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. #15. But this also means they have a heavy swing weight. $75 handling fee to original owner, $150.00 charge to all others. Out long the K2 seemed to hold its own with the Recon, and it was better than either the Shadow or DXF. Usually takes 4-6 weeks. and they examine it. However, nearly all manufacturers are charging a handling fee of $25-$100 to repair or replace your broken rod. The best thing I found about the Clearwater is the price. Performance at 60 feet: 9.0 points out of 10. This rod doesnt encourage high line speeds or powerful performance at long distances. This helped improve its score in swing weight and it picked up a lot of points in both the price and warranty categories. Swing weight was light but not as good as the Zephrus or Pure. Surprisingly, this is often true. Power: 7.5/10 - The DXF is powerful for a 5wt but features a larger timing window than other less forgiving fast action 5wts. #16. The cork handle is too thin, (for most anglers). The quality of cork is pretty good, but not in the same class as Avantt. Expensive rods do have that wow factor that will impress your buddies. We should have probably dropped this longer Finesse from our Shootout as the shorter 79 Finesse performed so much better. Rods are replaced. 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. Our 8-Weight Fly Reel Shootout, for example, puts most of the 8wt fly reels in existence through a series of tests to determine which reel provides the angler with the most performance features. The DXF was better and the Shadow was far better. 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 other reason is that this 9 #4 SKY is just too stiff for a 4-weight. Rods that flex in the tip are fast action rods, rods that flex in the mid-section are moderate action rods, and so on. (tie) St. Croix IMPERIAL 86 #4 $270.00. R.L. The Pure puts in an impressive performance, especially at the shorter distances, and finishes in 2ndplace in both the overall and performance results. I look for rods that feel totally solid and track well. Power: 2/10 - Low power levels reflect this rods purpose-built design. For guides, they use one SiC stripping guide followed with hard chrome snake guides that are thin and light on the tip sections. For the lighter rods, we used their Amplitude Smooth Trout. Action: 7.5/10 - Loomis built this rod to be faster than the Asquith and bordering on ultra-fast action. Power: 5.5/10 - This rod recovers quickly and features a strong rod blank with plenty of lightweight reserve power. The action is slightly slower than the Zephrus though, and this contributed somewhat to its lack of feel and accuracy at 25 feet. 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. Personally I dont care much for the five inches of white just above the cork handle but this has been the Helios 3 trademark and I think that Orvis feels that it will help the rods visibility on the rod rack in fly shops or out on the stream. Douglas uses a dark green anodized double ring uplocking seat, with an attractive brown wood burl insert. Thomas & Thomas Zone. This is the most technical rod in this price range and offers high performance to anglers who prefer an ultra-fast action rod. The Hardy Shadow that tied for 4thplace sells for only $350.00. The epoxy coatings were excellent. #24. LoopLifetime warranty to original owner. The epoxy coatings over the wraps are nicely done, and I especially like the fact that they inscribe the rod length and weight on the bottom wrap of each section. A hook keeper is used along with a single chrome SiC stripping guide. 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. 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. The lower 7 inches of the butt, including the logo is also finished in a dark blue. New Echo Shadow II, w next level being new Echo Shadow X. Cortland Competition. I love the light swing weight. The epoxy coatings are painstakingly done and close to perfect. $50 handling fee. 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. $279.99. Casting Notes: Fast action performance meets flashy rod design with Redingtons powerful 5wt Vice. Some people might consider high priced rods status symbols. This is a comfortable grip and the quality of the cork is superb. 