Next up in our shootout is the Loop Opti Speedrunner. There are 3 reels in this test that stand out from the pack in one way or another. The Speedrunner is one of them. It takes only a moment to see why. It’s gigantic. Loop has taken the concept of ‘large arbor’ to the next level. Despite its massive size, the Speedrunner actually shares a lot with both the Evotec and the Opti Strike, so rather than re-write big chunks of that review, I’m going to recommend that you read it, here.
Another newcomer to our shootouts is Loop. But they are definitely not new to the reel game. They’ve been trailblazers in the reel game since the beginning – even inventing the large arbor reel! The Evotec, now in its fourth generation, takes its place between the Multi and the Opti in the Loop lineup. Let’s see if it’s the workhorse it’s supposed to be.
The 2200 series has been around for a while now. We already know that this is one of the best values in the industry – but how has it stood up to the test of time? How will it stand up against today’s top reels? Find out.
Rounding out the trio of reels from Taylor is the Array. The Array sits between the Enigma and the Revolution in terms of price and performance. But it’s really more like the performance of the Enigma and the looks of the Revolution. I wish it were reversed… here’s why:
There are those out there who believe that we don’t like reels made overseas (from smaller brands) with a good value proposition. I’m talking of course about Taylor, Cheeky, Allen, and other similar brands. It couldn’t be farther from the truth! We test each and every reel exactly the same way, and the Taylor Revolution is a great example of a well-made reel that offers some serious saltwater performance.
A great looking reel for under $200? On the surface, the Taylor Enigma looks like a winner. Read on to see if it lives up to its looks.
The Force SL has been Lamson’s flagship reel series for some time. It’s known for minimalist design and super light weight. We knew this was a good looking trout reel, but can it stand up to the rigors of saltwater fishing? Read on to find out!
Czech nymphing, tight-line nymphing, French nymphing… What does it mean? Simply, it’s just a different way of fishing a nymph. Tight line methods made their way to the US via international fly fishing competitions in the 80’s and 90’s, but it’s taken a really long time for them to become popular amongst mainstream anglers.
I was just entering the industry when the Helios 2 was launched. I don’t remember it. But I can say that there’s been a significant amount of marketing behind the Helios 3. I doubt there’s any avid fly fisherman who hasn’t read/heard/seen it yet. Needless to say, there are a lot of questions out there about how it performs. I’m here to put those questions to bed.
Today I cast the all-new Helios 3F and 3D alongside its cousin the Helios 2 in the 9’ 8-weight configuration. No question about it, I’m a fan. Read on to see why.
Sage changed things up a bit this year when they released the SaltHD to replace the 3-year-old Salt, disrupting their traditional 4-year replacement schedule. In traditional Sage fashion, the SaltHD has won every award it’s been up for including the prestigious IFTD “Best in show” award. While it’s clear that there’s nothing stopping the Sage marketing juggernaut, read up to see how this rod really preforms.
