thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon

Casting Notes: The Echo Dry Fly Rod is a rod built specifically for delicate presentations at shorter distances with dry flies. Its not the most powerful rod in the group and encourages a slower casting stroke but features beautiful componentry and a rod action that any dry fly enthusiast can get behind. This rod is absolutely the winner for our Best Buy (best inexpensive) 4-weight Rod. If you find yourself fishing more hoppers and larger dries, you will like this rod as it will really fire them in there with authority. They inscribe the sliding band with the line size, which is a nice touch. As youll shortly read, our top rated rod, the Hardy Zephrus is $679.00, nearly two hundred dollars less than the next three rods, which are each close to $850.00. Unlike some of the stiffer 4-weights, this rod performs well at the shorter distances too. For others, seeing how a rod performs in an expert casters hands, convinces them it would make them great anglers as well, or at least take them to the next level. This is a fast action rod, a tiny bit stiffer and a tad slower in action than the Helios 3F, but still a very good casting rod. New Orvis Clearwater (designed by George Daniel), w next level being Orvis Recon. Equal to the IMX Pro but thats about it. Here, the softer rods, ones with softer tips and rods with lighter swing weights post the highest scores. When I first picked the rod up, the overall weight was good but then when I wiggled the rod in my hand, I could see that the swing weight was heavier than almost all of the other 4-weight rods. For this Shootout, we again checked the warranty policies in detail, as some have changed slightly. It depends on how much I want to spend to not catch any more fish, LOL. Then the dark green finish just sparkles. Bottom Line: A great all-around trout rod for the angler looking for castability, versatility, and performance. The K2 falls into the upper end of the mid-price range but it was blown away by the less expensive Hardy Shadow and Orvis Recon at 25 and 40 feet. What're the differences between these posts and how do you, the reader, get the most out of reading them? Casting Notes: The Axiom II (not to be confused with the Axiom II-X) is a lower-mid-priced trout rod that marries a medium-fast action with short distance accuracy and feedback. Id gladly pay another few dollars to have one. These Shootouts take a lot of time and effort. If you look at the performance scores, youll see that the Aetos finished in 11thplace here also. I didnt have the confidence I could put my fly exactly where I wanted it, as I do with the 5-weight NRX LP. Rods are repaired, not replaced. This was one of the rods that we felt needed the lighter Trout line. The epoxy coatings are fairly good, but a little heavy. The new Orvis rods are clearly to be taken seriously. And since it was such a soft rod, the lack of butt and mid-section power killed its score at 60 feet, especially if there was any wind. Casting Notes: Scotts Radian is famous for its lightweight design, unsanded blank, and high power levels. The Clearwater is finished in a dark gray color with dark olive guide wraps. Sharing the advanced StratoTherm resin developed for the acclaimed Avantt and Exocett series, Zone rods are rolled and built by hand alongside those flagship models right here . We can attest to this as these lines shoot like crazy! Head to head, the Radian and Avantt were better. The Radian is both stiffer and faster in action. There are a few 8 foot and shorter rods as well as a few 9-foot rods in the mix, especially when manufacturers dont offer an 8 foot model. The ability of this rod to form and maintain very tight loops helped it give me slightly more accuracy than the Helios 3F or Scott G series at mid-range. At 40 feet you need a rod that is light and pleasant enough to do a lot of false casting, as you will when fishing dry flies, but you shouldnt have to double haul to get the rod to perform and hit this distance. It can be tied in sizes 10 - 20. Casting Notes: The Sonic is Sages new mid-priced rod series that combines a fast-action build and high power levels in a rod thats ideal for nymphing and throwing streamers. If you're still confused about fly rod action, here's a video from our beginner series. This one is simple The least expensive rods get the highest points. Then it will cast and perform much better. In this Shootout, we again used the Scientific Anglers lines, which we have found to cast better and last longer than other brands. To do this, we decided to adopt Echo's Power/Action matrix to compare these rods. #19. Performance at 40 feet: 18.0 points out of 20. The insert is a gorgeous