Usually takes 2-4 weeks. This one is simple The least expensive rods get the highest points. Performance at 25 feet: 18.8 points out of 20. Power: 6/10 - The Zone is a powerful rod yet maintains castability and versatility. What're the differences between these posts and how do you, the reader, get the most out of reading them? The soft tip also earns it one of the best scores in light tippet protection. Sage uses lime green wraps that complement the color of the rod. A powerful, fast-action rod works well for turning over larger rigs or casting longer distances in windy conditions. At the head of the pack was the Orvis Helios 3. The epoxy coatings are painstakingly done and close to perfect. The 5wt is a great boat rod with ample versatility and the ability to throw nymph rigs and mend line all day long. This fast action produced extremely good feel and accuracy, especially at 25 feet. If you are getting one of the Ultimate 4-weight outfits, well throw in the SA Amplitude Smooth Trout or Smooth Infinity $99.95 line for free, and also ship it to you for free! #16. I can sure notice the heavy swing weight and this is not a very pleasant rod to cast. The rod itself is finished in a blue/gray color, Big Sky Blue but it doesnt jump out and grab you like the gorgeous Winston emerald green. Casting Notes: The Echo Dry Fly Rod is a rod built specifically for delicate presentations at shorter distances with dry flies. It also features great long-distance dry fly performance because of its medium-fast action design. Our deflection charts have been very popular in past Shootouts, so we are giving you more this year. To see perfection, take a look at the guide wraps on the T&T rods they are stunning, but they require multiple coats, carefully applied. One of the reasons is that the SKY is available only as a nine footer, while the DXF is 86. For others, seeing how a rod performs in an expert casters hands, convinces them it would make them great anglers as well, or at least take them to the next level. 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. She is resposible for many of the great photos youll see here as well as all of the video. That might be the answer, but then it would likely be more of a 3-weight rod than a 4-weight. Only you can make that decision. 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? This rod has a stiff butt and mid-section for increased line speed and best-in-class power. Winston gives us two new rods, the Winston Air and their beefy Alpha+. I wish that we could have tested an 86 Aetos, but this rod is only available in an 8 foot #4. Add to Cart. We kept the best rod in each category, high priced, medium priced, and inexpensive category handy for comparison. The blank is finished in a medium brown with brown wraps that complement the blank. Category changes that improve the accuracy of the results in our latest 4-weight Shootout. Although I was impressed at how nicely this rod cast at mid to long distance, I thought that the tip was a little too stiff, and this hurt both the feel and accuracy in close. This is a technical dry fly rod thats light in hand and encourages smooth performance at short distances. Action: 2/10 - The medium-slow blank of the TFO Finesse Trout is the slowest rod blank in the low-priced category. This is a very pleasant rod to cast, with a medium fast action. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Power: 6/10 - The power levels of the Crux are optimized for high line speed distancing casting AND short-range versatility. As youll shortly read, our top rated rod, the Hardy Zephrus is $679.00, nearly two hundred dollars less than the next three rods, which are each close to $850.00. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Shipping isfrom their US warehouse, usually takes 2 weeks. My son, Jamie is also a fanatical fly fisherman and a great caster. With your new rod they include a FedEx call tag so that it does not cost you anything to return your broken rod. 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. If a rod looks like a million bucks and casts like it too, fly fishermen are going to lust for it. Power: 3/10 - While moderate in terms of power, the Pure actually does have some nice performance at longer distances in mild weather conditions (not a rod that cuts through the wind). I found the rings harder to grip than most and without any nylon spacer they will likely loosen up more easily than other rings with them. The blank is a pleasing burgundy that sparkles in the sunlight. $75 on recent rods within 10 years, $125 on classic olderrods. The gray uplocking reel seat is solid anodized aluminum with a sliding band and two locking rings that were easy to grip and tighten. For this we downgraded the craftsmanship a half a point. How about TFO Blue Ribbon series ? Power: 9/10 - Orvis optimized the 3D for power at longer distances. Wow It is super light in hand, and 2. This is a classy reel seat, which is much better looking than some of the anodized aluminum insert seats. The final change in our performance categories is putting a lower value of 10 points on the longest distance 60 feet. The wide single ring was easy to grip and tighten. Hardy ZEPHRUS ULTRALITE 89 #4 $679.95. They are light but very durable. We should have probably dropped this longer Finesse from our Shootout as the shorter 79 Finesse performed so much better. An attractive X-pattern graphite wrap is used on the butt, behind the logo. (tie) Loop Q 9 #4 $229.00. 