The best score for length goes to the Echo Shadow X with 189 mm. The longer We value your comments about the Shootout and invite any questions you might have about it or your tackle needs. Those who are after a nymphing type rod designed to fish very light (beads from 2 mm) or dry fly at short distance, with a natural fly line parallel would be happy to use: the Greys GR80, the Soldarini Hydropsyche Elite Competition, the Sage ESN HD or the Syndicate Pipeline. 3. As explained by Fred, platelets are like building blocks that are microscopic in size. If more than one section is broken, the fee is $35 extra per section. Ive never broken my #11 Asquith on big tarpon, but have landed dozens of 50-160lb. When Im fishing nymphs or streamers with heavier tippet like 2x-4x, then Ill want to play the larger fish off the reel most of the time, and this requires a smooth drag that can be adjust quickly and easily. The rest of the guides are the best dark nickel/titanium single-foot guides that are flexible but will never break. Craftsmanship has always been excellent on the Helios rods. The Greys GR80 keeps the olive green from the GR70 on the blank and the wraps are dark. Terrific power on tap, when you need it. We see a lot of people wishing to economize getting into fly fishing and buying less expensive equipment. Usually takes 4-8 weeks. Well, the lower the weight class of the rod, the smaller and thinner the line it can handle. Sage tells us that this is a fast action rod like the X, built using their same Konnetic technology. The Shadow is finished in a beautiful deep ruby metallic red. to Choose the Best Fly Reel for Salmon A stack of thin, high quality cork rings are used much like on the NRX+. Im confident that we can come up with the perfect rod or outfit that best fits your needs. The Avantt uses T&Ts proprietary Strato Therm Resin, giving the rod incredible strength, low swing weight and lightning fast recovery. $75 handling fee. And a big part of accuracy is the feel you get through the handle that gives you the confidence to put the fly where you want it. If you have never seen one before Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We have experimented with various ways to measure swing weight in past Shootouts, but we still prefer our tried and true approach using the postal scale. Sure, it rated at the bottom for craftsmanship, but when you consider the price you cannot expect to get the best in terms of the quality of components, or cork in the handle. 10' 5-weight Mini-Shootout: Is 10 the new 9? - Trident Fly Fishing The handle on the 3D is a larger full wells design with a slightly larger swell in the middle and a flare at both top and bottom. In terms of the cosmetics, Ill admit that Im not a fan of the 5 inches of white ahead of the cork grip, containing the Orvis logo, but this has become a trademark now, and these rods really jump out at you (for better or worse) on the rod rack or stream. The Avantt is another classy rod from Thomas and Thomas with craftsmanship that is second to none. The cork handle has an elegant wooden finishing, matching the insert of the black aluminium reel seat. Words + Photos By: Josh Thelin Saltwater fly rods have a unique place in fly fishing. The Hydropsyche Elite Competition series designed by the former French competitor Thibault Guilpain has a thin blank with a night blue gloss finish coating. Hardy uses a half wells, cigar shaped handle with standard sized, extremely high quality cork rings, as we have come to expect from Hardy. Click here to jump to the rest of the charts. The most versatile fly fishing rods tend to be between 8 and 9 feet in length. This rod has done well for us in past Shootouts. From their fishing experience, they know just what is needed for specific fish, the fishing conditions, and techniques needed to master a fishing situation. Well get to the specifics of each in a moment, but heres the lowdown on their shared DNA. GL8 resin is self-propagating, meaning the resin creates its own Nano-particles. They feature a lot of casting power and sensitivity too. If current rod sections are no longer available the rod will be replaced with a comparable model. At long distance I gave it a perfect score, matching the NRX+. Best saltwater 6-weights Douglas Sky G Salt, Hardy Zane Pro, Best mid-priced freshwater 6-weight Hardy Shadow ($389.95), Best mid-priced saltwater 6-weight Orvis Recon Saltwater ($549), Best streamer/sink tip 6-weight G. Loomis NRX+, Best mid-priced streamer/sink tip 6-weight Orvis Recon (Freshwater), Best inexpensive streamer/sink tip 6-weight Orvis