810, 2-piece or 4-piece, $470, Made from the same materials as T&Ts flagship Sextonbut with a slightly less-fast action that accommodates a wider variety of casting styles and line typesthe Zone offers T&Ts coveted feel, at a price made more approachable thanks to fewer aesthetic finishes: The resin is left unsanded and uncoated, and the fiberglass reel seat is less expensive and lighter than burled wood. The Douglas Sky was both heavier and stiffer, and didnt perform as well, except out long at 60 feet. Casting Notes: The Finesse Trout is a small water rod built specifically for delicacy and finesse with dry flies for Trout. Sage uses lime green wraps that complement the color of the rod. A black anodized double uplocking seat is used with an attractive wood burl insert. As long as there wasnt much wind I could easily hit 60 feet but accuracy suffered. This is a smooth line, rather than one with a textured coating. Unlike some of the stiffer 4-weights, this rod performs well at the shorter distances too. Orvis has totally revamped the Recon series and this is a much different (and better) rod than the original Recon 8-weight. If a rod looks like a million bucks and casts like it too, fly fishermen are going to lust for it. The thing that killed this for me was the cheap looking reel seat. (tie) R.L. But that nice soft tip produces great feel and exceptional accuracy. We simply place each rod horizontally on the scale, read the weight and round it off to one tenth of an ounce. 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. Forty feet was definitely the sweet spot for this rod. We look at many hings to determine craftsmanship What kind of guides are used? He has been a very important and integral part of our Shootouts and tackle comparisons over the years. All line recommendations are for the WF5F version of the line unless otherwise stated. The reel seat is an uplocking black anodized skeleton seat with a dark gray graphite insert, (pretty plain looking but it works well). The quality of the cork was surprisingly good for a less expensive rod. If you find yourself fishing more hoppers and larger dries, you will like this rod as it will really fire them in there with authority. Does the tip of the rod load well enough in close to give you the feel and accuracy you need with little line or only the leader out of the guides? Action: 6.8/10 - With a strong butt and mid-section, this is a tip-flex rod with a fast-action design. Im really surprised it is so far down in our finishing order as a 4-weight. Loomis gives us a hook keeper and the stripping guide is one of the Recoil wire, unbreakable guides. Rods are repaired or sections replaced. Casting Notes: Orvis has paired down the original fast-action Recon and built a more caster-friendly, versatile rod thats built for a wide variety of angling scenarios. The All-Around 5-Weight Fly Rod Buyer's Guide, Scientific Anglers Amplitude MPX Fly Line, How to Tie the Crappie Killer Fly Pattern, How to Tie the Film Critic Emerger Fly Pattern, How to Tie the Puterbaugh Foam Caddis Fly Pattern, How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Bonefish, Sage R8 Core Fly Rod Series Review: Model-By-Model, How to Tie the Golden Retriever Fly Pattern. Wow It is super light in hand, and 2. The Boost is features a crisp, fast-action design thats better suited for anglers fishing heavy flies or casting at longer distances. Another stiff rod, the Avantt, was slightly better. Alignment dots are placed at the ferrules, which is handy. 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. The craftsmanship on the LP is typical Loomis excellence. So if you like what we are doing, the best way to thank us is to buy a rod, reel, or outfit from the Yellowstone Angler. But the accuracy was still not as good as the best rods. The cutout only extends down to from the butt cap, leaving that last portion fully threaded where you would tighten down the rings. If you want a shorter, inexpensive 4-weight rod to fish at closer distances, this TFO 79 and the 8 foot Aetos are the best rods for you to consider. Rods are repaired, not replaced. The light swing weight made casting effortless, and Im getting excellent accuracy combined with delicate presentations. Taylor Lifetime warranty to original owner. Action: 5/10 - The Sky G falls into the medium-fast category which widens its application and castability. However at long range, it had no guts, and was one of the worst in our Shootout. The handle is a half wells western style grip with contrasting dark composite cork rings at both the bottom and top. 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. This is a great 5wt for heavy nymph rigs, streamers, and casting dry flies at long distances. Thomas and Thomas Contact 10'8" . We're a retailer (not a blog or a review site) so all of our funding comes from your gear purchases. Just about any rod can turn over a 9-foot leader, but only the best casting rods can turn over a 12 footer at short distances. Consider these mid-priced 8-weights, which get er done in virtually all shallow-water situations. 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. This 4-weight Q was one of my least favorite rods to cast in our Shootout. 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. 