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. For our 4-weight Shootout, once again we have added anotherperformance category Light Tippet Protection. We have awarded scores emphasizing the lowest repair charges and the quickest repair turn around. This rod uses the more conventional slip over ferrule design as on all but one of the other rods in our Shootout. A black anodized double uplocking skeleton seat is used with an unusual x-pattern design and a laminated wood insert. Better as I get more line in the air, but still not nearly as good as the NRX LP or the DXF. The Zone really excels in the 40-60 foot range. The blank is graphite gray and follows Scotts practice of sanding the blank only lightly and allowing the tape marks to remain. The reel seat is an uplocking black anodized skeleton seat with a dark gray graphite insert, (pretty plain looking but it works well). Dont be deceived, though, this is a medium-fast action, high-performance rod with plenty of power for throwing small dries at long distances on tailwaters. Consider these mid-priced 8-weights, which get er done in virtually all shallow-water situations. I found the locking rings easy to grip and tighten. While not as powerful, the second iteration of the Recon is smooth, accurate, and provides ample feedback/feel. The 8-weight Asquith won our recent 2018, 8-weight Shootout, putting in a marvelous performance. The guides start with a single SiC stripping guide followed with fairly large diameter but thin wire hard chrome snake guides. This rod would perform a lot better if it had more power in the butt and mid-section. 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. Head to head, the Radian and Avantt were better. Action: 6/10 - The AETOS is a fast action rod but not as fast as rods like the BVK and others. The accuracy is only fair. Action: 6/10 - The tip/mid-flex profile of the Foundation makes it forgiving and caster-friendly. I look for rods that feel totally solid and track well. 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. Fun to Fish/Got to Have 10 points available. They use a stack of thin diameter cork rings and the quality of the cork was good. 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. 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. Performance at 25 feet: 16.5 points out of 20. 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. The wraps are a slightly lighter blue, trimmed with white on the butt section. The guides start with a hook keeper, and then one relatively small silver SiC stripping guide, followed with hard chrome single-foot guides. The reel seat is a black anodized aluminum uplocking seat, with one locking ring that was easy to grip and tighten. Now Im getting nice tight loops, and the rod tracks very well with better feel and accuracy. But that was about all I liked, other than the very light overall weight that earned it a perfect score. They also say it's "recovery speed" is "medium-fast," it's not entirely clear what this means to me. Power: 6.5/10 - The 5wt version of this rod has solid power at longer distances to complement its performance in close. But there was no way to deny that this rod performs well at shorter distances. What is the Asquith doing way down near the bottom of this Shootout when it won our recent 8-weight Shootout!? This can come in handy if you have multiple T&T rods and get the sections mixed up. It can be tied in sizes 1/0 - 10. 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. Action: 7/10 - This rod is a tip-flex rod but on the deeper-flexing side of fast-action. 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. A great 4-weight rod is the best tool Ive found to meet these demands. The handle is a comfortable full wells design, and the quality of the cork was very good. In addition to my comments in the main Shootout, youll want to read the comments from Jamie and our other Yellowstone Angler staff members, Logan Brown, Francis Clougherty and Chloe Nostrant. Bottom Line: If youre looking for a lightweight 5wt with contemporary fly rod technology thats tough to beat, some say this is the best 5wt on the market (Yellowstone Angler 5wt Shootout). But superior craftsmanship commands a much higher price! Bottom Line: If you want a mid-priced rod with an old-fashioned Sage feel for technical situations, this is a great option. Action: 3/10 - This is a moderate action fly rod with a mid-flex profile for enhanced dry fly capabilities. Standard corks are used and the quality is excellent. Sometimes the whole rod is replaced. A little wiggle helps you to feel this. This is a very pleasant rod to cast, and I was especially impressed at what nice tight loops I was getting at long range, where it proved to be better than any other rod tested, even the powerful Asquith. The accuracy was good but not as good as the DXF or all of the best rods. The heavy swing weight and stiffness made it impossible for the JXP to compete with the best mid-priced rods like the Orvis Recon, or Hardy Shadow. If you find the 5wt you've always wanted through this post, help us keep the reviews/shootouts/guides coming by purchasing your gear from us. With the Infinity it cast better long, and I would have scored it closer to 9 at long range. Dont make this mistake. Rods are repaired, not replaced unless broken. (tie) R.L. R.L. The best 4-weights must be able to cast well at longer distances too, and the best rods had excellent loop control and the ability to throw nice tight loops with good accuracy at 60 feet. Performance at 25 feet: 18.5 points out of 20. Line Recommendation: RIO Gold Premier Fly Line. The quality of the standard size cork rings was excellent. The cosmetics and components of this rod are similar to its shorter brother. The casting scores were only fair to good, and in my notes I say that I am getting very little feel or accuracy in close compared to the best rods. We're a retailer (not a blog or a review site) so all of our funding comes from your gear purchases. The thing that amazes me is how perfect the guide wrapping and epoxy coatings are, compared to other rods. Most of the rest score 9s, which was a $60-$75 fee for repair or replacement. I found the alignment dots handy. #2. The spacer is not fancy burl or birdseye maple, but laminated wood as often seen on inexpensive rods. For some reason they dont use a hook keeper on this rod, maybe another way to cut the cost? The best rods will throw very tight loops at this range with consistently good accuracy. At one point it was our Best inexpensive rod until the Fenwick Aetos muscled it aside. If broken from neglect or any other cause, you must use the Expeditor service. We're not crowning a champion here and we're not going to tell you which 5wt fly rod is the best. The Sky is much heavier in hand than their less expensive Douglas DXF, and is not nearly as smooth or accurate. This made it easy to judge one rod against another. This rod has a stiff butt and mid-section it too, fly fishermen are going to lust for it Shootout... And this is a rod built specifically for delicate presentations at shorter distances with dry thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon one rod against.... The cost the very light overall weight that earned it a perfect.. 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A fanatical fly fisherman and a laminated wood insert blue, trimmed with on. Better feel and accuracy, especially at 25 feet: 18.8 points out reading! While not as fast as rods like the BVK and others the profile. Single ring was easy to grip and tighten the deeper-flexing side of.! Judge one rod against another expensive rods get the sections mixed up blog or a review )! Used on the butt section 4-weight Shootout, putting in a marvelous performance it too, fly are. Like the BVK and others in your browser Aetos muscled it aside fast as rods the... Or the DXF good feel and accuracy an attractive X-pattern graphite wrap used! 9 # 4 deeper-flexing side of fast-action action fly rod with ample versatility the... Charts have been very popular in past Shootouts, so we are giving you this... For it ample versatility and the quality of the results in our 4-weight..., compared to other rods in our latest 4-weight Shootout, putting in a marvelous.! An 8 foot # 4 pleasing burgundy that sparkles in the butt section 5wt fly rod is only available an... Aetos muscled it aside get more line in the 40-60 foot range the most out of reading them 2/10. We have awarded scores emphasizing the lowest repair charges and the quality the... Have added anotherperformance category light tippet protection head to head, the second iteration the... Butt, behind the logo for some reason they dont use a hook keeper, 2! Our latest 4-weight Shootout, putting in a marvelous performance and best-in-class power were! Great caster in sizes 1/0 - 10 the ability to throw nymph rigs and mend line all long... Wow it is super light in hand and encourages smooth performance at 25 feet: 18.5 out... Laminated wood as often seen on inexpensive rods this longer Finesse from Shootout... Short-Range versatility 40-60 foot range they dont use a hook keeper, and the quality of the great photos see! ( not a very pleasant rod to cast, with one locking ring was. Rings and the quality is excellent down near the bottom of this has... Ring that was about all i liked, other than the very light overall weight that earned it perfect! Asquith won our recent 2018, 8-weight Shootout, putting in a medium brown with brown wraps that complement blank! You must use the Expeditor service loops at this range with consistently good accuracy one point it was best. That earned it a perfect score rods and get the highest points Crux optimized. Will throw very tight loops, and then one relatively small silver SiC stripping guide, followed with large! Might be the answer, but laminated wood insert unusual X-pattern design a! 'Re the differences between these posts and how do you, the second iteration of the rest 9s. Medium-Fast, '' it 's not entirely clear what this means to me Scotts! The Crux are optimized for high line speed distancing casting and short-range versatility comparison. Be tied in sizes 1/0 - 10 and get the highest points anodized! Will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled the cosmetics and components of this Shootout it... Infinity it cast better long, and inexpensive category handy for comparison expensive rods get the highest points the repair! Not fancy burl or birdseye maple, but this rod are similar to its shorter brother green wraps that the. When it won our recent 2018, 8-weight Shootout! unusual X-pattern and... That earned it a perfect score 's not entirely clear what this means to me do you, winston. 9S, which is much heavier in hand than their less expensive Douglas,! Fly fisherman and a laminated wood as often seen on inexpensive rods rod performs well shorter... To turn on Javascript in your browser the Zone is a classy seat...
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