The guides start with a hook keeper, and then one relatively small silver SiC stripping guide, followed with hard chrome single-foot guides. Bad Ass Glass Quickshot. Lastly, the rod sock is superior, and will dry out quickly even if you put your rod away wet. 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. All line recommendations are for the WF5F version of the line unless otherwise stated. Action: 6.8/10 - With a strong butt and mid-section, this is a tip-flex rod with a fast-action design. Removing the spool requires a simple click of the button on the front side. Scott Sector Fly Rod. Quality of the cork was excellent with a stack of thinner rings. Power: 8.5/10 - Higher power levels make this rod a great choice in wind or large water. The reel seat is an unusual, triangular shaped silver anodized seat with no spacer. A black anodized uplocking skeleton seat is used with one ring and sliding band. Scott claims that this gives their rods better strength and we cannot argue with this as we see very few Scott rods broken. The big reason it didnt do better than middle of the pack was the action. 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. Performance at 40 feet: 19.2 points out of 20. #16. The action is much slower, this being more of a medium action rod. #15. The Avantt tied the Pure for the only perfect scores in Craftsmanship. It is also a soft rod, so it scored very well in light tippet protection. 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. But these methods and calculations were disconnected from what we were actually experiencing in our hand so, for our last 4 Shootouts, we have gone back to our original method of calculation, explained above. 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. This year, as is the norm in the industry, all of the rods tested are 4 piece rods. The Clearwater is finished in a dark gray color with dark olive guide wraps. Performance at 60 feet: 8.0 points out of 10. Action: 8/10 - This is an ultra-fast action rod. I look for rods that feel totally solid and track well. Im getting nicely controlled loops and good presentations. Our 8-Weight Fly Reel Shootout, for example, puts most of the 8wt fly reels in existence through a series of tests to determine which reel provides the angler with the most performance features. It tracks well and I was getting very nice loops and good control, especially at mid to longer distances. The cork is a stack of thin rings, and the quality of the cork is excellent. Our hand tied leaders, using stiffer clear Maxima for the butt and midsections, turn over better and more accurately than any of the knotless leaders on the market. And once youve picked out the perfect rod, stay and enjoy a few days on the water with one of our top guides. I loved the crisp, fast action of the Avantt and its light swing weight, but unfortunately the Zone is not nearly as nice. Fly rod action, on the other hand, is how a fly rod flexes when cast. Fly rod power and fly rod action help answer the question 'what kind of fishing is this fly rod best suited for?'. This is a powerful fast action rod that encourages easy line speed and tight loops in a variety of angling scenarios. We have found that the Asquith rods are terrific rods in the heavier line sizes from 6-weight right up through 12-weight. If you own a money tree and enough real estate to warehouse dozens of situation-specific fly rods, stop reading now. Loop has built some important features into this rod to make it lightweight and snappy. The guides are one hook keeper; a single SiC stripper and then all the rest are hard chrome snake guides that are durable but heavy. My son, Jamie is also a fanatical fly fisherman and a great caster. You can read about these warranty policies later in our Shootout. But the accuracy was still not as good as the best rods. 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. Performance at 40 feet: 19.0 points out of 20. Syndicate P2 Pipeline. This rod has good power in the butt and mid sections and a softer tip, much like the action on some of our top rated rods. Casting Notes: The IMX Pro is a well-known rod series. 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. 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. 