Clearwater, Best inexpensive freshwater 6-weight Echo Carbon XL ($169), Best inexpensive saltwater 6-weight Echo Boost Blue ($249.00), Best craftsmanship G. Loomis Asquith, T&T Avantt, Best warranty policies Douglas Sky G, G. Loomis NRX+, Echo Carbon XL, Most fun to fish Douglas Sky G, G. Loomis Asquith, Lightest overall swing weight Douglas Sky G Salt, Moonshine Vesper, Best indicator/nymphing rod G. Loomis NRX+, Beulah G2 Platinum, Best 75 performance G. Loomis Asquith, G. Loomis NRX+, Softest/most buttery feel Echo Bad Ass Glass, Best single hand spey Beulah G2 Platinum, Best high stick/mending capabilities Beulah G2 Platinum, Eye catchers G. Loomis Asquith, Scott Centric, Hardy Ultralite, T&T Avantt, Best chance to clear a tangle (biggest guides and tiptop) Douglas Sky G Salt, Hardy Zane Pro, Echo Boost Blue, Echo Bad Ass Glass, Thickest grip for big hands Taylor Anomaly, Beulah G2 Platinum, TFO Axiom II-X, Most likely to make your fishing buddies jealous G. Loomis Asquith, Georges observations on the deflection charts. $50 processing fee, not including shipping. The cork handle is still cigar shaped. The guide set up starts out with a hook keeper, and then one titanium frame stripping guide with a SIC insert. Why Do Crappie Turn Black? (Guide), What Size Hook For Cobia Fishing? A small hook keeper is found just above the handle. How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Tarpon - Trident Fly Fishing Performance at 50 feet 20 points available. That's a lot. If you are thinking about buying a fly rod, we suggest reading one of our Shootouts for the line size rod you want. Swing weight is such an important category, we now give it 20 points and consider it a part of our performance evaluation. In looking at the rod deflections, the Sonic is actually a little stiffer than the X and is one of the most powerful rods in our Shootout. Along with the Recon and Sage X, this is the lightest rod in overall weight. The thing that surprised me the most is that this is a relatively stiff rod with more power than most of the other 6-weights. The reel seat mixes black anodized aluminum and cork insert. Its a lightweight and fast action fly fishing rod that is both sensitive and responsive too. High Performance The NRX rods were always one of my favorite rods, but these new NRX+ rods are even better. The cork handle is a comfortable half wells shape, with the swell a little forward of the middle of the grip. On the other hand the 3F was better at short distances and you can see this in the scores at 30 and 50 feet. For the models with #2/3 power, two frequencies are measured. An 8 weight is the most popular weight rod for Bonefish, and anglers will use 9, 10, 11, and 12 weight rods for the larger fish depending on the situation. At 30 feet it matched the Loomis rods, but the Sky G was markedly better. We hope that this 6-weight Shootout helps you to choose the very best rod for your needs. 2020 8-Weight Shootout | MidCurrent Only the new NRX+ rods track as well as the Asquith. As we have found in past Shootouts, there are some outstanding rods that score higher than rods that are two to three times as expensive. Tropical Saltwater Fly Line Shootout & Buyer's Guide Shop For Fly Fishing Gear Online Inventory Yellowstone Angler The rod itself is made out of lightweight graphite, thus making it fairly easy to maneuver and cast with, all without getting fatigued. The first Objective Observations chart shows you our top ten 6-weight rods in finishing order, (plus the Echo Carbon XL our pick for the best inexpensive 6-weight). A stack of thin, high quality cork rings are used. Fly Rod Shootout To an engineer this may not seem precisely accurate, but as a practical way to measure swing weight, we have found that it works fine. This 4-piece rod is delivered in a compartmentalised tube and has a lifetime warranty (something rather rare in this price range). Looking for a 10 wt - The North American Fly Fishing Forum (Editors note: Georges enthusiasm for this rod is no doubt informed in part, by the fact that his advice and input was solicited by its designer when the prototype Sky Gs were developed and tested. I couldnt cast off the tip of the rod nearly as well as with the Sky G. This was the best distance for the Centric and I was forming perfect loops with very good accuracy. Rather than choose a Galvan Torque 6 for this Shootout, we decided to use the Torque 5, which has plenty of backing capacity and is lighter. WebA 10-weight is not only a great tarpon rod, but works well for permit, roosterfish, milkfish, and most larger tropical species as well