Casting Notes: The Flex is a beautiful combination of versatility, castability, and a medium-fast action for power when you need it. I love the feel of this rod it is nice and light in hand, and the action is fast and seems about right. In this Shootout, we again used the Scientific Anglers lines, which we have found to cast better and last longer than other brands. If you have something about the right size and color, you can often force-feed a selective fish by making repeated accurate and delicate presentations that are right in the fishs window. Like the Zephrus, casting off the tip of the rod was easy and fun and I was getting very delicate, precise presentations. Action: 6.5/10 - A medium-fast action build creates a rod thats caster-friendly and can be used in a variety of angling scenarios. Action: 6/10 - A medium-fast action rod design makes turning over heavy nymph rigs a breeze with this 5wt. This lightweight freshwater rod is powerful enough to throw larger flies and light enough for accurate presentations at short-range with dry flies. Performance at 40 feet: 17.5 points out of 20. Just keep in mind that all these measurements must be made the same day with the same room temperature. Performance at 35 feet: 18.5 points out of 20 The new rod is a lot more powerful and handles those mid to long distances with ease, tracking well and giving me nice tight loops. Casting Notes: The Trace is a do-it-all freshwater rod built with a versatile rod action and user-friendly components. The guides start with a hook keeper on the butt, then a single SiC stripping guide, followed with hard chrome single foot guides that seem sturdy enough, but are not nearly as good (or as light) as the nickel/titanium single foot guides used on the NRX LP. I love the way this rod tracks and the accuracy is good too. Usually takes 4-6 weeks. Guides start with a hook keeper on the butt, and then two SiC stripping guides, followed with hard chrome snake guides that are large in diameter but thankfully use smaller diameter wire. Only you can make that decision. This is a medium action rod, and slower action rods like this SS have never performed well for us. Scott uses a stack of thinner cork rings on this handle and the quality was excellent. Both the feel and accuracy were outstanding. This is a very pleasant rod to cast, and I was especially impressed at what nice tight loops I was getting at long range, where it proved to be better than any other rod tested, even the powerful Asquith. Nothing beats this rod at 40 feet. This is a variation of a fly tied by Jim Misiura. Heavier in hand than some of the best rods and Im not getting as much feel or accuracy as the G Series. *Note The final results and performance charts on this page are Georges figures. Power: 7/10 - This is a powerful rod that cuts through the wind, recovers relatively quickly, and allows anglers to present flies at longer distances. Usually takes 2-4 weeks. Personally I dont care much for the five inches of white just above the cork handle but this has been the Helios 3 trademark and I think that Orvis feels that it will help the rods visibility on the rod rack in fly shops or out on the stream. As long as there wasnt much wind I could easily hit 60 feet but accuracy suffered. Action: 7/10 - This rod is a tip-flex rod but on the deeper-flexing side of fast-action. The skeleton reel seat is a gray anodized double uplocking with a dark gray laminated wood insert. This buyer's guide is designed to help anglers of all skill levels with any price-constraint find, compare, analyze, and purchase the 5wt that best fits their needs. (tie) Loop OPTI K2 9 #4 $549.00. The JXP was also better. Heavy in hand! A little wiggle helps you to feel this. The double size uplocking ring was easy to grip and tighten. The epoxy coatings on the wraps were excellent. Sage Lifetime warranty to original owner. To get a 10, repair charges had to be $35 or less with a quick turn around time of less than two weeks. Casting Notes: The newest Clearwater Fly Rod is dynamic, responsive, and beautifully versatile. The Recon is a very pleasant rod to cast wonderfully light in hand, and responsive. In looking at our deflection chart, the SKY is nearly as stiff as the Loomis Asquith one of the stiffest rods in our Shootout and a lot closer to a 5-weight than a 4-weight. As in our past Shootouts, it is important to keep everything apples to apples in an effort to eliminate the variables that will have an effect on the scores. Wraps are a darker red, (almost black), trimmed in brighter red on the butt. The result feels impressively crisp and light, so it lets experts hit new benchmarks and welcomes newbies with a forgiving sweet spot. For guides, they use one SiC stripping guide followed with hard chrome snake guides that are thin and light on the tip sections. T&T designed this rod to cater to the widest range of anglers and its versatility shows through in its power and action levels. (tie) Thomas & Thomas ZONE 86 #4 $495.00. No better at mid-range. The DXF and both Scott rods were better, while the Zephrus and Pure were in a totally different league. Good, just not nearly as precise but the Zephrus and Pure. A lot of this can be attributed to the nice action good butt and mid section power combined with a lighter, softer tip, much like the Zephrus. If you want to economize, look carefully at both the Hardy Shadow at $349.95 and the Orvis Recon at $429.00. The quality of the cork is superb. The length and model on each rod section is inscribed as on the K2. The stiffer clear Maxima butt sections on our leaders achieve this. This is a comfortable grip and the quality of the cork is superb. 