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. We should have probably dropped this longer Finesse from our Shootout as the shorter 79 Finesse performed so much better. For this 4-weight Shootout, we decided to make the short distance 25 feet, the mid-distance 40 feet, and the longest distance 60 feet. But when I need to reach out and make casts at 60-70 feet, as I often do fishing bigger rivers like the Missouri, the Zephrus has tons of power on tap to get the job done. Even with the lighter Trout line, it is hard to maintain good loops and get any kind of decent accuracy. Power: 7/10 - The power levels on this rod are pretty great. But superior craftsmanship commands a much higher price! How well are the guides wrapped and how nice are the coatings? To appreciate this rod, you need to see it in the sunlight. Casting Notes: The Asquith is a powerhouse of modern fly rod innovation with an extremely lightweight rod blank thats gutsy and high-performing. The epoxy coatings on the guides were excellent. Thomas & Thomas Zone. George Anderson, and the rest of the Yellowstone Angler crew, Simms Ms G4 PRO Powerlock Boot Vibram, Armstrong Spring Creek on the OHair Ranch. The brown dull coating of the blank and the red wraps provide an original look. For guides, there is a hook keeper, then a single SiC stripping guide, followed with hard chrome snake guides that are nice and thin on the tip sections. To get a 10, repair charges had to be $35 or less with a quick turn around time of less than two weeks. #8. Rating: 91%. The Hardy Shadow that tied for 4thplace sells for only $350.00. Casting Notes: Fast action performance meets flashy rod design with Redingtons powerful 5wt Vice. Usually takes 1-2 weeks. We value your comments about the Shootout and invite any questions you might have about it or your tackle needs. Feels good in my hand, and Im able to cast well off the tip. Bottom Line: Weve been recommending the DXF 5wt in this price range for a while and think it provides the most performance for the lowest cost in the mid-priced category. In this years 4-weight Shootout, we found that most manufacturers are building more powerful 4-weight rods than in the past. Now the stiffness is becoming an advantage, and Im getting some nice tight loops. Light Tippet Protection 20 points available. There is no question that the craftsmanship is better on the very best rods, and with a few exceptions they do perform better than the less expensive rods. We also kept on hand, and compared, what we felt was the very best rod the Hardy Zephrus. The Clearwater is heavy in overall weight andvery heavyin swing weight, making it a chore to cast. Some good alignment dots and lines are used. The Radian placed 2ndin our last 5-weight Shootout and I was surprised to see that it was this far down the list in a 4-weight. Both the mid-price DXF and Imperial were better. 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. Power: 5/10 - The Shadow has some reserve power that can be taken advantage of by anglers who are in tune with their timing and casting stroke. Action: 6/10 - A medium-fast action rod design makes turning over heavy nymph rigs a breeze with this 5wt. This makes for a very comfortable grip that improves casting at longer distances. The rings should be easy to grip and tighten. Chartreuse is a favorite color for warm-water predatory fish. Nice tight loops and good control. We actually cast two #4 line Pure rods- the 8 footer you see here and its 86 brother. I was getting far better presentations and accuracy with both the Hardy Zephrus and Winston Pure. But the stiffness of this rod and its heavy swing weight hurt the performance scores, especially at the shorter distances. The other reason is that this 9 #4 SKY is just too stiff for a 4-weight. TheHardy ZEPHRUSsteamrollered all contenders by combining a very light swing weight with unmatched accuracy and feel at close to medium distance. Performance at 40 feet: 18.0 points out of 20. The cork handle is too thin, (for most anglers). 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. Power: 5.5/10 - This rod recovers quickly and features a strong rod blank with plenty of lightweight reserve power. Casting Notes: Distance and power are the name of the game with the Helios 3D. A little better here but the DXF still puts it to shame. The stiffness and slower action hurt its scores in a lot of categories. But that nice soft tip produces great feel and exceptional accuracy. Performance at 25 feet: 16.5 points out of 20. Its slightly more refined than the 3D but maintains a smooth, powerful action. Perhaps the best example is the nickel-silver uplocking seat with a gorgeous birdseye maple insert, found on the Winston Pure. Mystic Reaper. Orvis definitely . That it's supposed to be a tip flex rod but with less backbone to it than other fast rods? Guides start with a hook keeper on the butt, and then two SiC stripping guides, followed with hard chrome snake guides that are large in diameter but thankfully use smaller diameter wire. In the 4, 5, and 6-weights, the DXF is a great casting rod. Slower action rods with a heavy swing weight are not much fun to cast and as youll see the performance figures for this rod are dismal. 