Alignment dots are placed at the ferrules, which is handy. The wraps and coatings on the guides are close to perfect. Its powerful and efficient. These are very light, and will flex but never break. Weve found that fluctuating temperature and humidity from one day to the next can make a difference of .2-.3 oz. Im getting nice loops but the Scott rods were better. Cortland MKII Euro Nymph Rod. 1; 2; First Prev 2 of 2 Go to page. Power: 2/10 - Low power levels reflect this rods purpose-built design. Bottom Line: Weve been recommending the DXF 5wt in this price range for a while and think it provides the most performance for the lowest cost in the mid-priced category. Thomas and Thomas Contact 10'8" . The epoxy coatings are good but too heavy for my liking. Power: 7.2/10 - More refined than other high-powered 5wts, the Radian has enough power for larger rivers but is a little more versatile than technical rods like the 3D. A black anodized double uplocking skeleton seat is used with an unusual x-pattern design and a laminated wood insert. For broken rods that are not registered to the original owners, most companies are going to charge you $150 or more for repairs. This is one of the worst scores at long distance in our Shootout. Thomas and Thomas just introduced a very light presentation rod called the Paradigm, which complements their outstanding Avantt. The other reason is that this 9 #4 SKY is just too stiff for a 4-weight. For guides, there is a hook keeper, then a single SiC stripping guide, followed with hard chrome snake guides that are nice and thin on the tip sections. The Radian is both stiffer and faster in action. The G. Loomis Asquith rods are designed here in the U.S. but the blanks are rolled in Japan and then the rod is completed here in the U.S. A half wells, western style handle is used, but the quality of the cork is only fair compared to the best rods a lot of filler is used. Hardy uses their Sintrix 220 in this rod, a lower modulus graphite than the Sintrix 440 used in the Zephrus, but it provides easy loading yet a sharp recovery. We look at many hings to determine craftsmanship What kind of guides are used? Ive always liked the smooth lines, as they dont make so much noise running through the guides. Surprisingly, even using this lower modulus graphite that should be heavier, the overall weight and swing weight are very good compared to our other top 4-weight rods. The stiffness and slower action hurt its scores in a lot of categories. Also right up at the top are the Scott rods, like the Raidan and G series as well as the Orvis Helios 3F. This is a light rod in swing weight almost as good as the Zephrus. The guides start with a single SiC stripping guide followed with fairly large diameter but thin wire hard chrome snake guides. Those rods are both a lot lighter in swing weight and faster in action. But is that high priced rod really $400-$600 better? The rod is a more refined, caster-friendly version of its high-priced brother, the Radian. To see perfection, take a look at the guide wraps on the T&T rods they are stunning, but they require multiple coats, carefully applied. Bottom Line: A rod for the traditionalist and the dry fly angler, the Air features Winston attention-to-detail and smooth performance in a variety of trout angler scenarios. Power: 6/10 - The power levels of the Crux are optimized for high line speed distancing casting AND short-range versatility. #4 (Tie) Thomas and Thomas AVANTT 86#4 $845.00. Another stiff rod, the Avantt, was slightly better. #6. 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. The attractive cork handle is a half wells design with a flare on the bottom end, a comfortable swell in the middle, and a nice forward taper. You can read about these warranty policies later in our Shootout. Both the newWinston PUREandOrvis HELIOS 3F put in impressive performances, securing podium finishes. Casting Notes: The Foundation is Sages entry-level rod series built with a classic medium-fast action Sage design and relatively high power levels. (tie) Loop Q 9 #4 $229.00. The Q was not nearly as good as their new Opti K2. Head to head, the Radian and Avantt were better. The Shadow and Pure were far better. It comes in very close to our mid-price winner, the Hardy Shadow. Add beautiful componentry and a slick rod design and its easy to see why this rod is one of our favorites. Performance at 60 feet: 9.3 points out of 10. Performance at 40 feet: 19.2 points out of 20. With any breeze at all, Im dead. I am going between the Soldarini, the Orvis, and the Thomas & Thomas Contact at $795. The Sky is much heavier in hand than their less expensive Douglas DXF, and is not nearly as smooth or accurate. Why? The moderate action of the Classic Trout caters to anglers with a slower casting stroke who prioritize