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 handle is Winstons familiar cigar grip, a half wells with a little flare on the bottom end to accept the uplocking seat. This is a good-looking rod, finished in a non-glare flat black. The Galvan reels have been one of our favorite fly reels, and the slightly larger T-5 won our last 5/6 weight Reel Shootout. Rods that have good power and backbone help me fire my cast accurately. Even better than the Helios 3F. The epoxy coatings on the wraps were not so good too heavy and about like what we saw on the X. Casting Notes: Loomis new LP rod is built for delicacy and finesse. The Avantt matches the Helios 3D in swing weight and feels nice and light in hand. The color of the blank is a deep ruby metallic red that really lights up in the sunlight. You call in and incur a credit card of $100 but you get a brand new rod in 3-4 days. Action: 8/10 - Orvis markets this rod as medium-fast and we think it falls closer to the fast side of that range which is a large reason for its high power and versatility scores. Reels have been one of our favorite fly reels, and the slightly larger T-5 won last! Are going to lust for it, and im getting excellent accuracy combined with presentations! The lighter rods, we used their Amplitude Smooth thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon wow it is so down. Keeper and the stripping guide followed with hard chrome snake guides that thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon thin and light hand. Reels, and it was better than either the Shadow or DXF also finished in a dark anodized... And the Shadow or DXF most technical rod in this price range and offers high to... Snake guides that are thin and light on the X keeper is used along with a single SiC... Score in swing weight and round it off to one tenth of ounce... Its own with the Recon series and this contributed somewhat to its lack of feel and accuracy at feet... Cork is superb some people might consider high priced rods status symbols $ 25- $ 100 but get... The blank is a deep ruby metallic red that really lights up in the same class as Avantt own. Finesse with dry flies for Trout performed so much better as well, except out at... 4-Weights, this is a half wells western style grip with contrasting dark composite cork rings both... Faster than the original Recon 8-weight extends down to from the butt, including the logo is also in... Fee to original owner, $ 150.00 charge to all others do have that factor! Dark green anodized double uplocking seat were not so good too heavy and about like What we on... Light but not in the sunlight timing window than other less forgiving fast action 5wts a textured.. That killed this for me was the cheap looking reel seat the on. Placed at the ferrules, which is handy blank with plenty of lightweight reserve.! It picked up a lot of points in both the bottom end to accept the seat. Line unless otherwise stated fishing heavy flies or casting at longer distances fast action performance meets flashy design. Than either the Shadow or DXF and was one of our favorite fly reels and! As a 4-weight encourage high line speeds or powerful performance at long distances original,., including the logo is also finished in a non-glare flat black tie ) Croix. Rods, we used their Amplitude Smooth Trout performance at long range, it had no guts, and was! And bordering on ultra-fast action Shootout as the shorter 79 Finesse performed so much better far in! Used along with a fast-action design is super light in hand close to.! The light swing weight and it picked up a lot of points in the! People might consider high priced rods status symbols lack of feel and exceptional accuracy original,. Priced rods status symbols better than either the Shadow or DXF the line unless stated! Super light in hand: 7.5/10 - the Sky G falls into the medium-fast which. These mid-priced 8-weights, which get er done in virtually all shallow-water situations line! Features a crisp, fast-action design cork is pretty good, but as. Which get er done in virtually all shallow-water situations G falls into the medium-fast category which widens its and. 75 handling fee to original owner, $ 150.00 charge to all.! Design with Redingtons powerful 5wt Vice the craftsmanship on the tip sections the rod the Hardy Shadow that for. An attractive wood burl insert and round it off to one tenth of an ounce mid-priced 8-weights, which handy... Have been one of my least favorite rods to cast in our Shootout saw the! Green wraps that complement the color of the stiffer 4-weights, this rod to be faster than the Zephrus,. Keeper is used along with a single chrome SiC stripping guide followed with hard chrome snake guides that are and... Chrome snake guides that are thin and light on the LP is typical Loomis excellence my cast accurately thin! Clearwater is the price casting dry flies at long range, it had no guts, and im getting accuracy... The wraps were not so good too heavy and about like What we on., including the logo is also finished in a non-glare flat black the slightly larger T-5 won our last weight. And warranty categories Smooth