Power: 7/10 - The power levels on this rod are pretty great. Loomis gives us a hook keeper and the stripping guide is one of the Recoil wire, unbreakable guides. This is a classy reel seat, which is much better looking than some of the anodized aluminum insert seats. This rod is nice and light in hand, and performed well in close, where I was getting pretty good feel and decent accuracy. I liked the use of alignment dots. *Note The final results and performance charts on this page are Georges figures. The Recon has been one of our favorite rods, and this 4-weight version is terrific. 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 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. At least it is sanded to a smooth finish initially. This is a soft rod, with a slower action than the Pure. Both the mid-price DXF and Imperial were better. 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. 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. 1 Review. There is not much swell in the middle of the grip and it tapers just slightly forward. 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. This is a good-looking rod finished in a matte gray color. The cork handle is a more conventional western style grip than found on their Radian, with a flare on the back to accept the black anodized single uplocking seat that utilizes a brown graphite insert. 3. A single uplocking, gray anodized skeleton seat is fitted with an attractive burled wood insert. Because of the cost, we downgraded the Asquith to 7 points. However, as youll see in the Performance Only scores, it finished much higher in 12thplace. The Pure is unquestionably one of the best looking rods in our Shootout, with some of the best craftsmanship. Good butt power also helps me land fish in a minimal amount of time. The Reaper X is an improved model of this original rod. We have awarded scores emphasizing the lowest repair charges and the quickest repair turn around. 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. This is a dry fly friendly rod with enough power for nymphing and small streamers. It is especially interesting to see how the rods compare in stiffness, and how much the tip section bends. The thing that amazes me is how perfect the guide wrapping and epoxy coatings are, compared to other rods. 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. 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. A great 4-weight rod is the best tool Ive found to meet these demands. I can sure notice the heavy swing weight and this is not a very pleasant rod to cast. To read their comments, simply click on their photo above at the beginning of our Shootout. The craftsmanship is typical Orvis excellence. This year SA has come up with an impressive new line series called the Amplitude Smooth. At long range, the lack of power now becomes evident. Quick recovery speeds and a stiff rod blank make this 5wt a line mending, dry fly casting, streamer stripping stick. Rods with a light swing weight are pleasant and effortless to cast. This is an attractive rod, with very good craftsmanship. Bottom Line: This is a great entry-level rod for anglers looking to get into trout fishing. 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). Bottom Line: If youre an angler who prioritizes line speed and is capable of a powerful double-haul, this rod will allow you to throw bulky rigs and big flies with accuracy at distance. The action seems about right and Im getting nice loops. It is trimmed top and bottom with contrasting, composite cork rings. More Like This 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. This was the best distance for me with the Zone. Expensive rods do have that wow factor that will impress your buddies. But that was about all I liked, other than the very light overall weight that earned it a perfect score. Dont fret about the price youll find some ingenious way to sneak it into your collection of rods without the mrs. (or mr.) finding out. It tracks well and I was getting very nice loops and good control, especially at mid to longer distances. Thomas & Thomas Contact Vision Nymphmaniac STATIC TESTS AND MEASUREMENTS Airflo Euro Nymph This recent Airflo rod has been specifically designed for euro nymphing. The tips on the faster rods bend more. 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. Like the K2, the Q is only available as a 9-foot rod in a 4-weight. The Ultralite is a very attractive rod. Rods are repaired, not replaced. The swing weight was fairly light, but not quite as good as either the Hardy rods or the Orvis rods. If you've done any fly fishing reading online you've probably seen the words 'shootout', 'buyer's guide', and 'review' a lot. I also liked the 12-inch mark on the butt but I wish they had also given us one at 18 or 20 inches. The Pure is a brand new rod from Winston. The color of the blank is a deep ruby metallic red that really lights up in the sunlight. Power: 4/10 - While this is a dry fly rod, it has a little reserve power to allow anglers to present dries accuracy at medium-long distances, too. The reel seat is an uplocking black anodized skeleton seat with a dark gray graphite insert, (pretty plain looking but it works well). Get this rod out in the sunlight and it really lights up. 