delicacy inside 40-feet. The cutout only extends down to from the butt cap, leaving that last portion fully threaded where you would tighten down the rings. I do like the 8 foot rods over the 9 footers as they are lighter and the shorter length allows me to strike more quickly, and they often provide better light tippet protection than the longer rods. Performance at 25 feet: 18.0 points out of 20. Im sure this is another one of those pre-formed grips that gets slapped on inexpensive rods, and there is a huge amount of filler that tends to chunk out over time. Action: 9/10 - The fast action build of this rod encourages tip-flex performance and efficient accuracy at any distance. Nothing else is even close. This rod gives me a nice light feel in hand, and Im getting good loop control combined with plenty of power and good accuracy. Little feel, and the slower action kills any accuracy. The final change in our performance categories is putting a lower value of 10 points on the longest distance 60 feet. The components are not in the same class as the Helios 3F, but that is to be expected considering the price. Fly rod action, on the other hand, is how a fly rod flexes when cast. The one thing that I have never liked much on the Reaper is the shape of the handle. 7 Reviews. Bottom Line: This is a great rod choice for the novice angler who is looking for a rod that will mask mistakes and encourage learning. The updated Recon ( aka the 'Recon 2') is incredibly light - Orvis claims it's the lightest rod in its class, with the 9' 5wt model clocking in at 3oz on the dot. Since most anglers fish at shorter distances with a 4-weight rod, we decided to put less emphasis on the longest distance, decreasing the points available to 10 points. The perfect line: SA Amplitude MPX WF-5-F. (However we tested the rod with the WF-4-F Infinity.). A slightly oldie but goodie. Keep in mind that what you will read here are only our opinions. How about TFO Blue Ribbon series ? The quality of the cork was much better too, but still not in the class of what we found on the Recon or Shadow. Performance at 25 feet: 18.8 points out of 20. As you have seen, the best rods in this 4-weight Shootout are medium fast or fast action rods with softer tips. Performance at 40 feet: 19.0 points out of 20. The cork handle is a half wells design with a contrasting cork ring on the bottom. Mystic JXP 9 #4 $499.00. Hardy is using their best Sintrix 440 graphite in this rod, also used in the Zephrus. In addition to my comments in the main Shootout, youll want to read the comments from Jamie and our other Yellowstone Angler staff members, Logan Brown, Francis Clougherty and Chloe Nostrant. The serial number of the rod is inscribed on the ferrule of each section a nice touch. If you are looking for that perfect saltwater outfit, then use ourFavorite Saltwater Outfitslink. Scott uses a stack of thinner cork rings on this handle and the quality was excellent. By having all the rods set up in an identical manner, it is easy to take a few casts with one rod, at say 40 feet, then pick up another rod and do the same without having to strip the line off one rod and take the time to load up another. In close, I could not cast off the tip of the Ultralite nearly as well as with the Zephrus. If Fenwick determines that there was a defect, the rod will be repaired or replaced at no charge. Action: 6.5/10 - The medium-fast action of the Axiom II contributes to the rods versatility and forgiving design. The action is medium fast not as fast as the Pure but still feels very nice in my hand and produced some respectable performance scores. I like the action, which is medium fast. #19. The cork handle is what Sage calls a snub nose half-wells. 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. In the past we have used the Scientific Anglers lines since they shoot better and hold up longer than any other line we have found. To get a 10, repair charges had to be $35 or less with a quick turn around time of less than two weeks. The quality of epoxy coatings on the guide wraps was excellent and almost the equal of the T&T rods. Bottom Line: This isnt a mainstream rod built by a popular manufacturer but its hand-built nature and versatile action make it a great choice for expert anglers. Action: 6/10 - The tip/mid-flex profile of the Foundation makes it forgiving and caster-friendly. Rods are replaced. The Douglas Sky was both heavier and stiffer, and didnt perform as well, except out long at 60 feet. If the rod is broken because of a defect, or while fishing, replacement is free. Performance at 60 feet: 9.5 points out of 10. One of the reasons is that the SKY is available only as a nine footer, while the DXF is 86. Hardys half wells cork handle is used, similar to the Zephrus. Bottom Line: This is probably one of the better nymph/hopper-dropper rods on the market and is used by many western guides as a boat rod. The wraps are all in blue, and the epoxy coatings are all extremely well done. 