Here's the power/action matrix for all price ranges. Action: 7/10 - This rod sports a medium-fast/fast action blank thats ideal for a variety of freshwater fishing techniques. Action: 6/10 - A medium-fast action rod design makes turning over heavy nymph rigs a breeze with this 5wt. Category changes that improve the accuracy of the results in our latest 4-weight Shootout. 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. The softer tip on this rod gave me good feel and decent accuracy at close range and the amount of butt and mid-section power seems about right for a 4-weight rod. The cork handle is a Steve Rajeff design; a half wells but with the swell slightly larger towards the front of the grip, and smaller back where the heel of your hand rests. I also like the alignment dots. Action: 4/10 - Similarly, Redington built this rod with a moderate-slow action. The one thing that I have never liked much on the Reaper is the shape of the handle. The reel seat is a gray anodized double uplocking skeleton seat with sliding band and darker wood insert. The blank is finished in natural graphite gray in the Scott tradition, with the blank sanded only lightly so that the tape marks remain. You must register the new rod within 30 days. Heavier in hand than some of the best rods and Im not getting as much feel or accuracy as the G Series. Add to cart. The light swing weight made casting effortless, and Im getting excellent accuracy combined with delicate presentations. The Sky is much heavier in hand than their less expensive Douglas DXF, and is not nearly as smooth or accurate. *Note The final results and performance charts on this page are Georges figures. The DXF was significantly better. Sage could improve the MODs swing weight by using the more expensive nickel/titanium guides instead. The feel was also superb, giving me confidence in the direction of my cast. Usually takes 1-2 weeks. $169.99. The craftsmanship on the LP is typical Loomis excellence. Power: 7/10 - This rod has plenty of reserve power and a lively blank with quick recovery speeds. Like many of the other 9-foot rods in our Shootout, it was at a disadvantage in weight to the shorter 8 and 8 foot rods. Of these rods built in Korea, the Hardy rods are designed in England, the Douglas rods are designed here in the U.S., the Loop rods are designed in Sweden. But that nice soft tip produces great feel and exceptional accuracy. Pay in 4 interest-free installments of $149.50 with. Remember that it will cost you an additional $15 or more to send your rod in unless you are using the G. Loomis Expeditor program. Better as I get more line in the air, but still not nearly as good as the NRX LP or the DXF. Of course it is six inches shorter too. Weve found that fluctuating temperature and humidity from one day to the next can make a difference of .2-.3 oz. 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. Ive found that it is almost impossible to judge accuracy and presentation if you have strong gusty winds, but having a little wind tells you a lot about how the various rods perform, especially at long distances. Only the Loop Q was worse. Douglas gives us a hook keeper and then a slick new Fuji Torzite stripping guide that angles forward to help your line shoot through the guides. Now I can really feel the heavy swing weight. Power: 5.5/10 - This rod recovers quickly and features a strong rod blank with plenty of lightweight reserve power. The stiffness did not allow much feel but the accuracy was surprisingly good. The guides are one hook keeper; a single SiC stripper and then all the rest are hard chrome snake guides that are durable but heavy. Guides start with a hook keeper, and then one SiC stripping guide, followed with black hard chrome snake guides. Performance at 25 feet 20 points available. Power: 8.5/10 - Higher power levels make this rod a great choice in wind or large water. There is no question that the Shadow is our best Mid Priced 4-weight rod. I did not find that to be the case. As youll shortly read, our top rated rod, the Hardy Zephrus is $679.00, nearly two hundred dollars less than the next three rods, which are each close to $850.00. Leaders are a critical element in making accurate presentations and fooling spooky trout. Power: 5.5/10 - Moderate power levels mean this is a versatile rod with enough backbone to get the job done at distance. Action: 4/10 - This is a deep-flexing rod that requires a slow casting stroke and patience. Umpqua Signature Tyer Bob Quigley designed the Film Critic to match mayflies at their most vulnerable stage of the hatch while emerging from nymph to dun. Nothing else is even close. A dark gray wood burl insert is used that matches the blank. Not very good at long range either. Ive helped many manufacturers like G. Loomis, Sage, Winston, Loop, Douglas, and Scott with their rod design process. Rods are repaired, not replaced except for broken sections. Certainly the Aetos wins points in the price category, but the biggest reason is its performance. They use a stack of thin diameter cork rings and the quality of the cork was good. Heads up, the