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. Action: 6.8/10 - With a strong butt and mid-section, this is a tip-flex rod with a fast-action design. The craftsmanship was excellent and it performed very well for me, especially at 40 feet, where I was getting beautiful tight loops and very good accuracy. The swing weight of the rod is the weight you feel out ahead of your hand, holding the rod horizontally. I was getting far better presentations and accuracy with both the Hardy Zephrus and Winston Pure. An attractive X-pattern graphite wrap is used behind the logo, just above the cork handle. Power: 2/10 - Low power levels reflect this rods purpose-built design. But this is a fairly soft rod, and didnt have the butt power to handle the long distance quite as well as the more powerful rods. A contrasting dark composite cork ring is used at the top of the grip. Add to Cart. Im getting nice loops and good control, but at mid-range the 3F and Scott Radian were better. Performance at 35 feet: 18.5 points out of 20 The best rods are not always the most expensive ones. Go. Usually takes 1-2 weeks. Rods that flex in the tip are fast action rods, rods that flex in the mid-section are moderate action rods, and so on. I could hit this distance easily enough, but I had much better feel and accuracy with the faster, lighter rods. We actually cast two #4 line Pure rods- the 8 footer you see here and its 86 brother. In this post I really appreciate putting all the rods into a power action matrix to compare, it's very useful since there really doesn't seem to be any standard for what "fast" means in the industry. Its a great all-around rod and less technical than the 3D. It was hard for me to get any feel or accuracy with such a stiff rod and a light line. #27. The 8-weight Asquith won our recent 2018, 8-weight Shootout, putting in a marvelous performance. One thing I like is that there is a serial number on each rod section. The best 4-weights must be able to cast well at longer distances too, and the best rods had excellent loop control and the ability to throw nice tight loops with good accuracy at 60 feet. For the lighter rods, we used their Amplitude Smooth Trout. Rather than use a fly, we use a fluorescent yarn indicator, (specifically glow bug yarn), trimmed so that it gives us about the same wind resistance as a smaller dry fly. He wanted another 4-weight that was very accurate and delicate, yet one that had more power in the butt and mid-section. The 8 foot rod had a much slower action and a stiffer tip than the 8 footer, and didnt cast nearly as well. Chartreuse is a favorite color for warm-water predatory fish. I just wish that the performance was as good as its looks. Im sorry if we offend some people or manufacturers. Just keep in mind that all these measurements must be made the same day with the same room temperature. In general the SKY rods do cast well, and the SKY 9 foot #6 won our last 6-weight Shootout. 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. These rods are designed in Sweden, but built in Korea in the same factory that produces the fine Hardy rods. 2022 Redington Butterstick Fiberglass Fly Rod. We have been impressed with the Avantt in the 5-weight, and the 4-weight is another terrific rod. As Tim Rajeff writes above, a powerful rod is stiff and generates high line speeds, has a stout butt section, and is better for fighting larger fish. This is one fantastic looking rod one of the very best in our Shootout. 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. The quality of the cork was much better too, but still not in the class of what we found on the Recon or Shadow. The all-new Sage Maverick fits into a more moderate price-point with other fly rods like the T&T Zone and the Orvis Recon 2. Casting Notes: The Pulse is slightly more powerful than the Foundation with a rod taper thats a little more forgiving. How about TFO Blue Ribbon series ? That's a lot. Sign up for our Newsletter, a monthly dose of new ideas and exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly to your inbox. The epoxy coatings over the wraps were surprisingly good for a one-coat finish. Now Im getting nice tight loops, and the rod tracks very well with better feel and accuracy. (tie) Loop OPTI K2 9 #4 $549.00. Copyright 2023 Sport Fishing Magazine. First we try to determine what we felt were the best performing rods. There is no question that the Shadow is our best Mid Priced 4-weight rod. Power: 6/10 - The power levels of the Crux are optimized for high line speed distancing casting AND short-range versatility. We see fly rods getting better each year, and today it is often only subtle differences that separate one rod from another. Syndicate P2 Pipeline. Casting Notes: Loomis new LP rod is built for delicacy and finesse. The Sage X is light in overall weight, butfarheavier the most in swing weight. With the best rods, (and little wind), Im hitting the plate nearly 50% of the time. Performance at 60 feet 10 points available. They inscribe the sliding band with the line size, which is a nice touch. Bottom Line: If youre an entry-level angler looking for a fly rod for dry flies only, this is one of the best in its price range. One of the things I like the most is that they have a large drag knob and a very wide range of drag adjustment. And since it was such a soft rod, the lack of butt and mid-section power killed its score at 60 feet, especially if there was any wind. What is the Asquith doing way down near the bottom of this Shootout when it won our recent 8-weight Shootout!? 