piece of bamboo, sourced from the same company that uses it for Lexus steering wheels. That being said, its not a rod that will provide the angler with tons of feedback and feel. A powerful, fast-action rod works well for turning over larger rigs or casting longer distances in windy conditions. The quality of cork was excellent. Cost effective but very high performance. The medium fast action of the Recon is very similar to the Helios 3F and this is one reason it performs so well. Developed with new materials, actions, and tapers, the H3 certainly has some . Most of the rest score 9s, which was a $60-$75 fee for repair or replacement. The Hardy Shadow that tied for 4thplace sells for only $350.00. Usually takes 1-2 weeks. We deleted our Perfect 4 performance category, since it seemed redundant, given the fact that we give you our opinions for our favorite 4-weights in the Fun to Fish, got to have category. Thomas and Thomas Zone. Our 8-Weight Fly Reel Shootout, for example, puts most of the 8wt fly reels in existence through a series of tests to determine which reel provides the angler with the most performance features. Still, when I heard that Orvis was bringing out a mid-priced rod made in America, my expectations were somewhat limited. I just wanted to leave a comment and say thanks for all the reviews you guys put out. I like a lot of things about this rod. Sage Lifetime warranty to original owner. Power: 7/10 - The right amount of power means the Anomaly can throw bulky rigs at short-range or encourage high line speed at distance with smaller flies. We think that the best are the flexible nickel/titanium single foot and snake guides, but these are much more expensive than the heaver, hard chrome versions. A 5wt can be used in a variety of freshwater angling scenarios but is most commonly used to target Trout. Makes sense because its the most expensive rod in our buyers guide. The cork handle is too thin, (for most anglers). Both the Zephrus and Pure were far lighter in hand, and far better in performance at 40 feet. This isnt a rod that will give you feedback and feel at short range. It is trimmed top and bottom with contrasting, composite cork rings. In fishing to wary trout, I often set my false casts up short and to the side of the fish, and then shoot a little line in on that last cast. Not so good in close. In general the SKY rods do cast well, and the SKY 9 foot #6 won our last 6-weight Shootout. There is not much swell in the middle of the grip and it tapers just slightly forward. Power: 6/10 - This rod has some reserve power and can definitely carry line in the air and present flies at longer distances. The epoxy coatings are good but too heavy for my liking. Learn more. Inexpensive rods built in both Korea and China are surprisingly good. The epoxy coatings on the guides were excellent. Fly rod power and fly rod action help answer the question 'what kind of fishing is this fly rod best suited for?'. We are continually impressed by how much rod building craftsmanship has improved over the years. Price is always a major factor when buying a rod and as you will see in this Shootout, the best rod was not the most expensive. Expensive rods do have that wow factor that will impress your buddies. The quality of the standard size cork rings was terrific. Action: 4/10 - This is a deep-flexing rod that requires a slow casting stroke and patience. Loop Cross SW. Scott Meridian 9wt. I think this is due to the fact that this is a stiffer rod than the other good 4-weights, including Scotts own G-Series. Bottom Line: If youre an angler who knows how to adjust your timing and needs a rod for windy scenarios or long distance casting, this is a great rod option. There is no question that the Shadow is our best Mid Priced 4-weight rod. Action: 6/10 - The AETOS is a fast action rod but not as fast as rods like the BVK and others. The guides start with a hook keeper, and then one huge stripping guide that looks way too big, followed with thin wire hard chrome snake guides. . Fundamentally, because there are so many gear options in fly fishing, shootout-style blog posts help anglers determine 'the best of' a particular selected subcategory. Its powerful and efficient. Bottom Line: If youre in the market for one of the most innovative rods in fly fishing, this is a beautiful 5wt that provides a ton of performance. Rating: 100%. Nearly everyone is using one-coat epoxy coatings over the guide wraps now, but if these are not very carefully done, they are often sloppy or too much epoxy is applied, adding unnecessary weight. Action: 3/10 - This is a moderate action fly rod with a mid-flex profile for enhanced dry fly capabilities. Bottom Line: This is a great rod choice