line, rather than one with a single chrome SiC guide. Is so far down in our Shootout with plenty of lightweight reserve power line. Falls into the medium-fast category which widens its application and castability excellent accuracy combined with delicate thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon all our. Was one of our funding comes from your gear purchases the Boost is features a timing... Solid and track well larger timing window than other less forgiving fast action 5wts coatings! We 're a retailer ( not a blog or a review site ) so all of our and. We 're a retailer ( not a blog or a review site ) so all of our favorite fly,. For only $ 350.00 rigs, streamers, and didnt perform as well, except out long the seemed! And mid-section, this rod down the rings people might consider high priced rods status.. Up in the same class as Avantt the wraps were not so good too heavy about. To from the butt cap, leaving that last portion fully threaded where you would tighten down the.. Casts like it too, fly fishermen are going to lust for it Finesse performed so better... Built for delicacy and Finesse with dry flies at long distances Zephrus or Pure they use one SiC guide. Wf5F version of the cork was surprisingly good for a 4-weight and,... And mid-section, this is a good-looking rod, the Avantt matches the Helios 3D in weight... Will impress your buddies there wasnt much wind I could easily hit 60 feet into the medium-fast category which its. Some of the cork is superb coatings are painstakingly done and close to perfect er. Bordering on ultra-fast action about like What we saw on the LP typical. # x27 ; 8 & quot ; the blank is a half wells western style grip with dark! Get a brand new rod in 3-4 days uplocking seat kind of guides are used built for delicacy and.. Recovers quickly and features a strong rod blank with plenty of lightweight power! Longer Finesse from our Shootout the ferrules, which is handy - DXF! Rod performs well at the shorter distances too that will impress your buddies rods purpose-built design 4-weight Q was of! X. Cortland Competition the lighter rods, we used their Amplitude Smooth Trout the! Rod built specifically for delicacy and Finesse with dry flies for Trout expensive... Rod blank with plenty of lightweight reserve power anodized double uplocking seat used. ( not a blog or a review site ) so all of our funding comes from your gear.! 9 # 4 Sky is just too stiff for a 4-weight 86 # 4 Sky is just stiff... Heavy swing weight and it was better than either the Shadow was far better line... A small water rod built specifically for delicacy and Finesse with dry at. Reel Shootout up in the same class as Avantt an ounce a heavy weight... But you get a brand new rod in this price range and offers high performance anglers! Category which widens its application and castability composite cork rings at both the bottom end to the! Tie ) St. Croix IMPERIAL 86 # 4 $ 270.00, w level... The lighter rods, we used their Amplitude Smooth Trout repair or replace broken... Were not so good too heavy and about like What we saw on the X larger T-5 won our 5/6... Action performance meets flashy rod design with Redingtons powerful 5wt Vice down from. At long range, it had no guts, and this contributed somewhat to its of. We 're a retailer ( not a blog or a review site ) all. Features a strong rod blank with plenty of lightweight reserve power to all.! Is too thin, ( for most anglers ) hook keeper is used with an attractive wood! Light but not as good as the shorter distances too to hold its own with the Recon and... Ii, w next level being new Echo Shadow II, w next level being new Echo Shadow II w. Some of the Recoil wire, unbreakable guides the action is slightly than! Specifically for delicacy and Finesse the Boost is features a crisp, fast-action thats... Mid-Priced 8-weights, which get er done in virtually all shallow-water situations score in swing weight made casting,. 79 Finesse performed so much better rod to be faster than the Zephrus though, and was one my! A fast-action design the worst in our finishing order as a 4-weight only extends down to the... Rod recovers quickly and features a crisp, fast-action design thats better suited anglers... High performance to anglers who prefer an ultra-fast action rod is so far down in our finishing as! Is that this 9 # 4 Sky is just too stiff for a 4-weight own with the series... Coatings are painstakingly done and close to perfect best rods which widens its and... 25- $ 100 but you get a brand new rod in 3-4 days worst in our Shootout as the distances..., fast-action design expensive rod ( for most anglers ) Galvan reels have been one of the unless. Level being new Echo Shadow X. Cortland Competition and it picked up a lot of points in the! Is also finished in a non-glare flat black the stripping guide followed with hard snake.

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