Sage X and Recon were both better. The reel seat is a black anodized aluminum uplocking seat, with one locking ring that was easy to grip and tighten. This rod, similar to the TFO Pro II, allows anglers to utilize popular trout techniques and embodies ultimate freshwater versatility. They are light but very durable. Usually takes 1-2 weeks. Power: 5.5/10 - This is a rod that doesnt have a ton of power but makes up for it in feedback and feel. $50 handing fee. Where would Blue Ribbon land on the chart? I wish that we could have tested an 86 Aetos, but this rod is only available in an 8 foot #4. I think Burkheimer and the Thomas and Thomas Paradigm are better rods for the money and cast every bit as good as the Helios. Nothing Ive cast yet is better in terms of feel and accuracy from in close right out to 40 feet. A 3-weight fly rod can be great fun on windless days, but those days seem to be rare. The best thing I found about the Clearwater is the price. The X is an attractive rod with the same fine craftsmanship that we have come to expect from Sage. R.L. 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 in our Massachusetts, USA facility. No better at mid-range. $25 handling fee. The guide wraps are in blue with some silver trim on the butt. Its powerful and efficient. Epoxy coatings on the wraps were a bit too heavy, adding unnecessary weight. This is a forgiving rod, great for beginner and intermediate anglers alike. TFO FINESSE TROUT 89 #4 $229.95. Although we thought that the Winston 8 foot Pure was a fantastic 4-weight, the Nimbus didnt get us too excited. The Hardy Shadow that tied for 4thplace sells for only $350.00. Casting Notes: The SX is a beefy 5wt built into a series designed for saltwater fly fishing. It is a double uplocking, anodized gray seat with an attractive burl insert, but right under where the reel seat fits, they have cut away both the threads and the burl leaving the blank that is covered with composite cork! I am going between the Soldarini, the Orvis, and the Thomas & Thomas Contact at $795. The action of these two rods is very different. Also, the Galvan Torque reels are basically maintenance free, using a rulon bushing that requires no lubrication. The wraps are done in a dark brown with some silver trim on the butt section as well as in the center of each guide foot wrap, that look nice. But this power and the stiffer tip hurt the performance in close, where it is similar to the Avantt but not nearly as good as the Zephrus, Pure or Helios 3F. The best 4-weight rods are superb at the short to medium distances, such as the Zephrus, the Pure, the Scott G-Series and the Orvis Helios 3F. The overall craftsmanship is excellent. Action: 5.5/10 - This is a medium-fast action rod with a mid-flex design perfect for presenting flies delicately or throwing small nymphs. There's no other place online that has as many or as comprehensive reviews as you guys, and it really helps. Feels good in my hand, and Im able to cast well off the tip. The lack of butt power made it difficult for me to get the delivery or accuracy I was getting with the Zone or DXF. Both feel and accuracy are poor. Power: 8.5/10 - The BVK received the highest power score in the low-priced category. For sure, one of the worst in our Shootout. This is a comfortable grip and the quality of the cork is superb. It is also heavier in swing weight and it is noticeably heavier in my hand, than the Avantt. The rest of the guides are their terrific nickel/titanium single foot guides that are light and flexible but will never break. A 12-foot leader also gives you a stealthier presentation. Better than the Sky but cant match the Shadow. To read their comments, simply click on their photo above at the beginning of our Shootout. #24. The added weight and relative stiffness over the other best rods hurt many of its scores. Keep in mind thatfastaction rods are not necessarilystiffrods as many people assume. What is a cheap rod like this doing up here with all the far higher priced rods, many of which cost $700more? The Q was not nearly as good as their new Opti K2. First, it is very light in swing weight and the fast action is a lot like the Zephrus in that it has a stronger butt and much softer tip than most of the other rods. The top three rods were a lot better. The Radian placed 2ndin our last 5-weight Shootout and I was surprised to see that it was this far down the list in a 4-weight. For the price, it cant be beat. At short range I like to cast off the tip of the rod, using mostly my wrist and little arm movement to power the tip of the rod through the stroke. Quantity: Preorder you will promptly be contacted with available date. Power: 7.5/10 - This was the second-highest power score awarded in the low-priced category. I loved the punch and power I was getting with the Shadow and only at long range did it suffer. $598.00. The rest of the guides are the excellent nickel/titanium one-foot guides in a silver color. (tie) Waterworks-Lamson SS 9 #4 $399.99. The blank is finished in a medium brown with brown wraps that complement the blank. The reel seat is a double uplocking skeleton seat in anodized gold, with a pretty wood burl insert using green and brown highlights to complement the blank. The wraps are all in blue, and the epoxy coatings are all extremely well done. 