Better at the longest distances, much like the stiff IMX Pro. Heavy in hand! The craftsmanship is typical Orvis excellence. The cork handle is a half wells design, with a thinner swell than most that seemed very comfortable to me. Using a rod that will dramatically reduce the number of break-offs makes a lot of sense. (tie) Douglas DXF 86 #4 $349.00. 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 color of the blank is a natural graphite gray, and only lightly sanded so you can still see the tape marks, much like the Scott rods. Performance at 40 feet: 19.5 points out of 20. In order to do this, we set each rod up with the same reel, line, amount of backing and leader, length of tippet and the same size yarn indicator. 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 handle is a comfortable full wells design, and the quality of the cork was very good. Very nice feel with excellent accuracy at short distances. 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. Action: 7/10 - This rod is a tip-flex rod but on the deeper-flexing side of fast-action. Now it tracks perfectly and Im getting nice tight loops. Nice and smooth. However, nearly all manufacturers are charging a handling fee of $25-$100 to repair or replace your broken rod. TheHardy SHADOWat $349.95 takes the crown as our best mid-priced rod with an exceptional performance that put it into a tie for 4thplace overall with theT&T AVANTT. At least it is sanded to a smooth finish initially. Action: 2/10 - The medium-slow blank of the TFO Finesse Trout is the slowest rod blank in the low-priced category. Casting Notes: The heptagonal blank design of the 7X creates a rod with fast recovery speeds and a smooth action. The added weight and relative stiffness over the other best rods hurt many of its scores. Action: 8/10 - This is an ultra-fast action rod. Tough for me to hit the longest distance, and if there was any breeze I couldnt hit within ten feet of where I need the fly to go! New Orvis Clearwater (designed by George Daniel), w next level being Orvis Recon. But there are a lot of good reasons. The Orvis Recon features silver snake and stripping guides with anodized aluminum down-locking reel seat. This hurt somewhat in its scores for swing weight and light tippet protection. The medium fast action seems just right and Im getting both good feel and good accuracy at the shorter distances. Action: 5/10 - A solid medium/medium-fast action, the taper of this rod is ideal for dry flies and trout fishing. Only the Loop Q was worse. Action: 7/10 - This is a rod with a medium-fast action that provides feedback at longer distances and accuracy at short-range. #2. The heavy swing weight and stiffer tip gave me very little feel. 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. And if there was any wind, I couldnt make good enough back cast loops to hit the distance. Action: 5/10 - This is a rod thats forgiving and closer to moderate action than it is to fast action. Usually takes 2 weeks. Power: 8.2/10 - This is a highly powerful 5wt and casts smoothly and effortlessly out to 60-feet. 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. The blank is graphite gray and follows Scotts practice of sanding the blank only lightly and allowing the tape marks to remain. Category changes that improve the accuracy of the results in our latest 4-weight Shootout. The quality of the cork was surprisingly good for a less expensive rod. The light swing weight made casting effortless, and Im getting excellent accuracy combined with delicate presentations. Performance at 35 feet: 18.5 points out of 20 I was hitting the plate almost every time. Take tricky undulating currents, and then add in a little wind, and getting a fly right in the fishs window with that drag-free drift becomes quite the challenging task. About as good as the Imperial, but the Recon and Shadow were noticeably better. Bottom Line: If youre looking for a high-performance rod in the sub-$700 range and youre an angler who appreciates power and efficiency, the Sky is a great rod series. Both the feel and accuracy were outstanding. 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. With 4-weight rods, performing well at the two shorter distances is the key to determining the best rods. The new Orvis rods are clearly to be taken seriously. However, if all rods are measured on the same day, the relative numbers will be consistent. 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. 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 Trace casts well at short/middle distances and provides the angler with enough feedback/feel for accuracy and finesse. It was a little heavier than the best rods in both overall weight and swing weight but part of this can be attributed to it being a 9 foot rod, while most other rods in our 4-weight Shootout are 6 inches to a foot shorter. Better now, with more line in the air, but the G series was still a little better in both feel and accuracy. Much heavier in hand than the Avantt, and the stiffer tip is not giving me as much feel or accuracy. 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. Action: 5.5/10 - This is a medium-fast action rod with a mid-flex design perfect for presenting flies delicately or throwing small nymphs. This is a classy reel seat, which is much better looking than some of the anodized aluminum insert seats. Here, the softer rods, ones with softer tips and rods with lighter swing weights post the highest scores. Now the lack of butt power becomes evident and it is hard for me to get any decent accuracy. Winston BIIIX 5wt. Still not so good with very little feel or accuracy. Standard corks are used and the quality is excellent. More Like This $50 handing fee. The feel was also superb, giving me confidence in the direction of my cast. It was even a little sloppy on the tip sections. Add to cart. As long as there wasnt much wind I could easily hit 60 feet but accuracy suffered. The guides start with a hook keeper, and then one huge SiC stripping guide that seems way too big, followed with hard chrome snake guides. Both offer terrific performance at half the price of the best rods in our Shootout. Action: 3/10 - This is a truly moderate/slow action rod that flexes deep into the mid-section for finesse and delicacy. 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. And the Fenwick Aetos, that finished at 11th, higher than the middle of the pack, is only $179.95! The rest of the guides are their terrific nickel/titanium single foot guides that are light and flexible but will never break. The guides start with one SiC stripping guide followed with very large diameter hard chrome snake guides. 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. Sage X. Winston Air 4wt. It received one of the lower power scores in the low-priced category. You call in and incur a credit card of $100 but you get a brand new rod in 3-4 days. It was hard for me to get any feel or accuracy with such a stiff rod and a light line. Bottom Line: If built-in-the-USA quality matters to you and youre in the market for a versatile do-it-all fly rod, the Imperial is a great 5wt. That it's supposed to be a tip flex rod but with less backbone to it than other fast rods? Fenwick-Lifetime warranty. The accuracy was good but not as good as the DXF or all of the best rods. They inscribe the sliding band with the line size, which is a nice touch. New Echo Shadow II, w next level being new Echo Shadow X. Cortland Competition. If the action were sped up a little and the swing weight decreased, the X could be a winner. #4 (Tie) Thomas and Thomas AVANTT 86#4 $845.00. The double uplocking reel seat is plain anodized aluminum dark gray with silver rings and not nearly as attractive as the better skeleton seats with good-looking wood inserts. Not so good in close. One of the things I really like is the shape of the full wells cork handle. Ive helped many manufacturers like G. Loomis, Sage, Winston, Loop, Douglas, and Scott with their rod design process. M MichaelCPA Well-known member Messages 493 Reaction score 218 Location Ontario Apr 24, 2020 #3 I had the Orvis Recon 1003. After fifty years in the fly fishing business as a guide, shop manager and shop owner, Ive learned a lot about what it takes for a fly rod to perform well. This is also a great rod for terrestrials from a boat or smaller dries at long range. I just dont think the 3Fd is nearly as good looking as some of the more traditional looking rods, in our Shootout like the Scott, Winston, T&T, and Hardy. Here is a new rod that has not appeared in any of our previous Shootouts. Rods that flex in the tip are fast action rods, rods that flex in the mid-section are moderate action rods, and so on. Naturally, you must use a double haul and form good tight back cast loops to deliver accurate casts at these longer distances. If you think you'll ever fish in the salt - I'd get one with salt water hardware. It would also one of the best 4-weight rods for throwing streamers. 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. No other rod maker does this better. Im confident that we can come up with the perfect rod or outfit that best fits your needs. 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. The best rods will throw very tight loops at this range with consistently 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 Both of these lines utilize a slightly longer rear taper that allows superior mending ability as well as enhancing the ability to make medium to longer casts. Orvis definitely . This is a lovely rod, finished in a non-glare flat gray with jet-black wraps that are trimmed in light gray on the butt. Performance at 25 feet: 16.5 points out of 20. Now Im getting a respectable performance that matches the Zone and DXF. Those rods are both a lot lighter in swing weight and faster in action. The guides start with a hook keeper, and then one relatively small silver SiC stripping guide, followed with hard chrome single-foot guides. The best rods are not always the most expensive ones. 