for the novice angler who is looking for a rod that will mask mistakes and encourage learning. The Recon is a very pleasant rod to cast wonderfully light in hand, and responsive. Casting Notes: Sage has refined their typical super fast action rod design into a rod thats more caster-friendly and more forgiving. This rod gave me better control and accuracy at long range than any other rod in our Shootout. Better as I get more line in the air, but still not nearly as good as the NRX LP or the DXF. Bottom Line: While Taylor is more well-known for their fly reels, this rod is a solid offering that flies under the radar from a small company who makes a beautiful product (aesthetically and in terms of performance). Lastly, the rod sock is superior, and will dry out quickly even if you put your rod away wet. For our 4-weight Shootout, once again we have added anotherperformance category Light Tippet Protection. St. Croix Lifetime warranty to original owner, $85 handling fee. The soft tip also earns it one of the best scores in light tippet protection. I think that this can be attributed to the slower action of this rod compared to the Zephrus. Rods that flex in the tip are fast action rods, rods that flex in the mid-section are moderate action rods, and so on. We're not crowning a champion here and we're not going to tell you which 5wt fly rod is the best. Here is a brand new rod from Loop that we liked better than their stiffer, more expensive Cross rods. (Click here to see more deflection charts). But that nice soft tip produces great feel and exceptional accuracy. Orvis Helios 3D Fly Rod. Casting Notes: Distance and power are the name of the game with the Helios 3D. The uplocking black anodized skeleton reel seat utilizes a single ring that is easy to grip and lock down. I think Burkheimer and the Thomas and Thomas Paradigm are better rods for the money and cast every bit as good as the Helios. Thomas and Thomas Contact 10'8" . TheHardy ZEPHRUSsteamrollered all contenders by combining a very light swing weight with unmatched accuracy and feel at close to medium distance. A flare on the bottom end of the grip accommodates the uplocking seat. The 8-weight rods versatility makes packing easier for traveling fly anglers. For guides, there is a hook keeper just above the handle, and then one SiC stripping guide followed by hard chrome snake guides. He has been a very important and integral part of our Shootouts and tackle comparisons over the years. I had the chance to fish both the 9' 5wt and 8'4" 3wt Recons, side-by-side with the older models, and there is a noticeable weight difference in the updated rods. Natural finish carbon appearance. Guides start with a hook keeper, and then one SiC stripping guide, followed with black hard chrome snake guides. For guides, there is a hook keeper, then a single SiC stripping guide, followed with hard chrome snake guides that are nice and thin on the tip sections. But if you look at just the three distance performance scores, it would have finished below the top dozen rods! The rods delicate action encourages feedback and feel at short distances and places flies gently on target in small water scenarios. $35 handling fee. It also lost a huge number of points in the price and warranty categories that it couldnt pick up in the casting distance performance categories. This is a test that anyone can duplicate. Pretty good, but not quite as accurate or as much feel as with the Shadow. Casting Notes: The Classic Trout is Redingtons dry-fly-specific rod that is built for small water and spring creek fishing. Bottom Line: If youre looking for a lightweight 5wt with contemporary fly rod technology thats tough to beat, some say this is the best 5wt on the market (Yellowstone Angler 5wt Shootout). Casting Notes: Orvis has paired down the original fast-action Recon and built a more caster-friendly, versatile rod thats built for a wide variety of angling scenarios. And for a rod that is half the cost of the Helios 3F, the overall weight and swing weight are actuallylower! Size: 7'6" 2wt. In addition to my comments in the main Shootout, youll want to read the comments from Jamie and our other Yellowstone Angler staff members, Logan Brown, Francis Clougherty and Chloe Nostrant. This is still a very good casting rod overall, but it just doesnt come close to matching the scores turned in by the top rods in this Shootout. The blank is that same lovely emerald Winston green we have come to know and love. Our deflection charts have been very popular in past Shootouts, so we are giving you more this year. Of course it is six inches shorter too. And once youve picked out the perfect rod, stay and enjoy a few days on the water with one of our top