Hardy Fly Rods

Founded in 1872, Hardy is one of the longest operating companies in the fishing world. Long known for their innovation in the fly reel space (they made the first Perfect in 1891), Hardy has also been making some of the greatest rods in the world. While only the elite Hardy Bros. models are still made in England, each and every rod bearing the Hardy logo is indeed a Hardy.

In 2011, Hardy reinvented itself to become a leading manufacturer of fly rods as well. Using the knowledge gained from Hardy Advanced Composites and a revolutionary new 3M resin, they created Sintrix. Hardy Sintrix rods combine impeccable accuracy with a revolutionary new fast action.

Sintrix remains a Hardy staple innovation, even today. Sintrix 440 technology can be seen in Hardy’s newest rod series, the Hardy Zephrus. The Zephrus is a blend of 3M nano-silica resins that make the Zephrus one of the strongest and lightest graphite rods on the market today. Hardy left no detail unimagined in the Zephrus and the fit and finish are a prime example of impeccable Hardy craftsmanship. The Zephrus has Fuji SiC stripping guides, titanium REC recoil guides, burled wood and carbon fiber spacers, and comes with an aluminum rod tube. The Zephrus is truly one of the finest and most accurate rods ever created.

The Zephrus rod series also includes the Hardy Zephrus Ultralite. The Hardy Ultralite is a slimmed down version of the Zephrus made for small water fishing and delicate presentations. This rod is insanely lightweight and maneuverable; in fact, it has the lightest swing weight of any rod we’ve tested here at Trident. The rod has a cork reel insert and pays homage to old-fashioned cane rods. Hardy made a real winner with the Ultralite.

The Zephrus also comes in saltwater fly rod models. The saltwater model boasts super fast line recovery speeds and a powerful butt section. Power and recovery don’t come at the cost of feel, however, and the saltwater Zephrus provides tons of feedback on the water. This saltwater rod is fast action, super durable, and made for all saltwater applications. If you’re in the market for a new saltwater fly rod, the Zephrus Saltwater Series is one of the best rods out there.

Hardy also makes two-handed fly rods. The Hardy Demon Fly Rod Series includes the Demon Switch and Spey rods. The Demon Switch comes in rod models from 3wt through 8wt and is a great option for Trout Spey and other smaller water applications. The Demon Spey is a bit more stout and comes in rod weights from 7 to 11. The Demon Spey is made for larger rivers where Steelhead or Salmon are the prime targets. Hardy’s Demon rod series includes all the aspects we love about the Zephrus: Sintrix blank construction, Fuji guides, an aluminum reel seat, and a durable rod tube. If you’re an avid Spey fisherman or you’re thinking about getting into the two-handed game, the Demon two-handed series from Hardy is a stellar option.

Buying a Hardy fly rod is not only buying a part of history - it's buying one of the world's best performing fly rods. The Hardy fly rod lineup is led by the Hardy Zephrus, which is one of our favorite trout rods. It's accurate. It's buttery smooth. And it lays down fly line for miles. Buy your next Hardy fly rod from us and get free shipping on all U.S. orders and a price match guarantee. Hardy makes some of the finest high-performance fly fishing rods on the market today. Shop Hardy Rods here!