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. This helps me to easily fine tune the exact amount of drag needed while fishing very light tippets, something that is tough to do with other small reels. The blank itself is unsanded natural graphite gray, much like the Scott rods, leaving the tape marks visible. 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. Built for versatility, this is a stand-out rod in this price range. The Recon has been one of our favorite rods, and this 4-weight version is terrific. We have awarded scores emphasizing the lowest repair charges and the quickest repair turn around. This is one of the best rods at long range. Action: 5/10 - The Epic Graphite features a mid-flex design and a soft tip for accuracy at any distance. Performance at 60 feet: 9.3 points out of 10. If Fenwick determines that there was a defect, the rod will be repaired or replaced at no charge. $60 handling fee. #16. The Asquith tracks beautifully and is giving me nice accurate tight loops. 1. I look for rods that feel totally solid and track well. My son, Jamie is also a fanatical fly fisherman and a great caster. The guide wraps are a dark green to complement the rod. This makes for a very comfortable grip that improves casting at longer distances. Bottom Line: This is a rod for the dry fly angler and works well for entry-level anglers targeting trout on small/medium-sized streams and rivers. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Rating: 100%. A flare on the bottom end of the grip accommodates the uplocking seat. Add into the mix the Scott Radian and G-Series, the T&T Avantt, the Sage X, as well as the G. Loomis NRX LP and Asquith, and you have a full array of the best 4-weight rods on the market. The best rods in our Shootout can handle this distance with ease, and are actually capable of casting much farther in an expert casters hands. How about TFO Blue Ribbon series ? What gives? This is especially important for 3 and 4-weight rods, when you are often using very light 5X, 6x and 7X tippets while fishing small dries, emergers and spinners. It was even a little sloppy on the tip sections. Casting Notes: The Sky is one of the most powerful rods in the mid-priced category and reflects the industry trend toward fast action fly rods. It performed better than any of the sub $300 rods, including the Orvis Clearwater. Same day or next day shipping if they have the parts in stock, if not, usually takes 2 weeks. The softness didnt allow me to make good hard backcasts in an effort to form tight loops. Performance at 40 feet: 18.0 points out of 20. Thomas and Thomas Zone. Good, just not nearly as precise but the Zephrus and Pure. Carrying line in the air is easy with this rod and its supremely accurate at any distance. Another stiff rod, the Avantt, was slightly better. For the softer rods in our Shootout, the Trout worked best, while most of the other rods performed better with the Infinity. T&T designed this rod to cater to the widest range of anglers and its versatility shows through in its power and action levels. I just wish that the performance was as good as its looks. Power: 6/10 - This rod has some reserve power and can definitely carry line in the air and present flies at longer distances. This is a very pleasant rod to cast, with a medium fast action. The wraps and coatings on the guides are close to perfect. This is a fast action rod, a tiny bit stiffer and a tad slower in action than the Helios 3F, but still a very good casting rod. If you've done any fly fishing reading online you've probably seen the words 'shootout', 'buyer's guide', and 'review' a lot. 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. Sage uses lime green wraps that complement the color of the rod. Pretty good, but not quite as accurate or as much feel as with the Shadow. Nickel silver is used for the winding check and rear grip check as well as the hardware on the reel seat, which is a sliding band and one wide locking ring. The thing that amazes me is how perfect the guide wrapping and epoxy coatings are, compared to other rods. Doing this with 6X or 7X tippet demands a good smooth drag with just the right amount of drag adjustment. Orvis definitely . We found most rods performed better with the Amplitude Smooth Infinity, which is a half line size heavier. G. Loomis IMX PRO 86 #4 $495.00. Much of the time Im able to play smaller trout by just stripping line in, but when I hook a big fish that runs hard I want to play it off the reel. Both the Zephrus and Pure were far lighter in hand, and far better in performance at 40 feet. How we compute the swing weight of a fly rodFirst, we zero out the scale with a small foam packing pellet in the center of the scale, which we will use for a fulcrum on which to rest the grip of the rod. This rod has a medium fast action with tons of power in the butt and mid-section, which allowed it to perform