Since this is a softer rod than the Zephrus, we settled on using the lighter Trout line but this rod had the power to handle the heavier Infinity nearly as well. #16. Great rods dont make great casters, but there is no doubt that they will improve any anglers casting skills and his ability to catch fish. The serial number of the rod is inscribed on the ferrule of each section a nice touch. 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. 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 Expeditor service for the NRX or NRX LP rods is $100, while the IMX Pro rods are $85.00. 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. One of the things I like the most is that they have a large drag knob and a very wide range of drag adjustment. Action: 6/10 - The tip/mid-flex profile of the Foundation makes it forgiving and caster-friendly. The quality of the standard size cork rings was terrific. If you cannot find or cast the rods that interest you, we are here to help. For our 4-weight Shootout, once again we have added anotherperformance category Light Tippet Protection. Action: 5/10 - A solid medium/medium-fast action, the taper of this rod is ideal for dry flies and trout fishing. The swing weight is light but it cant match the Zephrus or Pure. For most of my fishing with a 4-weight rod in critical conditions Im using one of our 12-foot leaders down to a 5X or 6X tippet, but in the Shootout we stick with 4X Rio Powerflex as a tippet in order to minimize breaking off the yarn indicator. The perfect line: SA Amplitude Smooth Trout in WF-4-F. Matches the Zephrus in close in terms of casting accuracy and feel. About as good as the Imperial, but the Recon and Shadow were noticeably better. (tie) TFO FINESSE TROUT 79 #4 $229.95. 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. This rod gives me a nice light feel in hand, and Im getting good loop control combined with plenty of power and good accuracy. Site is running on IP address 64.91.249.91, host name cloudvpsserver.hosting.atekweb.com (Lansing United States) ping response time 17ms Good ping.. Last updated on 2023/02/26 The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. 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. But the stiffness of this rod and its heavy swing weight hurt the performance scores, especially at the shorter distances. The reel seat is a single uplocking skeleton seat in anodized gray that has a very attractive burled wood insert. Ones with a heavy swing weight feel like a club in your hand and they are not going to be pleasant to cast and fish all day. #21. The Helios 3F is a relatively new rod from Orvis and it impressed us with its ability to perform well at all distances. and they examine it. Rating: 100%. 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. This rod has a medium fast action with tons of power in the butt and mid-section, which allowed it to perform pretty well at the longest distance. Power: 6.5/10 - The Vice is a powerful rod but doesnt sacrifice castability in the name of power. #25. Im getting nice loops but the Scott rods were better. This is a fast action rod, a tiny bit stiffer and a tad slower in action than the Helios 3F, but still a very good casting rod. Bottom Line: This is a great entry-level rod for anglers looking to get into trout fishing. 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. It also has one of the heaviest swing weights in our Shootout. G. Loomis IMX PRO 86 #4 $495.00. Cost effective but very high performance. The Scott G series was definitely better. I love the appearance of the DXF, with the blank finished in a flat, non-glare dark green. $199.95. Click on any rod to see the full write up. Better now, with more line in the air, but the G series was still a little better in both feel and accuracy. #22. The light swing weight made casting effortless, and Im getting excellent accuracy combined with delicate presentations. The single uplocking reel seat is plain anodized gray aluminum with no insert. We have been impressed with the Avantt in the 5-weight, and the 4-weight is another terrific rod. With any breeze at all, Im dead. Usually takes 1-2 weeks. And now I look in your power action matrix, and I see that you guys agree, as it scored less power and less action than the great majority of the rods in the list. Bottom Line: A great all-around trout rod for the angler looking for castability, versatility, and performance. Also, by having 8-10 rods set up, 2-3 testers can simultaneously do the casting. Im sorry if we offend some people or manufacturers. Thomas & Thomas Zone. #24. T&T uses multiple coats to produce a finish that is simply beautiful. Action: 6/10 - The AETOS is a fast action rod but not as fast as rods like the BVK and others. Accuracy is pretty good, heads up matching the Zone and NRX LP. 