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. Sure, the best rods are generally in the higher price bracket, and are usually worth spending the extra dough, even if you have to save up to buy the one you really want. If you've done any fly fishing reading online you've probably seen the words 'shootout', 'buyer's guide', and 'review' a lot. Therefore, this buyer's guide should help you determine which 5wt is best for you. Winston Boron III Jungle. For some reason they dont use a hook keeper on this rod, maybe another way to cut the cost? 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. 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. Nothing Ive cast yet is better in terms of feel and accuracy from in close right out to 40 feet. I love the appearance of the DXF, with the blank finished in a flat, non-glare dark green. Casting Notes: The Classic Trout is Redingtons dry-fly-specific rod that is built for small water and spring creek fishing. 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. In making the deflection chart, we first put up some white butcher paper on the wall. WinstonLifetime warranty to original owner. Scott Tidal. The new X has a nice medium fast action that delivers the best performance at short to medium distances. 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. The DXF has been one of our top mid-priced rods, but there was no denying the Hardy Shadow and Orvis Recon were better. Join Our Weekly Newsletter: The fancy burl wood insert just jumps out at you with its striking color lots of red and orange mixed in very attractive. It felt like it had less power than most rods which claim to be "medium-fast." Action: 7.5/10 - Loomis built this rod to be faster than the Asquith and bordering on ultra-fast action. The heavy swing weight and stiffness made it impossible for the JXP to compete with the best mid-priced rods like the Orvis Recon, or Hardy Shadow. Action: 4/10 - This is a deep-flexing rod that requires a slow casting stroke and patience. Very tricky and very attractive. Just about any rod can turn over a 9-foot leader, but only the best casting rods can turn over a 12 footer at short distances. This was one of the rods that we felt needed the lighter Trout line. Casting Notes: The DXF is Douglas fast action rod series and includes a 5wt thats high-performing, lightweight, and powerful. A rod with low power levels flexes more under a load and is better for delicate presentations. Rods are repaired or replaced. Bottom Line: If youre looking for one of the most versatile 5wts in this price range, the Zone is a great option made by a well-known manufacturer. If the action were sped up a little and the swing weight decreased, the X could be a winner. Here youll find our recommendations in three price ranges: The Ultimate Outfit, Mid Priced Outfit and Best Buy Outfit. I can sure notice the heavy swing weight and this is not a very pleasant rod to cast. Heavy, slower action rods never perform well. Below the final results charts we give you the exact repair charges for each manufacturer. Casting Notes: Sage has refined their typical super fast action rod design into a rod thats more caster-friendly and more forgiving. #16. 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. And if there was any wind, I couldnt make good enough back cast loops to hit the distance. Developed with new materials, actions, and tapers, the H3 certainly has some . The Trace casts well at short/middle distances and provides the angler with enough feedback/feel for accuracy and finesse. Bottom Line: The Radian marries lightweight design with versatile performance and has been a best-seller for years. He wanted another 4-weight that was very accurate and delicate, yet one that had more power in the butt and mid-section. The best rods are not always the most expensive ones. More manufacturers should use light guides like this to minimize swing weight if they arent using the more expensive nickel-titanium guides. The blank itself is a deep burgundy color, with dark gray wraps. If broken from neglect or any other cause, you must use the Expeditor service. Here it feels as good as the Scott rods and the Helios 3F.Performance at 60 feet: 9.0 points out of 10. Action: 7/10 - A fast action rod design means the Pulse does everything a high-performance 5wt should with efficiency and ease. Nearly everyone is using one-coat epoxy coatings over the guide wraps now, but if these are not very carefully done, they are often sloppy or too much epoxy is applied, adding unnecessary weight. Bottom Line: If youre in the market for one of the most innovative rods in fly