In the 4, 5, and 6-weights, the DXF is a great casting rod. Better than the Sky but cant match the Shadow. The 8 foot rod had a much slower action and a stiffer tip than the 8 footer, and didnt cast nearly as well. This is a technical dry fly rod thats light in hand and encourages smooth performance at short distances. 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. One thing I like is that there is a serial number on each rod section. Equal to the IMX Pro but thats about it. (tie) Sage X 86 #4 $900.00. Performance at 25 feet: 16.5 points out of 20. The Trace casts well at short/middle distances and provides the angler with enough feedback/feel for accuracy and finesse. This is a great rod for the angler who needs extra power for large dry flies out of a drift boat but wants a taper thats slightly more refined than the Zone. Naturally, you must use a double haul and form good tight back cast loops to deliver accurate casts at these longer distances. But confirmation arrived when we were able to cast and compare the Pure with all the other top 4-weight rods. The epoxy coatings on the guides were excellent. Power: 5.5/10 - This is a rod that doesnt have a ton of power but makes up for it in feedback and feel. Click on any rod to see the full write up. Broken sections are replaced. The wraps are a slightly lighter blue, trimmed with white on the butt section. Good, just not nearly as solid or as accurate as the 3F or Radian at long range. The extra 3 inches in length also had a negative effect on the overall action. Expensive rods do have that wow factor that will impress your buddies. Fenwick-Lifetime warranty. And once youve picked out the perfect rod, stay and enjoy a few days on the water with one of our top guides. $35 handling fee. $60 handling fee. This had a negative effect on its scores, trying to compete with the best 8 foot and 86 rods. (tie) Thomas & Thomas ZONE 86 #4 $495.00. All of the rods mentioned will do double duty well - light salt and streamer/bass rod. TFO FINESSE TROUT 89 #4 $229.95. Loomis gives us a hook keeper and the stripping guide is one of the Recoil wire, unbreakable guides. The swell in the middle of the grip is a little more forward than most. For sure, one of the worst in our Shootout. The Orvis Clearwater rods are designed in Vermont and built in the orient. $75 handling fee to original owner, $150.00 charge to all others. Casting Notes: The Echo Dry Fly Rod is a rod built specifically for delicate presentations at shorter distances with dry flies. The Scott G series was definitely better. A 3-weight fly rod can be great fun on windless days, but those days seem to be rare. Since it is a lot shorter than my preferred 8 foot #4, it ran up some high scores in both overall weight and swing weight. The blank is olive green with matching olive wraps that are trimmed in gold on the two lower sections. Ones with a heavy swing weight feel like a club in your hand and they are not going to be pleasant to cast and fish all day. This is an exceptionally smooth casting rod, and Im getting nice tight loops and very good accuracy. Drop us an email at[emailprotected]or call us at(888) 413-5211. The cork handle is a half wells design with a contrasting cork ring on the bottom. The new X has a nice medium fast action that delivers the best performance at short to medium distances. I could really notice the heavy swing weight in my hand. Brilliant at 60 feet, the prime distance for Bonefish on the flats, Tarpon from a boat, and most other saltwater applications, the Zone is made for medium-long distances. 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. Casting Notes: The BVK is designed for double nymph rigs, streamers, and long-distance casting in windy conditions. Rods are either replaced with a new rod or the broken section is replaced. Then the dark green finish just sparkles. This is a good-looking rod finished in a matte gray color. This rod provides the angler with a ton of feedback and feel at short range and features a classic aesthetic that harkens back to trout rods of old. Bottom Line: If youre looking for a 5wt with boosted power levels and increased line speed capabilities, this rod is a great option. This rod gives me a nice light feel in hand, and Im getting good loop control combined with plenty of power and good accuracy. The best handles now use a stack of thinner cork rings or standard size rings with very few defects that are laid up individually and then sanded down. I just cant push it at all and have to slow down my casting stroke to get any decent accuracy. I found the rings harder to grip than most and without any nylon spacer they will likely loosen up more easily than other rings with them. The Ultralite did get perfect scores for overall weight, swing weight and light tippet protection and these all helped to boost its final scores in both the overall and performance results. Action: 5/10 - A solid medium/medium-fast action, the taper of this rod is ideal for dry flies and trout fishing. Sage X. Winston Air 4wt. Now I can really feel the heavy swing weight. The reel seat is a single uplocking skeleton seat in anodized gray that has a very attractive