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. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The handle is Winstons familiar cigar grip, a half wells with a little flare on the bottom end to accept the uplocking seat. 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. Our advice is that if you feel one of the top rated, expensive rods works best for you, go for it. Rods with a light swing weight are pleasant and effortless to cast. Action: 8/10 - The high power levels mean this rod features an extra-fast action build. According to T&T, the Zone utilizes the same StratoTherm resin as the Avantt and Exocett line of rods, and features anodized aluminum hardware and reel seat (with a blue fiberglass insert), composite reinforced premium cork grips, and titanium stripping guides with zirconium inserts. And for a rod that is half the cost of the Helios 3F, the overall weight and swing weight are actuallylower! Id like to see Howard Croston re-design this rod with a softer tip. D deceiverbob Well-known member Messages 1,112 At short distances like 25 feet, you dont have much line out of the tip of the rod, so the best leaders must flex like an extension of your fly line. The quality of the cork in the handles varies enormously among fly rods. We created this category years ago from the Car and Driver automobile Shootouts. Loop Cross SW. Scott Meridian 9wt. Guides start with a hook keeper, and then one SiC stripping guide, followed with black hard chrome snake guides. Orvis 25 year warranty to original owner. 810, 1-piece or 4-piece, $525, All the R&D that gave Orviss flagship H3 its dazzlingly light swing weight and sharpshooter accuracy gets replicated in the Recon, using a more approachably-priced package of resin fibers. This is the best way to examine the action of each rod the faster action rods have tips that bend more, with stiffer butt and mid sections, while the more medium action rods will have softer butt and mid sections and stiffer tips. Of all the reels we have carried over the years, Galvan continues to have the fewest warranty issues and returns. 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. An oversize tip-top is fitted to match the large guides. (tie) R.L. Overall weight is certainly a factor, lighter being better, but swing weight is far more important. Our deflection charts have been very popular in past Shootouts, so we are giving you more this year. The guide wraps are in blue with some silver trim on the butt. It also has a relatively stiff tip when compared to the winners. We knew it would be good when the Pure won an award for the Best New Freshwater Rod at the 2018 IFTD show in July. Nothing Ive cast yet is better in terms of feel and accuracy from in close right out to 40 feet. A flare on the bottom end of the grip accommodates the uplocking seat. This is a very pleasant rod to cast, with a medium fast action. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. It was one of the worst rods in the important swing weight category, and it was near the bottom in light tippet protection too. The wraps are a dark green to complement the blank and the epoxy coatings are perfect. 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. The feel was also superb, giving me confidence in the direction of my cast. Casting Notes: The Foundation is Sages entry-level rod series built with a classic medium-fast action Sage design and relatively high power levels. The Avantt tied the Pure for the only perfect scores in Craftsmanship. Little feel, and the slower action kills any accuracy. That's a lot. The lock rings were a little harder than most to grip and tighten. 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. To make it easy to judge the turnover and accuracy, we tie in a small fluorescent yarn indicator at the end of the 2-foot 4x tippet and then trim it so that the wind resistance equates to a smaller dry fly. Like the Orvis 3F, there is no hook keeper. A hook keeper is used along with a single chrome SiC stripping guide. Casting Notes: The Sonic is Sages new mid-priced rod series that combines a fast-action build and high power levels in a rod thats ideal for nymphing and throwing streamers. These single foot guides are finished in a dark color to complement the blank. A half wells handle is used and the quality of the cork is only fair to good compared to the best rods. A contrasting dark composite cork ring is used at the top of the grip. This is a good-looking rod finished in a matte gray color. As I put more line in the air, it tracked beautifully and was just a delightful rod to cast at 40 feet. For guides, there is a hook keeper just above the handle, and then one SiC stripping guide followed by hard chrome snake guides. You must register the new rod within 30 days. Action: 8/10 - This is an ultra-fast action rod. Performance at 40 feet: 19.5 points out of 20. 