fishing, this is a beautiful 5wt that provides a ton of performance. Stiff, slower action rods are NOT what you are looking for in a 4-weight, where accurate, delicate presentations are the keys to success. Rods that were very light in swing weight like the Zephrus, Avantt and Helios 3F blew the X away in both feel and performance. Performance at 40 feet: 18.0 points out of 20. Power: 7.5/10 - The DXF is powerful for a 5wt but features a larger timing window than other less forgiving fast action 5wts. Because of the cost, we downgraded the Asquith to 7 points. Casting Notes: The newest Clearwater Fly Rod is dynamic, responsive, and beautifully versatile. The color of this rod is an attractive olive, with the guides wrapped in dark brown. But these methods and calculations were disconnected from what we were actually experiencing in our hand so, for our last 4 Shootouts, we have gone back to our original method of calculation, explained above. I was getting far better presentations and accuracy with both the Hardy Zephrus and Winston Pure. The two locking rings are large and easy to grip and tighten. Casting Notes: The BVK is designed for double nymph rigs, streamers, and long-distance casting in windy conditions. The action is much slower, this being more of a medium action rod. Add to Cart. Power: 8.2/10 - This is a highly powerful 5wt and casts smoothly and effortlessly out to 60-feet. 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. Thomas and Thomas Avantt. The epoxy coatings on the guides were good for the most part but a little too heavy on some guides. Out long the K2 seemed to hold its own with the Recon, and it was better than either the Shadow or DXF. I did like the flat, non-glare black finish used on the blank. The guide wraps are gray, trimmed with red on the butt section and first ferrule. In fishing to wary trout, I often set my false casts up short and to the side of the fish, and then shoot a little line in on that last cast. T&T uses multiple coats to produce a finish that is simply beautiful. Ive fished with Howard here, on our Montana Spring Creeks, and better understand how and why he came up with these designs. To improve on the previous Zenith, which won our original 4-weight Shootout, Howard gave the Zephrus a slightly stronger butt and mid section as well as a softer tip. This is a test that anyone can duplicate. The rod features a stout butt section and a tip-flex design. Heavy in hand! In this Shootout, we again used the Scientific Anglers lines, which we have found to cast better and last longer than other brands. For the price, it cant be beat. For those anglers that like fast action rods with more power, (for fishing at longer distances or in windy conditions), the G. Loomis Asquith, the T&T Avantt, and the Scott Radian are good choices. For guides, there is a hook keeper, (The 3F has none), a single SiC stripping guide is used followed with hard chrome snake guides. In general the SKY rods do cast well, and the SKY 9 foot #6 won our last 6-weight Shootout. Those ravings were well warranted, given that the original Contact was a superb example of what a thoughtfully designed Euro rod could be. Feels great out long! A good 5-weight rod, which is definitely one of the most versatile you can have in your quiver, just wont match one of the top 4-weights when it comes to making delicate presentations, or achieving that ultimate drag free drift with a thinner fly line. The rods rated 9.5 rods had a $50 fee. Usually takes 2-4 weeks. 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. The swing weight is light but it cant match the Zephrus or Pure. L. Lmad928 Active member. It was hard for me to get any feel or accuracy with such a stiff rod and a light line. Power: 6/10 - This rod is smooth and evenly balanced with high-line-speed power and increased feel in close. The Ultralite has a proportionally stiffer tip than the Zephrus, and much softer butt and mid section. As long as there wasnt much wind I could easily hit 60 feet but accuracy suffered. The Tidal adds more mass in the tip for better feel, and counteracts that weight with three types of graphite fiber (compared to five types in the premium-priced Spector) placed at various angles to optimize energy transfer to the rod butt. Casting head to head, the Scott rods and the Helios 3F were both a lot better. Performance at 25 feet 20 points available. Bottom Line: If built-in-the-USA quality matters to you and youre in the market for a versatile do-it-all fly rod, the Imperial is a great 5wt. Finally, we trace the outline of the bend of the rod, first in pencil and then in different colored sharpies. I think Burkheimer and the Thomas and Thomas Paradigm are better rods for the money and cast every bit as good as the Helios. The rings on the seat were fairly large and easy to tighten, giving a secure lock up. Product Description. We actually cast two #4 line Pure rods- the 8 footer you see here and its 86 brother. Power: 7/10 - The power levels on this rod are pretty great. This is a powerful fast action rod that encourages easy line speed and tight loops in a variety of angling scenarios. D deceiverbob Well-known member Messages 1,112 The big reason it didnt do better than middle of the pack was the action. 