Winston get the prize for premium builds and designs, but the $500+ price tags can be tough to swallow. What we don't: A little too stiff for our taste. What we like: A great value for a capable all-around rod. The Clearwater rod costs just under $200 on its own.Ĥ. And for those who want to avoid shopping for a reel and line, we’ve listed the Clearwater Combo here, which includes both and comes pre-spooled, including backing. The Clearwater avoids those pitfalls and is surprisingly crisp. It’s worth noting that a lot of competing value rods give themselves away by using cheap, plasticky components, or worse, weirdly heavy components that give the rod a clunky feel. For around $300 with an Orvis reel and line, that’s one heckuva deal. All in all, it has a really nice feel: the medium-fast action is soft and supple enough to carefully lay dries on the top of the water, yet the rod still has enough backbone to cast heavy flies and weighted nymphs surprisingly well. If you’re looking for a quality all-around rod that won’t break the bank, the recently updated Orvis Clearwater is a versatile option that outperforms its price. The two rods above are the cream of crop, but there’s still value to be had in the fly fishing world. What we don’t: A very good rod, but not a great rod. What we like: A quality kit for a reasonable price. But we’d happily trade the power for the impossibly soft presentations, making the PURE our go-to on smaller water and our favorite dry fly rod overall. More, it’s so light and delicate that it can feel a little underpowered when fishing hefty dries and nymphs.
#Hardy fly rods usa full#
First, because of the rod’s responsiveness, it can take time for newer anglers to get the timing down and capture its full power (technique matters more than with a rod like the Sage X above).
There are a couple of minor negatives to the R.L. You may not win any casting distance contests, but you don’t need to-the rod has enough power to reach just about any fish you have a reasonable shot at hooking. In addition, Winston’s latest generation of boron/graphite composite gives it significantly more casting power than most slower-action rods. Simply put, the PURE is a soft-touch specialist that gently lays down dry flies better than just about anything else out there. But the PURE is not just about appearance: it casts just as good as it looks. It’s a beautiful color and every detail is top-notch, from the nickel silver and maple reel seat to the chrome nanolite stripping guides. What we don’t: Feels a bit underpowered when fishing heavier flies. What we like: Gorgeous, extremely light touch and feel, incredibly soft presentations. In fact, this is by far our favorite long-distance and big-water caster. But on bigger water where power and sending it matters, nothing beats the Sage X. It has so much power that it can be difficult to keep casts short, as can laying flies down gently on the top of the water. On medium to small water like the Upper Deschutes outside of Bend, it felt like too much rod for the job. What are the downsides of the Sage X? It’s just not a soft-touch rod. Despite this extreme accuracy, the rod manages to be forgiving-it wants to throw nice tight loops no matter how you cast, making it a great rod for all skill levels (although it’s difficult to imagine letting our kids loose with one of these given the price tag). Most importantly, the rod delivers incredible power and casting distance with virtually no wobble or side-to-side movement. This all-black design is sleek and extremely well-built with high-end finishes throughout. Legendary rod maker Sage recently replaced the One with the X at the top of its esteemed lineup. What we don’t: Can overpower smaller, slower water. What we like: Incredibly powerful and accurate premium build quality.
For more background on topics like action and weight, see our fly rod comparison table and buying advice below the picks. And our picks cover a wide variety of fishing from small streams that require delicate presentations to big water where power and distance are key. Below we break down the best fly rods, from high-end specialty models to all-rounders and leading budget options. Rod manufacturers continue to innovate, incorporate new materials, and dramatically improve rods across the price spectrum. If you’re in the market for a new fly rod, there’s never been a better time.
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