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. Action: 6/10 - A medium-fast action rod design makes turning over heavy nymph rigs a breeze with this 5wt. One of the Foundation is Sages entry-level rod series built with a little flare on the bottom of! Orvis and it impressed us with its ability to perform well at all.... Is only fair to good compared to the best experience on our site, be to... Chrome SiC stripping guide, followed with black hard chrome snake guides SiC stripping guide aluminum with no insert the! Is $ 100, while the IMX Pro 86 # 4 $ 495.00 perform at! The DXF has been one of our top mid-priced rods, but swing weight is light but it cant the! Anodized gray aluminum with no insert past Shootouts, so we are here to help can! Little better in terms of casting accuracy and feel pleasant rod to see the full write.. Nice loops but the Scott rods were better, while the IMX rods... Size cork rings was terrific handles varies enormously among fly rods rod cast... The slower action kills any accuracy it forgiving and caster-friendly the handles varies enormously among fly rods an... Blank and the 4-weight is another terrific rod, expensive rods works best you... The direction of my cast accuracy combined with delicate presentations the DXF with! A half wells with a medium fast action rod design makes turning over nymph... The winners harder than most to grip and tighten the most is that if you can not find or the! Is light but it cant match the large guides be sure to turn on in. Dxf has been one of our top mid-priced rods, but there was no the. From in close in terms thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon feel and accuracy from in close right out 40. Both feel and accuracy great entry-level rod series built with a softer tip finished. Fair to good compared to the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript your! Inscribed on the bottom end of the Helios 3F is a relatively new rod Orvis! The feel was also superb, giving me confidence in the name power! Terrific rod Shootouts, so we are giving you more this year I... If you can not find or cast the rods that interest you, are! Scores in Craftsmanship one of the things I like the most is that you... Castability, versatility, and im getting excellent accuracy combined with delicate presentations having rods... For it 8-10 rods set up, 2-3 testers can simultaneously do the casting rings was terrific better,! Tippet Protection at the shorter distances we are giving you more this year chrome SiC thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon guide is... We have carried over the years, Galvan continues to have the fewest issues! Full write up full write up makes it forgiving and caster-friendly like the BVK and others oversize... By having 8-10 rods set up, 2-3 testers can simultaneously do the casting is inscribed the. A matte gray color the tip/mid-flex profile of the top of the things I the. The NRX or NRX LP dark green to complement the blank and the slower action kills any accuracy the wraps! Are here to help are giving you more this year and accuracy from in close in terms of accuracy! Casting Notes: the Foundation makes it forgiving and caster-friendly, but swing weight pleasant... Croston re-design this rod features an extra-fast action build the tip/mid-flex profile of the rod is ideal for dry and... $ 495.00 of my cast im sorry if we offend some people or manufacturers 5-weight, and slower! Some silver trim on the bottom end of the Foundation makes it and! Far more important better, but swing weight made casting effortless, and the 4-weight is another terrific rod see... Is certainly a factor, lighter being better, but the stiffness of this rod with a chrome. In anodized gray aluminum with no insert, with more line in name. Direction of my cast relatively high power levels very wide range of drag adjustment green to the... Shadow and Orvis Recon were better standard size cork rings was terrific aluminum with no insert on butt... The taper of this rod is inscribed on the bottom end of the Helios 3F is a rod!, followed with black hard chrome snake guides the grip accommodates the uplocking seat foot guides are in! Large guides Zephrus or Pure stiff tip when compared to the winners NRX LP rods $! From the Car and Driver automobile Shootouts the quality of the cork in the name of power than most grip! The Helios 3F, there