PHAT GLASS 808 S-Glass 8 foot 8 weight PRE-ORDER

This is a pre-order sale for our new Phat Glass S-Glass 8 weight.  

Sign up for our newsletter at bottom of website and get a code for an extra 10% off.   

Buy this rod with a reel and use code: combo10 for 10% off.  

only one discount will apply. 

reel recommendations here. 

Airlite V3

Cimarron

Moonlit

These rods will be delivered end of March, we are still in the final stages of aesthetic design.   After March 30th, prices will increase.  We are limiting this Sale to the first 12, and they will be specially marked as First EDITION.

Here is a little more about the PHAT GLASS.  

Yesterday, I spoke with a friend and customer who asked me a very simple question—one I had somehow overlooked with the release of this new product. He asked, “Why did you make this rod?”

My answer was simple. I made this rod because I felt that many people who fish our small‑stream rods also want to pursue other types of fishing—for different species, with bigger flies, or bigger stronger fish. Those situations demand a heavier rod, but they shouldn’t sacrifice fun.

I love fishing with fiberglass. Not because of nostalgia—I don’t collect rods or hang them on the walls of my home, office, or “man cave.” I fish fiberglass because I truly enjoy the experience. There’s something special about feeling a rod bend deeply under load. To me, that’s one of the great joys of fly fishing: rods that flex more, accentuate the fight, and enhance the entire angling experience.

The PHAT Glass concept is something I’ve been working on for over half a decade. The first time I seriously considered building a 7‑ or 8‑weight fly rod was for smallmouth bass fishing. I was inspired by a fly rod made by St. Croix for Bob Clouser many years ago. That rod was shorter than nine feet, designed that way for faster tip recovery. If you know Bob Clouser, you know he invented the Clouser Minnow—a fly with heavy barbell eyes that, at the time, was no small task to cast. The shorter rod helped with the loop control so the fly would not bang into the tip. 

Fly design has evolved tremendously since then. Today, anglers can tie large flies using synthetic materials that are far lighter than the fur and feathers we relied on years ago. Still, casting big flies and fighting powerful fish demands a rod that feels capable—and enjoyable.

The real answer to why I made this rod is simple: I love casting to bass, carp, redfish, jacks, suckers, pike—just about anything willing to eat a big fly. I wanted a rod that could handle those situations, but more importantly, one that was fun to fish and fun to cast.

The earliest versions of this rod were built from graphite. I went through multiple iterations, but they all felt too stiff—almost dead. I invited several friends to cast them, including Mark Usyk, Jeff Kimball, Alvin Montana, Billy Kiesel, and Mitch Marsden. We all came to the same conclusion: we couldn’t even agree on the right fly line. That’s when I decided to table the project.

About a year ago, I revisited the concept—this time using S‑glass. Given the success of our Beaver Meadow S‑Glass series and my appreciation for the durability of the material, S‑glass became the perfect canvas for this rod.  I also wanted the rod to have a fun edge to it.  Hence the name PHAT GLASS. 

As always, once I had something in hand, I wanted feedback. I invited friends and colleagues over, shared a few drinks, and put the new PHAT Glass through its paces. The response was overwhelmingly positive. People loved how it cast—how fast it was, how responsive it felt—and despite its larger diameter, how light it actually was. Everyone wanted one immediately.

That kind of feedback is invaluable. Innovation never happens in isolation. You need honest input, shared experiences, and trusted voices. Once I had that feedback, I moved quickly. When I shared the rod on social media, I was blown away by the excitement surrounding it.

I realized that many of our customers who fish small streams feel an urge to branch out—to fish heavier rods in warm water or saltwater during the summer months. This rod is meant to feed that desire.

It will take some time to get the first rods out, which is why we’re offering a pre‑release sale. This also gives us a chance to listen to our customers and potentially collaborate on new aesthetic designs—something I’m genuinely excited about.

At the end of the day, I’m proud that we’re offering something that excites people. Our customers are our friends. We love hearing their stories, seeing their photos, and watching them do things with our rods that we never imagined were possible. That’s why I love what I do—because it makes people happy and helps them get outside and simply fish.

#phatglass #glassisnotdead #jprossflyrods #fasglass #simplyfish