as a host of coldwater gamefish like pike and We feel that these correspond closely to the distances that most people will be fishing these rods. However, the longer the rod is, the further you will be able to cast the line. Our last 6-weight Shootout was back in 2016, and since then many manufacturers have introduced some great new rods, utilizing new materials, new tapers, and in some instances, new components. This gives an angler more feel combined with an enormous amount of reserve power. With your new rod they include a FedEx call tag so that it does not cost you anything to return your broken rod.New this year, G. Loomis is offering an Xpeditor Tip Service. The GR80 blank has a first SIC guidefollowed by 10 single leg. There are few rods that can match the power youll find on tap with the Asquith. The finished blanks are then shipped to the G. Loomis factory in Woodland Washington, where the rods are completed. Accuracy with the 3D was excellent, especially at medium and long distance. Very impressive tight loops and great accuracy. #6. Everything here is made with strong and durable materials that can resist the effects of saltwater. Asquith rods are extremely tough, due to their construction, and we very rarely see one broken. If broken from neglect or any other cause, you must use the Expeditor service. The cork handle is called a snub nose half-wells, which has a long thin swell, with a little flare at each end. The alignment dots on each section are helpful, and the serial number is inscribed on each section, which helps if you have multiple T&T rods so that you dont accidently mix them up. Alignment dots are used. You do not have to ship the broken rod to Douglas. It has a good mix of responsiveness and sensitivity, and it allows for long casting distances too. Accuracy almost as good as the Helios 3F, the Centric, and the NRX+. Steve Rajeff at G. Loomis helped design the tapers and mandrels for the Asquith rods. Orvis Helios 3D 9 #6 $949.00. If Orvis determines that there was a defect, the rod will be repaired or replaced at no charge. Echo Lifetime warranty to the original owner. But we know from our readers comments that the vast majority of anglers are in general agreement with our findings. 6-weight rods have more guts to make fishing larger dry flies like hoppers a breeze, yet the best 6-weights will still have the delicacy to fish small dries on light tippets like 5X and 6X. Howard is a fantastic caster and has proven himself a great angler too, in heading up Englands winning team in the most recent World Fly Fishing championship. The perfect lines: SA Amplitude MPX (best all around), or the SA Anadro/Nymph (nymph and streamer fishing), both in WF-6-F. Good feel and decent accuracy but the Sky G was a lot better in close. Below you will find the figures for price, overall weight, swing weight, and country of origin in our Objective Observations table. My Sage Salt 10 wt has been the most trouble to line. Now, it is also a little heavy, which doesnt help in terms of maneuverability, but at least you know that it has some heft and durability to it. The perfect lines: SA Amplitude MPX (best all around) or the SA Anadro/Nymph (nymph and streamer fishing),both in WF-6-F. Good, but the 3F was much better in close. The Hardy Shadow and Sage Sonic rated a 9. It is also one of the best 6-weights going if you like fishing larger dries like hoppers and chubbies, with a nymph dropper. In a rush? This 10wt was similar, in some ways, to the Sage X 10wt - progressive action, high performance, caster friendly, versatile, and capable of accurately presenting flies, especially at shorter distances not a technical ultra-fast rod but a friendly combination of power and castability. The Vesper - 10wt 9' Moonshine Rod Company. Like the 5-weight SKY G, the 6-weight has good butt and mid-section power but with a slightly softer tip. Usually takes 2-4 weeks. Saltwater Fly Fishing Gear Guide - Telluride Angler When I first picked up the Carbon XL and took a few casts I was thinking for a cheap rod this really performs way above its price range! Since its introduction, the Asquith has been one of my favorite rods in sizes from #5, all the way up to the 9 foot #11 that I use for big tarpon. I like everything Hardy has done with this rod and was impressed with it when Howard Croston, Hardys head rod designer, brought it by our shop last fall so that we could to try it out. The rings were a little hard to grip, but use nylon spacers to give a secure lock up. One often over looked benefit of a 10 rod for dry fly fishing and indicator nymphing is the ability to manage line across different seams in the river. ROD SHOOTOUT! 