Rickard Gustafsson | Saturday, 26 September 2026
So this is my 100th FP. Didn’t think I would have so much to say when Paul asked me if I could write some FPs back then. So what could be more fitting than attribute this FP to the thing that I would say started it. I have told this story before but new parts of the story has emerged. So to the HT7, the origo of my fly casting career!
The HT7 is easy to fall in love with. I did at the first cast, and I’m not alone. I’ve seen it happen to other persons casting it. After the first session with the HT7 a cold day in March I was sure I was going to get the HT6 also. That took a bit longer than expected as some other Torpedos showed up before. I was so sure that almost the same day I put up an ad for my Helios 3D 6. So good was the impression of the HT7. The 3D 6 is still a rod I consider one of the best out there. Just not as good as the Hot Torpedoes.
If I could have only one rod it would be the HT6, it is the best rod I’ve touched. Or the HT7. Hard to decide there. Two rods it would be the HT6 and HT7. Three rods then it becomes harder. It would be the HT6 and HT4 then and either the HT7 or HT10. The step from HT6 to HT7 is noticeable. The power level in the HT7 is noticeable compared to the HT6. Yet still I’m happy to fish both with a MED5. The HT7 I have fished with everything from a DT4 for long range dry fly fishing to an 8wt for snakehead. That’s quite the range. With the 4wt line I found it to be lacking close in, but just stepping up to a 5wt line and thing changes. While still having power enough to handle the MED7 at any distance. Yes at any distance. Paul's description about this rod is totally accurate. It makes a lot of things easier. I didn't use it for the CI exam as it would've felt like cheating. Well using the HT6 also felt a bit like cheating I'll have to admit.
With the MED7, MED5 or the lumi line it is a great practice tool. This year I’ve been using it to compete it 5wt distance, both voluntarily and involuntarily as I broke the HT10. I’ve used it to compete in trout accuracy. I spent the majority of my training for the WCs with it. I switched over to the HT10 just two or three weeks before the WCs. If I practice with the HT7 I usually can switch right over to the HT10 and gain some distance.
I do feel a bit under gunned in most distance competition situations with the HT7 and perform better with the HT10. I’ll admit that. But for some casters this is the perfect 5wt distance rod. For me it is a great backup as I can cast it for accuracy with confidence. Especially in windy conditions.
The HT7 is the rod I’ve used for the widest range of fishing of all my rods. From dry fly grayling fishing to snakehead. It is the rod that has been there for me when I’ve prepared for the big competitions and have blown up the HT10, probably because my casting style and not checking the ferrules. So it has had some replacements. The tip section has been replaced once. Then I blew up the section above the butt section in the jungle. It was about to happen after almost three hard years going all out in all possible conditions. Then it got a trip to Spain for a new section. I don’t know if the third section is original, the butt section is. And now I have three tip sections. I guess that is some kind of hint. It has a quite stout reel seat. A REC that is beefier than the one I have on my HT10. It is not the lightest rod around, but it has gotten lighter as it has got a bit smaller Torzites in the tip than it started out with. Putting it on the scale doesn’t make it justice. It swings lighter than many lighter rods when you compare them. It kind of disappears in your hand when you are casting, just giving you feedback about what’s going on. And line speed. This is a line speed machine. No denying about that.
And as I’ve told you before. This rod is the most important to me as it put me in touch with Paul. Which has formed a great friendship! Which happened to push me into the fly casting community where I’ve found many more great friendships and so many found memories. And I’m just getting started! I’m grateful for where this journey has taken me so far. To 100 FPs. I don’t know how. That is far from Viking-Lars but quite the number still. I don’t know how I’ve done it but for some reason I find something to write about every week. Sometimes I even manage to write something really good. It can be hard to tell from the response. Sometimes you spend a lot of time and effort writing and get no response. Sometimes you just write something quickly and get a lot of response.
So I’m looking forward to see where the HT7 and the fly casting world takes me next!
Cheers, Rickard
PoD: I have my name in my rods, just to be sure. But I kept a close eye on them so Rick Hartman wouldn’t take a stab at them with a permanent marker.