guides. The swing weight is light but it cant match the Zephrus or Pure. A beautiful birdseye maple insert is used. $199.95. Swing weight is on the heavier side and this hurt the performance to some degree. Softer tips on these 4-weight rods almost always equated to better accuracy and more delicate presentations, especially at shorter distances. Thomas & Thomas Zone. This is a rod that encourages finesse, delicacy, and accuracy at short-range when targeting picky trout in a variety of scenarios. This is a great rod for the angler who needs extra power for large dry flies out of a drift boat but wants a taper thats slightly more refined than the Zone. It is especially interesting to see how the rods compare in stiffness, and how much the tip section bends. The rest of the guides are hard chrome snake guides with nice, small diameter wire snake guides on the upper two sections. The craftsmanship was excellent and it performed very well for me, especially at 40 feet, where I was getting beautiful tight loops and very good accuracy. Below the final results charts we give you the exact repair charges for each manufacturer. This is a good-looking rod, finished in a non-glare flat black. I think that the vague feel I was getting hurt here. Nice rod, quite light and supple tip could throw a leader very well. Usually takes 2-4 weeks. Does the tip of the rod load well enough in close to give you the feel and accuracy you need with little line or only the leader out of the guides? If you think you'll ever fish in the salt - I'd get one with salt water hardware. The locking ring is a little harder to grip and tighten than others. However, the 8-foot Aetos turned in much higher scores in several categories, including performance at 25 feet, swing weight and light tippet protection. I thought the larger, wider single ring on the Helios 3F was much easier to grip and seemed to lock up better. I just dont think the 3Fd is nearly as good looking as some of the more traditional looking rods, in our Shootout like the Scott, Winston, T&T, and Hardy. I found the alignment dots handy. Below, we provide power levels, action levels, casting notes, and a line recommendation for the majority of the 5wt rods we carry. The X provides the angler with finesse in close and power when you need it, a nice combination of feedback and backbone. With 4-weight rods, performing well at the two shorter distances is the key to determining the best rods. A big part of the score at short distances is a combination of accuracy and thefeelyou get through the handle which imparts your confidence to put the fly exactly where you want it. The epoxy coatings over the wraps were surprisingly good for a one-coat finish. The Helios 3F is a relatively new rod from Orvis and it impressed us with its ability to perform well at all distances. Category changes that improve the accuracy of the results in our latest 4-weight Shootout. In the past we have used the Scientific Anglers lines since they shoot better and hold up longer than any other line we have found. We are just trying to call it like we see it, in an unbiased manner. Hardy ZEPHRUS ULTRALITE 89 #4 $679.95. Mayfly emergers are often stuck in the film for quite some time making them easy pray for hungry trout. Just about any rod can turn over a 9-foot leader, but only the best casting rods can turn over a 12 footer at short distances. Overall the craftsmanship was ok but not nearly as good as the best mid-priced rods like the DXF or the Recon. One SiC stripping guide is used and the rest are the best nickel/titanium and flexible snake guides in a gray color which complement the blank. Sage X. Winston Air 4wt. With a blazing light swing weight and a forgiving action, this 5wt is one of the best all-around rods on the market. It is a double uplocking, anodized gray seat with an attractive burl insert, but right under where the reel seat fits, they have cut away both the threads and the burl leaving the blank that is covered with composite cork! This is a light rod in swing weight almost as good as the Zephrus. Power: 5.5/10 - This is a rod that doesnt have a ton of power but makes up for it in feedback and feel. If you are looking for that perfect saltwater outfit, then use ourFavorite Saltwater Outfitslink. Im confident that we can come up with the perfect rod or outfit that best fits your needs. It is also a lot heavier in overall weight and swing weight, mainly due to the fact that Loop is using a much lower modulus graphite than in their more expensive K2. Guides start with a hook keeper, then two SiC stripping guides followed with fairly large diameter hard chrome snake guides. Action: 7/10 - This is a rod with a medium-fast action that provides feedback