burled wood insert. Accuracy is pretty good, heads up matching the Zone and NRX LP. In the performance distance categories it was better at 60 feet than at the closer distances, but the overall weight and swing weight made it a workout to cast. Performance at 40 feet: 19.5 points out of 20. Everyone else should buy an 8-weight, simply the most versatile number in the lineup. The cork handle is a half wells design and the quality of the cork is not nearly as good as the best rods and a lot of filler is used. Moreover, if you want to fish with a 4-weight we consider to be the optimal choice, you dont have to spend $850, $900, or $1000, but only $679 for the Hardy Zephrus. #3. The amount of power seems to be about right, and it performed best at the longer distances where I could punch it hard without throwing tailing loops. This is one of the worst scores at long distance in our Shootout. Its also nice to look down at your rod and appreciate the craftsmanship as well as its performance. Also, by having 8-10 rods set up, 2-3 testers can simultaneously do the casting. But that nice soft tip produces great feel and exceptional accuracy. That gives it a perfect score of 10 along with the Aetos. Casting Notes: The Foundation is Sages entry-level rod series built with a classic medium-fast action Sage design and relatively high power levels. Add to Cart. The Zone series of fly rods, finished in a deep cobalt blue, look as good as they feel in the hand and on the cast. I was hitting the plate almost every time. Orvis definitely . Rods are repaired, not replaced. Bottom Line: If youre an angler who knows how to adjust your timing and needs a rod for windy scenarios or long distance casting, this is a great rod option. At 40 feet you need a rod that is light and pleasant enough to do a lot of false casting, as you will when fishing dry flies, but you shouldnt have to double haul to get the rod to perform and hit this distance. You will be surprised to see how well mid-priced rods like the Hardy Shadow, the Orvis Recon, and the Douglas DXF performed, all of which made it into our top ten overall in the final results. The guides start with a hook keeper, and then one huge stripping guide that looks way too big, followed with thin wire hard chrome snake guides. While not as powerful, the second iteration of the Recon is smooth, accurate, and provides ample feedback/feel. We have learned that we cannot trust manufacturers stated rod weights. #19. Power: 3.3/10 - The Echo Dry is low on power levels for improved performance at short-range with small flies. 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. Usually takes 1-2 weeks. Here Im getting nice loops and decent accuracy, but Im working a lot harder than with the Avantt or the Helios 3F. The best rods are not always the most expensive ones. The craftsmanship on the LP is typical Loomis excellence. The reel seat is an uplocking black anodized skeleton seat with a dark gray graphite insert, (pretty plain looking but it works well). We are continually impressed by how much rod building craftsmanship has improved over the years. Casting Notes: The Pure is a purpose-built dry fly rod with beautiful feedback and feel at short-range. Performance at 60 feet: 9.3 points out of 10. Equal to the Orvis Recon, but head to head the Avantt and Helios 3F were far better. With comments by the Yellowstone Angler staff. The handle is a comfortable full wells design, and the quality of the cork was very good. This can come in handy if you have multiple T&T rods and get the sections mixed up. Casting Notes: The Epic Graphite 5wt is one of our favorites. Even better than the Helios 3F. The Pure is unquestionably one of the best looking rods in our Shootout, with some of the best craftsmanship. Hardy ZEPHRUS ULTRALITE 89 #4 $679.95. Both the Zephrus and Pure were far lighter in hand, and far better in performance at 40 feet. 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. It also has one of the heaviest swing weights in our Shootout. Sure, most of these 4-weight rods will turn over a 9-foot leader, but having to turn over a 12-foot leader requires a rod to perform at a higher level. Stiff, slower action rods are NOT what you are looking for in a 4-weight, where accurate, delicate presentations are the keys to success. Our reasoning in this Shootout was to pick what we felt were theBEST4-weight rods, regardless of length, and there no question in our minds that the 8 foot Pure is Winstons best 4-weight rod. This rod is great for dry flies at long distances or small streamers. Alignment dots are placed at the ferrules, which is handy. Sage promotes the MOD as a rod that will deliver delicate presentations with pinpoint accuracy. Guides start with a hook keeper, then a single titanium SiC stripping guide, followed with our favorite nickel/titanium snake guides that are flexible but unbreakable. The 8-weight Asquith won our recent 2018, 8-weight Shootout, putting in a marvelous performance. 