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T&T has long been known for making some of the finest saltwater fly rods on the market. The Exocett is a saltwater series we know and love here at Trident and the Zone is a more recent mid-priced saltwater rod series that has been well-received by the fly fishing industry in general. The Paradigm breaks the T&T saltwater rod mold and marks T&T's entry into the small water, moderate action dry fly market.


Or does it? Does the name sound familiar? It should... this isn't the first time T&T has made a rod series called the Paradigm. Over 20 years since the original Paradigm, T&T has remade a classic to fit contemporary fly fishing. It seems like many major rod manufacturers have come out with moderate action dry fly-specific rods in the last few years. The Paradigm is T&T's lightweight trout rod for small streams, small flies, and finesse-style fishing. But how does it compare to other trout rods on the market? Read on to find out.


Outfit


Thomas and Thomas Paradigm 8' 4" 4wt Fly Rod
Lamson Liquid Fly Reel
RIO InTouch Perception Fly Line
Scientific Anglers Amplitude MPX Fly Line


Fit & Finish



T&T rods have always set the standard for the finest fit and finish and the Paradigm is no departure from that tradition. The Paradigm is made with Proprietary StratoTherm Resin that creates an accurate, lively rod blank. The Paradigm also features Titanium-Finished REC Stripping Guides, Single Foot REC Guides, a USA-Sourced Bird's Eye Maple Reel Seat Spacer, and a single uplocking component. A low-friction, semi-gloss blue surface finish adds cool character to the rod. Like every T&T rod, the Paradigm comes in an aluminum rod tube with T&T's original owner lifetime warranty.


Weight


While not as light as some of the other short 4wt rods on the market, the Paradigm isn't heavy, either. With an overall rod weight of 2.61 ounces the Paradigm is slightly heavier than the Hardy Zephrus Ultralite but is actually one of the lightest 4wt rods on the market. The swing weight is a bit heavier at 48.3 gm2.


Distance



The Paradigm's performance at longer distances is pretty darn good but comes with a caveat. For a softer 4wt rod we were expecting the Paradigm to fall apart in the 60+ foot range but we were pleasantly surprised with its accuracy and power after a few adjustments. We had to REALLY slow down our casting stroke at longer distances to get this beauty to perform. The rod is easily overpowered and requires a light touch and the right timing; too much force and tailing loops are sure to interrupt a feeding trout.


As such, we feel like a certain subset of casters is going to appreciate this rod at 50, 60, 65 feet and beyond. This isn't a rod for the intermediate caster who isn't in tune with his/her casting stroke and timing. But if you can adjust your stroke and know how to interpret the feedback the rod is giving you, this rod throws beautiful loops accurately at these longer distances. Who would've thought... a softer dry fly rod can really lay out the long bombs.


Accuracy



At 30-feet, the Paradigm takes a little getting used to. It wasn't as intuitive as some of the other small water rods on the market. That being said, once we got used to the rod's balance and feel, its accuracy was pretty spot-on at 30 feet. The Paradigm is smooth and provides loads of feedback and feel at this distance which makes it one of our favorite at short range. It's more than capable of delicately presenting dry flies at short distances off of the tip of the rod.


As we moved back to 45-feet, the wind started to blow (pretty strongly) and we found ourselves wishing we had a slightly faster rod. The Paradigm isn't a rod made for high line speeds and when we tried to speed it up in the wind... tailing loops. That being said, the rod is insanely accurate in low-wind conditions at this distance and is a great choice for tree-lined streams or rivers out of the wind.


We've already talked about the rod's accuracy as we pushed the limits of 'small water' trout distances. If you're interested, see the section on Distance. But a softer trout rod isn't supposed to cast 60-feet anyways.


Flex & Feel



This section is where the Paradigm really outshines the competition. We talked a little about how much adjusting and tweaking it took for us to get used to this rod. The good news is, we couldn't have adjusted our casting stroke without the feedback and feel of the rod itself. We felt that the Paradigm truly provided the angler with some of the best feedback we've ever experienced so we could make adjustments quickly and harness the rod's performance.


The rod's flex profile is also conducive to delicate presentations, high accuracy at shorter distances, and an enhanced angler-to-rod connection. The medium-action of the Paradigm allows anglers to slow down on the water and is ideal for throwing dry flies on spring creeks, small streams, and medium-sized rivers.


Warranty


T&T Lifetime Warranty


Price


$895


Conclusion


If you're a componentry guru and prefer a trout rod that's as much a work of art as it is a fishing tool, T&T has you covered with the Paradigm. If you're looking for medium-action performance with a great deal of feedback and feel, T&T has you covered there, too. While this may not be a rod for the intermediate caster, if you prefer the finer things in life and can adjust your casting stroke to accommodate this rod's deep-flexing capabilities at distance, there may not be a better trout rod out there. Cast one today with our Castability Guarantee.


Watch Our Review



Pros


  • Loads of feedback and feel
  • Expertly crafted


Cons


  • Performance that requires adjustment
  • Not the best choice for an intermediate angler


Questions?


Give us a call here at the shop at (888) 413-5211 or email us anytime at [email protected].