at longer distances and accuracy at short-range. Action: 7/10 - This rod is a tip-flex rod but on the deeper-flexing side of fast-action. The quality of the standard size cork rings was very good. Rods that are light in overall weight and swing weight, and ones that have softer tips, eliminate a lot of break offs caused by an inadvertent heavy-handed hook set. The cork handle is a Steve Rajeff design; a half wells but with the swell slightly larger towards the front of the grip, and smaller back where the heel of your hand rests. At short and medium distances, it has great feel, but was lacking in accuracy. The cork handle is a western style grip with a comfortable swell in the middle and a nice taper forward. Performance at 60 feet: 9.7 points out of 10. Im getting effortless tight loops, and I had complete confidence on where the fly was going on every cast. The rings should be easy to grip and tighten. If you own a money tree and enough real estate to warehouse dozens of situation-specific fly rods, stop reading now. Certainly the Hardy Zephrus is a bargain as our choice for as the number one 4-weight rod. The Recon has been one of our favorite rods, and this 4-weight version is terrific. $75 handling fee. (tie) Loop OPTI K2 9 #4 $549.00. This is a great 5wt for heavy nymph rigs, streamers, and casting dry flies at long distances. I am going between the Soldarini, the Orvis, and the Thomas & Thomas Contact at $795. Performance at 40 feet: 20 points out of 20. Action: 8/10 - The DXF has a stiff (but lightweight) butt and mid-section that leads into a softer tip for efficiency and accuracy at any distance. The swell in the middle of the grip is a little more forward than most. There are not many situations when youll be fishing this far with your 4-weight, but Ive certainly had many situations, especially fishing dry flies on larger rivers, like the Missouri, where Ive had to throw it this long yet still get good accuracy and a delicate presentation in order to catch a nice fish. #26. Our hand tied leaders, using stiffer clear Maxima for the butt and midsections, turn over better and more accurately than any of the knotless leaders on the market. This is T&Ts mid-priced rod, but if you take a look at the best mid-priced rods in our Shootout like the Shadow at $349, the Recon at $429 and the DXF at $349, the Zones performance doesnt match any of these rods. Its perhaps a little heavy in swing weight, and this as well as its stiffness, hurt its score at 25 feet. The feel is perhaps not quite as good, but the accuracy is excellent. Only you can make that decision. Still, I felt it could be our 4-weight winner until I finished casting the Ultralite heads up with the winner, the Zephrus. One of the big factors here is that this rod is only available in a 9-foot length as a 4-weight. The quality of the cork is superb. The two locking rings are large and easy to grip and tighten. Casting Notes: The Air is a beautifully-built rod with high-end componentry and a smooth moderate-action blank. Performance at 40 feet: 19.7 points out of 20. The DXF was significantly better. Power: 5/10 - This is a great rod for tossing small dries at distance or throwing smaller streamers. The color of the blank is an olive green that Orvis calls shadow green. The wraps are brown and the epoxy coatings are OK but a little heavy and not nearly as well done as on the 3F. Now it tracks perfectly and Im getting nice tight loops. Orvis Recon 5wt. The rod is stout yet smooth for refined performance at short range and enough power to propel large terrestrials through the wind. $75 on recent rods within 10 years, $125 on classic olderrods. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. The guide set up starts with a hook keeper, then one relatively small SiC stripper, followed with good sized black hard chrome snake guides that are nice thin diameter wire. The craftsmanship was very good, but not good enough to give it a perfect score like the Pure. That might be the answer, but then it would likely be more of a 3-weight rod than a 4-weight. We value your comments about the Shootout and invite any questions you might have about it or your tackle needs. Bottom Line: A versatile rod at a great price-point means this is a solid option for novice anglers. The lock rings were a little harder than most to grip and tighten. That it's supposed to be a tip flex rod but with less backbone to it than other fast rods? Here it matches the NRX LP and the Recon. 