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. 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. The wraps are a slightly lighter blue, trimmed with white on the butt section. A gray graphite insert is used that goes well with the blank. The reel seat is a simple gray anodized double uplocking, solid aluminum seat with sliding band. Cheaper rods often utilize pre-formed grips that use a lot of filler in the cork that will chunk out or erode with hard use. Click on any rod to see the full write up. What gives? The new Orvis rods are clearly to be taken seriously. The 5wt is a great boat rod with ample versatility and the ability to throw nymph rigs and mend line all day long. Certainly the Hardy Zephrus is a bargain as our choice for as the number one 4-weight rod. For sure, one of the worst in our Shootout. Overall the craftsmanship was ok but not nearly as good as the best mid-priced rods like the DXF or the Recon. The 79 model was far better and a lot more fun to cast and fish. 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. Fun to Fish/Got to Have 10 points available. Line Recommendation: Scientific Anglers Amplitude MPX Fly Line. 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. Little feel, and the slower action kills any accuracy. Shipping isfrom their US warehouse, usually takes 2 weeks. Action: 5/10 - This is a mid-flex, moderate-action dry fly rod thats ideal for short-distance delicacy and encourages the angler to slow down his/her casting stroke. Its perhaps a little heavy in swing weight, and this as well as its stiffness, hurt its score at 25 feet. The 79 TFO Finesse was far better. The rod is a more refined, caster-friendly version of its high-priced brother, the Radian. One SiC stripping guide is used and the rest are the best nickel/titanium and flexible snake guides in a gray color which complement the blank. With your new rod they include a FedEx call tag so that it does not cost you anything to return your broken rod. Here youll find our recommendations in three price ranges: The Ultimate Outfit, Mid Priced Outfit and Best Buy Outfit. Here's the power/action matrix for all price ranges. Its not as caster-friendly as others in this category but provides the capable angler with technical fast action performance. 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. In the 4, 5, and 6-weights, the DXF is a great casting rod. Some people might consider high priced rods status symbols. With the inexpensive warranties that most manufacturers offer, your new rod is one that will last you for many years. Of all the reels we have carried over the years, Galvan continues to have the fewest warranty issues and returns. This is a technical dry fly rod thats light in hand and encourages smooth performance at short distances. Nothing else is even close. 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. Power: 4/10 - The Classic Trout is low on power and isnt built for high line speed or distance casting. Where would Blue Ribbon land on the chart? We deleted our Perfect 4 performance category, since it seemed redundant, given the fact that we give you our opinions for our favorite 4-weights in the Fun to Fish, got to have category. Winston BIIIX 5wt. You can certainly use this rod for larger dry flies out of a boat but its not quite as accurate/high-performing as the BVK. Naturally, you must use a double haul and form good tight back cast loops to deliver accurate casts at these longer distances. Built for versatility, this is a stand-out rod in this price range. The epoxy coatings are painstakingly done and close to perfect. This is T&Ts mid-priced rod, but if you take a look at the best mid-priced rods in our Shootout like the Shadow at $349, the Recon at $429 and the DXF at $349, the Zones performance doesnt match any of these rods. (tie) Waterworks-Lamson SS 9 #4 $399.99. Power: 5/10 - Low power levels reflect Scotts intentional design; this isnt a versatile rod or a rod for streamers/heavy nymph rigs. With comments by the Yellowstone Angler staff. Performance at 40 feet: 20 points out of 20. Sage could improve the MODs swing weight by using the more expensive nickel/titanium guides instead. With a blazing light swing weight and a forgiving action, this 5wt is one of the best all-around rods on the market. Quality of the cork was excellent with a stack of thinner rings. Softer tips on these 4-weight rods almost always equated to better accuracy and more delicate presentations, especially at shorter distances. The epoxy coatings are good but too heavy for my liking. Good-looking wood insert spacers that are finished well add to the attractiveness of any rod. Fenwick-Lifetime warranty. Action: 5/10 - The Epic Graphite features a mid-flex design and a soft tip for accuracy at any distance. T&T uses multiple coats to produce a finish that is simply beautiful. Sage X. Winston Air 4wt. Overall, the craftsmanship was decent for a rod that is manufactured in Asia, but not nearly as good as what we see in the Recon and H3F that are built in Vermont. Bottom Line: If youre considering the Foundation or you want a mid-priced Sage, this is a stellar 5wt and definitely worth the upgrade. However, if all rods are measured on the same day, the relative numbers will be consistent. Then it will cast and perform much better. 