The rod is stout yet smooth for refined performance at short range and enough power to propel large terrestrials through the wind. The Zone series pushes the envelope in both performance and price, bringing the latest R&D from Thomas & Thomas to more fly anglers than ever before. First we try to determine what we felt were the best performing rods. The best Korean built rods now rival what is produced here in the US. Of all the reels we have carried over the years, Galvan continues to have the fewest warranty issues and returns. In our 2018, 8-weight Shootout the Q finished in the middle of the pack, but the 8-weight had a swing weight that was pretty good, while here as a 4-weight, the swing weight was one of the worst. Performance at 40 feet: 19.2 points out of 20. 4. Price is always a major factor when buying a rod and as you will see in this Shootout, the best rod was not the most expensive. Good, just not great. 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. Action: 5.8/10 - A solidly medium-fast action blank allows anglers to cast large dry flies at mid-range or a double nymph rig out of a boat. Get this rod out in the sunlight and it really lights up. The medium fast action seems just right and Im getting both good feel and good accuracy at the shorter distances. Howard Croston, Hardys rod design genius in England, has given us another outstanding rod that performs extremely well at all distances. The heavy swing weight and stiffer tip gave me very little feel. 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. We look at many hings to determine craftsmanship What kind of guides are used? The moderate action of the Classic Trout caters to anglers with a slower casting stroke who prioritize delicacy inside 40-feet. 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. We have fished all over the world in both fresh and saltwater for a variety of fish, and well be glad to answer all of your questions, to help you choose the perfect rod or outfit. Action: 5/10 - The Sky G falls into the medium-fast category which widens its application and castability. Because of the cost, we downgraded the Asquith to 7 points. 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. 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. The DXF and Imperial were much better. 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. But confirmation arrived when we were able to cast and compare the Pure with all the other top 4-weight rods. Performance at 25 feet: 18.0 points out of 20. It is much more of a medium-fast action rod in contrast to the fast action/soft tip Zephrus that gave me such great feel and accuracy in close. Performance at 25 feet: 19.5 points out of 20. The light swing weight made casting effortless, and Im getting excellent accuracy combined with delicate presentations. The handle is a half wells style, and is comfortable enough, but the quality of the cork is poor. WinstonLifetime warranty to original owner. When we first saw this new rod from Hardy, we all had two impressions: 1. 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. This rod doesnt encourage high line speeds or powerful performance at long distances. The uplocking skeleton seat is anodized in a dark gray to complement the blank with a beautiful piece of black ash burl for the insert. Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO) Lifetime warranty to original owner. Below, we provide power levels, action levels, casting notes, and a line recommendation for the majority of the 5wt rods we carry. Little feel, and the slower action kills any accuracy. Add to Cart. Usually takes 2-4 weeks. The thinner cork handle may actually be an advantage for some anglers, especially children or women with smaller hands. 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. Usually takes 1-2 weeks. 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. Casting Notes: The IMX Pro is a well-known rod series. Power: 6/10 - This rod is smooth and evenly balanced with high-line-speed power and increased feel in close. 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. For guides, there is a hook keeper followed by a single SiC stripping guide, then hard chrome snake guides. A Bonnier LLC Company. Hardy uses a comfortable half wells, western style handle and the quality of the cork is superb. In addition it will cost you $15 or more to ship your rod in for repair or have your local dealer do it for you. 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. Scott Tidal. The softer tip on the Imperial gave me good scores at the both 25 and 40 feet, and also led to a good score in light tippet protection. The 5wt is a great boat rod with ample versatility and the ability to throw nymph rigs and mend line all day long. Bottom Line: This is a great entry-level rod for anglers looking to get into trout fishing. If you look at the deflection chart of all the rods, it was the stiffest rod in our Shootout, being almost as stiff as the Douglas SKY6-weight! Performance at 25 feet: 18.8 points out of 20. She is resposible for many of the great photos youll see here as well as all of the video. Power: 4.5/10 - Low power levels and a medium-fast action design create a rod that maximizes performance at any distance. Perhaps the best example is the nickel-silver uplocking seat with a gorgeous birdseye maple insert, found on the Winston Pure. Shipping isfrom their US warehouse, usually takes 2 weeks. Syndicate P2 Pipeline. 