fly rod reviews

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.

Once considered strictly for small stream fishing, modern 4-weight fly rods have become extremely versatile tools for the modern angler. A 4-weight fly rod is an important tool in any angler’s arsenal, capable of handling a wide range of techniques and target species – from dry flies and nymphing for Trout and Grayling to casting poppers to smaller Bass and Panfish. With so many 4-weight options on the market, it can be difficult to cut through the marketing hype. Let’s take a closer look at the best 4-weight fly rods of 2025 to help you choose the right one for your fishing goals.

Euro nymphing requires specialized rods to be effective. Your standard 9ft fly rod is too short to effectively tightline and lacks the tip sensitivity to detect strikes and protect light tippets. Longer, lighter Euro nymphing rods help maintain direct contact with nymphs to better detect subtle strikes. Whether you’re a seasoned tightline practitioner or you’re just euro-curious, read on as we break down the best Euro nymphing rods of 2025.

For many anglers, a 6-weight is the most versatile fly rod in their quiver. Capable of targeting Trout, Salmon, Bass, and even saltwater species such as Bonefish and Snook, a good 6-weight rod is worth its weight in gold. While there are dozens of great 6wt rods available these days, each rod has its distinctive characteristics and purposes. Today, we’ll take a look at several of the very best 6 weights of 2025, to help you pick the right tool for your fishing.

For many freshwater anglers, the 5-weight fly rod is their go-to choice. Whether targeting Trout, Bass, or panfish, its versatility is unparalleled. Fortunately, there are many excellent 5-weight rods available today, with features that suit nearly any freshwater angling foray. Today, we’ll take a look at several of the very best 5 weights of 2025, to help you pick the right tool for your fishing.

When it comes to fly fishing, having the right fly rod is crucial to your success. Choosing the right fly rod for a specific species can be tricky, with variables like the size of the fish, the size of the fly, and the fishery. We’ve made your search easier by creating a guide on how to choose the right fly rod for every species. While this list isn’t exhaustive, it should give you a general idea of what rods are appropriate for many popular target species. Read on to learn which rods should be considered for a wide variety of amazing fish.

The Hardy Marksman fly rod replaces the old Ultralight as Hardy’s premier freshwater rod series. Like the Ultralight, the Marksman aims to be the lightest all-around rod on the market, incorporating their latest graphite technology and updated aesthetics. There’s no question that Hardy fans will appreciate the new Marksman’s low swing weight and finesse game, but can it really do everything from dries to streamers? Read on to learn our full impression of the new Hardy Marksman fly rod.

The new Thomas and Thomas Avantt 2 fly rod is soon to hit the market after much anticipation. The original Avantt was one of our favorite freshwater rods for quite a while, and this new iteration aims to improve upon the success of its predecessor.

Most anglers know Lamson for their lineup of popular reels, but only a few know them for their fly rods. The Lamson Radius aims to change that, introducing a trout rod with tons of feel, functional componentry, and a super high-tech reel seat. At its core, the Radius was designed to be a playful rod that reminds you why you love fly fishing: it’s fun!

We get questions about specific rod models all the time. “How does the Douglas Sky G 9wt compare to the 10wt?” “When should I use this rod?” and “What line works best on this rod?”. This article is designed to pass that info along to you. We started a model-by-model blog series to provide better information so you can make a more informed buying decision.