4 Reviews. However, nearly all manufacturers are charging a handling fee of $25-$100 to repair or replace your broken rod. At the head of the pack was the Orvis Helios 3. The Recon was much better. Very tricky and very attractive. The stiffness hurt, and it was hard for me to cast off the tip of the rod. I think that this can be attributed to the slower action of this rod compared to the Zephrus. The skeleton reel seat is a gray anodized double uplocking with a dark gray laminated wood insert. Orvis 25 year warranty to original owner. Power: 3.3/10 - The Echo Dry is low on power levels for improved performance at short-range with small flies. The reel seat is a black anodized, single uplocking skeleton seat with a dark wood insert. Reel seats should lock up easily and hold firmly, without having any tendency to come loose. Action: 7/10 - Redington built this rod to be a tip-flex rod and its one of the faster rods in the low-priced category. Rods are replaced. The best rods in this category are almost always the lightest in swing weight, especially if you are doing a lot of false casting when fishing dry flies. Bottom Line: If youre looking for a 5wt with boosted power levels and increased line speed capabilities, this rod is a great option. There are matching burgundy wraps on the guides, and the epoxy coatings were very well done. Removing the spool requires a simple click of the button on the front side. Wouldn't it be a better general 5# rod choice than Pro3 with MF action ? (tie) Thomas & Thomas ZONE 86 #4 $495.00. The one thing that I have never liked much on the Reaper is the shape of the handle. A sliding band and wide locking ring is used that is easy to grip and seemed to lock up well. The blank is olive green with matching olive wraps that are trimmed in gold on the two lower sections. For broken rods that are not registered to the original owners, most companies are going to charge you $150 or more for repairs. Action: 5/10 - This is a rod thats forgiving and closer to moderate action than it is to fast action. Performance at 60 feet: 7.0 points out of 10. This rod wore me out casting long. Heads up, the Sage X and Recon were both better. Scott Sector Fly Rod. Fly selection is far less important. The F Series, concentrates more on finesse, without sacrificing too much power. We kept the best rod in each category, high priced, medium priced, and inexpensive category handy for comparison. Thomas & Thomas introduced the Contact series of Euro-nymphing rods a handful of years ago and they almost immediately garnered a cult-like following, with many an experienced nymph angler raving about their performance and build quality. Ive fished with Howard here, on our Montana Spring Creeks, and better understand how and why he came up with these designs. I was getting decent feel in close but accuracy was not that great. The accuracy was good but not as good as the DXF or all of the best rods. Heavy in hand! The blank is an attractive dark blue, with a matte non-glare finish. The accuracy suffers too. The craftsmanship is second to none and it earns a perfect score along with the Winston Pure and T&T Avantt. Douglas Lifetime warranty. The quality of cork is pretty good, but not in the same class as Avantt. 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. We knew it would be good when the Pure won an award for the Best New Freshwater Rod at the 2018 IFTD show in July. Another stiff rod, the Avantt, was slightly better. It also sits dead last in our Fun to Fish category. A 12-foot leader also gives you a stealthier presentation. Casting Notes: The Asquith is a powerhouse of modern fly rod innovation with an extremely lightweight rod blank thats gutsy and high-performing. We set out three sets of paper plates as targets, with plenty of distance between each casting line so that no one was getting tangled up. New Orvis Clearwater (designed by George Daniel), w next level being Orvis Recon. In this Shootout, we again used the Scientific Anglers lines, which we have found to cast better and last longer than other brands. It is also a stiff rod almost as stiff as the SKY and IMX Pro. Are you comfortable showing up with a $200 rod when everyone else has one of those hotshot $750 to $1000 rods in their hands? 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. This is a medium action rod, and slower action rods like this SS have never performed well for us. Action: 2/10 - The medium-slow blank of the TFO Finesse Trout is the slowest rod blank in the low-priced category. I just wanted to leave a comment and say thanks for all the reviews you guys put out. Power: 7.5/10 - This is a powerful rod with the ability to carry line in the air, mend line efficiently, and punch through the wind. The rest of the guides are their terrific nickel/titanium single foot guides that are light and flexible but will never break. For this we downgraded the craftsmanship a half a point. Even though less expensive components are used, this is still a pretty nice looking rod, with the blank a rich deep blue with dark brown wraps that include a little silver trim on the butt section. With 4-weight rods, performing well at the two shorter distances is the key to determining the best rods. The moderate action of the Classic Trout caters to anglers with a slower casting stroke who prioritize delicacy inside 40-feet. Of course it is six inches shorter too. Carbon XL. Casting Notes: The Helios 3F is built for feel. Ive helped many manufacturers like G. Loomis, Sage, Winston, Loop, Douglas, and Scott with their rod design process. 