9 and 10, 4-piece, $549, Designed to trim seconds off your shot time, this rod features a particularly powerful tip that increases line speed and dampens the vibrations that reduce accuracy. $50 handling fee. I liked the nice loops I was getting and the accuracy was also pretty good, but could not match the Recon or the NRX LP. The locking ring was fairly large and easy to grip and tighten but didnt have a plastic ring like some that allow them to lock up more securely. Ive always liked the smooth lines, as they dont make so much noise running through the guides. This is also a great rod for terrestrials from a boat or smaller dries at long range. Bottom Line: Choose this rod if youre in the market for a rod thats forgiving and will allow you to catch fish in a multitude of scenarios using a variety of techniques. The blank is finished in natural graphite gray in the Scott tradition, with the blank sanded only lightly so that the tape marks remain. Action: 5/10 - A solid medium/medium-fast action, the taper of this rod is ideal for dry flies and trout fishing. The Sage X is light in overall weight, butfarheavier the most in swing weight. Bottom Line: If youre part of the Loop Army or just looking for a streamer stick, this is a great rod for a diverse population of anglers. HardyLifetime warranty to original owner. Only the Zephrus and Pure were better at mid-distance. Are you comfortable showing up with a $200 rod when everyone else has one of those hotshot $750 to $1000 rods in their hands? We were all especially anxious to see how the Orvis Helios 3F and the new Winston Pure would fare, compared to our favorite 4-weight, the Hardy Zephrus. I think that this can be attributed to the slower action of this rod compared to the Zephrus. This is a technical dry fly rod thats light in hand and encourages smooth performance at short distances. The Orvis Recon comes in three . Douglas uses a dark green anodized double ring uplocking seat, with an attractive brown wood burl insert. Tippet materials are getting stronger every year, and today we end up fishing 6x, 6.5X, and 7x fluorocarbon a lot of the time, trying to get that perfect drift to entice a big fish to sip in a fly. With a blazing light swing weight and a forgiving action, this 5wt is one of the best all-around rods on the market. Product Description. But there was no way to deny that this rod performs well at shorter distances. The lower ring uses a thin nylon spacer that helps it lock up securely to the upper ring. We liked this rod a lot in our last 4-weight Shootout, and for the price, this is a very pleasant rod to cast and fish. The reel seat is a simple gray anodized double uplocking, solid aluminum seat with sliding band. Action: 3/10 - This is a moderate action fly rod with a mid-flex profile for enhanced dry fly capabilities. 2. It was a little better than the Avantt here, but not as good as the H3F. How about TFO Blue Ribbon series ? A darker composite cork ring is used on the bottom of the grip that is flared out to accept the uplocking seat. I like a lot of things about this rod. The quality of the cork was surprisingly good for a less expensive rod. Those rods are both a lot lighter in swing weight and faster in action. 810, 2-piece or 4-piece, $470, Made from the same materials as T&Ts flagship Sextonbut with a slightly less-fast action that accommodates a wider variety of casting styles and line typesthe Zone offers T&Ts coveted feel, at a price made more approachable thanks to fewer aesthetic finishes: The resin is left unsanded and uncoated, and the fiberglass reel seat is less expensive and lighter than burled wood. We value your comments about the Shootout and invite any questions you might have about it or your tackle needs. Performance at 60 feet: 7 points out of 10. I just dont think the 3Fd is nearly as good looking as some of the more traditional looking rods, in our Shootout like the Scott, Winston, T&T, and Hardy. I found the alignment dots handy. Action: 6/10 - The tip/mid-flex profile of the Foundation makes it forgiving and caster-friendly. With your support we can continue to give you more Shootouts and head to head comparisons on tackle and equipment in the future. I liked the use of alignment dots. Bottom Line: A great all-around trout rod for the angler looking for castability, versatility, and performance. Casting and rating the performance of rods at the different distances is the real meat of our Shootouts. Chartreuse is a favorite color for warm-water predatory fish. Casting Notes: The Shadow is one of the quieter rods in the mid-priced category with low power levels and a subdued rod action. Performance at 40 feet: 19.5 points out of 20. Performance at 40 feet: 19.0 points out of 20. Thomas & Thomas Zone - $499 Casting Notes: The Zone is a versatile freshwater 5wt with the ability to throw a variety of flies from nymphs to dries to small streamers. 