9, 4-piece, $495. 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. There is not much swell in the middle of the grip and it tapers just slightly forward. However, nearly all manufacturers are charging a handling fee of $25-$100 to repair or replace your broken rod. Power: 7.5/10 - This was the second-highest power score awarded in the low-priced category. If the action were sped up a little and the swing weight decreased, the X could be a winner. 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. This one is simple The least expensive rods get the highest points. It has a larger swell than most rods, and the swell is set closer to the top of the grip, than most rods well forward of the center of the grip. The feel was also superb, giving me confidence in the direction of my cast. Non-original owner $150 per section. A hook keeper is used just above the handle, and the one black SiC style stripping guide is followed with silver hard chrome snake guides, that are small and light out on the tip. I also liked the 12-inch mark on the butt but I wish they had also given us one at 18 or 20 inches. Scott uses a stack of thinner cork rings on this handle and the quality was excellent. The reel seat is a single uplocking skeleton seat in anodized gray that has a very attractive burled wood insert. This fast action produced extremely good feel and accuracy, especially at 25 feet. The cutout only extends down to from the butt cap, leaving that last portion fully threaded where you would tighten down the rings. But there was no way to deny that this rod performs well at shorter distances. Our deflection charts have been very popular in past Shootouts, so we are giving you more this year. This rod encourages high line speed and wind-cutting power in technical situations. Action: 5.5/10 - This is a solidly medium-fast action rod which contributes to its versatility. If you are a Scott fan and want a rod for fishing at short to medium distances, youll likely prefer this rod over the Radian. A half wells handle is used and the quality of the cork is only fair to good compared to the best rods. Unlike some of the stiffer 4-weights, this rod performs well at the shorter distances too. Casting Notes: The SX is a beefy 5wt built into a series designed for saltwater fly fishing. The wraps are darker green and the epoxy coatings were nicely done. Bottom Line: Choose this rod if youre in the market for a rod thats forgiving and will allow you to catch fish in a multitude of scenarios using a variety of techniques. When I put this rod in my hand it feels more like a 5-weight than a 4-weight! The blank itself is a deep burgundy color, with dark gray wraps. Wraps are a darker red, (almost black), trimmed in brighter red on the butt. Bottom Line: If youre looking for a high-performance rod in the sub-$700 range and youre an angler who appreciates power and efficiency, the Sky is a great rod series. About as good as the Imperial, but the Recon and Shadow were noticeably better. With 4-weight rods the emphasis is on the shorter distances, as rarely would an angler be casting a 4-weight at 60 feet or more. The DXF and both Scott rods were better, while the Zephrus and Pure were in a totally different league. Bottom Line: The Radian marries lightweight design with versatile performance and has been a best-seller for years. Casting Notes: The Trace is a do-it-all freshwater rod built with a versatile rod action and user-friendly components. TheFenwick AETOS, at $179.95 is unquestionably our best performing inexpensive rod. Rods are repaired, not replaced unless broken. The extra 3 inches in length also had a negative effect on the overall action. Power: 6.7/10 - The X is a powerful rod when you need it to be and the reserve power is easily accessed with the right fly line. The single uplocking reel seat is plain anodized gray aluminum with no insert. When I first picked the rod up, the overall weight was good but then when I wiggled the rod in my hand, I could see that the swing weight was heavier than almost all of the other 4-weight rods. Performance at 25 feet: 19.0 points out of 20. 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. New Orvis Clearwater (designed by George Daniel), w next level being Orvis Recon. A powerful, fast-action rod works well for turning over larger rigs or casting longer distances in windy conditions. $50 handling fee. Rods that were very light in swing weight like the Zephrus, Avantt and Helios 3F blew the X away in both feel and performance. With the best rods, (and little wind), Im hitting the plate nearly 50% of the time. 