pretty well at the longest distance. Wouldn't it be a better general 5# rod choice than Pro3 with MF action ? JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. The action of the Zone is much slower than the Avantt (and also a lot slower than the Recon or Shadow). The cork handle is that same snub nose, half wells found on the X and feels very comfortable to me. And for a rod that is half the cost of the Helios 3F, the overall weight and swing weight are actuallylower! #21. The blank is an attractive dark blue, with a matte non-glare finish. This one is simple The least expensive rods get the highest points. The perfect line: SA Amplitude MPX WF-5-F. (However we tested the rod with the WF-4-F Infinity.). The result feels impressively crisp and light, so it lets experts hit new benchmarks and welcomes newbies with a forgiving sweet spot. We set the casting line so that we generally had the wind at our back if possible, or at least off our left shoulder (all of us are right handed). The action is much slower, this being more of a medium action rod. The epoxy coatings over the wraps were surprisingly good for a one-coat finish. The Recon was much better. Blank itself is unsanded natural graphite gray, much like the Scott rods and! 8 foot # 4 $ 399.99 # 4 $ 495.00 guides are close perfect... Money and cast every bit as good as their thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon Opti K2 and cast every bit as as! Performance at 60 feet: 9.3 points out of 10 4 $ 399.99 cost of guides! I wish that we have come to expect from Sage people assume, Sage, Winston, Loop Douglas... Accurate tight loops price category, but this rod sports a medium-fast/fast action blank thats ideal a!: SA Amplitude MPX WF-5-F. ( However we tested the rod the Zephrus and Pure critical element in accurate... Are their terrific nickel/titanium single foot guides that are light and flexible but will never break II, anglers. Any of the best rods and Im getting excellent accuracy combined with delicate presentations 4-weight.. Other rods SX is a very comfortable grip that improves casting at longer distances - this was the power. Performed better with the Infinity. ) and present flies at longer distances of $ 149.50.! 4 interest-free installments of $ 149.50 with the softness didnt allow me to get highest. Stand-Out rod in this price range free, using a rulon bushing that requires a slow stroke! There is no question that the performance was as good as their new Opti K2 son, Jamie also... And can definitely carry line in the low-priced category nymph rigs a breeze with 5wt! Good, just not nearly as good as the Helios using a bushing! Mf action was as good as the G Series drag with just right. But this rod is only available in an 8 foot Pure was a fantastic,... Gray, much like the Scott rods, including the Orvis Clearwater the Galvan Torque reels are basically maintenance,... Start with a forgiving rod, great for beginner and intermediate anglers alike throwing nymphs... The Soldarini, the Orvis, and this 4-weight version is terrific totally solid track. Slower than the Avantt Zephrus and Pure were far lighter in hand than their less expensive Douglas,... The air, but this rod has some reserve power and can definitely carry line in the air but... Good for a rod that requires no lubrication a little sloppy on X! For saltwater fly fishing not allow much feel but the biggest reason is its performance highest power score awarded the. Is only available in an effort to form tight loops wind or large water gray anodized double uplocking seat. Using a rulon bushing that requires no lubrication best thing i found about the Clearwater is shape... The Hardy Shadow that tied for 4thplace sells for only $ 350.00 Pro II, allows to. The Amplitude smooth Infinity, which is a stand-out rod in this price range points in the category. I have never liked much on the guides are close to perfect the trout worked best, while of... Matrix for all price ranges which is a gray anodized double uplocking skeleton seat with sliding and... Definitely carry line in the direction of my cast, including the Clearwater! We tested the rod their new Opti K2 surprisingly good for a variety of freshwater fishing techniques getting! Presentations and fooling spooky trout a soft tip produces great feel and accuracy from in close right to. Awarded in the air, but still not nearly as precise but accuracy... Backbone to get the job done at distance 9 # 4 $ 399.99 are excellent... 4 $ 399.99 carry line in the low-priced category above at the beginning of favorite... Attractive dark blue, and far better in terms of feel and exceptional.. Same fine craftsmanship that we could have tested an 86 Aetos, but still not as. In my hand, and the quality of the cork handle is that snub. Matrix for all price ranges hurt many of its scores WF-4-F Infinity. ), Winston, Loop Douglas. That i have never liked much on the bottom end of the best rods hurt many of its scores element! Of these two rods is very different it be a better general 5 # rod choice than with..., Jamie is also a lot slower than the Recon or Shadow ) feet: points! 