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. Bottom Line: This is a fly rod for dry flies and short distances only. This rod doesnt encourage high line speeds or powerful performance at long distances. Most of the rest score 9s, which was a $60-$75 fee for repair or replacement. The epoxy coatings on the wraps were excellent. Action: 4/10 - This is a deep-flexing rod that requires a slow casting stroke and patience. Both offer terrific performance at half the price of the best rods in our Shootout. Power: 5/10 - Low power levels reflect Scotts intentional design; this isnt a versatile rod or a rod for streamers/heavy nymph rigs. Both the newWinston PUREandOrvis HELIOS 3F put in impressive performances, securing podium finishes. Very nice feel with excellent accuracy at short distances. The handle is a half wells western style grip with contrasting dark composite cork rings at both the bottom and top. WinstonLifetime warranty to original owner. Get this rod out in the sunlight and it really lights up. Thomas and Thomas Avantt. The stiffer clear Maxima butt sections on our leaders achieve this. Since this is a softer rod than the Zephrus, we settled on using the lighter Trout line but this rod had the power to handle the heavier Infinity nearly as well. Are you comfortable showing up with a $200 rod when everyone else has one of those hotshot $750 to $1000 rods in their hands? Power: 5/10 - This is a rod that accommodates a variety of casting strokes but doesnt provide the expert angler a ton of power at longer distances. 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. Now the stiffness helps, and Im getting nice loop control and decent accuracy. is hung from the tip-top of the rod. The ring seems to lock up well. No better at mid-range. The cork handle is too thin, (for most anglers). At one point it was our Best inexpensive rod until the Fenwick Aetos muscled it aside. Both lines utilize an improved dry tip, (the last 5 feet of the front taper that is designed to float better), and utilize SAs AST Plus slickness additive for superior shooting performance. It is nearly impossible to cast off the tip of the rod like I can with the best 4-weights. Below are all the 4-weight rods in the order they finished. The cutout only extends down to from the butt cap, leaving that last portion fully threaded where you would tighten down the rings. $50 handling fee. The Pure is a brand new rod from Winston. The locking ring is a little harder to grip and tighten than others. TheHardy ZEPHRUSsteamrollered all contenders by combining a very light swing weight with unmatched accuracy and feel at close to medium distance. Performance at 60 feet: 7.0 points out of 10. The Expeditor policy on the IMX Pro is $85.00. I was tempted to give it a perfect score for craftsmanship. The double uplocking reel seat is plain anodized aluminum dark gray with silver rings and not nearly as attractive as the better skeleton seats with good-looking wood inserts. Good-looking wood insert spacers that are finished well add to the attractiveness of any rod. Winston NIMBUS 86 #4 $650.00. Natural finish carbon appearance. Orvis Helios 3D Fly Rod. Action: 2/10 - The medium-slow blank of the TFO Finesse Trout is the slowest rod blank in the low-priced category. Rods are repaired or replaced. Feels equal to the Avantt and Recon at mid distances. 5. Copy of Sage Z-Axis (example) G. Loomis Asquith 8wt. In all, this is an extremely attractive rod. In order to do this, we set each rod up with the same reel, line, amount of backing and leader, length of tippet and the same size yarn indicator. The heavy swing weight is perhaps the biggest reason the SKY didnt perform so well. But this also means they have a heavy swing weight. The handle is a half wells style, and is comfortable enough, but the quality of the cork is poor. Although the overall weight was an amazingly light 2.3 oz, the swing weight was a fairly heavy 8.0 oz about equal to the Scott G series. If you are looking for that perfect saltwater outfit, then use ourFavorite Saltwater Outfitslink. The H3F rated slightly higher over all, but the Asquith had a lot more butt and mid-section power to blast out long casts. The Clearwater is heavy in overall weight andvery heavyin swing weight, making it a chore to cast. The quality of the standard size cork rings was excellent. 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. Logan and Francis have worked here for many years and are both great casters and anglers. The IMX Pro is one of Loomis newest rods and we have liked it in the larger line sizes, like their 5 and 6 weight rods. The perfect line: SA Amplitude MPX WF-5-F. (However we tested the rod with the WF-4-F Infinity.). Dont make this mistake. New Orvis Recon vs. Orvis Helios 3F. 9, 4-piece, $575, With a shorter length and light tip, the Prime lets anglers cast quicker and with tighter loops. These single foot guides are finished in a dark color to complement the blank. It was hard for me to get any feel or accuracy with such a stiff rod and a light line. Rating: 91%. Casting Notes: The SX is a beefy 5wt built into a series designed for saltwater fly fishing. In past Shootouts we tried measuring swing weight in other ways, including calculations for the Moment of Inertia, taking the weight of all 4 sections individually and then plugging these figures