Fly Rod Reviews

Musky, similar to Pike, are large critters with big teeth. Many anglers fish one fly rod for both species. The fish are similar - both long, large, aggressive and wildly predatory, which makes targeting them on a fly rod loads of fun. Musky, however, are moodier, rarer, and often more difficult to catch than Pike, especially the larger fish. Musky also tend to eat larger flies that move a lot of water so fly choice and technique differ a bit. Read on to find out which fly rod is best for targeting these stubborn predators.

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass have long been a popular gamefish in the US. The geographical diversity of the species presents opportunities for anglers from California to Florida, Texas to Maine. Voracious eats, sporty runs, and ambush-driven feeding habits are also part of the Bass’ angling allure. Fly fishing for Bass can be loads of fun, but choosing the right setup can be difficult. Conditions, angling ability, and fish size all play a role in the election of a fly rod setup when targeting these sturdy predators. Read on to find out which bass rod fits your needs.

Sage has re-worked their flagship series, the Sage ONE, into a more moderate action, caster-friendly rod, the Sage X. Sage designed the X for the every-man trout angler. The X is a departure from the Sage norm of fast-action rods and caters to a wider audience than rods like the Sage Igniter or the Sage ONE. The Sage X two-handed series, or the Spey series, follows the design of the one-handed Sage X rods with some significant departures. Read on to find out how the Sage X Spey Series provides industry-leading power and castability.

Hardy has made a rod for the frequent traveler, a rod that fits in your back pocket. Well, almost. The new Demon Smuggler 6-piece fly rod from Hardy is made for carry-on luggage and extreme packability. Usually, a 6-piece fly rod means extra weight, less power, and decreased accuracy. This Demon Smuggler is quite the opposite, however. We are thoroughly impressed with the performance of the Demon Smuggler, especially in the 6-piece fly rod category. Read on to find out why.

Are you thinking about fishing a spring creek or a backyard brook this season? The Douglas Upstream is for you. Douglas has come out with a graphite, full flex rod with a cane feel, perfect for small stream fishing. The Upstream allows anglers to slow down, make impeccable delicate presentations, and enjoy the artwork of fly fishing. This rod combines old-fashioned feel with state-of-the-art graphite technology to create a fly rod that may just be the best graphite rod we’ve ever cast at close distances. Read on to find out what makes the Upstream so much fun to fish.

T&T’s tradition goes way back to bamboo rods and old-fashioned rod makers including the famous Thomas Dorsey and Thomas Maxwell. Is T&T old-fashioned? Quite the opposite, actually. T&T is caught up with the modern fly rod movement and produces some of the most high-tech, cutting-edge fly rods in the industry. One such example is the new freshwater Avantt rod series by Thomas & Thomas. Read on to learn how the Avantt combines classic T&T tradition and state-of-the-art contemporary innovation.

Douglas Outdoors, founded by Jim Murphy, combines years of rod-making experience and expertise with incredible state-of-the-art technology to produce affordable fly rods. One such rod is the Douglas DXF. The DXF is a new, mid-priced rod series from Douglas that exemplifies quality and affordability. The DXF combines a fast-action rod blank with classic Douglas componentry to provide a high-quality mid-priced rod. Read on to find out more about the DXF.

Fenwick Fly Rods are steeped in tradition dating back to fiberglass rods in the 1950s. Perhaps your father or grandfather fished a Fenwick fiberglass rod in the middle part of the 20th century. Fenwick turned to graphite like many other rod companies in the 1970s and have continued crafting top-notch rods since. One such rod is the Fenwick AETOS, a low-priced rod built for functionality and purpose. Does the AETOS pay homage to the Fenwick tradition while continuing to drive contemporary fly rod innovation? We think so. Read on to find out why.

Maybe you’ve heard of the Loop brand, maybe you haven’t. Loop is a huge tackle company that dominates mostly European markets. Their presence is becoming more and more popular in the U.S., and their new fly rod, the Cross S1, is a large reason why. This rod comes in two different rod actions. We cast the MC/MF version (Mid Curve/ Medium Fast) and enjoyed it a lot. This is a phenomenal trout rod from Loop and we’re very excited about it. Read on to find out why.

Redington has come out with a ‘transitional fly rod’; the Redington Vice is a fly rod you go to when fly fishing starts to become a lifestyle and not just a hobby. Appropriately named, the Vice leads anglers away from casual engagement and toward fly fishing addiction. Redington combines a fast-action blank with classic componentry to present an affordable, do-it-all fly rod series. We cast this rod at ICast and we’re pretty excited about it. Read on to find out why.