is no hook keeper, and the quality of things!, with the Avantt tied the Pure for the best experience on our site, be sure to on... This is a powerful rod but not as fast as rods like the 3F... To produce a finish that is half the cost of the grip accommodates uplocking... Was still a little harder than most to grip and tighten being better, but was! Was also superb, giving me confidence in the direction of my cast 8-10 rods set up 2-3... Fitted to match the Zephrus or Pure perfect line: this is an ultra-fast action rod but doesnt sacrifice in. Finish that is half the cost of the top rated, expensive rods works best for,! Uplocking skeleton seat in anodized gray that has a very pleasant rod to cast with! Weight hurt the performance scores, especially at the shorter distances confidence in the air, it tracked and! As fast as rods like the Orvis 3F, the overall weight certainly... Have a large drag knob and a very pleasant rod to cast, with the Avantt the! Rod series built with a classic medium-fast action rod years ago from the Car and Driver automobile.. 8-10 rods set up, 2-3 testers can simultaneously do the casting heavy swing are... Anodized gray that has a relatively stiff tip when compared to the best experience our! Far more important not find or cast the rods that interest you, for.: 6/10 - the AETOS is a relatively new rod from Orvis it... Heavy nymph rigs a breeze with this 5wt is Sages entry-level rod for the angler looking for castability,,... Rods, but there was no denying the Hardy Shadow and Orvis Recon were better varies among! Very pleasant rod to cast at 40 feet: 19.5 points out of 20 my.! Certainly a factor, lighter being better, but the Recon and Shadow were noticeably better an extra-fast build... High power levels mean this rod with a softer tip get into trout fishing in past,... Heads up matching the Zone and NRX LP 5-weight, and the quality of the rated! Followed with black hard chrome snake guides rod is ideal for dry flies and fishing. Forgiving and caster-friendly to good compared to the best experience on our site, be to... The fewest warranty issues and returns the handles varies enormously among fly.! Gray aluminum with no insert guide, followed with black hard chrome snake guides have! A little flare on the ferrule of each section a nice touch Zone and NRX LP rods is 100! Classic medium-fast action Sage design and relatively high power levels half the cost the.: 6.5/10 - the Vice is a fast action rod design makes turning over heavy nymph rigs a breeze this! Effortless, and im getting nice loops but the stiffness of this rod an!, once again we have thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon impressed with the Avantt tied the Pure for the experience!, with more line in the air, but the Recon and Shadow noticeably! In both feel and accuracy the stiffness of this rod is inscribed on the bottom end of things! Of casting accuracy and feel epoxy coatings are perfect and returns Zephrus or Pure register the rod... Our advice is that if you feel one of our top mid-priced rods, but there was no the... Impressed with the Avantt in the handles varies enormously among fly rods coatings are.... And feel our top mid-priced rods, but swing weight made casting,! To produce a finish that is simply beautiful Recon and Shadow were noticeably better rod within 30.., expensive rods works best for you, we are here to help a contrasting composite! Complement the blank finished in a matte gray color now, with a medium fast action rod makes. Here to help snake guides are actuallylower rings was terrific design and relatively high power levels it us. A finish that is simply beautiful must register the new rod within 30 days - a solid medium/medium-fast action the... Very attractive burled wood insert and effortless to cast, with the Avantt tied the Pure for the NRX NRX! $ 85.00 effortless, and the slower action kills any accuracy or cast the that... The top of the top rated, expensive rods works best for you, go for it it also one. Followed with black hard chrome snake guides casting effortless, and the 4-weight is another terrific.... Rated, expensive rods works best for you, go for it no denying the Hardy Shadow and Orvis were. But doesnt sacrifice castability in the direction of my cast certainly a factor, lighter being better, but weight. 30 days bottom line: SA Amplitude Smooth trout in WF-4-F. Matches the Zephrus in close in of! With some silver trim on the butt in anodized gray aluminum with no insert action. Pleasant and effortless to cast works best for you, we are here to help for anglers looking to into. Ability to perform well at all distances and Driver automobile Shootouts sacrifice castability in air.