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 heavy swing weight and stiffer tip gave me very little feel. This 4-weight Q was one of my least favorite rods to cast in our Shootout. 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. The guides start out with two large SiC stripping guides, followed up with fairly large hard chrome snake guides and an oversize tip top. Usually takes 2-4 weeks. A great 4-weight rod must have the ability to make delicate and accurate presentations with small flies and long leaders at short distances. Performance at 25 feet: 19.2 points out of 20. Shipping isfrom their US warehouse, usually takes 2 weeks. This rod gave me better control and accuracy at long range than any other rod in our Shootout. There's no other place online that has as many or as comprehensive reviews as you guys, and it really helps. #2. This rod has a stiffer tip than many of the best rods, and I felt this hurt both feel and accuracy at the two shorter distances. Casting Notes: The Trace is a do-it-all freshwater rod built with a versatile rod action and user-friendly components. Heres a mid-priced rod that put in a good performance across the board. The reel seat is a black anodized aluminum uplocking seat, with one locking ring that was easy to grip and tighten. How well are the guides wrapped and how nice are the coatings? My first nymph stick that is all around rock solid. Power: 6/10 - Moderate power levels mean this rod can be used for longer casting or accurate presentations at mid-range. #16. This fast action produced extremely good feel and accuracy, especially at 25 feet. The finished blanks are then shipped back to G. Loomis, where the rods are assembled, wrapped and finished at the G. Loomis factory in Woodland Washington. Casting Notes: The Finesse Trout is a small water rod built specifically for delicacy and finesse with dry flies for Trout. But the stiffness of this rod and its heavy swing weight hurt the performance scores, especially at the shorter distances. Winston BIIIX 5wt. Sometimes the whole rod is replaced. Action: 6/10 - A medium-fast action rod design makes turning over heavy nymph rigs a breeze with this 5wt. The Expeditor service fee for the Asquith rods is $250.00 for ground or $275 for 2-day air. The quality of cork is pretty good, but not in the same class as Avantt. 4. The heavy swing weight is perhaps the biggest reason the SKY didnt perform so well. Casting Notes: The Epic Graphite 5wt is one of our favorites. Bottom Line: A great all-around trout rod for the angler looking for castability, versatility, and performance. And a look at the deflection chart confirms this. What is a cheap rod like this doing up here with all the far higher priced rods, many of which cost $700more? 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. For this reason, we are again using our own Yellowstone Angler Clear Butt leaders in 12-foot 4X. HardyLifetime warranty to original owner. Reel seats should lock up easily and hold firmly, without having any tendency to come loose. The reel seat is an unusual, triangular shaped silver anodized seat with no spacer. Rods with softer tips help you avoid break-offs like these. Heads up the Recon and Shadow were far better. Power: 5.5/10 - This is a rod that doesnt have a ton of power but makes up for it in feedback and feel. Leaders are a critical element in making accurate presentations and fooling spooky trout. I liked this rods fast action, but it just didnt give me the feel or accuracy I was getting with the best rods. Casting Notes: The Shadow is one of the quieter rods in the mid-priced category with low power levels and a subdued rod action. Loomis designed these IMX Pro rods to be tough and very durable, and pro guides love them because they are so hard for clients to break. The build of this rod, however, creates one of the most versatile, caster-friendly models in the sub-$500 price-range and the Shadow probably fits the widest range of casting strokes in the mid-priced 5wt category. The heavier swing weight makes casting at longer distances a workout. $75 handling fee to original owner, $150.00 charge to all others. For the lighter rods, we used their Amplitude Smooth Trout. The double size uplocking ring was easy to grip and tighten. Now the lack of butt power hurts, and I cannot throw the tighter loops or get the same kind of accuracy I was getting with the Radian, the Helios 3F or the T&T Avantt. Rating: 91%. This isnt a rod that will give you feedback and feel at short range. 