Hardy Demon FWS Fly Rod Review

Hardy seems to like the idea of fly fishing as a way to release your inner demons. We've seen several rods from Hardy marketed with the image of a demon including the Hardy Demon Smuggler and the Hardy Demon Salt. Well, they're back at it again with a new mid-priced rod series that includes the Hardy Demon FWS (freshwater series). The Demon FWS replaces the Jet as Hardy's well-rounded, do-it-all fly rod series. What demons will Hardy's new FWS help you release? Read on to find out.
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Outfit

• Hardy Demon FWS 9' 5wt Fly Rod

• Lamson Litespeed Fly Reel
• Scientific Anglers Mastery MPX Fly Line

Fit and Finish

The fit and finish of the Demon are exactly what you'd expect for a mid-priced rod: quality but lacking some high-end componentry. The Demon has a double uplocking reel seat with a wood reel insert. The rod has a typical half-wells grip that leads into a blank constructed with SINTRIX 330 technology, the same tech used in the Hardy Jet. The Demon finish is rounded out with chrome stripping and snake guides that are functional in all freshwater applications.

Weight

The weight of the Demon is slightly lighter than the Hardy Jet series, however, falls sort of middle-of-the-pack when compared to other fly rods in the same price category. The rod weighs in at 3.01 ounces and has a swing weight of 64.1 gm2, similar to the Orvis Recon, and certainly respectable but not stellar in the world of mid-priced rods.

Distance

Don't depend on the Demon to make those long-distance casts with pinpoint accuracy in heavy weather. That being said, the rod can get the job done at longer distances in mild weather when operated by a quality angler.

Accuracy

The Demon's predecessor, the Hardy Jet, was a softer rod than the Demon and more accurate at closer distances. That being said, the Demon is a spectacular rod at 45 feet; a distance that the Jet struggled with because of its lack of backbone. As we talked about in Distance, however, the Demon loses accuracy and feel when casted at extra-long distances.

Flex and Feel

The Demon feels like a slightly detuned version of the Hardy Zephrus. The rod has a fast action blank, works well across a large range of distances, and is very angler-friendly under most circumstances. The Demon is similar to the Zephrus in terms of flex and feel, however, the increase in weight causes the Demon to feel slightly less smooth than the Zephrus when casted at longer distances.

Line Choice

SA Mastery MPX was a great line on this rod.

Warranty

Hardy Lifetime Guarantee.

Price

$449

Conclusion

The Demon is a quality rod option from Hardy that focuses on usability and caters to both new and avid freshwater anglers. While the rod isn't the best at long distances, not many mid-priced rods are. The Demon is a solid rod option for multitudes of freshwater applications and casts well at important trout distances. See how it stacks up against other mid-priced trout sticks in our roundup of the best 5-weight fly rods, or shop the Hardy Demon FWS here.

Pros

• Price-Point
• Spectacular rod at 45 feet

Cons

• Heavier
• Lacks the ability to make effortless casts at a distance