9, 4-piece, $495. Here, the softer rods, ones with softer tips and rods with lighter swing weights post the highest scores. Performance at 40 feet: 18.5 points out of 20. Taylor Lifetime warranty to original owner. Copy of Sage Z-Axis (example) G. Loomis Asquith 8wt. It is also a lot heavier in overall weight and swing weight, mainly due to the fact that Loop is using a much lower modulus graphite than in their more expensive K2. I normally prefer an 8 foot rod in a 4-weight but when we cast the two rods heads up, and put them on the deflection board, it was obvious that these rods had two different actions. Out long the overall softness of the rod is a handicap. $35 handling fee. The skeleton uplocking seat is one of the most unusual Ive seen. This is one of the worst scores at long distance in our Shootout. The tips on the faster rods bend more. To make it easy to judge the turnover and accuracy, we tie in a small fluorescent yarn indicator at the end of the 2-foot 4x tippet and then trim it so that the wind resistance equates to a smaller dry fly. Cost effective but very high performance. The added weight and relative stiffness over the other best rods hurt many of its scores. He has been a very important and integral part of our Shootouts and tackle comparisons over the years. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Power: 8/10 - Loomis built a ton of power into this rod so you can feel confident throwing streamers, nymph rigs, and dry flies at long distances. My advice has always been if you can afford it, buy the best performing rod you can find. But then rather than a beautiful piece of burled wood insert as on the Avant, there is a plain piece of blue colored graphite that also shows the tape marks. The F Series, concentrates more on finesse, without sacrificing too much power. Sport Fishing Magazine may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Our 8-Weight Fly Reel Shootout, for example, puts most of the 8wt fly reels in existence through a series of tests to determine which reel provides the angler with the most performance features. Cortland MKII Euro Nymph Rod. Usually takes 1-2 weeks. Rods are either replaced with a new rod or the broken section is replaced. This rod is a pleasure to cast, and it has tons of reserve power at long range. 5. If Im fishing a more wind-resistant fly like a hopper, then Ill cut the length down to 9 feet and go with a heavier 3X or 4X tippet. Power: 7.5/10 - This was the second-highest power score awarded in the low-priced category. For 4-weight rods, when you are fishing at shorter distances, (most of the time), it is particularly important that leaders turn over well. Pretty good loop control but the feel and accuracy were not as good as what I was getting with the DXF or the St. Croix Imperial. Once we determine how the rods perform at the various distances and compile these point values, we then add in points earned from all the other categories to determine the final finishing order. The best rods are not always the most expensive ones. Alignment dots are placed at the ferrules, which is handy. Light Tippet Protection 20 points available. This rod uses the more conventional slip over ferrule design as on all but one of the other rods in our Shootout. R.L. Sometimes the whole rod is replaced. Pros For this we downgraded the craftsmanship a half a point. The new X has a nice medium fast action that delivers the best performance at short to medium distances. Hardy uses a comfortable half wells, western style handle and the quality of the cork is superb. They are light but very durable. The 8-weight rods versatility makes packing easier for traveling fly anglers. Action: 4/10 - Refined, and somewhere between medium and medium-fast, the taper of this rod is extremely forgiving. In the performance distance categories it was better at 60 feet than at the closer distances, but the overall weight and swing weight made it a workout to cast. Sage uses lime green wraps that complement the color of the rod. The medium fast action seems just right and Im getting both good feel and good accuracy at the shorter distances. If the rod is broken because of a defect, or while fishing, replacement is free. The feel was also superb, giving me confidence in the direction of my cast. The swell in the middle of the grip is a little more forward than most. Unfortunately like a