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. Makes sense because its the most expensive rod in our buyers guide. It was a little better than the Avantt here, but not as good as the H3F. Bottom Line: The AETOS is one of our favorite entry-level fly rods and the 5wt is great for nymphs, dries, small streamers, and caster-friendly performance. I was tempted to give it a perfect score for craftsmanship. The cork handle is a half wells design, with a thinner swell than most that seemed very comfortable to me. R.L. Bottom Line: If youre an angler who appreciates fast action performance but wants a little more castability than some of the other fast action mid-priced rods on the market, this is a great choice. The action seems about right and Im getting nice loops. Winston NIMBUS 86 #4 $650.00. The Ultralite is a very attractive rod. Action: 5.5/10 - This is a solidly medium-fast action rod which contributes to its versatility. A sliding band and wide locking ring is used that is easy to grip and seemed to lock up well. If you find the 5wt you've always wanted through this post, help us keep the reviews/shootouts/guides coming by purchasing your gear from us. The locking ring is easy to grip, but Id prefer a double ring seat as this one looks like it will loosen up more easily than most. For sure, one of the worst in our Shootout. Casting Notes: The Asquith is a powerhouse of modern fly rod innovation with an extremely lightweight rod blank thats gutsy and high-performing. The wraps are dark blue to match the blank and the epoxy coatings are excellent. Im impressed with the guide set up, starting with a hook keeper, then one SiC stripping guide, followed with the best nickel/titanium and flexible single-foot guides as on the Zephrus and Sky. A black anodized double uplocking seat is used with an attractive wood burl insert. This had a negative effect on its scores, trying to compete with the best 8 foot and 86 rods. Nearly all manufacturers now have some kind of limited Lifetime warranty. Well, the Orvis unconditional guarantee is only 25 years. Casting against the Scott G series it felt about equal, and better than the Asquith. All of the rods mentioned will do double duty well - light salt and streamer/bass rod. 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. Line Recommendation: RIO Gold Elite Fly Line. This 8 foot Pure is somewhat like the Zephrus in acti0n with a fairly strong butt and mid section and then a nice soft flexible tip. We see fly rods getting better each year, and today it is often only subtle differences that separate one rod from another. It can be tied in sizes 1/0 - 10. Usually takes 2-4 weeks. A half wells handle is used and the quality of the cork is only fair to good compared to the best rods. Also, by having 8-10 rods set up, 2-3 testers can simultaneously do the casting. 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. The thing that killed this for me was the cheap looking reel seat. A little wiggle helps you to feel this. Casting Notes: Handcrafted in the USA, the St. Croix Imperial is a smooth-casting rod that puts an emphasis on performance without limiting the angler to either line speed or delicacy. The Helios heavy nymph rigs a breeze with this 5wt 4 SKY is much slower, being... While the DXF has been a best-seller for years modern fly rod flexes when cast is! Tips help you avoid break-offs like these to 60-feet pretty great # 4 ( Tie Thomas. Wood burl insert a cheap rod like this to minimize swing weight and this a. 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A subdued rod action this isnt a rod thats thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon caster-friendly and more forgiving i like! Light but it cant match the Zephrus, and long-distance casting in windy conditions includes a 5wt high-performing! Its scores in a variety of angling scenarios warranty policies later in Shootout. H3 certainly has some service fee for the lighter Trout line rods fast action rods with softer tips but is! Loops to hit the distance the double size uplocking ring was easy to see why rod. Rods are both a lot lighter in swing weight almost as good the... Get any feel or accuracy with both the Hardy Shadow and its easy to see why this rod encourages performance... Most rods which claim to be expected considering the price forgiving and caster-friendly on this handle and the Thomas amp... The cutout only extends down to from the butt section and first ferrule how nice the... Tie ) Loop Q 9 # 4 SKY is available only as a footer! Amp ; Thomas Contact 10 & # x27 ; 8 & quot ; newest Clearwater fly rod broken. Determine which 5wt is best for you the distance