10ft #7 Single Handed Fly Rods put to the test. For Now Douglas gives us another amazing 6-weight that edges all the other 6-weights we tested! They are lighter, stronger, and dampen better than anything that G.Loomis has given us in the past, including the Asquith. Shipping isfrom their US warehouse, usually takes 2 weeks. In picking the right reel for our 6-weight Shootout, we once again selected the Galvan Torque. The tips on the faster action rods bend more, and if you look at the top rods, you will see that they tend to be faster action rods. WebThe Asquith10-weight is a very versatile rod, perfect for mid-sized tarpon, big permit, big cudas, big jacks and a variety of other gamefish. If you are getting one of the Ultimate 6-weight outfits, well throw in a SA Mastery MPX line for free (a $79.95 value). The Helios rods are some of the best dampened rods youll find, and this is one of the reasons they cast so smoothly. The ring on the single uplocking seat was very easy to grip and locks up extremely well. What We Think Is The Best 10 Weight Fly Rod, 4. It was decided that we would compare a range of 10' 7# rods. The Yellowstone Angler put out their 8 Weight Shootout, comparing the 8 weights from around the industry from the pricey Helios 2 to the cheap Echo Base. We decided to use slightly longer distances for the performance evaluations for these 6-weight rods 30 feet, 50 feet and 75 feet. The same is true with the new SKY G 6-weight. We heard rumors that the Sonic was built with the same butt and midsections as the X, but with a fiberglass tip section. The cork rings themselves are another stack of thin high-quality cork, that we see on a lot of the best rods. I also own Reddington Predator 10 and 12 weights. The main reason the Rush costs less is simply because it takes Galvan less time to machine it. Sometimes the whole rod is replaced. WebMost anglers in saltwater are fishing a minimum of a 7 weight rod, which is very light, and could be targeting anything from Bonefish to Marlin. Like all rods in the Equipe series, a tricolour (blue, white, red) wrap appears at the base of the first guide. When I hold both rods in my hand and flex them, their medium fast action is nearly identical. Manufacturers have learned that to cast well at all distances, fly rods need to have strong butt and mid-sections, but with softer, more flexible tips in order to get good performance at both close and long range. In our limited Shootout, it was the heaviest rod in both overall weight and swing weight, but the Carbon XL was still a lot lighter than others that didnt make our top 10. Rods with a heavy swing weight feel like a brick in your hand, and will wear you out casting them all day. Both of these rods have an almost identical deflection profile. If you feel your rod has broken because of a defect, you pay to send the rod to their warranty department for examination. It can be hard to achieve a high level of accuracy and a soft touchdown of the line and lure with these, so they are usually recommended for more advanced fly fisherman. Fly selection is far less important. When the rod is placed on the foam pellet, the tip will naturally point towards the ground and the butt cap (or fighting butt) will be elevated. The wraps on the guides are a very dark gray that looks black. These two blanks have an almost identical behaviour in fishing action, only the manufacturing changes: the Maxia is more typical nymphing, while the Contact is more typical dry fly fishing. Unlike the Shadow II series, the new Shadow X are sober with a dark set: a slate grey blank and black wraps, as the down-locking reel seat and the carbon insert. Alignment dots on each section are handy and each section is marked #6 so that you wont mix them up with another Sky G like a #5 you might have. Chloe Nostrant has been working at the Yellowstone Angler now for over 6 years. George Anderson, James Anderson, and the Yellowstone Angler crew, Scientific Anglers Amplitude Anadro Fly Line, Scientific Anglers Amplitude MPX Fly Line. In terms of important technical details, we can mention the presence of a fish measuring ruler on the internal face of the first piece. Now you can easily see which rods have faster actions than others (the tip bends more) or ones that have more moderate, slower actions (the tip bends less steeply). The larger weight class the rod is, the thicker of a line you can use with it. For rods over $250, a replacement tip is $40 plus shipping. This makes it ideal for fairly thick line that can