Hardy Demon Salt Fly Rod Review

Nov 12, 2018 · 4 min read

Hardy joins the Scott Tidal and the Sage Motive in the mid-priced saltwater fly rod market with their new Hardy Demon Salt. Today’s saltwater rod market is saturated with big names like Thomas & Thomas, Sage, and Scott. Hardy seems to fly a bit under the radar when it comes to well-known saltwater fly rod manufacturers, however, it seems they’re trying to put the Hardy name into the saltwater tide pool. Do they succeed? Read on to find out.
Trident Fly Fishing is a full-service fly shop. We spend a lot of time testing gear and writing reviews to give you all of the tools to make your next trip a success. We are not a blog or a review site. 100% of our funding comes from your gear purchases, so if this blog post helps you on your next fly fishing adventure, please support us by buying your gear from us.

Outfit

- Hardy Demon Salt 9’ 8wt Fly Rod
- Nautilus NV-G Fly Reel
- Airflo Bruce Chard Tropical Punch Fly Line

Fit and Finish

Hardy challenges the norm in the mid-priced saltwater fly rod market by crafting a saltwater-blue blank that affords an attractive zeal to the Demon Salt. The blank is fully redesigned and incorporates SINTRIX 330 Silica Nano Matrix technology. The Demon Salt sports a standard fighting butt and an anodized aluminum double uplocking reel seat. Classic Hardy Salt. The full wells grip on the Demon Salt is slightly thinner and smaller than a standard full wells grip (perhaps a concern for the large-handed casters out there). Add hard Chrome stripping and snake guides, alignment dots, and dark blue wraps, and the appearance of the Demon Salt is catchy and stylish.

Weight

The Demon Salt is lighter weight and has a faster recovery than other mid-priced saltwater rods. The Demon Salt weighs 3.81 oz and has a swing weight of 79.32 gm2.

Distance

This is where the shortfalls of the Demon Salt start to show. While the rod excels in the short- to mid-range game, it just doesn’t have enough speed and power to get the fly out to 80 feet accurately. Similarities between the DS and the Scott Tidal become apparent at distance; both rods are great in close but leave an experienced angler wanting a bit more performance at long distances.

Accuracy

With the right line (Tropical Punch), the DS is really really good at 40 feet. I casted the SA Mastery MPX fly line and I felt like, similar to Tropical Punch fly line, the MPX encouraged accuracy at short distances. The rod performed pretty well at 60 feet, too, but lacked the quickness and feel to really extend beyond 60 feet accurately. Don’t get me wrong, the Demon Salt will bomb 100 foot casts all day long, but they may not be as accurate as casts made with other high-end saltwater fly rods.

Flex and Feel

This rod is FAST. Interestingly enough, fast means accurate at short distances in the case of the Demon Salt. Parallels can certainly be drawn between the flex and feel of the DS and the flex and feel of other similarly mid-priced saltwater rods. I would say the Demon Salt has a typical saltwater flex and feel which means fast and hard but smooth when casting a big fly.

Line Choice

A heavy fly line is important when equipping the Demon Salt. Rio Flats Pro and Airflo Chard Tropical Punch are great lines for the Demon Salt. The rod is just too fast to support a lighter line like, say, SA Bonefish.

Warranty

Hardy Lifetime Guarantee.

Price

$499

Conclusion

I’d say the Demon Salt is a moderate success for Hardy. The rod does mark a flashy entrance into the mid-priced saltwater fly rod market, however, Hardy could’ve done more with the DS at long distances. After all, fly fishing in the salt does require short to mid-range casts, however, if the permit of a lifetime is tailing at 80 feet, superb confidence in the chosen rod is essential. The Hardy Demon Salt doesn’t necessarily afford the angler that kind of confidence but will get the job done in most circumstances. Saltwater tide pool status achieved? I’d say so.

Pros

- Catchy blue saltwater blank
- Accurate at short distances

Cons

Lacks the backbone to reach out into the 80 foot + range

Written by

Chandler Crans

Chandler Crans is a fly fishing expert and a former guide in Alaska. Whether he's reviewing the latest rods and reels, writing about where to fish, or helping a first-time angler pick the right fly line, Chandler combines real guiding experience with deep product knowledge and a genuine love of being on the water.

Comments

(0)

No comments yet. Be the first!