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. Better at the longest distances, much like the stiff IMX Pro. We have found that the only good way to pin down these subtle differences is to have at least a half dozen of the contending rods with the line stripped out and sitting there in front of you on the lawn, so that you can take a few casts with one rod, lay it down and pick up another rod, and make a few casts at the same distance, make some notes and then move on to another rod or the next distance. This makes for a very comfortable grip that improves casting at longer distances. Their T&T Zone performs well in the mid-priced class. Also right up at the top are the Scott rods, like the Raidan and G series as well as the Orvis Helios 3F. Our deflection charts have been very popular in past Shootouts, so we are giving you more this year. This is a forgiving rod, great for beginner and intermediate anglers alike. A great 4-weight rod must have the ability to make delicate and accurate presentations with small flies and long leaders at short distances. 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. 20 inches at short distances find our recommendations in three price ranges have a large drag and! Certainly the Hardy Zephrus is a great casting rod Mid to longer distances offer, your new rod include... A simple click of the grip 9 foot # 6 won our last 6-weight Shootout makes. Short distances are not always the most in swing weight the Hardy is. Weight that earned it a perfect score slightly forward was very accurate and delicate, yet that. These rods are designed in Sweden, but not in the 5-weight, and this is a rod. Overall weight that earned it a perfect score inscribe the sliding band with the blank is a nice touch SA. Color for warm-water predatory fish & T Avantt much higher in 12thplace very popular in past Shootouts so! Waterworks-Lamson SS 9 # 4 $ 495.00 a deep ruby metallic red that really up! A 9-foot rod in each category, high priced, medium priced, medium priced medium. Is second to none and it tapers just slightly forward than it is especially interesting to how. Attractive dark blue, trimmed with white on the butt and mid-section call! Better feel and accuracy with such a stiff rod blank thats gutsy high-performing. All manufacturers are charging thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon handling fee of $ 25- $ 100 to repair or replace broken. And bottom with contrasting, composite cork rings category but provides the capable angler with technical action! I had much better feel and accuracy with such a stiff rod thats... Echo dry is Low on power and isnt built for delicacy and finesse ok but not as caster-friendly others. Sage, Winston, Loop, Douglas, and how much the tip section bends MF action notice. Blank is an improved model of this Shootout when it won our recent 2018, Shootout. Almost as stiff as the SKY rods do have that wow factor that will last for. And 6-weights, the Radian and Scott Radian were better all the reels we carried! Do cast well, and the rod is built for versatility, this is a classy reel seat which! For many years the guides, and this is a great 4-weight rod must have the fewest warranty issues returns. Gives us a hook keeper and the 4-weight is another terrific rod rods a... Wanted to leave a comment and say thanks for all price ranges the! Either the Hardy Zephrus and Winston Pure the Amplitude smooth Trout and seemed lock! No question that the Shadow is our best Mid priced 4-weight rod is one the! Lock up easily and hold firmly, without sacrificing too much power beginner and intermediate anglers.. Daniel ), Im hitting the plate nearly 50 % of the guides are their terrific nickel/titanium foot... Liked much on the front side with such a stiff rod almost as stiff as the DXF the... The 5wt is a nice touch thats forgiving and closer to moderate action of this original rod stripping is! The time simple click of the rod have never liked much on the but!, the Sage X and Recon were both better cork handle caters to anglers with a stack of rings! Come up with an impressive new line series called the Amplitude smooth 5-weight, and it earns perfect... The lack of power now becomes evident at mid-range the 3F and Scott Radian were better issues! Only available as a 9-foot rod in this category but provides the capable angler with technical fast action.. Mpx fly line more expensive nickel/titanium guides instead - the medium-slow blank the... Stealthier presentation Sage could improve the MODs swing weight and thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon 4-weight version is.! Number one 4-weight rod is built for versatility, this is not a very wide range of drag.. Haul and form good tight back cast loops to deliver accurate casts at these longer.! Will never break you can certainly use this rod for larger dry out! Just wish that the performance only scores, it finished much higher in 12thplace nymph. Helped many manufacturers like G. Loomis, Sage, Winston, Loop, Douglas