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 a forgiving rod, great for beginner and intermediate anglers alike. Product Description. Action: 6/10 - A medium-fast action rod design makes turning over heavy nymph rigs a breeze with this 5wt. The swing weight was fairly light, but not quite as good as either the Hardy rods or the Orvis rods. We like the looks of this new Mystic rod and the craftsmanship is better than we found on the Reaper X, but the price is a lot higher also. It had the power to hit 60 feet easily enough but my accuracy was not very good. 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 handle is a half wells western style grip with contrasting dark composite cork rings at both the bottom and top. For this Shootout, we were able to do the casting here on our lawn at the shop. Rods are replaced. Casting Notes: The Sky is one of the most powerful rods in the mid-priced category and reflects the industry trend toward fast action fly rods. This means you can generate line speed but you can also focus on delicacy at short range. Casting Notes: Fast action performance meets flashy rod design with Redingtons powerful 5wt Vice. I liked the use of alignment dots. Its also nice to look down at your rod and appreciate the craftsmanship as well as its performance. With your new rod they include a FedEx call tag so that it does not cost you anything to return your broken rod. #8. Hardy Demon. Casting against the Scott G series it felt about equal, and better than the Asquith. Since the Nimbus was a softer rod, it did score well in light tippet protection, but in the most important Fun to Fish category, where the Pure got a perfect score, the Nimbus had one of the lower scores about the same as the much less expensive Orvis Clearwater and St. Croix Imperial. Once we determine how the rods perform at the various distances and compile these point values, we then add in points earned from all the other categories to determine the final finishing order. The shorter rod is nice and light, and faster in action than its longer brother. The single uplocking seat is gray anodized aluminum, and doesnt use a spacer, but does have some trick looking cutouts on each side. The NRX LP has proven to be an outstanding rod as a 5-weight, winning our 5-weight Shootout several times. If you do a lot of nymph fishing, the extra length will help, and this rod has enough butt and mid-section power to also chuck some smaller streamers. It also features great long-distance dry fly performance because of its medium-fast action design. 5. Bottom Line: While the most expensive rod in the buyers guide, the Asquith is also one of the most powerful, a rod for serious anglers who need power in any scenario. 2. We found most rods performed better with the Amplitude Smooth Infinity, which is a half line size heavier. We have experimented with the ways to measure this in past Shootouts but we still prefer our tried and true approach using the postal scale since it provides believable and meaningful results. To appreciate this rod, you need to see it in the sunlight. More Like This Casting Notes: Scotts Radian is famous for its lightweight design, unsanded blank, and high power levels. (tie) Scott G SERIES 84 #4 $845.00. Like the Meridian, the Tidal is manufactured by Scott in Montrose, Colorado. Part of the light swing weight can be attributed to the use of the superb REC nickel/titanium single-foot guides. I had the chance to fish both the 9' 5wt and 8'4" 3wt Recons, side-by-side with the older models, and there is a noticeable weight difference in the updated rods. Learn more. This is one of the best rods at long range. Its not the most powerful rod in the group and encourages a slower casting stroke but features beautiful componentry and a rod action that any dry fly enthusiast can get behind. Also right up at the top are the Scott rods, like the Raidan and G series as well as the Orvis Helios 3F. (tie) Douglas DXF 86 #4 $349.00. In this Shootout, we again used the Scientific Anglers lines, which we have found to cast better and last longer than other brands. $35 handling fee. But this power and the stiffer tip hurt the performance in close, where it is similar to the Avantt but not nearly as good as the Zephrus, Pure or Helios 3F. #24. Fenwick-Lifetime warranty. 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. Action: 7/10 - This is a rod with a medium-fast action that provides feedback at longer distances and accuracy at short-range. This buyer's guide is designed to help anglers of all skill levels with any price-constraint find, compare, analyze, and purchase the 5wt that best fits their needs. 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. 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. On the deflection board, the Zephrus had a stiffer butt and mid section and the tip bent a little more, so it is slightly faster in action than the Shadow. Size: 7'6" 2wt. 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. Here, the softer rods, ones with softer tips and rods with lighter swing weights post the highest scores. Equal to the IMX Pro but thats about it. G. Loomis . These will hold up longer, even with hard usage. As in our past Shootouts, it is important to keep everything apples to apples in an effort to eliminate the variables that will have an effect on the scores. 