When we released our 8-weight reel shootout, we began to demystify fly reels. We proved that cork drags didn’t perform as well as modern disc drags. We also showed that it was possible to create a reel with virtually no startup inertia. It was not only was it the first reel shootout that was widely […]
Spoiler alert. We’ve given away the punch line. The Lamson Litespeed IV is the winner of our 2015 5-weight Reel Shootout. So, you can probably just go ahead and buy it now, but if you really want to know what makes this reel so great, read our full review below.
Fly Reel designs have changed a lot in recent years. From the odd-but-now-classic Ari T. Hart to the space-age Lamson Vanquish to the neo-classics like the Hardy Lightweight. Everyone is trying to build a better mousetrap, so to speak. That’s one of the reasons we work so hard to bring you great reviews like the 8-weight Challenge and 5-weight Reel Shootout.
Following the success of our 8-weight reel challenge, we wanted to take on fly rods. Magazines, fly shops, bloggers… virtually everyone has an opinion on which fly rod is best. So, we decided to join the crowd. But, in typical Trident fashion, we’re going to take a different twist on the traditional fly rod review. As always, this shootout will be completely data driven, and we’re going to give you better and more objective results than you’ve seen anywhere else.
Here’s what we did differently….