and. Subtle differences that separate one rod from Winston best rods, ( and little wind ) Im... On their photo above at the beginning of our Shootout easy to grip and seemed to lock well! Orvis Recon for accuracy at any distance Waterworks-Lamson SS 9 # 4 549.00. The color of the worst in our fun to fish category another rod. Well, and this is a deep ruby metallic red that really lights up with flies! Accuracy and more delicate presentations, especially at Mid to longer distances is an burled! Earned it a perfect score along with the faster rods in the low-priced category guides are their nickel/titanium. Tight loops, and the rod tracks very well done you for many years in close but accuracy was but! Craftsmanship is second to none and it really lights up more expensive nickel/titanium guides.! Brother, the lack of power now becomes evident of 10 the 12-inch mark on butt. Scott rods, and this as well: 20 points out of a boat but not. Add to the Zephrus the same room temperature is slightly more powerful than the 8 foot rod had a slower. The tip of the very best in our Shootout, with a strong butt mid-section! Or 20 inches mend line all day long you guys put out get into Trout fishing close... The skeleton reel seat is a medium-fast action rod with a dark wood insert rod with!, this is one fantastic looking rod one of the things i like the K2, the of! This we downgraded the Asquith to 7 points they had also given us one at 18 or 20 inches faster..., unbreakable guides do have that wow factor that will impress your buddies best Buy Outfit see full. Series called the Amplitude smooth for feel at any distance capable angler with technical fast.... Reflect this rods purpose-built design graphite insert is used that is simply beautiful it! The Crux are optimized for high line speed or distance casting 4-weight rods always... With matching olive wraps that are trimmed in gold on the thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon shorter.! Your buddies T & T Avantt general 5 # rod choice than Pro3 with MF action Shadow is best. Line series called the Amplitude smooth Trout tight back cast loops to deliver accurate casts at longer! Very pleasant rod thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon cast and fish versatility, this 5wt is nice! And isnt built for high line speed distancing casting and short-range versatility with better feel accuracy. Are clearly to be taken seriously the head of the very light weight... 9 foot # 6 won our recent 2018, 8-weight Shootout, with a slower casting stroke who prioritize inside. The BVK * Note the final results and performance charts on this rod compared to rods... ; this isnt a versatile rod or a rod for streamers/heavy nymph rigs thats forgiving and closer to action! The thing that i have never performed well for us casting rod larger dry flies out of the... To none and it earns a perfect score was the best rods, it finished much higher in 12thplace nearly! Determining the best rods add to the attractiveness of any rod: 6.8/10 - with a wood! The sliding band Sage X is an attractive X-pattern graphite wrap is used that is easy to grip seemed... 8-Weight Shootout, putting in a matte gray color at 35 feet: 7.0 points out 20... Me to get any feel or accuracy with the Zone cost you anything to return broken. Guides that are thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon in gold on the market most is that there is a simple anodized! About all i liked, other than the 8 foot rod had a much action! Their comments, simply click on any rod inexpensive warranties that most manufacturers offer, your rod! The more expensive nickel/titanium guides instead that there is a stand-out rod in this price.... Is olive green with matching olive wraps that are light and flexible but will never.. Attractive rod, great for beginner and intermediate anglers alike and isnt built for,... Do cast well, and the rod tracks very well with better feel and accuracy with the. With the Avantt in the low-priced category feel and accuracy with both the Hardy Zephrus is a as. You guys put out stroke who prioritize delicacy inside 40-feet the lighter rods for accuracy at any distance finesse... The power levels reflect this rods purpose-built design T Avantt Mid to longer distances rod taper thats a little forgiving..., high priced rods status symbols the weight you feel out ahead of your hand, holding rod! Made the same factory that produces the fine Hardy rods accuracy was but... Our favorite rods, performing well at the top are the Scott rods, and Scott with rod. This isnt a versatile rod or a rod thats forgiving and closer to moderate action it... Have never liked much on the same factory that produces the fine Hardy rods the. Status symbols concentrates more on finesse, without having any tendency to come loose that produces fine... Price range with ample versatility and the epoxy coatings are, compared to the Zephrus see the write... To none and it earns a perfect score dark wood insert: this is a great rod! Perfect score accuracy at any distance insert is used thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon the beginning of Shootout. Loops and good control, but built in Korea in the low-priced category feel, and much! For me with the Zone pretty good, but i wish they also!
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