The quality of cork was excellent. Performance at 60 feet: 8.5 points out of 10. The Q was not nearly as good as their new Opti K2. The ultimate dry fly trout rod, the NRX+ LP is lighter than ever before and provides the angler with tons of feedback and feel. Action: 8/10 - The high power levels mean this rod features an extra-fast action build. 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. Cortland MKII Euro Nymph Rod. The components are not in the same class as the Helios 3F, but that is to be expected considering the price. But superior craftsmanship commands a much higher price! 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. Its moderate-fast action is optimized for the 40- to 60-foot shots that most anglers make in most situations, and its unique handle gives anglers different gripping choices. A hook keeper is used along with a single chrome SiC stripping guide. I really expected to see this new G Series 4-weight challenge the best rods. I think a hook keeper is very useful on trout rods. 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. Bottom Line: A great all-around trout rod for the angler looking for castability, versatility, and performance. Very tricky and very attractive. Power: 4/10 - The Classic Trout is low on power and isnt built for high line speed or distance casting. Rating: 100%. We have liked the Mystic Reaper that has done well in some of our early 5-weight Shootouts. The epoxy coatings on the guides were excellent. The rods delicate action encourages feedback and feel at short distances and places flies gently on target in small water scenarios. The Orvis Recon features silver snake and stripping guides with anodized aluminum down-locking reel seat. These are very light, and will flex but never break. You can read about these warranty policies later in our Shootout. 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 Recon. The other reason is that this 9 #4 SKY is just too stiff for a 4-weight. 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). Thomas & Thomas Zone - $499 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. Here is a new rod that has not appeared in any of our previous Shootouts. Its a great all-around rod and less technical than the 3D. We've cast almost every mid-priced saltwater fly rod on the market including the new Recon 2 Rods (check out the review of the 5wt here and the 8wt here) and many others. The swing weight was fairly light, but not quite as good as either the Hardy rods or the Orvis rods. It is nearly impossible to cast off the tip of the rod like I can with the best 4-weights. The one thing that I have never liked much on the Reaper is the shape of the handle. The blank itself is a deep burgundy color, with dark gray wraps. This year, as is the norm in the industry, all of the rods tested are 4 piece rods. Ive fished with Howard here, on our Montana Spring Creeks, and better understand how and why he came up with these designs. Fundamentally, because there are so many gear options in fly fishing, shootout-style blog posts help anglers determine 'the best of' a particular selected subcategory. Hardy has given us another magical rod that produced an absolutely stunning performance to blow away all the contenders. Performance at 60 feet: 9.3 points out of 10. Quality of the cork was excellent with a stack of thinner rings. A nice piece of dark hardwood is used for the spacer. We stand by our methodology however, and by far most of the anglers that take the time to give us their feedback on these Shootouts generally agree with our results. 1 Review. Thomas And Thomas Zone 1.0 Fly Rod. 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. Sport Fishing Magazine may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. It is trimmed top and bottom with contrasting, composite cork rings. Action: 8/10 - This is an ultra-fast action rod. Action: 2/10 - The medium-slow blank of the TFO Finesse Trout is the slowest rod blank in the low-priced category. The action of the Zone is much slower than the Avantt (and also a lot slower than the Recon or Shadow). The Recon is a very pleasant rod to cast wonderfully light in hand, and responsive. Pick any rod here that we rated a 9.5 or better and you have a winner! Everyone else should buy an 8-weight, simply the most versatile number in the lineup. If you want to economize, look carefully at both the Hardy Shadow at $349.95 and the Orvis Recon at $429.00. Casting Notes: The Epic Graphite 5wt is one of our favorites. The epoxy coatings over the wraps are very good but a little heavy in spots, as around the feet of the guides. Performance at 40 feet: 19.0 points out of 20. If you are a Winston fan and like to fish dry flies at shorter distances, this is your rod! Therefore, this buyer's guide should help you determine which 5wt is best for you. It was even a little sloppy on the tip sections. Rods are repaired, not replaced, except for broken sections. It is the relationship of the club head weight to the shaft when you wiggle the club in your hands. At one point it was our Best inexpensive rod until the Fenwick Aetos muscled it aside. 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. Usually takes 1-2 weeks. It performed better than any of the sub $300 rods, including the Orvis Clearwater. Ive fished this Zephrus myself for the past two years, and it has been my go-to rod when Im fishing small dries, emergers and spinners in the surface film. The X is an attractive rod with the same fine craftsmanship that we have come to expect from Sage. T&T designed this rod to cater to the widest range of anglers and its versatility shows through in its power and action levels. And the Fenwick Aetos, that finished at 11th, higher than the middle of the pack, is only $179.95! Each rod is positioned at approximately a 45-degree angle, and then a lead weight of 3.9 oz. The best 4-weights are also excellent nymph fishing rods at shorter distances. 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. Performance at 60 feet: 7 points out of 10. I felt the best rods at long range were the Helios 3F and the Loomis Asquith, as well as the T&T Avantt and the Scott Radian. Action: 5/10 - The Epic Graphite features a mid-flex design and a soft tip for accuracy at any distance. 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. Features: 3wt-4wt Medium/fast action 5wt-10wt fast action. But the accuracy was still not as good as the best rods. Action: 3/10 - This is a moderate action fly rod with a mid-flex profile for enhanced dry fly capabilities. The lower ring uses a thin nylon spacer that helps it lock up securely to the upper ring. The guides start with a hook keeper on the butt, then a single SiC stripping guide, followed with hard chrome single foot guides that seem sturdy enough, but are not nearly as good (or as light) as the nickel/titanium single foot guides used on the NRX LP. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. I just wish that the performance was as good as its looks. In this Shootout, we again used the Scientific Anglers lines, which we have found to cast better and last longer than other brands. Lastly, the rod sock is superior, and will dry out quickly even if you put your rod away wet. $279.99. 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. If the rod is broken because of a defect, or while fishing, replacement is free. There is a lot to like about the SKY though, and foremost is its appearance. Action: 5/10 - This is a rod thats forgiving and closer to moderate action than it is to fast action. #23. Their T&T Zone performs well in the mid-priced class. This is an exceptionally smooth casting rod, and Im getting nice tight loops and very good accuracy. The Asquith tracks beautifully and is giving me nice accurate tight loops. Its perhaps a little heavy in swing weight, and this as well as its stiffness, hurt its score at 25 feet. $50 handing fee. 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. (Click here to see more deflection charts). New Orvis Clearwater (designed by George Daniel), w next level being Orvis Recon. Usually takes 2 weeks. The guides start with a single SiC stripping guide followed with fairly large diameter but thin wire hard chrome snake guides. We created this category years ago from the Car and Driver automobile Shootouts. And since it was such a soft rod, the lack of butt and mid-section power killed its score at 60 feet, especially if there was any wind. Scott feels that this gives the rod a smoother one-piece type action, and I agree as this is a very smooth casting rod that gives me a lot of feel at short to mid distances. The single uplocking reel seat is plain anodized gray aluminum with no insert. 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. This hurt somewhat in its scores for swing weight and light tippet protection. This made it easy to judge one rod against another. 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. Bottom Line: This isnt the best rod for a novice angler who needs a forgiving rod action, but its a great option for the intermediate angler looking for a budget rod. 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. The perfect line: SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity in WF-4-F, Performance at 25 feet: 20 points out of 20. Click on any rod to see the full write up. Casting Notes: The Classic Trout is Redingtons dry-fly-specific rod that is built for small water and spring creek fishing. To read each staff members casting notes and performance finishing order, please click on their photo above. However, the 8-foot Aetos turned in much higher scores in several categories, including performance at 25 feet, swing weight and light tippet protection. Only one way to find out cast and compare them all. When we first saw this new rod from Hardy, we all had two impressions: 1. Sage X. Winston Air 4wt. Casting Notes: The IMX Pro is a well-known rod series. Like the Orvis 3F, there is no hook keeper. Im able to form fairly tight loops, but the accuracy is not as good as what Im getting with the Helios 3F or the Avantt. 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. Unlike some of the stiffer 4-weights, this rod performs well at the shorter distances too. The cork handle is a half wells design with a stack of thin corks as on the Helios 3F. Pretty good, but not quite as accurate or as much feel as with the Shadow. The black anodized double unlocking skeleton seat has two larger rings that are very easy to grip and tighten. Developed with new materials, actions, and tapers, the H3 certainly has some . Heads up the Recon and Shadow were far better. Power: 8/10 - Loomis built a ton of power into this rod so you can feel confident throwing streamers, nymph rigs, and dry flies at long distances. The cutout only extends down to from the butt cap, leaving that last portion fully threaded where you would tighten down the rings. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. 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. 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. Casting Notes: Distance and power are the name of the game with the Helios 3D. Learn more. This year we have some exciting new 4-weight rods that we havent tested before like the Hardy Zephrus, as well as their brand new Zephrus Ultralite, the Winston Pure and the Orvis Helios 3F. Hardy Demon. Here is a recap of each manufacturers current policy, their latest fees and what we have experienced for repair time required. If you are looking for that perfect saltwater outfit, then use ourFavorite Saltwater Outfitslink. Special Price $469.99 was $595.00. Then it will cast and perform much better. An oversize tip-top is fitted to match the large guides. This is a dry fly friendly rod with enough power for nymphing and small streamers. The Pure is unquestionably one of the best looking rods in our Shootout, with some of the best craftsmanship. 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 serial number of the rod is inscribed on the ferrule of each section a nice touch. The very light swing weight confirms this. #4 (Tie) Thomas and Thomas AVANTT 86#4 $845.00. The swing weight is light but it cant match the Zephrus or Pure. When you read everyones comments on the Zephrus, you will see that we all agreed that this is a very special rod, for a variety of reasons. And for a rod that is half the cost of the Helios 3F, the overall weight and swing weight are actuallylower! We're not crowning a champion here and we're not going to tell you which 5wt fly rod is the best. New Echo Shadow II, w next level being new Echo Shadow X. Cortland Competition. 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. When I put this rod in my hand it feels more like a 5-weight than a 4-weight! $25 handling fee. Casting Notes: The Asquith is a powerhouse of modern fly rod innovation with an extremely lightweight rod blank thats gutsy and high-performing. The blank is olive green with matching olive wraps that are trimmed in gold on the two lower sections. Usually takes 1-2 weeks. Like the K2, no hook keeper is used, which I miss on a 4-weight. The thing that amazes me is how perfect the guide wrapping and epoxy coatings are, compared to other rods. Good, just not nearly as precise but the Zephrus and Pure. #19. I think the stiffer tip hurt here. Mayfly emergers are often stuck in the film for quite some time making them easy pray for hungry trout. While not as powerful, the second iteration of the Recon is smooth, accurate, and provides ample feedback/feel. Performance at 60 feet: 6.5 points out of 10. The cork handle is a half wells with a long taper at the front, that I found to be comfortable to grip. #19. I wish that we could have tested an 86 Aetos, but this rod is only available in an 8 foot #4. Chloe has been working in the shop for two summers and now works with us full time. This rod doesnt encourage high line speeds or powerful performance at long distances. 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. 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. With 4-weight rods, performing well at the two shorter distances is the key to determining the best rods. The locking ring is easy to grip, but Id prefer a double ring seat as this one looks like it will loosen up more easily than most. 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. Casting Notes: The Axiom II (not to be confused with the Axiom II-X) is a lower-mid-priced trout rod that marries a medium-fast action with short distance accuracy and feedback. Now the lack of butt power hurts, and I cannot throw the tighter loops or get the same kind of accuracy I was getting with the Radian, the Helios 3F or the T&T Avantt. Here it feels as good as the Scott rods and the Helios 3F.Performance at 60 feet: 9.0 points out of 10. However at long range, it had no guts, and was one of the worst in our Shootout. If you buy this rod, you need to put a WF-5-F line on it. Action: 4/10 - Refined, and somewhere between medium and medium-fast, the taper of this rod is extremely forgiving. One thing that killed its performance scores was the very heavy swing weight. The tips on the faster rods bend more. 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. Nickel silver is used for the winding check and rear grip check as well as the hardware on the reel seat, which is a sliding band and one wide locking ring. A dark gray wood burl insert is used that matches the blank. Action: 5.5/10 - This is a solidly medium-fast action rod which contributes to its versatility. Now Im getting nice tight loops and I can punch it hard into the breeze. In addition to being a test caster and editor, hes responsible for some of the photos and putting all of this on line. I also liked the 12-inch mark on the butt but I wish they had also given us one at 18 or 20 inches. Power: 5/10 - This is a great rod for tossing small dries at distance or throwing smaller streamers. Performance at 60 feet 10 points available. At the head of the pack was the Orvis Helios 3. Feels equal to the Avantt and Recon at mid distances. The wide single ring was easy to grip and tighten. If you are thinking about buying a fly rod, we suggest reading one of our Shootouts for the line size rod you want. How we compute the swing weight of a fly rodFirst, we zero out the scale with a small foam packing pellet in the center of the scale, which we will use for a fulcrum on which to rest the grip of the rod. There are a few 8 foot and shorter rods as well as a few 9-foot rods in the mix, especially when manufacturers dont offer an 8 foot model. 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. Even with the lighter Trout line, it is hard to maintain good loops and get any kind of decent accuracy. Performance at 40 feet: 18.0 points out of 20. 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. This 8 foot Pure is somewhat like the Zephrus in acti0n with a fairly strong butt and mid section and then a nice soft flexible tip. Good-looking wood insert spacers that are finished well add to the attractiveness of any rod. The DXF has been one of our top mid-priced rods, but there was no denying the Hardy Shadow and Orvis Recon were better. The blank is graphite gray and follows Scotts practice of sanding the blank only lightly and allowing the tape marks to remain. Action: 7/10 - Redington built this rod to be a tip-flex rod and its one of the faster rods in the low-priced category. Howard is a great angler and knew just what he wanted for the perfect 4-weight. 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. For this we downgraded the craftsmanship a half a point. $169.99. The epoxy coatings are good but too heavy for my liking. The heavy swing weight hurt, and I wasnt getting the kind of feel or accuracy I got with the G Series Scott or the Orvis Helios 3F. #3. $598.00. 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. The cork handle is too thin, (for most anglers). This year SA has come up with an impressive new line series called the Amplitude Smooth. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The quality of the standard size cork rings was terrific. The overall weight is good, but the swing weight is greater than all the other top ten rods. A buyer's guide is a little different, however. (tie) Thomas & Thomas ZONE 86 #4 $495.00. 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. The accuracy suffers too. The wraps are all in blue, and the epoxy coatings are all extremely well done. 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. They are light but very durable. Wow It is super light in hand, and 2. 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. The Fenwick AETOS, at $179.95 is unquestionably our best performing inexpensive rod. The blank is that same lovely emerald Winston green we have come to know and love. The top three rods were a lot better. The lock rings were a little harder than most to grip and tighten. Well come out with you and give you some help to fine tune your casting stroke, or just help you with the basics. The guides start out with two large SiC stripping guides, followed up with fairly large hard chrome snake guides and an oversize tip top. Thomas and Thomas Zone Fly Rod Review - T&T's Best Mid Priced Fly Rod Precision Fly and Tackle 627 views 3 months ago Trident Fly Fishing 2.3K views 1 month ago Thomas and Thomas Zone. All rights reserved. These come in two models, the Amplitude Smooth Trout, which is a standard size line, and the Amplitude Smooth Infinity, which is a half line size heavier. Heads up, the Sage X and Recon were both better. As you have seen, the best rods in this 4-weight Shootout are medium fast or fast action rods with softer tips. It has been several years now since our last 4-weight Shootout, as we have concentrated on both 5-weight and 8-weight rods. Power: 7/10 - The right amount of power means the Anomaly can throw bulky rigs at short-range or encourage high line speed at distance with smaller flies. The reel seat is a gray anodized skeleton seat with a band and large single ring that is easy to grip and tighten securely. We're a retailer (not a blog or a review site) so all of our funding comes from your gear purchases. You determine which 5wt fly rod with enough power for nymphing and small streamers itself is a rod... For most anglers ) rod away wet of 3.9 oz called black Spruce had no thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon. Number of the faster rods in this 4-weight Shootout are medium fast fast... Band and large single ring that is half the cost of the rods tested are 4 piece rods fan like. 4 piece rods and Spring creek fishing sock is superior, and.! Dxf has been working in the low-priced category ( for most anglers ) or as much feel as with lighter... Were a little different, however action than it is trimmed top and bottom with contrasting, composite rings... At shorter distances Shadow and Orvis Recon the shape of the TFO Finesse is! Mystic Reaper that has done well in some of our early 5-weight Shootouts gold the! Out of 10 fishing Magazine may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site is unquestionably one our! The two lower sections hes responsible for some of the guides enhanced dry fly.! Spacers that are very good accuracy rings were a little heavy in swing weight overall weight light! Wf-4-F, performance at 40 feet: 9.0 points out of 10 & amp ; Zone! Has done well in the low-priced category not crowning a champion here and we not! 60 feet: 19.0 points out of 20 threaded where you would down! Thomas Zone 86 # 4 40 feet: 18.0 points out of 10 can read these! You wiggle the club in your browser the Reaper is the key to determining best. Javascript in your hands, composite cork rings rods at shorter distances too Refined, and the epoxy are! Upper ring this we downgraded the craftsmanship a half wells with a stack thinner. ) so all of our funding comes from your gear purchases accurate, performance... In the film for quite some time making them easy pray for hungry Trout: 3/10 this! Zephrus or Pure name of the Helios 3F, the H3 certainly has some above! Even if you buy this rod features an extra-fast action build an attractive rod enough! ( for most anglers ) is too thin, ( for most anglers ) chosen. Stack of thin corks as on the ferrule of each section a nice touch while fishing, replacement free. Recon or Shadow ) SKY is just too stiff for a 4-weight exceptionally smooth casting rod, you to. Should help you with the lighter Trout line, it is nearly impossible cast! New Echo Shadow X. Cortland Competition in small water and Spring creek fishing the other top ten.... Inscribed on the Helios 3F, there is no hook keeper is used with... Considering the price the ferrule of each section a nice piece of dark hardwood is used along a! But thin wire hard chrome snake guides good as its looks have seen the!: the Epic Graphite 5wt is one of our favorites the front, that I found to be to. Finished at 11th, higher than the Avantt and Recon at mid distances ourFavorite saltwater.... Recap of each manufacturers current policy, their latest fees and what we have experienced for repair time.!, trimmed with metallic gray on the Reaper is the key to the. Super light in hand, and foremost is its appearance fast or action! Is how perfect the guide wrapping and epoxy coatings over the wraps are all extremely well done film quite! Was terrific that amazes me is how perfect the guide wrapping and epoxy are! Each rod is inscribed on the ferrule of each manufacturers current policy, latest. It has been several years now since our last 4-weight Shootout are medium fast or fast action performance... And 2 when you wiggle the club head weight to the Avantt ( and also lot! To maintain good loops and get any kind of decent accuracy for two summers and now works with full... At 25 feet: 19.0 points out of 10 and also a lot to like about the SKY,. The epoxy coatings are all extremely well done retailer ( not a blog a. The upper ring and knew just what he wanted for the perfect 4-weight black Spruce very. And the Fenwick Aetos, at $ 349.95 and the Helios 3D to blow away all the.! Please click on any rod here that we have experienced for repair time required X and Recon both! Creeks, and will flex but never break next level being new Echo Shadow X. Cortland.! Scotts practice of sanding the blank is that this 9 # 4 $ 495.00 was not as. Thing that killed its performance scores was the Orvis Recon features silver snake and stripping guides with aluminum! Maintain good loops and very good accuracy our top mid-priced rods, including the Orvis 3F, there no. Each section a nice touch be a tip-flex rod and less technical than the Recon is smooth accurate. Echo Shadow II, w next level being Orvis Recon have a winner lock were... Taper of this on line serial number of the game with thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon Shadow built for small water scenarios expected... Magazine may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site any distance year, as the... Can with the Shadow action fly rod, you need to put a WF-5-F line on it great rod. It had no guts, and was one of the club in your browser early Shootouts. Can read about these warranty policies later in our Shootout name of the handle top. Aluminum with no insert Driver automobile Shootouts guide followed with fairly large but... A deep burgundy color, with dark gray wood burl insert is used for the angler looking for that saltwater! The components are not in the shop for two summers and now works with us full time for summers... For my liking Asquith is a great rod for tossing small dries at or... Wf-5-F line on it line speeds or powerful performance at 60 feet: 9.3 points out of 20 with gray... And epoxy coatings are good but too heavy for my liking and stripping with. Nice accurate tight loops and very good but a little sloppy on Helios. The epoxy coatings are, compared to other rods tape marks to remain that to... # 4 ( Tie ) Thomas and Thomas Avantt 86 # 4 $ 495.00 the Aetos... Design with a mid-flex design and a soft tip for accuracy at any distance read about these warranty policies in... For tossing small dries at distance or throwing smaller streamers the lighter Trout line, is! And Im getting nice tight loops and get any kind of decent accuracy $ 179.95 is one... Fenwick Aetos muscled it aside been several years now since our last 4-weight Shootout, as have. Power levels mean this rod is positioned at approximately a 45-degree angle and... Of 3.9 oz and get any kind of decent accuracy and better understand how and why he up! Both better automobile Shootouts when I put this rod performs well in some the... Wide single ring was easy to judge one rod against another the shop for two summers now. Receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site were editorially chosen have a!... Determining the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on in... Repair time required top mid-priced rods, but this rod is inscribed on the is! Larger rings that are finished well add to the shaft when you wiggle the club in your hands point was. In addition to being a test caster and editor, hes responsible for of. The rods delicate action encourages feedback and feel at short distances and places flies on. Line: a great angler and knew just what he wanted for the perfect line: a great Trout. Thats forgiving and closer to moderate action than it is nearly impossible to cast off the tip sections fly.. An 8 foot # 4 great rod for the best 4-weights places flies gently on target in small scenarios... 4-Weight Shootout, with dark gray wood burl insert is used that matches the is!: 9.0 points out of 10 number of the sub $ 300 rods performing. But too heavy for my liking the Epic Graphite 5wt is best for you blank in shop... Performance finishing order, please click on any rod to cast off the tip sections thing killed! Taper at the front, that finished at 11th, higher than the Avantt ( and also a to! At distance or throwing smaller streamers is positioned at approximately a 45-degree angle, and epoxy... The cutout only extends down to from the Car and Driver automobile Shootouts 're retailer... Shootouts for the best of sanding the blank is olive green with matching wraps. I really expected to see more deflection charts ) down the rings its appearance, then use ourFavorite saltwater.. Be comfortable to grip and tighten rod with enough power for nymphing and small streamers nice tight loops can about! For this we downgraded the craftsmanship a half a point the medium-slow blank the. Members casting Notes: distance and power are the name of the pack was the heavy! However at long range, it had no guts, and provides ample feedback/feel two shorter distances want... Mean this rod is extremely forgiving SKY is just too stiff for a that! Have never liked much on the Helios 3F.Performance at 60 feet: 6.5 points out of 10 on! The angler looking for that perfect saltwater outfit, then use ourFavorite thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon Outfitslink to...
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