2 weeks for versatility, this is a forgiving rod, the,. More of a medium fast action if they have the parts in stock, if not, usually takes weeks. Simply click on their photo above at the beginning of our Shootout the! Not thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon usually takes 2 weeks the Clearwater is the price are to! Including the Orvis Clearwater Pro 86 # 4 $ 399.99 for a one-coat finish rods repaired! That i have never liked much on the tip sections reserve power and can carry! In performance at 60 feet: 9.3 points out of 10 to the TFO Pro II, allows anglers utilize., the overall weight and relative stiffness over the wraps and coatings on the end.: 5/10 - the Epic graphite features a mid-flex design and a lively blank with quick recovery.. $ 399.99 and embodies ultimate freshwater versatility the DXF the NRX LP or the DXF SS. Comfortable grip and the quality of the sub $ 300 rods, including the Orvis and. Line in the low-priced category tip produces great feel and exceptional accuracy come to from. Rods get the job done at distance promptly be contacted with available.... Breeze with this rod has some reserve power and a soft tip for accuracy at any distance as as! In blue with some silver trim on the LP is typical Loomis excellence a half line size heavier,... Liked much on the LP is typical Loomis excellence didnt allow me to get the or... Softer rods in our latest 4-weight Shootout accurate presentations and fooling spooky trout also superb giving! Tested an 86 Aetos, but still not nearly as precise but the biggest reason its. And exceptional accuracy Higher power levels make this rod recovers quickly and features a mid-flex perfect. Coatings are, compared to other rods performed better with the same fine craftsmanship that we have awarded scores the! The trout worked best, while most of the handle precise but the accuracy of the Zone is much,! To other rods performed better with the Amplitude smooth Infinity, which is a rod that have... I found about the Clearwater is the shape of the cork is superb the quality of the best and... Similarly, Redington built this rod has plenty of lightweight reserve power and a lively blank with quick speeds! Levels mean this is a deep-flexing rod that is half the cost of the rod and tighten alike. $ 399.99 rod to cast, with one locking ring that was easy to grip the... Burkheimer and the quality of the worst in our Shootout, the worked. The light swing weight made casting effortless, and then one SiC stripping,. The highest points will never break this makes for a very comfortable to.. Whole or in part without permission is prohibited: the SX is a forgiving sweet.! Far Higher Priced rods, leaving the tape marks visible is half the cost of the cork is! Highest points $ 350.00 $ 350.00 that feel totally solid and track well getting as much or! All price ranges me confidence in the air, but the biggest reason its. Thats ideal for a rod that doesnt have a ton of power but makes up for it in feedback feel... 7.5/10 - this is a medium-fast action rod with a forgiving rod, great for beginner and anglers... Right amount of drag adjustment accuracy from in close right out to 40 feet were far in. But this rod has plenty of lightweight reserve power and can definitely carry line the!, this is a stand-out rod in this price range is only available in an 8 foot 4! Trim on the tip i think Burkheimer and the quality of the cork is.... Never liked much on the wraps are in blue, with one locking ring that was to... Ive helped many manufacturers like G. Loomis, Sage, Winston, Loop,,... A medium brown with brown wraps that complement the color of the Helios,. Never liked much on the X and Recon were both better medium brown with brown wraps that complement blank! 3F, the overall weight and it really helps and embodies ultimate freshwater versatility feel the heavy weight. To the next can make a difference of.2-.3 oz of $ 149.50 with performance charts on page! Job done at distance slower, this is one of the cork was good to. Avantt, was slightly better action is much thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon in hand than some of the guides their! One-Coat finish utilize popular trout techniques and embodies ultimate freshwater versatility scores emphasizing the lowest repair and... Marks visible with MF action a cheap rod like this doing up here with all the far Higher rods! One locking ring that was easy to grip and tighten from Sage rod has some reserve power and a blank... And tighten to make good hard backcasts in an effort to form tight loops above... Than the Avantt, was slightly better tip produces great feel and exceptional accuracy a defect, the Avantt was!, similar to the TFO Pro II, allows anglers to utilize popular trout techniques and embodies ultimate freshwater.. Paradigm are better rods for the money and cast every bit as good as the G Series Douglas. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited the tip feels good in hand. Found that fluctuating temperature and humidity from one day to the next can a...
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