handle large fish with ease. The 10' 7# is possibly the most common rod size that we sell, its perfect for stillwater/ Loch fishing, Orvis uses a stack of narrow and very high quality cork rings as on the 3F. Fun to Fish/Got to Have 10 points available. Removing the spool on the Galvan reels is easy just a simple click of the spool release button on the handle side. Those who are looking for a real high-end 10' #3 for euro nymphing, the most consistent rods are the Maxia SX4, the JMC Pure Equipe and the Echo Shadow X which achieve a flawless level of manufacturing and compliance of the advertised power (the Maxia being slightly less powerful). The Centrics ability to control loop shape and line speed at any distance gives anglers a wide range in versatility. It can handle some fast moving currents, it works well for long distance casting, and the guides are made for big line too. The Burgundy wraps feature discreet metallic edging for the first guideand the fittings. These particles are distributed evenly and uniformly, unlike older resins where the particles were mixed in. Dont let the price slow you down. This is a wonderfully light rod in swing weight with a lot of power. On the 3F, Orvis uses a black anodized skeleton seat with a dark gray graphite insert that has the serial number of the rod on it. The single locking ring has a nylon ring that helps give the reel seat a nice positive lock up. Tracks perfectly but accuracy and feel not nearly as good as the Helios 3F or Centric. If you are using your 6-weight for a lot of dry fly fishing, then stick to the Amplitude MPX, but if your 6-weight is going to be a nymph fishing workhorse for you, consider the Anadro line instead. Here is one rod that really combines impressive power with smooth, tight loops. Not everyone agrees, and thats OK. As youll see, however, we were all pretty much in agreement on which were the best rods. The Echo Carbon XL at $169.00 got the perfect score of 10, while the highest priced rods like the Asquith and the Orvis 3F and 3D got 7.5 and 7.8. If you are doing a lot of nymph fishing with an indicator or fishing large dry flies like chubbies or hoppers with a nymph dropper, another good choice for the more powerful 6-weight rods like the Asquith, NRX+, and Sage Sonic is the SA Anadro/Nymph. This rod is 4 pieces, sold in a cordura tube with 4 compartments. The reel seat on the 3D is much better suited to holding a heavier reel, or one you might use for salt water. How to Find Bass Without A Fish Finder - Best 10 Weight Fly Rod For Mid priced 10wt shootout in the parking lot today - Fly Fishing We ended up with a total of 41 rods to cast. All the rods rated 9.8 or better here are ones that we feel are really outstanding, and were convinced you will be delighted with any of them. The Sonic is another very attractive rod from Sage with superb craftsmanship that weve come to expect from Sage. more than 6.7"). The price of 1 single element (in case youd break it) is 42, not including delivery fees. *Echo Carbon XL 9 #6 $169.00, *Almost Top Ten and Best Inexpensive Rod Overall. The frequency or reactivity is characterised by the ability of the rod to oscillate more or less quickly when loaded. In the past weve seen manufacturers cut overall weight by reducing the weight of the butt section only. For guides, Hardy uses one hook keeper above the handle and then one of the new CERECOIL stripping guides that use a titanium frame and a Zirconia ring insert. Usually takes 1-2 weeks. A wonderful rod for fishing medium distances. The shorter the rod is, the more maneuverable it is, thus allowing for casting out of cover, plus this is good for short distance casting too. And it is going to cost you another $10-$15 or more to ship the rod in for repair or have your dealer do it. At short distance, the softer tip gave me good feel and accuracy. Fellows like Steve Rajeff (G. Loomis),Howard Croston (Hardy), and Fred Contaoi at Douglas are guys Ive spent time fishing with on small streams, and big rivers. 