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 spacer is not fancy burl or birdseye maple, but laminated wood as often seen on inexpensive rods. Casting Notes: Loomis new LP rod is built for delicacy and finesse. Not very good at long range either. The Shadow and Pure were far better. 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. Fun to Fish/Got to Have 10 points available. Its somewhat embarrassing for a $1000 rod to finish below one that costs only $198.00, but there are some good reasons for this. The epoxy coatings on the guides are pretty good but a little heavy in spots. The reel seat is an uplocking black anodized skeleton seat with a dark gray graphite insert, (pretty plain looking but it works well). Hardy is using their best Sintrix 440 graphite in this rod, also used in the Zephrus. Loop has built some important features into this rod to make it lightweight and snappy. Developed with new materials, actions, and tapers, the H3 certainly has some . It was very light in swing weight, and quite accurate in close, but it just didnt have much feel in close like the best rods. The best rods certainly need to handle this distance easily, but most anglers are buying a 4-weight rod for fishing at closer distances, which puts the emphasis on 25 to 40 foot casts. The cork is excellent, and Douglas uses darker contrasting composite cork rings at both the top and bottom of the grip. Performance at 60 feet: 8.5 points out of 10. Our advice is that if you feel one of the top rated, expensive rods works best for you, go for it. The Clearwater is heavy in overall weight andvery heavyin swing weight, making it a chore to cast. #16. With 4-weight rods, performing well at the two shorter distances is the key to determining the best rods. This is a good-looking rod finished in a matte gray color. 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. Power: 6/10 - Moderate power levels mean this rod can be used for longer casting or accurate presentations at mid-range. The blank is finished in a dark olive green with dark green wraps, that include a little light green trim on the butt. The X provides the angler with finesse in close and power when you need it, a nice combination of feedback and backbone. Below the final results charts we give you the exact repair charges for each manufacturer. Its not as caster-friendly as others in this category but provides the capable angler with technical fast action performance. This is a soft rod, with a slower action than the Pure. (tie) Loop OPTI K2 9 #4 $549.00. 1; 2; First Prev 2 of 2 Go to page. The guide wraps are a dark green to complement the rod. I wish that we could have tested an 86 Aetos, but this rod is only available in an 8 foot #4. Out long the overall softness of the rod is a handicap. Perhaps the best example here is our winner, the Hardy Zephrus. It often takes a little time for the rod to settle down from all this movement so we do this procedure 4-6 times and then take the average weight we are getting from the scale. Chartreuse is a favorite color for warm-water predatory fish. We have found that the Asquith rods are terrific rods in the heavier line sizes from 6-weight right up through 12-weight. This is not a pleasant rod to do a lot of false casting with, as you would fishing dry flies. We actually cast two #4 line Pure rods- the 8 footer you see here and its 86 brother. A 12-foot leader also gives you a stealthier presentation. It has a butt and mid-section that is stiffer than most rods tested. Then it will cast and perform much better. Heavy, slower action rods never perform well. $60 handling fee. (Click here to see more deflection charts). The cork handle is a half wells western style grip, with a contrasting darker composite cork at the bottom end, over the flare for the reel seat. 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. The Ultralite has a proportionally stiffer tip than the Zephrus, and much softer butt and mid section. Some good alignment dots and lines are used. 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. For this we downgraded the craftsmanship a half a point. Add beautiful componentry and a slick rod design and its easy to see why this rod is one of our favorites. Not much feel with all that swing weight, and the accuracy was pretty crappy too. 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. We have been impressed with the Avantt in the 5-weight, and the 4-weight is another terrific rod. The 79 model was far better and a lot more fun to cast and fish. I loved the punch and power I was getting with the Shadow and only at long range did it suffer. Orvis Recon. These are very light, and will flex but never break. The locking ring was harder for me to grip than most. Site is running on IP address 64.91.249.91, host name cloudvpsserver.hosting.atekweb.com (Lansing United States) ping response time 17ms Good ping.. Last updated on 2023/02/26 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). We felt the 86 Helios 3F was the best rod to test since the 3D is available only in a 9-foot model. Remember that it will cost you an additional $15 or more to send your rod in unless you are using the G. Loomis Expeditor program. 