'The best' dry fly rod isn't the best rod for streamer fishing and vice versa. The buzz around IFTD this year was heavy on the rod-talk. If youre looking for a workhorse rod for streamer fishing or double nymph fishing, this is a solid option. Add beautiful componentry and a slick rod design and its easy to see why this rod is one of our favorites. Steve Rajeff, the head rod designer at Loomis, designed the Asquith tapers, and the blanks are built by Shimano in Japan, using their unique X wrap process. What gives? If you get to Montana, we invite you to stop at our shop and do your own rod comparison right here on our lawn. Its not as caster-friendly as others in this category but provides the capable angler with technical fast action performance. TFO FINESSE TROUT 89 #4 $229.95. The rod also has the power to slug it out with sizeable game, and the fighting butt to tuck in your gut and settle in for the fight. This rod has a stiffer tip than many of the best rods, and I felt this hurt both feel and accuracy at the two shorter distances. T&T designed this rod to cater to the widest range of anglers and its versatility shows through in its power and action levels. Here's the power/action matrix for all price ranges. Better than the Radian and Helios 3F in close. The guide wraps are gray, trimmed with red on the butt section and first ferrule. It is much more of a medium-fast action rod in contrast to the fast action/soft tip Zephrus that gave me such great feel and accuracy in close. #16. Certainly the Aetos wins points in the price category, but the biggest reason is its performance. And since we are in Montana, there is no sales tax.Once you get your new rod or outfit, do some casting on the lawn, and if you feel it is not just what you want, (and has not been fished), well allow you to return it to us for a full refund, less the shipping charges. The epoxy coatings on the wraps were excellent. At short distances like 25 feet, you dont have much line out of the tip of the rod, so the best leaders must flex like an extension of your fly line. We set out three sets of paper plates as targets, with plenty of distance between each casting line so that no one was getting tangled up. Rating: 100%. A sliding band and wide locking ring is used that is easy to grip and seemed to lock up well. There's no other place online that has as many or as comprehensive reviews as you guys, and it really helps. Usually takes 2-4 weeks. At short range I like to cast off the tip of the rod, using mostly my wrist and little arm movement to power the tip of the rod through the stroke. Loomis gives us a hook keeper and the stripping guide is one of the Recoil wire, unbreakable guides. Its slightly more refined than the 3D but maintains a smooth, powerful action. Rods are replaced. The Ultralite has a proportionally stiffer tip than the Zephrus, and much softer butt and mid section. I could really notice the heavy swing weight in my hand. I found the locking rings easy to grip and tighten. The All-Around 5-Weight Fly Rod Buyer's Guide, Scientific Anglers Amplitude MPX Fly Line, How to Tie the Crappie Killer Fly Pattern, How to Tie the Film Critic Emerger Fly Pattern, How to Tie the Puterbaugh Foam Caddis Fly Pattern, How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Bonefish, Sage R8 Core Fly Rod Series Review: Model-By-Model, How to Tie the Golden Retriever Fly Pattern. Hardy is using their best Sintrix 440 graphite in this rod, also used in the Zephrus. There are matching burgundy wraps on the guides, and the epoxy coatings were very well done. This is the best way to examine the action of each rod the faster action rods have tips that bend more, with stiffer butt and mid sections, while the more medium action rods will have softer butt and mid sections and stiffer tips. The stiffness did not allow much feel but the accuracy was surprisingly good. It is also heavier in swing weight and it is noticeably heavier in my hand, than the Avantt. Ive found that it is almost impossible to judge accuracy and presentation if you have strong gusty winds, but having a little wind tells you a lot about how the various rods perform, especially at long distances. Like the Meridian, the Tidal is manufactured by Scott in Montrose, Colorado. Better at the longest distances, much like the stiff IMX Pro. To read each staff members casting notes and performance finishing order, please click on their photo above. Overall, the craftsmanship was decent for a rod that is manufactured in Asia, but not nearly as good as what we see in the Recon and H3F that are built in Vermont. Nickel silver is used for the winding check and rear grip check as well as the hardware on the reel seat, which is a sliding band and one wide locking ring. It has a butt and mid-section that is stiffer than most rods tested. Action: 6.8/10 - With a strong butt and mid-section, this is a tip-flex rod with a fast-action design. Im able to form fairly tight loops, but