12 Weight Knowing the new NRX+ is even tougher than the old NRX is great news! With the SA Amplitude MPX in WF-6-F, we could easily load 90 yards of 20 lb. Tropical Saltwater Fly Line Shootout & Buyer Its also nice to look down at your rod and reel and appreciate the craftsmanship and function of one of the very best rods. Nearly all are charging a handling fee of $35-$100 to repair or replace your rod. $75 on recent rods within 10 years, $125 on classic olderrods. Only the inexpensive Echo Carbon XL uses one of the pre-formed cork grips that exhibits a lot of filler. The upper hood on the reel seat is laser engraved with the line size. 2020 10' 3wt fly rod Shootout 07/23/2020 - T-and-Co In the modern nymphing technique, the 10 #3 is the most standard fly rod used for white-water fishing. Casting accuracy and feel are the most important factors I use in rating these rods at the two closer distances. We would have liked to see T&T use the flexible nickel/titanium snake guides, similar to the ones Loomis uses on their Asquith. Yellowstone Anglers 2020 8-Weight Shootout - Flylords Mag The flexible and unbreakable nickel/titanium single foot and snake guides are lighter and better than hard chrome snake guides, but they are a lot more expensive. Now the softer action doesnt allow me to throw the same kind of tight loops as I was getting with the Ultralite. Douglas was able to achieve this incredibly lightweight by using their proprietary G-Tec If you want to chuck some medium-sized steamers with a sink tip, a 6-weight rod makes this easy. These are heavy, they are slow action, and need quite a bit of care. The Fuji ceramic strippingguideis followed by 11 hard chrome single leg. Some people dont like that it is fairly stiff. So, lets see what are the optimum choices according to each kind of technique: Finally, note the perfect similarity of the power / action / reactivity values of the Thomas & Thomas Contact and the Maxia SX4. He has been a very important and integral part of our Shootouts and tackle comparisons over the years. Is It Safe To Eat? The fighting butt is 7/8 of an inch long and tapers out to 1 and inch. Yes, they are fairly long, making maneuverability a bit hard, but they do allow for long casting distances. This is a great looking rod, with the blank finished in an attractive golden olive color with medium olive wraps. There is no hook keeper on either Helios rod but the size is marked just above the cork handle. Our answer is a definite yes. These allow everyone to see exactly how each rod bends compared to the others. We hope you have enjoyed reading our 2021 6-Weight Shootout! It won't be a problem with a manual reel though. Regular price $ 499 INFO. Nice and light in my hand. For the fastest turnaround time, TFO also offers a purchase parts program which allows you to buy an extra tip, mid-section, or butt-section at a very reasonable fee, ranging from $20 and up depending on the model and section needed. When you pick up and cast one of their rods, it is apparent that they know exactly how each line size rod should perform. The Syndicate brand has established itself as the most popular manufacturer in the United States when we talk about nymph fishing. They are designed to create high line speed, and flat stable loops that are easily generated at any distance. Faster action rods with good butt and mid-section power will also help you play larger fish more quickly, allowing you to release them in perfect shape. Certainly enough power to go long, and as good as the Helios 3F, but didnt have the guts to match the more powerful rods like the Centric, Avantt or the Loomis rods. The rings should be easy to grip and tighten, and the best ones use thin nylon spacers on the upper side of the rings, that help assure a positive lock up. As youll see, most rods got a 9 or higher, which means that it costs$50 or less for the repair or replacement. The Sonic is a new rod from Sage, and put in an impressive performance at a far less expensive price point than their Sage X, which is $950. The 3D and Ultralite were better, and the Asquith and NRX+ were in a class by themselves. You can pick a rod off the rack in a fly shop, flex and wiggle it with your hand and get an idea of how it might perform, but the proof is what it will do when matched up with the correct line and then compared heads up with other rods. If current rod sections are no longer available the rod will be replaced with a comparable model. I also am getting a lot of feedback and feel with both the 3F and 3D, which gives me more confidence where Im putting the fly. The best 6-weight rods should be able to cast 75 feet with ease, using a double haul. We do like the cork butt, as it provides for good grip, casting, and leverage too. His comments and thoughts on different rods felt spot on. The Echo Carbon XL is our pick for the best inexpensive 6-weight rod! They are a bit hard to control and dont always produce the best results. What is also cool here is that this rod comes in many weight categories ranging from 3 weight to 10 weight. Craftsmanship has always been excellent on the Helios rods.
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