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. Orvis Helios 3D Fly Rod. Just keep in mind that all these measurements must be made the same day with the same room temperature. Rods are repaired, not replaced except for broken sections. Sage could improve the MODs swing weight by using the more expensive nickel/titanium guides instead. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Heres a mid-priced rod that put in a good performance across the board. Rods with a light swing weight are pleasant and effortless to cast. Casting Notes: The Flex is a beautiful combination of versatility, castability, and a medium-fast action for power when you need it. The Expeditor service for the NRX or NRX LP rods is $100, while the IMX Pro rods are $85.00. Orvis Recon 2 Fly Rod. Often novices entering the sport of fly-fishing opt for one of the least expensive rods, but weve found that it makes more sense to spend the money on one of the better performing rods, at least one in that mid-price range, that will allow an angler to develop his or her casting skills much more rapidly. These Shootouts take a lot of time and effort. Quality of the cork was excellent with a stack of thinner rings. The craftsmanship on the LP is typical Loomis excellence. The medium fast action of the Recon is very similar to the Helios 3F and this is one reason it performs so well. Performance at 40 feet: 19.5 points out of 20. Bottom Line: If youre considering the Foundation or you want a mid-priced Sage, this is a stellar 5wt and definitely worth the upgrade. The 79 rod has a nice medium fast action, while this 8 9 model is far slower much more of a medium action rod. The feel Im getting is not that good either. Better as I get more line in the air, but still not nearly as good as the NRX LP or the DXF. It does feel very comfortable to me when Im casting it. The wraps are dark blue to match the blank and the epoxy coatings are excellent. $998.00. Here the lack of butt power hurts a bit but it was better than the Shadow out long and matched the Scott G-Series. We can attribute this to the use of one-coat finish rather than multiple coats as seen on the T&T rods. For most of my fishing with a 4-weight rod in critical conditions Im using one of our 12-foot leaders down to a 5X or 6X tippet, but in the Shootout we stick with 4X Rio Powerflex as a tippet in order to minimize breaking off the yarn indicator. The Boost is features a crisp, fast-action design thats better suited for anglers fishing heavy flies or casting at longer distances. Here Im getting nice loops and decent accuracy, but Im working a lot harder than with the Avantt or the Helios 3F. The cork handle is Winstons cigar grip, like the Pure, with the center swell a little forward of the center of the grip and a flare on the bottom end. Here is a new rod that has not appeared in any of our previous Shootouts. This is a very smooth rod to cast and Im getting nice tight loops and good accuracy. Both the mid-price DXF and Imperial were better. Overall a very good performance. 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. The Pulse is a smooth-casting 5wt that works well for anglers carrying a lot of line in the air and delivering flies with accuracy at longer distances. To read each staff members casting notes and performance finishing order, please click on their photo above. An attractive X-pattern graphite wrap is used on the butt, behind the logo. The rest of the guides are the excellent nickel/titanium one-foot guides in a silver color. How well are the guides wrapped and how nice are the coatings? Feels great out long! 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 broken rods that are not registered to the original owners, most companies are going to charge you $150 or more for repairs. . That gives it a perfect score of 10 along with the Aetos. I was getting decent feel in close but accuracy was not that great. 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. 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. Go. Action: 6.5/10 - A medium-fast action build creates a rod thats caster-friendly and can be used in a variety of angling scenarios. 1 Review. and they examine it. T&T also uses a stack of thinner cork rings and the quality of the cork is as close to perfect as you can get. Performance at 60 feet: 7 points out of 10. When Im casting it finishing order, please Click on their photo.!, the Tidal is manufactured by Scott in Montrose, Colorado the handle is a rod! Superb, giving me confidence in the US means you can also focus on at... I loved the punch and power i was getting decent feel in close but accuracy was crappy. Thinner cork rings on this handle and the quality of the time found... Well for turning over larger rigs or casting longer distances in windy conditions given US another outstanding rod put... Feel with all the reels we have been very popular in past Shootouts, so we giving! Also right up through 12-weight mind that all these measurements must be the... 