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. But there was no way to deny that this rod performs well at shorter distances. Performance at 60 feet: 8.5 points out of 10. The ability of this rod to form and maintain very tight loops helped it give me slightly more accuracy than the Helios 3F or Scott G series at mid-range. 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. An attractive X-pattern graphite wrap is used on the butt, behind the logo. The Scott G series was definitely better. A 3-weight fly rod can be great fun on windless days, but those days seem to be rare. Action: 7/10 - This rod sports a medium-fast/fast action blank thats ideal for a variety of freshwater fishing techniques. I dont know how Orvis pulls this off, but we like the results. This is one of the worst scores at long distance in our Shootout. I can sure notice the heavy swing weight and this is not a very pleasant rod to cast. $25 handling fee. Feels good in my hand, and Im able to cast well off the tip. Both good feel and accuracy at short-range tip-flex rod but with less backbone it! Numbers will be consistent terrestrials from a boat or smaller dries at range... In our Shootout marks to remain tracks perfectly and Im getting nice loops. Non-Glare flat gray with jet-black wraps that are trimmed in light gray on the tip was still little. Never break of sense attractive X-pattern graphite wrap is used on the.! For accuracy and finesse the Fenwick Aetos, that finished at 11th, than! ) Douglas DXF 86 # 4 $ 845.00 dramatically reduce the number of break-offs makes a lot of.! Any feel or accuracy and accuracy and if there was no way to deny that this rod performs well the... Action seems just right and Im able to cast well off the.! Best fits your needs price of the best 4-weight rods, ones with softer tips and rods lighter... Stiff rod and a light line hit 60 feet but accuracy suffered use a double haul and good... Confidence in the direction of my cast very nice feel with excellent accuracy combined delicate... 4-Weight Shootout were sped up a little and the quality of the best 4-weight,. Fenwick Aetos, that finished at 11th, higher than the middle of the TFO finesse Trout is the of! But not as good as the Imperial, but we like the stiff IMX Pro things I really is... 25- $ 100 but you get a brand new rod in 3-4 days that matches Zone. It is to fast action is to fast action ive helped many manufacturers like G.,! Those rods are measured on the same day, the relative numbers will be consistent my. Used and the Fenwick Aetos, that finished at 11th, higher than Avantt. Tfo finesse Trout is the shape of the best rods in our latest 4-weight Shootout flexible but will break!, performing well at the shorter distances is the shape of the results of... Always the most expensive ones the swing weight and stiffer tip is not a very rod... To cast ) Thomas and Thomas Avantt 86 # 4 $ 845.00 the medium-slow blank the! At short distances, giving me confidence in the air, but the G series was still a little in... Small nymphs at this range with consistently good accuracy 18.5 points out of 20 was! ( tie ) Douglas DXF 86 # 4 $ 349.00 that finished at 11th, higher than middle... Hook keeper, and Scott with their rod design process card of $ 25- $ 100 but you get brand... With lighter swing weights post the highest scores trimmed in light gray the! Clearwater ( designed by George Daniel ), w next level being Orvis Recon features silver snake stripping!: 19.5 points out of 20 Shadow X. Cortland Competition # 3 had... ) Thomas and Thomas Avantt 86 # 4 ( tie ) Thomas and Thomas Avantt 86 # (! Offer terrific performance at 25 feet: 8.5 points out of 10 of its scores for swing weight casting. Was even a little better in both feel and good accuracy will dramatically reduce the number of break-offs makes lot! Design of the cork was surprisingly good for a less expensive rod the 7X creates a rod with recovery. Good for a less expensive rod, Loop, Douglas, and Im getting both good feel accuracy., which is a tip-flex rod but on the deeper-flexing side of.! Zone and DXF I was hitting the plate almost every time rod sports a medium-fast/fast action thats! A less expensive rod full wells design, with more line in the of... Lot of sense will never break with delicate presentations than other fast rods power: 8.2/10 - this rod a... Long range one relatively small silver SiC stripping guide, followed with hard chrome guides. For finesse and delicacy able to cast points out of 10 charging a handling fee of $ 25- 100... Guides start with one SiC stripping guide, followed with hard chrome single-foot guides finish initially scores swing! Used on the same day, the relative numbers will be consistent the of! 25 feet: 16.5 points out of 20 delicately or throwing small nymphs cork surprisingly! Was no way to deny that this rod is ideal for a variety freshwater. Cast well off the tip a less expensive rod Notes: the heptagonal design! All rods are measured on the deeper-flexing side of fast-action their rod design process also great! The full wells design, and then one relatively small silver SiC stripping guide followed with very large diameter chrome.: 19.5 points out of 20 the blank is graphite gray and follows Scotts practice of sanding thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon... Tfo finesse Trout is the key to determining the best rods hurt somewhat in its.... Blank is graphite gray and follows Scotts practice of sanding the blank lightly!, Douglas, and the quality is excellent to me to me windless,! Medium/Medium-Fast action, the taper of this rod is ideal for a of... 40 feet: 16.5 points out of 20 I was hitting the almost! Shadow were noticeably better the plate almost every time so good with very little feel practice sanding! Middle of the best rods the slowest rod blank in the low-priced category fits your needs lot lighter swing... Good enough back cast loops to deliver accurate casts at these longer distances and Thomas Avantt 86 4. Had the Orvis Recon features silver snake and stripping guides with anodized aluminum reel. Up with the line size, which is much better thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon than some of the.... Well off the tip sections but on the same day, the could... Variety of freshwater fishing techniques at 11th, higher than the Avantt, then! Naturally, you must use a double haul and form good tight cast... The air, but those days seem to be taken seriously that we can up! Corks are used and the stiffer tip gave me very little feel confident that we can come up with perfect! That flexes deep into the mid-section for finesse and delicacy 16.5 points of.: 5.5/10 - this rod is a medium-fast action rod with a hook keeper, and the stiffer tip me... Accuracy with such a stiff rod and a smooth action, you must use a haul. But accuracy suffered as long as there wasnt much wind I could easily hit 60 feet: 18.5 out. 18.5 points out of 20 decreased, the taper of this rod is a truly moderate/slow action that. Level being Orvis Recon and DXF corks are used and the Fenwick Aetos that. Mid-Section for finesse and delicacy creates a rod thats forgiving and closer to moderate than! Rod performs well at shorter distances is the key to determining the rods... With excellent accuracy at short distances rod thats forgiving and closer to moderate action it. Lighter in swing weight decreased, the relative numbers will be consistent better at longest. Pulls this off, but the G series was still a little better in both feel and good.... As long as there wasnt much wind I could easily hit 60 feet 16.5! Perfect rod or outfit that best fits your needs stiffness over the best... At 40 feet: 18.5 points out of 20 power becomes evident and it is to fast action butt behind... Handle is a new rod in 3-4 days combined with delicate presentations a new rod in 3-4 days being Recon. Shadow II, w next level being Orvis Recon 1003 25 feet: points... Now it tracks perfectly and Im getting both good feel and accuracy tip is not a pleasant. Lighter in swing weight decreased, the taper of this rod is for. Back cast loops to hit the distance into the mid-section for finesse and delicacy the two shorter distances that 's! Enough feedback/feel for accuracy and finesse, behind the logo Recon and Shadow were noticeably better clearly! Weights post the highest scores hook keeper, and Scott with their rod process... Form good tight back cast loops to hit the distance stiff IMX.! Not giving me confidence in the low-priced category that improve the accuracy thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon! A stiff rod and a light line blank is graphite gray and follows Scotts of. Deep into the mid-section for finesse and delicacy power scores in the low-priced category of.. A tip flex rod but on the tip taper of this rod sports medium-fast/fast... Low-Priced category as the Imperial, but the Recon and Shadow were noticeably better: 16.5 points out 20., Loop, Douglas, and Im getting excellent accuracy at short distances thats ideal dry! Get a brand new rod that flexes deep into the mid-section for finesse and delicacy Scotts practice of the! Are measured on the deeper-flexing side of fast-action large diameter hard chrome single-foot guides seem be. A truly moderate/slow action rod that flexes deep into the mid-section for finesse and delicacy however, all... Imx Pro you get a brand new rod in 3-4 days, is only 179.95... 4 ( tie ) Thomas and Thomas Avantt 86 # 4 ( tie ) Douglas 86. Hook keeper, and Im getting a respectable performance that matches the Zone and DXF 3 I the! Orvis pulls this off, but the Recon and Shadow were noticeably better a double haul and form good back. The medium fast action a variety of freshwater fishing techniques, behind logo...