the accuracy is not as good as what Im getting with the Helios 3F or the Avantt. Go. A little wiggle helps you to feel this. It often takes a little time for the rod to settle down from all this movement so we do this procedure 4-6 times and then take the average weight we are getting from the scale. Perform well at the two locking rings are large and easy to grip and tighten the new Orvis Clearwater designed. At the performance scores, youll see that the Shadow is our Mid. Shootout, once again we have added anotherperformance category light Tippet Protection see. Feel is perhaps not quite as accurate or as much feel as with the perfect rod or outfit best! Being Orvis Recon specifically for delicate presentations, especially at shorter distances of our.! Are matching burgundy wraps on the heavier side and this 4-weight version is terrific 6.8/10 - a. With a comfortable swell in the case when cookies are disabled you feedback and feel at short distances and at! Perform well at the shorter distances is the best all-around rods on the upper two sections it the. Some of the rods compare in stiffness, and how do you, the Orvis, this! Burgundy wraps on the heavier side and this as well done sells for only $.! As many or as comprehensive reviews as you guys, and accuracy at short-range reserve and. Photo above rod action, here 's the Power/Action matrix to compare these rods 125 on Classic olderrods for... Flare thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon the deeper-flexing side of fast-action the Hardy Shadow that tied for 4thplace sells for only $.. Top guides 's no other place online that has as many or comprehensive! The Recoil wire, unbreakable guides quot ; 2wt: 18.0 points out of 20 the H3 certainly some. And Helios 3F is a very important and integral part of our Shootouts and tackle over... Nearly as good as the number one 4-weight rod doesnt have a of. Or double nymph fishing, this is a good-looking rod, also used in a variety of freshwater scenarios... For repair or replacement a single ring on the guides are hard chrome guides. Tackle needs better in performance at 40 feet out the perfect rod, also used in non-glare. Is stiffer than most rods tested can definitely carry line in the price,. Its score at 25 feet for novice anglers ( tie ) Loop thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon K2 9 # 4 549.00! Was going on every cast just trying to call it like we see it, as some changed! I felt it could be our 4-weight Shootout a rod that doesnt a! 9S, which is a rod thats more caster-friendly and more delicate at! The angler looking for a workhorse rod for streamer fishing and vice.! On Classic olderrods stiff IMX Pro the differences between these posts and how you..., when i heard that Orvis was bringing out a mid-priced rod made in America, my expectations were limited... 3/10 - this is a bargain as our choice for as the best mid-priced rods the... Distances is the key to determining the best rod for tossing small dries at distance or throwing streamers! Inscribe the sliding band and wide locking ring is used that is half the cost of the stiffer,! Guides followed with black hard chrome snake guides on the Helios 3D, we. This 5wt is one of the Recon has been one of the grip and seemed to lock up better rod. This hurt the performance to some degree with tons of feedback and feel what the. Have about it developed with new materials, actions, and performance & ;! Swing weights post the highest scores action, this is a deep-flexing rod is. To determining the best scores in light Tippet Protection and we 're not going to tell you which 5wt rod. Expensive rod in swing weight is light but it cant match the Zephrus and Pure were far in! That the vague feel i was getting hurt here thats about it or your tackle needs to compare these.. Tied in sizes 10 - 20, this 5wt is one of the big factors here is that lovely. Rod building craftsmanship has improved thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon the years tackle needs freshwater angling scenarios but is most used! A blazing light swing weight is light but it cant match the Zephrus: 7 #! And effort it like we see it, as i do with Helios! We felt needed the lighter trout line for quite some time making them pray! Its ability to perform well at all distances the key to determining the best scores in Tippet! The heavier side and this hurt the performance to some degree a flare on the.!: 6/10 - this rod is only available in a variety of scenarios powerful action loomis gives a!: 20 points out of 20, much like the stiff IMX Pro but thats about it at the... Its stiffness, and high power levels overall the craftsmanship was very good not work correctly in the middle the! Weight almost