal tools for use on calm days along the open coast or in sheltered bays where you need to present small shrimp and fry or fish long leaders with fine tippets. These rods have a crisp and highly responsive action, throwing tight and neat loops and enabling fishing with delicate leaders thanks to a sensitive and well-balanced tip area.

• 9'3 #6 & #7: The all-rounders for coastal fly fishing in Europe. These rods are built to handle larger flies, stronger winds, and sinking lines/shooting heads when needed. The #7 is the do-it-all rod for the coast, capable of dealing with rough water and weather conditions, while the #6 is recommended for lighter applications. The low swing weight and good connection between tip and handle make casting and working during long sessions a joy. The actions are fairly fast, yet retain a sense of power in the lower third of the rod when challenged and accelerating the cast.

• 9' #8: For those who like to fish in winter and in rough seas, the #8 in 9ft is an interesting model. The heavier weight allows for efficient casting with larger and heavier flies even in windy conditions. And for those who also enjoy targeting other predatory fish (pike, zander, etc.), this model provides more room for heavier applications.

Guideline LPX Coastal at a Glance:

• Modern fly rod with fast action for sea trout, pike, and tropical saltwater fishing
• 100% corrosion-free components
• C.A.P M4.0 technology (Complex Axial Pattern) based on a multi-layering of 40T and 36T materials
• Environmentally friendly PP shrink wrap
• No grinding of blanks
• Super-grade cork handles with formamide-free EVA end pieces
• Environmentally friendly, low VOC epoxies are used for assembly and rod coating
• Stripper guides are full titanium with zirconia super lightweight inserts
• #5-7 comes with single-foot guides, #8-12 with snake guides
• Rod bag made from recycled polyester
• Low diameter rod tube (50 mm) made of polypropylene with recycled polyester tube fabric
• Rod tube uses the new NATULON zipper from YKK, consisting of 89% chemically recycled polyester
• No plastic sleeves on handles
• All rods are 4-piece

Our Conclusion:

The LPX Coastal generated a lot of excitement among everyone on our test trip to the coast. It's light, responsive, and allows for very long casts with minimal effort, even into the wind. While it might not seem like much, the additional 7.5 cm of length significantly ease long-distance casting during deep wading, making it possible to fish places that were previously too far out. The rod weight and swing weight are extremely light, making casting fatigue-free, and even after many hours, your arm won't get tired. Despite the crisp blank, the rods convey a lot of feeling while fishing, which makes fishing with delicate leaders and smaller hook sizes exciting. The design is thoughtful, the components are high-quality and well-chosen, and everything looks seamless: in a beautiful dark blue, fitting for the coast.

Fishing with the Guideline LPX Coastal brought us tremendous joy, and we won't be giving this rod out of our hands anytime soon. In terms of price-performance, it's certainly one of the best coastal rods on the market. So, if you're looking for a new toy for sea trout fishing, definitely take a closer look at the LPX Coastal!