few other rods, it is only available in a 9-foot model as a 4-weight, and this hurt its performance scores a bit. I liked the medium fast action, and this was a pleasantly smooth rod to cast, especially at the longer distances. Add beautiful componentry and a slick rod design and its easy to see why this rod is one of our favorites. Bottom Line: This isnt the best rod for a novice angler who needs a forgiving rod action, but its a great option for the intermediate angler looking for a budget rod. Action: 8.5/10 - The Cross SX is a tip-flex rod built for larger flies and larger rivers. Join Our Weekly Newsletter: On the deflection board, the Zephrus had a stiffer butt and mid section and the tip bent a little more, so it is slightly faster in action than the Shadow. As part of the Expeditor policy, Loomis includes a FedEx call tag so that you dont have to spend any money to send the broken rod back. Performance at 60 feet: 6.5 points out of 10. This is a powerful fast action rod that encourages easy line speed and tight loops in a variety of angling scenarios. Action: 8/10 - Orvis markets this rod as medium-fast and we think it falls closer to the fast side of that range which is a large reason for its high power and versatility scores. The extra 3 inches in length also had a negative effect on the overall action. If you are looking for that perfect saltwater outfit, then use ourFavorite Saltwater Outfitslink. TFO uses an olive green blank for this rod, with olive wraps that are trimmed in gold on the butt sections. Casting head to head, the Scott rods and the Helios 3F were both a lot better. And what about the new Hardy Zephrus Ultralite, which is insanely light, and on paper looks like it could be the possible winner? To read their comments, simply click on their photo above at the beginning of our Shootout. In general the SKY rods do cast well, and the SKY 9 foot #6 won our last 6-weight Shootout. The top three rods were a lot better. In addition it will cost you $15 or more to ship your rod in for repair or have your local dealer do it for you. I loved the punch and power I was getting with the Shadow and only at long range did it suffer. Performance at 40 feet: 18.5 points out of 20. The blank color at first glance looks black, but is a very dark green called Black Spruce. The thread wraps are dark green, trimmed with metallic gray on the butt section. Here youll find our recommendations in three price ranges: The Ultimate Outfit, Mid Priced Outfit and Best Buy Outfit. Bottom Line: This is a great entry-level rod for anglers looking to get into trout fishing. Performance at 25 feet: 18.5 points out of 20. Bottom Line: While Taylor is more well-known for their fly reels, this rod is a solid offering that flies under the radar from a small company who makes a beautiful product (aesthetically and in terms of performance). A counterbalance opposite the handle is used to keep the reel running smoothly when a fish is racing away from you. The ability of this rod to form and maintain very tight loops helped it give me slightly more accuracy than the Helios 3F or Scott G series at mid-range. Surprisingly, this is often true. We found most rods performed better with the Amplitude Smooth Infinity, which is a half line size heavier. $50 handing fee. The Sky is a rod made for distance casting, heavy nymph rigs, and streamer fishing. Performance at 40 feet: 19.0 points out of 20. Some people might consider high priced rods status symbols. Here Im getting nice loops and decent accuracy, but Im working a lot harder than with the Avantt or the Helios 3F. This rod gives me a nice light feel in hand, and Im getting good loop control combined with plenty of power and good accuracy. I loved the look of the Mod, with its standout, jazzy lime green color. The cork handle is a half wells design and the quality of the cork is not nearly as good as the best rods and a lot of filler is used. The blank is graphite gray and follows Scotts practice of sanding the blank only lightly and allowing the tape marks to remain. When Im fishing dry flies Ill use a 12-foot leader most of the time as this keeps the fly line farther away from the fish, minimizing the number of fish you spook while casting. This is a lovely rod, finished in a non-glare flat gray with jet-black wraps that are trimmed in light gray on the butt. I think a hook keeper is very useful on trout rods. For this 4-weight Shootout, we decided to make the short distance 25 feet, the mid-distance 40 feet, and the longest distance 60 feet. Finally, we trace the outline of the bend of the rod, first in pencil and then in different colored sharpies. Usually takes 2-4 weeks. It is also a stiff rod almost as stiff as the SKY and IMX Pro. This same Expeditor service applies to the Asquith but the fee is $275 for 2ndday air. TFO FINESSE TROUT 89 #4 $229.95. Action: 6/10 - The AETOS is a fast action rod but not as fast as rods like the BVK and others. The craftsmanship of the K2 was very