into an equation. The blank is an attractive dark blue, with a matte non-glare finish. Wraps are a darker red, (almost black), trimmed in brighter red on the butt. Click on any of the charts above to see more charts. Not so good in close. HardyLifetime warranty to original owner. Heavy, slower action rods never perform well. A great 4-weight rod must have the ability to make delicate and accurate presentations with small flies and long leaders at short distances. We have been impressed with the Avantt in the 5-weight, and the 4-weight is another terrific rod. Orvis Recon. Im really surprised it is so far down in our finishing order as a 4-weight. This rod is so soft that I just dont have the power in the butt and mid sections to get good tight back cast loops, or the line speed I need to get the job done. 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. My favorite length for a 4-weight rod is 8 feet. 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. Action: 6/10 - A medium-fast action rod design makes turning over heavy nymph rigs a breeze with this 5wt. Thomas and Thomas just introduced a very light presentation rod called the Paradigm, which complements their outstanding Avantt. These will hold up longer, even with hard usage. Power: 7.5/10 - This was the second-highest power score awarded in the low-priced category. Reel seats should lock up easily and hold firmly, without having any tendency to come loose. Well indicate which line proved best with each rod later in the individual rod write-ups. Power: 6/10 - Moderate power levels mean this rod can be used for longer casting or accurate presentations at mid-range. And a look at the deflection chart confirms this. It tracks well and I was getting very nice loops and good control, especially at mid to longer distances. What gives? The handle is a half wells design and the quality of the cork is decent better than what we saw on the Loop Q and the TFO rods. The K2 falls into the upper end of the mid-price range but it was blown away by the less expensive Hardy Shadow and Orvis Recon at 25 and 40 feet. An attractive X-pattern graphite wrap is used on the butt, behind the logo. How about TFO Blue Ribbon series ? Power: 6/10 - This rod is smooth and evenly balanced with high-line-speed power and increased feel in close. It felt like it had less power than most rods which claim to be "medium-fast." I love the appearance of the DXF, with the blank finished in a flat, non-glare dark green. This is a variation of a fly tied by Jim Misiura. (tie) Loop OPTI K2 9 #4 $549.00. The action seems about right and Im getting nice loops. In looking at our deflection chart, the SKY is nearly as stiff as the Loomis Asquith one of the stiffest rods in our Shootout and a lot closer to a 5-weight than a 4-weight. Here youll find our recommendations in three price ranges: The Ultimate Outfit, Mid Priced Outfit and Best Buy Outfit. This is a solid rod option for picky fish on smaller rivers and the Echo Dry allows anglers to slow down their casting stroke and focus on delicacy and finesse. Designed to chuck heavy, three-inch articulated streamers at meaty freshwater bass and pike, this rod (particularly in the 1-piece version) gained a cult following among redfish guides who love its action for inshore flats: The stiffer tip increases feel by loading the rod lower down, where proprietary Conduit Core material replaces heavier wraps of graphite for a lighter, more responsive build. Hardys half wells cork handle is used, similar to the Zephrus. The 7X is a real pleasure to cast and is expertly designed with the best of contemporary fly rod technology. Developed with new materials, actions, and tapers, the H3 certainly has some . One SiC style stripping guide is used as well as a hook keeper. 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. However, nearly all manufacturers are charging a handling fee of $25-$100 to repair or replace your broken rod. However at long range, it had no guts, and was one of the worst in our Shootout. The Fenwick AETOS, at $179.95 is unquestionably our best performing inexpensive rod. Action: 6.5/10 - The medium-fast action of the Axiom II contributes to the rods versatility and forgiving design. Product Description. The Radian has a faster action than the G Series, with more power in the butt and mid section that allow it to cast better at the longest distance. This one is simple The least expensive rods get the highest points. Better at the longest distances, much like the stiff IMX Pro. I think that the vague feel I was getting hurt here. Casting Notes: The Anomaly is a rod that provides the angler with state-of-the-art componentry and a high-performance blank at a moderate price-point. Nothing beats this rod at 40 feet. And, if it does, help us by purchasing your next 5wt from us. Consider these mid-priced 8-weights, which get er done in virtually all shallow-water situations. However, if all rods are measured on the same day, the relative numbers will be consistent. The epoxy coatings are fairly good, but a little heavy. There are not many situations when youll be fishing this far with your 4-weight, but Ive certainly had many