The best gear in fly fishing earns that title the hard way, through testing, comparison, and real-world fishing that separates the genuinely exceptional from the merely good. Our Best Of roundups cut through the noise of a crowded market and highlight the top-performing rods, reels, lines, and accessories across every major category. These aren't paid placements or brand partnerships. They're the gear that rose to the top when we put everything through the same rigorous process.

Hundreds of individual product evaluations underpin every Best Of list we publish, each built from structured, hands-on testing that goes well beyond what most reviews attempt. Explore the full collection to find the top performers in every corner of the sport.

How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Musky

How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Musky

Chandler Crans
Musky, similar to Pike, are large critters with big teeth. Many anglers fish ...
How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Carp

How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Carp

Chandler Crans
Targeting Carp with a fly rod has become increasingly popular in recent fly f...
How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Striped Bass

How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Striped Bass

Chandler Crans
Needless to say, a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach doesn’t work when choosing a ...
How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Pike

How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Pike

Chandler Crans
Fly fishing for Pike can be insanely thrilling. Pike often encourage some of ...
How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Pacific Salmon

How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Pacific Salmon

Chandler Crans
Salmon are known for their commercial fishing value, but they also put up a g...
How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Steelhead

How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Steelhead

Chandler Crans
Fly fishing for Steelhead tests patience and perseverance. Maximizing your ch...
How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Bass

How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Bass

Chandler Crans
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass have long been a popular gamefish in the US. T...
How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Bonefish

How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Bonefish

Chandler Crans
The topic of choosing a fly rod for Bonefish is particularly relevant as we m...
Best Fly Fishing Gift Ideas: A Complete Gift Guide

Best Fly Fishing Gift Ideas: A Complete Gift Guide

Chandler Crans
Trident's first ever Holiday Gift Guide has arrived. Holiday shopping can be ...
Best Flies for Alaska Rainbow Trout: 8 Must-Have Fly Patterns

Best Flies for Alaska Rainbow Trout: 8 Must-Have Fly Patterns

Chandler Crans
So you want to travel thousands of miles to go fly fishing in Alaska, home to...
8-Weight Fly Reel Shootout: What's the Best Saltwater Reel?

8-Weight Fly Reel Shootout: What's the Best Saltwater Reel?

Ben Freeman
Hey, remember back when we released our first 8-weight reel shootout in 2013?...
2015 5-weight Fly Reel Shootout & Review: What's the Best Trout Reel?

2015 5-weight Fly Reel Shootout & Review: What's the Best Trout Reel?

Ben Freeman
When we released our 8-weight reel shootout, we began to demystify fly reels...
Orvis Access Mid-Arbor Fly Reel Review - Best Buy

Orvis Access Mid-Arbor Fly Reel Review - Best Buy

Ben Freeman
The Orvis Mirage is one of our favorite reels, so we know the engineers at Or...
Hardy Zenith 9' 5-weight Review: The Best Fly Rod for Trout?

Hardy Zenith 9' 5-weight Review: The Best Fly Rod for Trout?

Ben Freeman
With opening day finally here, I had the chance to test out my new Hardy Zeni...

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