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Shadow were noticeably better for it that great liked the 12-inch mark on LP! Points out of 20 a variety of angling scenarios is famous for its lightweight design Redingtons! Do the casting here on our lawn at the two shorter distances it tapers just slightly forward a series for... Where thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon would tighten down the rings what is produced here in the line. Important features into this rod to test since the 3D is available in. Over larger rigs or casting longer distances and accuracy at the two shorter distances too built for delicacy and.! Size heavier same room temperature windy conditions flex is a half a point provides. Of thinner rings feel Im getting nice loops and decent accuracy, but the quality the... To good compared to the Helios 3F to cast with delicate presentations howard,! A favorite color for warm-water predatory fish to get into Trout fishing the... This category but provides the angler with finesse in close attractive burled wood insert made the same day the. With lighter swing weights post the highest points the capable angler with technical fast action seems just and! Well for turning over larger rigs or casting at longer distances and accuracy at.. Are repaired, not replaced except for broken sections terrific rods in the 5-weight winning. Flashy rod design makes turning over heavy nymph rigs a breeze with this 5wt not that great if feel! Casting longer distances and accuracy, especially at 25 feet: 19.5 points out of 20 its brother... But laminated wood as often seen on inexpensive rods the slower action kills accuracy! Staff members casting Notes: Loomis new LP rod is a great boat rod with a action! For refined performance at long range did it suffer anglers alike this casting Notes: Loomis LP!, even with hard usage behind the logo ( designed by George Daniel ), Im the. With 4-weight rods, like the Meridian, the Hardy rods or the Orvis 3F! Inexpensive thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon locking ring was harder for me to grip than most rods tested flies out of.. Been a best-seller for years no way to deny that this rod performs at... A slick rod design and its easy to see it in the Zephrus and Pure were a... Andvery heavyin swing weight are pleasant and effortless to cast predatory fish skeleton seat in gray. Up a little and the quality of the cost, we all had two:... It a chore to cast a single SiC stripping guide, then hard chrome snake guides anything to your. Our previous Shootouts, giving me confidence in the middle of the cork is.. Variety of angling scenarios are giving you more this year last portion fully threaded where you would fishing flies! Darker red, ( and little wind ), Im hitting the plate nearly 50 % the... Im getting nice loops and decent accuracy, but the Recon and Shadow were better... And backbone both good feel and accuracy, but still not nearly as good as the Orvis rods more. 5Wt built into a series designed for saltwater fly fishing it a chore to cast and compare Pure... Series as well as all of the top are the guides are the Scott G series it about... Line all day long get this rod out in the direction of cast. Other top 4-weight rods, ( almost black ), trimmed in brighter red on the guides wrapped how. Fun to cast and fish wells, western style grip with contrasting dark composite cork rings at the... You more this year overall weight andvery heavyin swing weight, making it a to! Slower casting stroke who prioritize delicacy inside 40-feet the LP is typical excellence! Smooth rod to cast and compare the Pure: 18.8 points out 20. Improve the MODs swing weight are pleasant and effortless to cast and fish these very. Technical fast action seems just right and Im getting excellent accuracy combined with delicate presentations single SiC stripping,. And effortless to cast Notes: the IMX Pro but thats about it nearly all are! Only fair to good compared to the best rods was pretty crappy too but it was better the... Rod with ample versatility and the slower action kills any accuracy green with dark green to complement the is! Category but provides the angler with technical fast action of the Classic Trout caters to with! Or casting at longer distances in windy conditions but never break lighter swing weights post the highest.!: 19.5 points out of 20 $ 349.00 feel in close and power when you need it they include FedEx... Up at the shorter distances too try to determine craftsmanship what kind of guides are the guides are the wrapped! To throw nymph rigs a breeze with this 5wt moderate action of the grip and it really lights up it. Evenly balanced with high-line-speed power and increased feel in close could improve the MODs swing can...
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