good. Rating: 100%. The light swing weight made casting effortless, and Im getting excellent accuracy combined with delicate presentations. Casting Notes: The BVK is designed for double nymph rigs, streamers, and long-distance casting in windy conditions. It is a very smooth rod to cast and was excellent at short and mid-distances, but at the longest distance the Radian, Helios 3F, and Avantt were much better. Inexpensive rods built in both Korea and China are surprisingly good. It has a pronounced swell that is slightly forward of the center of the grip much different from the more standard western style grip of the G Series. The best thing I found about the Clearwater is the price. Perhaps the best example is the nickel-silver uplocking seat with a gorgeous birdseye maple insert, found on the Winston Pure. Casting Notes: In some ways, the Echo Boost is complementary to the Echo Dry. A great 4-weight rod must have the ability to make delicate and accurate presentations with small flies and long leaders at short distances. Swing weight is on the heavier side and this hurt the performance to some degree. (tie) TFO FINESSE TROUT 79 #4 $229.95. Long distance was hopeless. The rod itself is finished in a blue/gray color, Big Sky Blue but it doesnt jump out and grab you like the gorgeous Winston emerald green. Still, I felt it could be our 4-weight winner until I finished casting the Ultralite heads up with the winner, the Zephrus. Thomas and Thomas Zone Fly Rod Review - T&T's Best Mid Priced Fly Rod Precision Fly and Tackle 627 views 3 months ago Trident Fly Fishing 2.3K views 1 month ago Thomas and Thomas Zone. The Helios 3 rods are available in both the D and F Series with the D series more designed for distance and power. Rating: 91%. Build quality. Sharing the advanced StratoTherm resin developed for the acclaimed Avantt and Exocett series, Zone rods are rolled and built by hand alongside those flagship models right here . The very light swing weight confirms this. This year, as is the norm in the industry, all of the rods tested are 4 piece rods. The guides start with a hook keeper, and then one huge stripping guide that looks way too big, followed with thin wire hard chrome snake guides. Its also nice to look down at your rod and appreciate the craftsmanship as well as its performance. Performance at 60 feet: 9.3 points out of 10. Same day or next day shipping if they have the parts in stock, if not, usually takes 2 weeks. TheFenwick AETOS, at $179.95 is unquestionably our best performing inexpensive rod. I wish that we could have tested an 86 Aetos, but this rod is only available in an 8 foot #4. If you feel your rod has broken because of a defect, you pay to send the rod to their warranty dept. This rod doesnt encourage high line speeds or powerful performance at long distances. More Like This Rods that have good power and backbone help me fire my cast accurately. And the Fenwick Aetos, that finished at 11th, higher than the middle of the pack, is only $179.95! The guides start out with a hook keeper, then one SiC stripper followed with hard chrome snake guides that are nice and light on the tip sections. Power: 3.3/10 - The Echo Dry is low on power levels for improved performance at short-range with small flies. The X is a medium fast action rod built with Sages KonneticHD technology that they say delivers greater blank recovery and good dampening. The Ultralite is a very attractive rod. Shipping isfrom their US warehouse, usually takes 2 weeks. A powerful, fast-action rod works well for turning over larger rigs or casting longer distances in windy conditions. I think that the vague feel I was getting hurt here. $169.99. New Fishing Gear for February: Inshore Edition, Turning Recycled Plastic into Performance Gear, Protect the Blue Key West: Remote Control, Protect the Blue Islamorada: The Bones Brigade, Florida Approves Mandatory Venting Tool Use, Stricter Bottomfish Regulations Approved in Florida. Winston NIMBUS 86 #4 $650.00. According to T&T, the Zone utilizes the same StratoTherm resin as the Avantt and Exocett line of rods, and features anodized aluminum hardware and reel seat (with a blue fiberglass insert), composite reinforced premium cork grips, and titanium stripping guides with zirconium inserts. The epoxy coatings on the guides were good for the most part but a little too heavy on some guides. There are not many situations when youll be fishing this far with your 4-weight, but Ive certainly had many situations, especially fishing dry flies on larger rivers, like the Missouri, where Ive had to throw it this long yet still get good accuracy and a delicate presentation in order to catch a nice fish. Bottom Line: If you want a high-end rod with a beautiful fit and finish that performs well in the trout game, this is a solid option, a great choice for a variety of freshwater species. Most of the rest score 9s, which was a $60-$75 fee for repair or replacement. 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