The Thomas & Thomas Avantt II has been one of the hottest new fly rod releases of 2024, replacing the original Avantt series with an elegant, high-performance rod that still maintains plenty of casting soul. We were very impressed with the 9-foot 5 weight during our initial rod review, so we were curious to see how the other rods in this eleven-rod lineup would perform. Keep reading to learn our impressions of every rod in the Avantt II series, including line pairings, action, and best uses. If you’ve been considering upgrading to an Avantt II, or you’re simply curious about the capabilities of T&T’s flagship freshwater rod, this model-by-model review is just for you.
The Lamson Guru has long been a fan-favorite fly reel, and now Lamson has unveiled a fly rod with the same name. Like its reel counterpart, the Lamson Guru fly rod represents the intersection of value and performance in a no-frills package. Read on to see who the Guru fly rod is designed for, how it performs, and whether it’s worth buying in 2024. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Lamson products or you are in the market for an affordable new rod, this review will help you make an informed decision free of marketing hype.
When Winston released the Air 2 fly rod a few years back, we were excited to see how their new “all-arounder” freshwater rod series compared to the original Winston Air, which was a classic moderate-action Winston. When we reviewed the 9’ 5wt Air 2, we were delighted with its buttery feel with a true-to-line-weight fly line. It offering a touch more speed than its predecessor, but still maintained its soul as a fun-to-cast Winston. Now that we’ve cast the full lineup of Winston Air 2 fly rods many times, we’ve put together a comprehensive model-by-model review of all 10 rods in the series. If you’ve been eyeballing a Winston Air 2, but can’t find much info on a particular length and line weight, this review is for you. For an honest comparison of each rod free of sugar-coating hype, read along for the full model-by-model fly rod review.
Winston has long been known as a leader in the freshwater fly rod market, but has never released a saltwater-specific rod model – until now. Enter the Air 2 Max, a lineup of 11 distinct saltwater fly rods designed for power and big game performance; qualities not often associated with Winston rods. For this comparison review, we cast the lineup with a range of lines to determine each rod’s best use and ideal line pairing. If you’re curious about Winston’s first major foray into the saltwater world, keep reading as we compare every rod in the Air 2 Max lineup.
The Lamson Liquid Outfit combines the incredibly popular Liquid Fly Reel with a new Liquid Fly Rod and a specialty fly line into a convenient, ready-to-fish package. In this review, we’ll discuss the Liquid Fly Rod which is only available via the outfit package, and not as a standalone product. If you’re curious about the Liquid Fly Reel, you can find that review here. Overall, we found a lot to like about this affordable new rod from Lamson, including some surprising performance features. Keep reading to learn whether the Lamson Liquid Outfit Fly Rod is the right fit for you.
The Thomas & Thomas Zone has been a beloved mid-priced rod for a while now, but most anglers are only familiar with its 9’ lengths. Today we’ll shed some light on the euro nymphing models of the Zone, specifically the 10’ 2-3wt rods. In addition to being solid euro sticks, these rods are surprisingly adept at throwing dry flies. Learn about the Zone euro nymphing rods from top to bottom, including who they’re for, how they perform on the water, and whether they’re worth buying in 2024.
Switch rods fill the void between two-handed spey rods and single-handed rods. They’re generally shorter than traditional spey rods, somewhere between 10 and 12 feet in length, which means they can be light enough to cast single-handed (sometimes). Switch rods also tend to have a faster action blank that lends itself to more technical fishing situations and improved casting accuracy. Their uses are virtually endless and include everything from spey casting long Scandi heads with dry flies to single-hand casting buggers in large lakes. Because of their versatility, it can be hard to determine which switch rod is the best choice for your fishing, and that’s precisely why we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll discuss some of our favorite switch rods of 2024, why we like them, and what they’re designed to do. As you’ll see, some switch rods are better at spey casting, some are better at single hand casting, and others are decent at both but masters of none. Hopefully, by reading this post you’ll have a better understanding of switch rods, and which one fits your fishing needs the best. Read on to learn all about our favorite switch fly rods of 2024.
After a long run, Douglas has finally replaced the DXF fly rod with the all-new DXF 2. This 2nd generation DXF features more feel and updated componentry to bring the beloved DXF into the modern era of mid-priced fly rods. If you’re a fan of Douglas fly rods, or you’re in the market for a quality trout rod that won’t cost a fortune, then keep reading to learn more about the DXF 2 and why it’s a great value rod for the intermediate angler.
It’s no secret that fly fishing is an expensive sport, and prices only seem to increase. Fortunately, it’s still possible to find a budget-friendly fly rod that performs extremely well. Manufacturers like Greys, Echo, TFO, and others continue to produce exceptional fishing tools at a fraction of the price of premium rods. Today, we’ll share our favorite budget fly rods of 2024, discussing their features, intended uses, and pros and cons for each. If you’re looking to get into fly fishing, or just want a new rod that won’t break the bank, keep reading to learn about the best budget fly rods of 2024.
9wt fly rods offer anglers enough power to throw larger or heavier flies and more aggressive lines, but still maintain enough finesse to make delicate presentations as needed. For species like Permit and Striped Bass, the 9wt has become the go-to option for many, and its usefulness extends to many other species in both freshwater and saltwater environments. With a plethora of quality 9wts available today, it can be hard to decide which rod is right for your fishing, with every manufacturer claiming that theirs is the best 9wt rod out there. Today, we’ll share our favorite 9wt fly rods of 2024, helping you make an informed decision about which 9wt fits your needs, style, and budget. Keep reading to learn which 9wt rods we love in 2024, and why.