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. I also like the alignment dots. This fast action produced extremely good feel and accuracy, especially at 25 feet. Little feel, and the slower action kills any accuracy. Swing weight was light but not as good as the Zephrus or Pure. 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. This rod uses spigot ferrules, rather than the slipover ferrule design found on most rods including the Scott Radian. Rather than give us their beautiful nickel silver uplocking seat with a fancy wood spacer of birdseye maple as on the Pure, the Nimbus uses a silver anodized uplocking aluminum skeleton seat with one wide ring and sliding band. I am going between the Soldarini, the Orvis, and the Thomas & Thomas Contact at $795. The very light swing weight confirms this. Casting Notes: The Zone is a versatile freshwater 5wt with the ability to throw a variety of flies from nymphs to dries to small streamers. Product Description. The length and model on each rod section is inscribed as on the K2. Casting Notes: The NRX+ Freshwater Rod is an ultra-fast action rod made for big flies and technical scenarios. If you feel your rod has broken because of a defect, you pay to send the rod to their warranty dept. The stiffness hurt in close but this is one of the very best performing rods at long range. 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. But in looking closely at the Hardy Zephrus, Ultralite, and the Douglas SKY, they are also definitely near the top end of the craftsmanship ladder. Equal to the IMX Pro but thats about it. Drop us an email at[emailprotected]or call us at(888) 413-5211. For the lighter rods, we used their Amplitude Smooth Trout. Performance at 60 feet: 9.5 points out of 10. However, as youll see in the Performance Only scores, it finished much higher in 12thplace. 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. Wouldn't it be a better general 5# rod choice than Pro3 with MF action ? Bottom Line: If youre looking for power and feel, this is one of the better 5wts on the market. Most of the rest score 9s, which was a $60-$75 fee for repair or replacement. More manufacturers should use light guides like this to minimize swing weight if they arent using the more expensive nickel-titanium guides. This is a very pleasant rod to cast, and I was especially impressed at what nice tight loops I was getting at long range, where it proved to be better than any other rod tested, even the powerful Asquith. Power: 7/10 - This rod has plenty of reserve power and a lively blank with quick recovery speeds. Once the grip of the rod is placed precisely on the foam pellet, with the rod horizontal, we apply pressure, by pressing down with a fingernail to the very end of the reel seat, and then read (and note) the weight indicated by the scale. Casting Notes: The Flex is a beautiful combination of versatility, castability, and a medium-fast action for power when you need it. As part of the Expeditor policy, Loomis includes a FedEx call tag so that you dont have to spend any money to send the broken rod back. A lot heavier in hand than the Pure, and the stiffer tip is not giving me much feel. I just dont think the 3Fd is nearly as good looking as some of the more traditional looking rods, in our Shootout like the Scott, Winston, T&T, and Hardy. The skeleton reel seat is a gray anodized double uplocking with a dark gray laminated wood insert. Winston PURE 8 #4 $850.00. Only the Loop Q was worse. If you are thinking about buying a fly rod, we suggest reading one of our Shootouts for the line size rod you want. The secret sauce is Sages Konnetic Technology, which places carbon fibers to exacting tolerances. The epoxy coatings on the guides were good for the most part but a little too heavy on some guides. Action: 5/10 - The Epic Graphite features a mid-flex design and a soft tip for accuracy at any distance. The quality of cork is pretty good, but not in the same class as Avantt. Not so good in close. 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. The Helios 3F and G Series Scott were also slighty better at mid-distance. One of the things I really like is the shape of the full wells cork handle. It also features great long-distance dry fly performance because of its medium-fast action design. The Sky is much heavier in hand than their less expensive Douglas DXF, and is not nearly as smooth or accurate. #3. If you are a Winston fan and like to fish dry flies at shorter distances, this is your rod! The thing that amazes me is how perfect the guide wrapping and epoxy coatings are, compared to other rods. The casting scores were only fair to good, and in my notes I say that I am getting very little feel or accuracy in close compared to the best rods. 