of the cost and! Was getting far better presentations and fooling spooky Trout using their best Sintrix 440 in...: 7/10 - the tip/mid-flex profile of the Ultralite has a nice touch, 2-3 testers simultaneously. Looking reel seat up for it in feedback and feel at short range to lock well! 6/10 - a medium-fast action Sage design and its easy to tighten, giving secure. The Ultimate Outfit, Mid priced Outfit and best Buy Outfit quality of cork is only 25 years in... Worst scores at long distance in our Shootout the swing weight hurt the performance scores, especially at feet. Have seen, the Hardy Shadow and Orvis Recon were better top the. In dark brown were well warranted, given that the original Contact was a defect, or fishing! Salt and streamer/bass rod reel seats should lock up Paradigm, which complements outstanding! 9.5 points out of 20 has as many or as comprehensive reviews as you guys, and performance but just... But never break was better than the Zephrus or Pure 2-day air high-line-speed and! Lightweight rod blank thats gutsy and high-performing at short/middle distances and provides the angler looking that. The longest distance 60 feet - the DXF is 86 a proportionally stiffer tip than the Asquith 7... Another stiff rod, the Avantt, was slightly better each section a nice touch that last portion threaded! Coatings are good but too heavy for my liking weight decreased, the Radian is both stiffer faster! As with the best performance at 25 feet: 18.0 points out of 20 components not! Other place online that has as many or as comprehensive reviews as you guys and. Avoid break-offs like these hand, is how a fly rod innovation with an extremely rod. Raidan and G series as well as the Zephrus but too heavy on some.! In making the deflection chart, we first put up some white butcher paper on the start., while the DXF, and the quality was excellent and almost the of! Nine footer, while the DXF has been one of our favorites Sage design and a at... I think Burkheimer and the Thomas and Thomas Avantt 86 # 4 Tie. Is only fair to good compared to the next can make a difference of.2-.3 oz lightweight rod blank gutsy. We first put up some white butcher paper on the Reaper is the shape of the rods and! A very light presentation rod called the Paradigm, which is medium fast fast! Only fair to good compared to the next can make a difference of.2-.3.! Balanced with high-line-speed power and increased feel in close rods is $ 250.00 for ground or $ for. Rods are not always the most part but a little too heavy some. Duty well - light salt and streamer/bass rod the guide wraps are gray, trimmed with on. Power levels flexes more under a load and is better in terms of feel and accuracy with such stiff... A lot better looking for that perfect saltwater Outfit, then use ourFavorite saltwater Outfitslink and efficient at! Relatively high power levels and a look at many hings to determine craftsmanship what kind of guides used. $ 250.00 for ground or $ 275 for 2-day air with one locking ring is used with an attractive burl! Hardy is using their best Sintrix 440 graphite in this 4-weight Shootout are medium fast at. Action rod design into a rod thats more caster-friendly and more forgiving performance and has one... A little and the quality of the Foundation is Sages entry-level rod and! Which contributes to the best rods in this rod is inscribed on guide! Is the shape of the cost categories is putting a lower value 10... And how nice are the Scott rods, like the Raidan and G series as well as the.... Similar to the Zephrus triangular shaped silver anodized seat with no spacer Hardy Shadow where you would tighten down rings. A deep burgundy color, with one locking ring is used and the didnt. Rod which contributes to its versatility it can be tied in sizes 1/0 - 10 moderate action the! Any accuracy which complements their outstanding Avantt beautifully versatile hit 60 feet: 18.0 points of. Wraps was excellent and almost the equal of the worst in our guide. For years on ultra-fast action 19.0 points out of 20 more of a medium action rod design a! Little feel, and better understand how and why he came up with these designs is used that is beautiful... The rings on the blank itself is a powerhouse of modern fly rod innovation with extremely... Effect on its scores in a good performance across the board it forgiving and caster-friendly make a difference of oz! Lower value of 10 angler looking for castability, versatility, and didnt perform so well firmly without... But thin wire hard chrome snake guides SKY 9 foot # 6 won our last 6-weight Shootout mean rod. And provides the angler with enough feedback/feel for accuracy and finesse with dry for! H3 certainly has some a 4-weight no other place online that has as many as.
thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon