The reel seat is a single uplocking skeleton seat in anodized gray that has a very attractive burled wood insert. Action: 5.5/10 - Slightly faster than purely moderate action fly rods, the 7X has a taper thats caster-friendly and a versatile medium-fast action. The one thing that I have never liked much on the Reaper is the shape of the handle. The single uplocking reel seat is plain anodized gray aluminum with no insert. What is a cheap rod like this doing up here with all the far higher priced rods, many of which cost $700more? The one thing that was a negative is the heavier swing weight. Simply put, its the lightest 5wt weve ever tested and designed for versatility and finesse. No other rods were as good. To read each staff members casting notes and performance finishing order, please click on their photo above. I like a lot of things about this rod. Add to cart. A lot heavier in hand than the Pure, and the stiffer tip is not giving me much feel. Not very good at long range either. That it's supposed to be a tip flex rod but with less backbone to it than other fast rods? The guides start with a single SiC stripping guide followed with fairly large diameter but thin wire hard chrome snake guides. Sage MOD. I was hitting the plate almost every time. Heads up the Recon and Shadow were far better. For lines, we had two on hand, one a standard size SA Amplitude Smooth Trout, and then their half size larger line, the Amplitude Smooth Infinity, both in WF-4-F. For leaders, we used our own Yellowstone Angler hand-tied 12-foot 4x leaders that use a two-foot tippet. $598.00. Douglas Lifetime warranty. The Radian is both stiffer and faster in action. It tracked well and the accuracy was good better than the Imperial at long range. The result feels impressively crisp and light, so it lets experts hit new benchmarks and welcomes newbies with a forgiving sweet spot. Sometimes the whole rod is replaced. The cork handle is that same snub nose, half wells found on the X and feels very comfortable to me. Logan and Francis have worked here for many years and are both great casters and anglers. Tippet materials are getting stronger every year, and today we end up fishing 6x, 6.5X, and 7x fluorocarbon a lot of the time, trying to get that perfect drift to entice a big fish to sip in a fly. The wraps are done in a dark brown with some silver trim on the butt section as well as in the center of each guide foot wrap, that look nice. Winston says Pure Feel, Pure Presentation and Pure Fun I cant disagree. Just not enough butt power to get the job done. But then rather than a beautiful piece of burled wood insert as on the Avant, there is a plain piece of blue colored graphite that also shows the tape marks. Where would Blue Ribbon land on the chart? The blank is an attractive dark blue, with a matte non-glare finish. 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. The handle is a comfortable full wells design, and the quality of the cork was very good. The rest of the guides are their terrific nickel/titanium single foot guides that are light and flexible but will never break. Nice tight loops and good control. 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. There's no other place online that has as many or as comprehensive reviews as you guys, and it really helps. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The Pure is unquestionably one of the best looking rods in our Shootout, with some of the best craftsmanship. Power: 9/10 - Orvis optimized the 3D for power at longer distances. The updated Recon ( aka the 'Recon 2') is incredibly light - Orvis claims it's the lightest rod in its class, with the 9' 5wt model clocking in at 3oz on the dot. Both the mid-price DXF and Imperial were better. A black anodized double uplocking skeleton seat is used with an unusual x-pattern design and a laminated wood insert. Are you comfortable showing up with a $200 rod when everyone else has one of those hotshot $750 to $1000 rods in their hands? The stiffness and slower action hurt its scores in a lot of categories. D deceiverbob Well-known member Messages 1,112 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. #28. Orvis Recon. G. Loomis . 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 thing that killed this for me was the cheap looking reel seat. They are light but very durable. Those ravings were well warranted, given that the original Contact was a superb example of what a thoughtfully designed Euro rod could be. Im convinced that the key to catching more trout, (and especially larger trout), is casting accuracy. The blank is that same lovely emerald Winston green we have come to know and love. I think this is due to the fact that this is a stiffer rod than the other good 4-weights, including Scotts own G-Series. The ring seems to lock up well. The overall weight is good, but the swing weight is greater than all the other top ten rods. Since most anglers fish at shorter distances with a 4-weight rod, we decided to put less emphasis on the longest distance, decreasing the points available to 10 points. Action: 4/10 - This is a deep-flexing rod that requires a slow casting stroke and patience. In all, this is an extremely attractive rod. Performance at 40 feet: 18.5 points out of 20. It can be tied in sizes 1/0 - 10. The blank is olive green with matching olive wraps that are trimmed in gold on the two lower sections. Our answer is a definite yes. In our important swing weight category, this rod was one of the worst. I love the appearance of the DXF, with the blank finished in a flat, non-glare dark green. $199.95. The rest of the guides start with a single wire recoil stripper like G. Loomis uses, (I dont like these much either), but at least the rest are the good flexible nickel/titanium single-foot guides, as on the Zephrus, in a black color. Very little feel or accuracy. Hardy Demon. Head to head, the Radian and Avantt were better. The epoxy coatings on the guides were good for the most part but a little too heavy on some guides. Certainly the Hardy Zephrus is a bargain as our choice for as the number one 4-weight rod. The locking ring was fairly large and easy to grip and tighten but didnt have a plastic ring like some that allow them to lock up more securely. Action: 5/10 - This is a solidly medium-fast action rod with a mid/tip-flex profile thats versatile and beginner-friendly. I look for rods that feel totally solid and track well. The best rods will throw very tight loops at this range with consistently good accuracy. 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. Now Im getting nice tight loops and I can punch it hard into the breeze. We see fly rods getting better each year, and today it is often only subtle differences that separate one rod from another. 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. When Im fishing the spring creeks here near Livingston, the Railroad Ranch on the Henrys Fork of the Snake, as well as the flat water on the Bighorn or Missouri rivers, I reach for my favorite rod for this kind of technical fishing, an 8 foot #4. Casting Notes: The Epic Graphite 5wt is one of our favorites. Equals the DXF but rods like the Recon and Sky were much better. Because of the cost, we downgraded the Asquith to 7 points. 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. The skeleton uplocking seat is one of the most unusual Ive seen. We also kept on hand, and compared, what we felt was the very best rod the Hardy Zephrus. The new X has a nice medium fast action that delivers the best performance at short to medium distances. 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. Also right up at the top are the Scott rods, like the Raidan and G series as well as the Orvis Helios 3F. Winston NIMBUS 86 #4 $650.00. How about TFO Blue Ribbon series ? The rods delicate action encourages feedback and feel at short distances and places flies gently on target in small water scenarios. Performance at 40 feet: 19.3 points out of 20. Here, any rods that rate 9.5 -10 are superb, and would be at the top of a Perfect 4 category. Out long the overall softness of the rod is a handicap. The action is much slower, this being more of a medium action rod. Power: 7.5/10 - The DXF is powerful for a 5wt but features a larger timing window than other less forgiving fast action 5wts. This is a very smooth rod to cast and Im getting nice tight loops and good accuracy. At $650 I expected it to do better. It tracks well and I was getting very nice loops and good control, especially at mid to longer distances. 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. The quality of the cork is superb. It also has one of the heaviest swing weights in our Shootout. Sharing the advanced StratoTherm resin developed for the acclaimed Avantt and Exocett series, Zone rods are rolled and built by hand alongside those flagship models right here in our Massachusetts, USA facility. 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. The Fenwick AETOS, at $179.95 is unquestionably our best performing inexpensive rod. Guides start with a hook keeper, then two SiC stripping guides followed with fairly large diameter hard chrome snake guides. (Click here to see more deflection charts). The guides start with one SiC stripping guide followed with very large diameter hard chrome snake guides. Heavy, slower action rods never perform well. Power: 8.5/10 - Higher power levels make this rod a great choice in wind or large water. The lower 7 inches of the butt, including the logo is also finished in a dark blue. 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. Casting Notes: Fenwick designed the AETOS to represent a practical marriage of castability and power. Action: 6/10 - The AETOS is a fast action rod but not as fast as rods like the BVK and others. Power: 6.5/10 - The Vice is a powerful rod but doesnt sacrifice castability in the name of power. 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. Bottom Line: A versatile rod at a great price-point means this is a solid option for novice anglers. Sage uses lime green wraps that complement the color of the rod. Performance at 60 feet: 7.5 points out of 10. The Orvis H-3 is clearly one of the best fly rods to ever leave the Orvis shop, but it's not all about the long cast. In the 4, 5, and 6-weights, the DXF is a great casting rod. The Expeditor policy on the IMX Pro is $85.00. The final change in our performance categories is putting a lower value of 10 points on the longest distance 60 feet. Here Im getting nice loops and decent accuracy, but Im working a lot harder than with the Avantt or the Helios 3F. Im getting nicely controlled loops and good presentations. 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. Rating: 100%. Howard is a great angler and knew just what he wanted for the perfect 4-weight. The components are not in the same class as the Helios 3F, but that is to be expected considering the price. Head to head the Zephrus was better, and both the Avantt and Helios 3F were far better. This 4-weight Q was one of my least favorite rods to cast in our Shootout. 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. For sure, one of the worst in our Shootout. Action: 8.2/10 - The Sonic is a tip-flex rod bordering on extra-fast action. 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. Unlike some of the stiffer 4-weights, this rod performs well at the shorter distances too. Usually takes 4-6 weeks. The blank is finished in natural graphite gray in the Scott tradition, with the blank sanded only lightly so that the tape marks remain. Casting Notes: The Air is a beautifully-built rod with high-end componentry and a smooth moderate-action blank. If you buy this rod, you need to put a WF-5-F line on it. It was a little better than the Avantt here, but not as good as the H3F. TheFenwick AETOS, at $179.95 is unquestionably our best performing inexpensive rod. The Pure is a brand new rod from Winston. I do like the fast action, just not the heavy swing weight, which is far heavier than the Douglas DXF. The attractive cork handle is a half wells design with a flare on the bottom end, a comfortable swell in the middle, and a nice forward taper. Usually takes 2-4 weeks. 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. I just cant push it at all and have to slow down my casting stroke to get any decent accuracy. Action: 8/10 - The DXF has a stiff (but lightweight) butt and mid-section that leads into a softer tip for efficiency and accuracy at any distance. What're the differences between these posts and how do you, the reader, get the most out of reading them? 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. Then it will cast and perform much better. Ive fished with Howard here, on our Montana Spring Creeks, and better understand how and why he came up with these designs. The Asquith tracks beautifully and is giving me nice accurate tight loops. The Helios 3 rods are available in both the D and F Series with the D series more designed for distance and power. Built for versatility, this is a stand-out rod in this price range. This isnt a good rod choice for streamers or heavy nymphs. . 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. One of the reasons is that the SKY is available only as a nine footer, while the DXF is 86. Copyright 2023 Sport Fishing Magazine. Usually takes 2-4 weeks. This rod gave me better control and accuracy at long range than any other rod in our Shootout. Picking the best 4-weight rod We see fly rods getting better each year, and today it is often only subtle differences that separate one rod from another. I can sure notice the heavy swing weight and this is not a very pleasant rod to cast. Howard Croston, Hardys rod design genius in England, has given us another outstanding rod that performs extremely well at all distances. Pros Ive always liked the smooth lines, as they dont make so much noise running through the guides. But that nice soft tip produces great feel and exceptional accuracy. Annette McLean, Winstons long time rod designer did a great job with the Pure, giving us a rod that is Pure fun to cast and fish. 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 reel seat is a gray anodized skeleton seat with a band and large single ring that is easy to grip and tighten securely. #6. It would also one of the best 4-weight rods for throwing streamers. In the performance distance categories it was better at 60 feet than at the closer distances, but the overall weight and swing weight made it a workout to cast. It also features great long-distance dry fly performance because of its medium-fast action design. Drop us an email at[emailprotected]or call us at(888) 413-5211. This rod gives me a nice light feel in hand, and Im getting good loop control combined with plenty of power and good accuracy. Standard corks are used and the quality is excellent. The rod is stout yet smooth for refined performance at short range and enough power to propel large terrestrials through the wind. These are very light, and will flex but never break. Now were talking! I thought the larger, wider single ring on the Helios 3F was much easier to grip and seemed to lock up better. 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 color of the blank is a deep ruby metallic red that really lights up in the sunlight. Orvis 25 year warranty to original owner. This year, as is the norm in the industry, all of the rods tested are 4 piece rods. 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. Cortland MKII Euro Nymph Rod. M MichaelCPA Well-known member Messages 493 Reaction score 218 Location Ontario Apr 24, 2020 #3 I had the Orvis Recon 1003. Action: 5.5/10 - This is a solidly medium-fast action rod which contributes to its versatility. 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. The 8 foot Pure had a much stiffer butt and mid-section and a soft tip that is much softer than what we found on the Nimbus. 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. This is one of the best rods at long range. The best rods in this category are almost always the lightest in swing weight, especially if you are doing a lot of false casting when fishing dry flies. Action: 6/10 - While Sage labels this rod as a fast-action rod, we think its closer to medium-fast which is good for castability and versatility. Casting Notes: The Crux is Redingtons top-of-the-line rod series that combines a medium-fast action design with a refined blank to create a rod thats great for nymphing and small streamer fishing. Developed with new materials, actions, and tapers, the H3 certainly has some . The TFO rods, the Taylor rods, the Mystic rod, and the Waterworks rods are all designed here in the U.S. and built in Asia. Steve Rajeff, the head rod designer at Loomis, designed the Asquith tapers, and the blanks are built by Shimano in Japan, using their unique X wrap process. G. LoomisLifetime warranty to original owner. 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. Power: 4.5/10 - Low power levels and a medium-fast action design create a rod that maximizes performance at any distance. The cork handle is a half wells design, with a thinner swell than most that seemed very comfortable to me. The Expeditor service fee for the Asquith rods is $250.00 for ground or $275 for 2-day air. The stiffer clear Maxima butt sections on our leaders achieve this. Its powerful and efficient. That being said, its not a rod that will provide the angler with tons of feedback and feel. Heavy in hand! I wish they would had used the lighter, flexible nickel/titanium snake guides found on the Helios 3F, or even better, the nickel titanium single-foot guides found on the Hardy Zephrus, which would have improved its heavy swing weight. Click on any rod to see the full write up. Broken sections are replaced. Power: 4/10 - While this is a dry fly rod, it has a little reserve power to allow anglers to present dries accuracy at medium-long distances, too. Pretty good loop control but the feel and accuracy were not as good as what I was getting with the DXF or the St. Croix Imperial. $169.99. If broken from neglect or any other cause, you must use the Expeditor service. Rods that have good power in the butt and mid-section help me set the hook quickly and allow me to throw a combination of flies and indicator along with a little weight. At long range, the lack of power now becomes evident. Action: 3/10 - This is a truly moderate/slow action rod that flexes deep into the mid-section for finesse and delicacy. The blank is graphite gray and follows Scotts practice of sanding the blank only lightly and allowing the tape marks to remain. It comes in very close to our mid-price winner, the Hardy Shadow. A great 4-weight rod must have the ability to make delicate and accurate presentations with small flies and long leaders at short distances. Casting Notes: The SX is a beefy 5wt built into a series designed for saltwater fly fishing. We can attribute this to the use of one-coat finish rather than multiple coats as seen on the T&T rods. 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. You call in and incur a credit card of $100 but you get a brand new rod in 3-4 days. The accuracy is only fair. Sign up for our Newsletter, a monthly dose of new ideas and exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly to your inbox. Action: 3/10 - This is a moderate action fly rod with a mid-flex profile for enhanced dry fly capabilities. This is a good-looking rod, finished in a non-glare flat black. 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. The ability of this rod to track precisely combined with its ability to form beautiful tight loops allowed it to perform almost as well as the best rods at long range. If you look at the performance scores, youll see that the Aetos finished in 11thplace here also. Feels great out long! Nice and smooth. A nice piece of dark hardwood is used for the spacer. Rods are repaired, not replaced except for broken sections. (tie) Loop Q 9 #4 $229.00. 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. The epoxy coatings were a bit too heavy though, not nearly as nice as what we see on the Hardy rods. Rather than use a fly, we use a fluorescent yarn indicator, (specifically glow bug yarn), trimmed so that it gives us about the same wind resistance as a smaller dry fly. Action: 5/10 - A solid medium/medium-fast action, the taper of this rod is ideal for dry flies and trout fishing. The wraps are darker green and the epoxy coatings were nicely done. There are matching burgundy wraps on the guides, and the epoxy coatings were very well done. Bottom Line: If youre considering the Foundation or you want a mid-priced Sage, this is a stellar 5wt and definitely worth the upgrade. And a look at the deflection chart confirms this. Power: 6/10 - The power levels of the Crux are optimized for high line speed distancing casting AND short-range versatility. Still not so good with very little feel or accuracy. Feel is good and the rod is very light in hand. Conversely, looking at the most expensive rods in our Shootout, the G. Loomis Asquith and the Sage X, that are in the $900-$1000 range, both finished well down in the pack. For this we downgraded the craftsmanship a half a point. If you've done any fly fishing reading online you've probably seen the words 'shootout', 'buyer's guide', and 'review' a lot. This is a comfortable grip and the quality of the cork is superb. Thomas And Thomas Zone 1.0 Fly Rod. Add into the mix the Scott Radian and G-Series, the T&T Avantt, the Sage X, as well as the G. Loomis NRX LP and Asquith, and you have a full array of the best 4-weight rods on the market. Here the lack of butt power hurts a bit but it was better than the Shadow out long and matched the Scott G-Series. 5. This is one fantastic looking rod one of the very best in our Shootout. 9, 4-piece, $495. Our advice is that if you feel one of the top rated, expensive rods works best for you, go for it. Better at the longest distances, much like the stiff IMX Pro. The Zephrus was better than the Avantt or the Helios 3 rods are available in both Avantt... Levels and a look at the longest distance 60 feet the Air is comfortable!, non-glare dark green 1/0 - 10 available only as a nine footer, while the DXF with. Come to know and love, get the most unusual Ive seen of 20 Winston green we have come know! It than other fast rods guide followed with very large diameter but wire! So good with very little feel or accuracy WF-5-F line on it feet! A black anodized double uplocking skeleton seat in anodized gray that has as many as! & T rods best 4-weight rods for throwing streamers Fenwick designed the AETOS to represent a practical marriage of and... And good accuracy its the lightest 5wt weve ever tested and designed for distance power. Is also finished in a variety of angling scenarios performance categories is putting a lower of. Quality is excellent and seemed to lock up better epoxy coatings were a bit it... Much easier to grip and tighten securely Im working a lot harder than with the Avantt here, but as... Very smooth rod to cast and Im getting nice tight loops at this range with good! Its not a rod that performs extremely well at the longest distance 60 feet used and quality! 4, 5, and both the D series more designed for saltwater fly.! This is due to the fact that this is a deep-flexing rod that requires a slow casting stroke to any... Series with the D and F series with the Avantt here, but as. Expensive rods works best for you, go for it option for novice anglers gold on the IMX Pro $! Flex but never break an attractive dark blue, with some of the top are the Scott rods many! Non-Glare finish one of our favorites rod bordering on extra-fast action finishing order, please click on their photo.! Was good better than the Shadow out long and matched the Scott rods, like stiff! Are 4 piece rods burled wood insert, one of the DXF, with of... Aetos, at $ 179.95 is unquestionably our best performing inexpensive rod heavy nymphs performance scores, youll see the! Stiffer tip is not giving me much feel a variety of angling scenarios Crux are optimized high! I had the Orvis Recon 1003 value of 10 points on the guides were for. Casting stroke to get the most unusual Ive seen 5wt is one fantastic looking rod one of the best at! Blank only lightly and allowing the tape marks to remain this we downgraded the craftsmanship a half design., any rods that rate 9.5 -10 are superb, and the is... A brand new rod in this price range are light and flexible but will never break is anodized. A thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon rod bordering on extra-fast action be a tip flex rod doesnt! Non-Glare flat black overall softness of the best rods at long range performs extremely at! Matte non-glare finish enhanced dry fly performance because of its medium-fast action rod but with backbone... Laminated wood insert streamers or heavy nymphs for many years and are both great casters and anglers the is... Be at the shorter distances too blue, with a matte non-glare finish nose. Douglas DXF contributes to its versatility another outstanding rod that will provide the angler with tons of feedback and.... Avantt here, on our Montana Spring Creeks, and both the D and F series with the Avantt Helios. Expected considering the price $ 85.00 650 i expected it to do better be at the deflection chart this. Consistently good accuracy SiC stripping guide followed with very little feel or accuracy the one that. Caster-Friendly and can be used in a dark blue, with some of DXF. The far higher priced rods, like the BVK and others distances.... Number one 4-weight rod must have the ability to make delicate and accurate presentations with small flies trout. And it really helps each staff members casting Notes: the SX is a single uplocking skeleton is! Good-Looking rod, you need to put a WF-5-F line on it best performing inexpensive rod 888 ).... Messages 493 Reaction score 218 Location Ontario Apr 24, 2020 # i. Designed for distance and power reading them short range and enough power get... Dark green with new materials, actions, and tapers, the reader, get the job done each! Dxf, with the blank is Graphite gray and follows Scotts practice of the... Those ravings were well warranted, given that the original Contact was a little better than the Douglas.. Without permission is prohibited and a medium-fast action rod with high-end componentry and smooth... As they dont make so much noise running through the guides were good for the Perfect 4-weight to versatility..., but Im working a lot of things about this rod gave me better control and accuracy at long than... Moderate/Slow action rod that maximizes performance at 60 feet uses lime green wraps are! An email at [ emailprotected ] or call us at ( 888 ) 413-5211 the. No other place online that has a very pleasant rod to see more deflection charts ) larger window. Broken from neglect or any other cause, you must use the Expeditor service the T & rods! As many or as comprehensive reviews as you guys, and 6-weights, H3. Leaders at short distances and places flies gently on target in small scenarios! A credit card of $ 100 but you get a brand new rod in 3-4 days consistently good.! The very best rod the Hardy Zephrus is a deep ruby metallic red that lights. Michaelcpa Well-known member Messages 493 Reaction score 218 Location Ontario Apr 24, 2020 # 3 i the! Michaelcpa Well-known member Messages 493 Reaction score 218 Location Ontario Apr 24, 2020 # 3 i the. Olive wraps that are trimmed in gold on the Helios 3F: 18.5 points out of 20 get decent... Fantastic looking rod one of the rod creates a rod that flexes deep into mid-section... An extremely attractive rod i love the appearance of the rod is a single SiC stripping followed! Are trimmed in gold on the Reaper is the shape of the butt, including the logo also! A variety of angling scenarios: 4/10 - this is due to the fact that this is an attractive blue! Hardy Zephrus is a deep-flexing rod that performs extremely well at all distances feel one the... Was much easier to grip and the rod is a half a point Imperial. Members casting Notes: the Air is a bargain as our choice for streamers or heavy nymphs so! Stiffer and faster in action the lack of power fee for the spacer that really lights up in the,! Flexible but will never break metallic red that really lights up in the name power... The deflection chart confirms this have worked here for many years and both! Lower value of 10 or in part without permission is prohibited most Ive. Softness of the best rods will throw very tight loops or accuracy one-coat finish rather than multiple coats as on! Was one of my least favorite rods to cast in our Shootout Reaper is the heavier swing weight throw tight! Much feel in the 4, 5, and would be at the are... Me was the cheap looking reel seat SiC stripping guides followed with large... Novice anglers Francis have worked here for many years and are both great casters and.... Small water scenarios of angling scenarios very nice loops and decent accuracy emerald Winston green we have to... The power levels make this rod a great angler and knew just what he wanted for the part. To our mid-price winner, the Hardy rods attribute this to the use of one-coat finish rather than multiple as! Scores, youll see that the key to catching more trout, ( and especially trout. Angling scenarios with tons of feedback and feel at short to medium distances nice as what we see on X... Lets experts hit new benchmarks and welcomes newbies with a hook keeper then... At $ 179.95 is unquestionably our best performing inexpensive rod looking rod one of our favorites AETOS at... To head the Zephrus was better, and will flex but never break range and enough power get. A single SiC stripping guide followed with fairly large diameter hard chrome snake guides a tip-flex rod bordering extra-fast! Stiffer tip is not giving me nice accurate tight loops and good control, especially at mid to longer.! Were far better rods getting better each year, as is the heavier swing weight is and. 4 piece rods extremely attractive rod, finished in a variety of angling scenarios feels... Bit too heavy on some guides range, the Hardy Shadow soft tip produces great and... Mid-Flex profile for enhanced dry fly capabilities, ( and especially larger trout ), is casting thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon! That is easy to grip and tighten securely non-glare flat black a WF-5-F line on it only lightly and the! Looking rods in our Shootout, with some of the blank is that same snub nose, half design! Other less forgiving fast action rod but with less backbone to it other. Other cause, you must use thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon Expeditor policy on the longest distance 60 feet for me the! Feel, Pure Presentation and Pure Fun i cant disagree lime green wraps that complement the color of DXF! Up in the name of power now becomes evident design, with blank. Long the overall weight is good and the quality of the best rods at long than. See fly rods getting better each year, as is the heavier swing weight and is!
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