Patrick B

I’ve just returned from a hosted week at Turneffe Flats Lodge, located on the beautifully remote Turneffe Atoll in Belize. This is one of the most popular destinations we book, thanks to its stunning natural beauty, vibrant fishery, and a world-class team of staff and guides who make an isolated island feel like home. Needless to say, I was excited to fish, but I was even more eager to spend a week with my group and help ensure everyone got the most out of their experience.

Overall, the trip was a great success. Everyone caught fish and gained a deeper understanding of the intricacies of flats fishing. Below, I’ll recap the week with details about the transfers, the lodge itself, and the robust fishery of Turneffe Atoll.

Sage has long been known for building fast-action fly rods with broad versatility and power. But with the release of the Classic R8, they’ve added a thoughtful chapter to their ongoing exploration of moderate-action, dry fly-focused tapers. This series represents a refinement of Sage’s more presentation-oriented offerings – rods built for anglers who value touch, loop control, and a slower, more deliberate casting rhythm. Across the lineup, the Classic R8 rods flex deeper and offer more feedback than the Trout LL, with a slightly quicker recovery than the Circa. While the series is clearly designed with dry fly purists in mind, each model has its own strengths, quirks, and ideal use cases. In this review, we break down each rod individually to help you understand where it shines, which lines pair best, and how it stacks up against its siblings in the lineup.

The Lamson Guru E is Lamson’s euro-nymphing-specific take on their best-selling Guru series. Built on the same reliable platform, the Guru E introduces a handful of thoughtful tweaks, like removable balance weights, a full-cage frame, and an ultra-large arbor, to meet the unique demands of euro nymphing and light trout spey. Longer rods and ultra-thin lines can challenge a standard reel, but the Guru E is purpose-built to keep everything balanced, tight, and tangle-free.

Whether you’re a dedicated euro angler or simply looking for a reel that pairs well with longer 3 and 4-wt rods, the Guru E delivers performance without unnecessary extras. In this review, we’ll break down what makes the Guru E stand out, and whether it deserves a spot in your quiver.

The Ion is Echo’s mid-priced, all-purpose freshwater reel, but keep in mind that “mid-priced” for Echo still means very affordable compared to much of the fly reel market. For many freshwater anglers, the Ion represents a fantastic value. In this review, we’ll break down the Ion’s features, componentry, and on-the-water performance to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your setup. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly reel that can handle long runs and strong fish, this is one you won’t want to miss. Keep reading to learn what makes the Echo Ion one of the best value fly reels out there.

The Swing is Galvan’s new spey-specific fly reel built using technology and design features from their popular Grip saltwater reel. We’re big fans of the Grip due to its powerful sealed drag, user-friendly design, and solid USA craftsmanship, so we’re excited to review this new specialty spey reel. If you chase Steelhead, Salmon, or migratory trout with a two-handed rod, this is a reel worth learning about. Read on to see why the Galvan Swing is set to become one of the top USA-made Spey reels on the market.

In 2024, Orvis unveiled the latest generation of Helios rods, dropping the numbering system while refining nearly two decades of innovation. This new Helios represents the culmination of speed, lightness, accuracy, and feel – but Orvis didn’t stop there. This latest generation improves recovery, tracking, and hoop strength, resulting in a more stable, responsive, and durable rod in real fishing conditions.

Recently, we had the opportunity to cast every model in the whopping 29-rod series, and today’s review reveals our findings. We’ll share casting notes, recommended line pairings, and best uses for each model, giving you valuable insights into which rods are ideal for your fishing. Keep reading to learn more about Orvis’ flagship rod series, which may be the most complete lineup we’ve ever reviewed.

Premium fly rod technology has focused on different areas of performance over the last couple of decades. We had the fast-action craze of the early 2000s, followed by the lightweight revolution of the 2010s, and now we find ourselves in the accuracy era, balancing power and weight with fine-tuned tapers to make the most precise casting tools imaginable. This blog will highlight some of the most accurate freshwater rods of 2025, including why we like them and some pros and cons for each. Whether you’re targeting tricky tailwater trout with size 20 tricos or smacking hoppers along an undercut bank, accuracy is one of the most important aspects of freshwater fly fishing. Keep reading to discover our top picks for the most accurate freshwater fly rods of 2025.

There’s been a lot of hype around the new Sage Classic R8, Sage’s new presentation trout rod that replaces the outgoing Trout LL. The Classic R8 pays homage to a long line of moderate-action trout rods, such as the original Sage LL of the 1990s, and the Sage Circa of the 2010s. While Sage is well-known for their fast-action tapers, these softer trout rods represent a more soulful casting experience for the dry fly angler. In this review, we’ll cover the key details of the new Classic R8, including its flex and feel, who it’s for, and its price. With so many premium trout rods available, this review aims to help you cut through the marketing noise and decide if the Classic R8 fits your needs, style, and budget. Keep reading to learn all about the Sage Classic R8, and decide for yourself if this soulful rod belongs in your Trout quiver.

The Averon Euro Fly Reel is Hardy’s replacement for the outgoing Ultradisc series, incorporating useful euro-nymhping and trout spey features into the new Averon platform. In today’s review, we’ll examine the Averon Euro with a fine-toothed comb, covering everything from its noteworthy pros and cons to design details like its retrieval rate, weight, and ergonomics. If you’re in the market for a dedicated euro-nymphing reel that features weight adjustability, this is a review you don’t want to miss. Keep reading to learn all about the new Hardy Averon Euro, and decide whether it’s the right fit for your euro nymphing setup in 2025 and beyond.

The Solution is TFO’s new premium freshwater rod, featuring an upgrade in power, components, and aesthetics from previous TFO models. We’ve been excited to cast the Solution and see how it compares to the likes of the old BVK and other mid-priced rods on the market. As you’ll learn in our review, we were thoroughly impressed with its performance overall, but much may depend on your casting style and fishing situations. In this review, we’ll dive into the rod’s performance at key casting distances, its components, and some pros and cons. Read on to learn more about the new TFO Solution and whether it’s the right choice for your next freshwater rod.