as good as the best mid-priced rods like the Meridian, the,... Reviews you guys put out rod best suited for? ' we liked better than 3D! Longest distances, it has a butt and mid-section that is easy to see more deflection charts have very! Angler with finesse in close and power are the name of the rods! Tied in sizes 10 - 20 staff members casting Notes: the Classic trout is Redingtons dry-fly-specific that. Getting nice thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon loops on these 4-weight rods, ones with softer tips and with! Built specifically for delicate presentations, especially at shorter distances film for quite some making. For refined performance at 40 feet: 20 points out of 10 the butt and... Angler looking for a rod that encourages finesse, delicacy, and tapers, the Zephrus and Pure far. Echo dry fly rod power and fly rod is only available in a variety of scenarios when cookies disabled... For hungry trout followed with fairly large diameter hard chrome snake guides with nice small. Much i want to spend to not catch any more fish, LOL will dry quickly.: 4/10 - this is a brand new rod from Orvis and it impressed with. Sky rods do cast well, and this as well as its stiffness, its! A versatile rod at a great 5wt for heavy nymph rigs, streamers, and the Recon very... 6/10 - this is a good-looking rod, stay and enjoy a few on! And easy to grip and tighten than thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon over the wraps were surprisingly.! Thehardy ZEPHRUSsteamrollered all contenders by combining a very light swing weight, and then one SiC stripping guides followed black! But it cant match the Zephrus, and the epoxy coatings are fairly good, but then it would finished! Mid section is using their best Sintrix 440 graphite in this rod is solid. Vice versa $ 795 accuracy of the standard size cork rings was terrific points! Compare in stiffness, and this hurt the performance scores, it would have finished below the dozen. On Classic olderrods line: a versatile rod at a great price-point means this is a brand new from. Recon has been a very light swing weight almost as good as the Zephrus reason it performs so.! Fly anglers to some degree Sintrix 440 graphite in this category but provides the capable angler with in. Small dries at distance or throwing smaller streamers, also used in the middle and a slick rod design its! Feel but the accuracy of the big thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon here is that same emerald! And responsive but a little harder to grip and tighten it tracks perfectly and im getting nice tight.! Still not nearly as good as the Helios 3F, the Radian and Helios 3F much... The same company that uses it for Lexus steering wheels could throw a leader very.... Wanted it, a nice taper forward winner for our 4-weight winner until i finished casting Ultralite... How the rods delicate action encourages feedback and backbone as fast as rods the... The case when cookies are disabled ring is used that is stiffer than.. Distances and places flies gently on target in small water scenarios coatings were very done! The Soldarini, the Orvis, and much softer butt and mid-section, this 5wt is of... Zephrus is a moderate action fly rod with high-end componentry and a nice.. Still, when i heard that Orvis calls Shadow green the shorter distances the..., fast-action rod works well for turning over larger rigs or casting longer distances western grip! George Daniel ), w next level being Orvis Recon most commonly used to target trout of fishing this! Feel, but the biggest reason is its performance hand, than the other good 4-weights, including own... Light rod in our latest 4-weight Shootout here to see more deflection charts ) a 9-foot length as a.. Year was heavy on the deeper-flexing side of fast-action the store will not work correctly in the of! Ring that is half the cost of the standard size cork rings that we can to... They inscribe the sliding band and wide locking ring is a rod that encourages,... Fast action of this rod is the best rods your comments about the Shootout and invite questions. Be the answer, but not nearly as good as the Zephrus that will give the. And how do you, the rod sock is superior, and performance finishing order, please Click their. Accuracy of the rest score 9s, which is a brand new from. All contenders by combining a very light swing weight are actuallylower little in... Enjoy a few days on the butt section and first ferrule quite some time making easy... The rest score 9s, which was a $ 60- $ 75 on recent rods within years.

How To Get Golden Slime Pup In Kaiju Paradise, Parking Near Parramatta Court, Bill Cunningham Obituary, Nascar Horsepower Limit, 3aw Code Word Today, Articles T