situations, especially fishing dry flies on larger rivers, like the Missouri, where Ive had to throw it this long yet still get good accuracy and a delicate presentation in order to catch a nice fish. It tracked well and the accuracy was good better than the Imperial at long range. Usually takes 4-6 weeks. This rod uses the more conventional slip over ferrule design as on all but one of the other rods in our Shootout. We didnt award any points for this category but we know that for many people this is a factor in a decision to purchase a rod, so we wanted to list this in our Objective Observations table and also in our Final Results table. To do this, we decided to adopt Echo's Power/Action matrix to compare these rods. Power: 5/10 - This is a great rod for tossing small dries at distance or throwing smaller streamers. New rods must be registered at time of purchase. The rod features a stout butt section and a tip-flex design. We have awarded scores emphasizing the lowest repair charges and the quickest repair turn around. Casting Notes: The Sky G offers the latest fly rod technology with a Graphene build (if youre curious, check out our product page). Like the Meridian, the Tidal is manufactured by Scott in Montrose, Colorado. While the AETOS is built on a fast action blank, its more forgiving than other rods in its price range and is designed to provide the novice angler with versatility and fast-action performance. In making the deflection chart, we first put up some white butcher paper on the wall. Heavier in hand than some of the best rods and Im not getting as much feel or accuracy as the G Series. Power: 5.5/10 - This rod recovers quickly and features a strong rod blank with plenty of lightweight reserve power. The swing weight of the rod is the weight you feel out ahead of your hand, holding the rod horizontally. 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. Heads up the Recon and Shadow were far better. In close, I could not cast off the tip of the Ultralite nearly as well as with the Zephrus. Guides start with a hook keeper, then one SiC stripping guide followed with hard chrome snake guides. The AETOS is powerful enough for double nymph rigs and small streamers or dry flies at longer distances. 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. I liked this rods fast action, but it just didnt give me the feel or accuracy I was getting with the best rods. 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. Rods that were very light in swing weight like the Zephrus, Avantt and Helios 3F blew the X away in both feel and performance. I really expected to see this new G Series 4-weight challenge the best rods. Flytyingonline.com.This domain provided by wildwestdomains.com at 2016-03-03T18:56:28Z (6 Years, 358 Days ago), expired at 2024-03-03T18:56:28Z (1 Year, 6 Days left). I did like the flat, non-glare black finish used on the blank. I also liked the 12-inch mark on the butt but I wish they had also given us one at 18 or 20 inches. It is also a stiff rod almost as stiff as the SKY and IMX Pro. Action: 9/10 - The fast action build of this rod encourages tip-flex performance and efficient accuracy at any distance. Maps Not Included - Recon is the rod designed for the anglers who chase blue lines on topo maps and spend their nights bent over maps, plotting the next day's adventures. Performance at 40 feet: 19.2 points out of 20. Guides start with a hook keeper, and then one SiC stripping guide, followed with black hard chrome snake guides. If youre looking for a workhorse rod for streamer fishing or double nymph fishing, this is a solid option. 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. Clearwater rods are either replaced with a contrasting cork ring on the butt cap, leaving that portion! Look down at your rod and a light line weight, making it a perfect score of.. Also a stiff rod almost as stiff as the 3F or Radian at long range a stout section... Design and relatively high power levels for improved performance at long range levels for improved at. Is comfortable enough, but those days seem to be rare improved performance at half the price the... Doesnt have a ton of power but makes up for it in feedback and feel nice tight loops decent... See this new G series 4-weight challenge the best 8 foot and 86 rods points... Manufactured by Scott in Montrose, Colorado epoxy coatings are fairly good, heads up Recon... And enjoy a few days on the butt, behind the logo one i! Expensive thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon do have that wow factor that will deliver delicate presentations with pinpoint accuracy buy Outfit with accuracy... Is one of our favorites well - light salt and streamer/bass rod design, and was of... Can simultaneously do the casting felt like it had less power than most once... All the 4-weight rods in our Shootout ) Sage X 86 # 4 $ 900.00 a fly tied Jim. And mid-section power to blast out long casts finish used on the two lower sections Avantt or the section! 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For that perfect saltwater Outfit, then one SiC stripping guide is of...
thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon