model by model reviews

In 2024, Orvis unveiled the latest generation of Helios rods, dropping the numbering system while refining nearly two decades of innovation. This new Helios represents the culmination of speed, lightness, accuracy, and feel – but Orvis didn’t stop there. This latest generation improves recovery, tracking, and hoop strength, resulting in a more stable, responsive, and durable rod in real fishing conditions.

Recently, we had the opportunity to cast every model in the whopping 29-rod series, and today’s review reveals our findings. We’ll share casting notes, recommended line pairings, and best uses for each model, giving you valuable insights into which rods are ideal for your fishing. Keep reading to learn more about Orvis’ flagship rod series, which may be the most complete lineup we’ve ever reviewed.

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.

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.

We get questions about specific rod models all the time. “How does the Hardy Marksman Z 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.

Sage is a brand with a long history of building legendary saltwater fly rods. However, their past few flagship salt series have largely disappointed. Sure, there were a few solid models, but most were too stiff, fast, and clunky for the average angler. When we had the opportunity to cast each rod in the new R8 Salt series, we were immediately impressed by Sage’s commitment to developing a salt-specific series that is enjoyable to cast for the average angler.

Thomas & Thomas has long been known for building some of the finest saltwater fly rods in the world, and the Sextant series continues this tradition. Typical of T&T, the Sextant features high-end components and a build quality that few other production rods can match. While we appreciate the sharp looks, these are high-performance tools for the discerning destination flats angler, providing a nice balance between feel and power.

The Thomas & Thomas Paradigm is the ultimate presentation rod for the modern-day trout angler. These rods are lightweight, deep flexing, and, typical of T&T, feature the highest quality components. If your general fishing experience involves light tippet, long leaders, and tiny flies, you have come to the right place. But this isn’t your father’s dry fly rod, and you can expect better all-around performance than similarly billed rods from yesteryear.

A good fly rod doesn’t just cast well but is equally effective in real-world fishing scenarios. In theory, it seems like a simple concept, but rod designers have often struggled to find the right balance with fast-action rods. Sage designed the R8 Core series to tackle the shortcomings of high-performance fly rods, such as roll casting, loop control, technical mends, and delicate presentations.

Winston designed these rods to be ‘do-it-all’ freshwater fly rods. In fact, they call them the ‘Swiss Army Knife of fly rods’. To make such a versatile freshwater rod series, Winston rolled out a unique, progressive SuperSilica resin system that keeps these rods lightweight, powerful, and dynamic. That being said, Winston has also found a way to stay true to their brand by making these rods medium/medium-fast action and delicate when you need them to be. Read on for a model-by-model review of the whole series.

The Saltwater Air is a quick-recovering, high-performance saltwater fly rod series built with a few important features. Winston uses SuperSilica lightweight resin systems and their famous Boron III technology to craft incredibly light rods that are durable and solidly strong. Winston claims they built these rods with a fast mid-section (a departure from traditional Winston rods) and stiff butt sections for increased lifting power on the largest fish in saltwater. Read on for a detailed review of every rod model in the series.