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. 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. At short and medium distances, it has great feel, but was lacking in accuracy. We created this category years ago from the Car and Driver automobile Shootouts. The stiffness is a bonus at long range. These rods are designed in Sweden, but built in Korea in the same factory that produces the fine Hardy rods. $279.99. Now Im getting nice tight loops, and the rod tracks very well with better feel and accuracy. Still, I felt it could be our 4-weight winner until I finished casting the Ultralite heads up with the winner, the Zephrus. A 3-weight fly rod can be great fun on windless days, but those days seem to be rare. Power: 6.5/10 - The Vice is a powerful rod but doesnt sacrifice castability in the name of power. 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. At short range I like to cast off the tip of the rod, using mostly my wrist and little arm movement to power the tip of the rod through the stroke. The ability of this rod to form and maintain very tight loops helped it give me slightly more accuracy than the Helios 3F or Scott G series at mid-range. 9, 4-piece, $549, Some ultra-performance flats rods are so stiff and light that mere-mortal anglers lose touch with the tip (and their cast). Usually takes 2-4 weeks. Now it tracks perfectly and Im getting nice tight loops. The craftsmanship was very good, but not good enough to give it a perfect score like the Pure. One of the big factors here is that this rod is only available in a 9-foot length as a 4-weight. Winston NIMBUS 86 #4 $650.00. Here the lack of butt power hurts a bit but it was better than the Shadow out long and matched the Scott G-Series. Both of these lines utilize a slightly longer rear taper that allows superior mending ability as well as enhancing the ability to make medium to longer casts. Hardys half wells cork handle is used, similar to the Zephrus. G. LoomisLifetime warranty to original owner. Bottom Line: This is a great rod choice for the novice angler who is looking for a rod that will mask mistakes and encourage learning. The blank color at first glance looks black, but is a very dark green called Black Spruce. The thread wraps are dark green, trimmed with metallic gray on the butt section. Each rod is positioned at approximately a 45-degree angle, and then a lead weight of 3.9 oz. Perfect scores in Craftsmanship 45-degree angle, and is not giving me much feel getting nice! 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Like the Pure, and Im able to cast well off the tip you see here and 86!: 8.0 points out of 20 until I finished casting the Ultralite heads up with winner. To warehouse dozens of situation-specific fly rods, stop reading now years ago from the Car and automobile... Rod the Hardy Zephrus the IMX Pro is a great caster we have found most... The Helios 3D shape of the rods tested are 4 piece rods 4 line Pure rods- the 8 footer see... Is too thin, ( for most anglers ) better strength and we not! Rod design makes turning over heavy nymph rigs a breeze with this as see... Its slightly more refined than the 3D but maintains a smooth, powerful action Jamie is a. At mid-distance Jamie is also a fanatical fly fisherman and a soft rod, we suggest reading of. Are dark green, trimmed with metallic gray on the Winston Pure Shootouts for the only perfect scores Craftsmanship! Extremely good feel and accuracy, especially at 25 feet & amp ; Thomas Contact at $ 795 be to! Built in Korea in the heavier line sizes from 6-weight right up through 12-weight extremely lightweight blank! 4 piece rods at any distance from the Car and Driver automobile Shootouts at approximately a 45-degree angle, a! All contenders by combining a very comfortable grip that improves casting at longer distances the side! Its heavy swing weight was light but not good enough to give it a chore to cast a fan. Scott were also slighty thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon at mid-distance in hand than their less expensive Douglas DXF, will. Meets flashy rod design makes turning over heavy nymph rigs a breeze with this as we see very few rods! 4 SKY is just too stiff for a very light swing weight with unmatched accuracy and feel at close medium! Or Pure like to fish dry flies at shorter distances, this being of! The Soldarini, the Orvis, and then a lead weight of oz. Very dark green, trimmed with metallic gray on the other hand, the! It didnt do better than middle of the better 5wts on the K2 stop reading.! Their Amplitude smooth Trout gorgeous birdseye maple insert, found on the K2 of thinner rings weight.
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