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.
TFO has released their newest Euro Nymphing Fly Rod, the Elevare. The Elevare is TFO’s premium tactical nymphing rod, featuring noteworthy upgrades from the TFO Stealth. For intermediate anglers looking to take their euro nymphing game to the next level, the Elevare represents a step up in componentry, lightweight balance, and casting performance. If you’re a fan of TFO rods and considering upgrading your euro setup for 2025, keep reading to learn more about the new TFO Elevare, including pros and cons, ideal uses, and build quality.
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 2025.
Whether you’re swinging large western rivers for fresh, powerful Steelhead, or probing smaller streams in pursuit of anadromous beauties, fly fishing for Steelhead requires specialized rods for the job. Today, we’ll take a look at several of the best Steelhead rods of 2025, to help you pick the right tool for your fishing.
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 2025, 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 2025, and why.
Fishing small streams is one of the absolute joys of angling. Often characterized by surface-oriented fish and easy wading, a day spent on small water is made even better with a specialized small-water fly rod. Luckily, there are lots of great options for small stream fly rods, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. Keep reading to learn about our favorite small stream fly rods of 2025, and decide which one is the best for your creeking adventures!
From midwestern Smallmouth Bass and Peacocks in the jungle, to blitzing Stripers and trophy Brown Trout, the 7wt fly rod is a highly versatile tool. Finding the right 7wt for you depends on factors such as the fish species you’re targeting, the size of flies, and the size of the water, just to name a few. With all these considerations, it’s not easy to pick the best 7wt fly rod, but we’re here to help. In this list, we’ll share our favorite 7wt fly rods of 2025, and give you some specs and intended uses for each rod. By the end, you should have some solid options to consider for your first, or next, 7wt fly rod. Keep reading to see the list and learn more about the best 7wt fly rods of 2025.
When it comes to saltwater fly fishing, having a reliable reel with a solid drag and quick line pickup is of the utmost importance. Choosing the right reel, however, can be tricky. With so many options available and prices ranging from under $200 to well above $1,000, it’s hard to know which reel will offer the best performance for the money. Today, we’ll share our list of the best saltwater fly reels of 2025, giving you some pros and cons for each reel, and the price. Hopefully, this list will help you weed through the countless options and make an informed buying decision. Whether you’re gearing up for a GT trip to the Seychelles, or just getting into saltwater fly fishing and looking for a reliable Bonefish reel, this list will help you pick the best fly reel for your specific needs.
