I gave it perfect scores at 25 feet and 45 feet, but at 70 feet it still turned in an impressive performance that wasnt far off the best Power rods. HardyLifetime warranty to original owner. This would not be a pleasant rod to do a lot of false casting with, if you are fishing dry flies. We dont normally ask a 5-weight to cast 70 feet and beyond, but the best Power Rods, with an expert caster at the controls, can easily cast all the line 90 to one 100 feet. This is a rod that could have gone into the Presentation Rods category, but it is a lot more powerful than the G Series, so we moved it to the Power Rods. Often only subtle differences separate one rod from another. The Loomis rods get a perfect score of 10 for their excellent Expeditor repair program which costs $100, but returns the angler a brand new rod, not a repaired one, in just a few days after you call them. At a price of $699.00, you are getting a ton of performance in a rod that is $100-$250 less than the most expensive Presentation Rods. item 2 Deerfield Graphite Fly Fishing Rod. A half wells cork handle is used but not nearly as good in quality as on the best rods, there is a lot of filler. Thread starter Matt4.0; Start date Aug 14, 2019; Matt4.0 Well-known member. In the power category, the Loomis NRX+ is the same price $795.00. It does however, IMO, have the best feel of the 9'5wt "all around" rods. We have found that the new 5-weight rods are getting better and better each year. At 25 feet the feel was rather vague, and I was not able to get the same kind of accuracy I got with the Hardy Zephrus, the G. Loomis LP+ or the Douglas SKY G. I was impressed with the 3Fs light swing weight and its ability to throw nice tight loops, especially at mid to long distance. The cork handle is a half wells design with some fancy cork rings at the bottom. The Expeditor service for the NRX+ or NRX+ LP rods is $100, while the IMX Pro rods are $85.00. Winston tells us that the Air combines their Super Silica resin system with high modulus boron in the butt to reduce weight but as youll see in the Objective Observations chart, the Air was one of the heaviest presentation rods in both overall weight and swing weight. Anglers use 5-weight fly rods not just for trout, but also for bass, bluegills, perch, whitefish, carp and even catfish! Look at the deflection board and youll see that this is one of the softest rods in our Shootout, but the tip is much slower than the SKY G or LP+. One of the biggest differences is how much lighter in swing weight the new SKY G is than the old NRX LP. Yes, the craftsmanship is not quite as good as the other presentation rods, but what can you expect for under two hundred bucks? For sure, one of the best presentation rods at 45 feet. For this Shootout, we again checked the warranty policies in detail, as many have changed slightly. Over the years Ive worked with G. Loomis, Sage, Scott, Winston, Tom Morgan Rodsmiths and Douglas in the design and testing of their rods. Fly selection is far less important. The Fenwick Fenlite Streamflex is our pick for the best mid-priced rod. The Orvis Helios 3F is another terrific rod from Orvis that we had not been able to test in our previous 5-weight Shootout. Scott Fly Rod Tidal 9 foot 6 weight 4 piece rod--Great Rod for Streamer fishing! The Meridian 906-4 feels even lighter and more crisp than its larger relatives. Those subtle differences thus become immediately apparent. Then we read (and note) the weight indicated by the scale. The particles are distributed evenly and uniformly, unlike older resins where the particles were mixed in. 3. The swing weight is the relationship of the club head weight to the shaft when you waggle the club in your hands. Only you can make that decision. A small hook keeper is used. The wraps are a lighter blue, trimmed with a little silver on the butt section. The un-finished blank is dark gunmetal grey that's accented with pale orange wraps creating a very unique and attractive rod. The only good way to pin down these subtle differences is to have at least a half dozen of the contending rods there in front of you with the lines stripped out, stretched and with the leaders straightened so that you can pick up one rod, make a few casts at a certain distance, then immediately pick up another rod and do the same. A 12-foot leader keeps the fly line farther away from the fish, minimizing the number of fish you will spook while casting. The more expensive rods in this Shootout like the Orvis Helios 3F and 3D are $100 more at $898.00. Same day or next day shipping if they have the parts in stock, if not, usually takes 2 weeks. Then, maintaining tight loops on your backcast, especially at the longer distances, was very difficult and we would usually give it up and hope for a better day. This is one of the best performing all around 5-weight rods, and it is one of the best looking rods in our Shootout. But these methods and calculations felt disconnected from what we were actually experiencing in our hand so, for our last several Shootouts, we returned to our original method of calculation, as explained above. A stiffer butt and mid section would have helped. 5-weight fly rods have become the single quiver rod for many freshwater anglers. To my way of thinking, the best Power Rods need to score best at 45 feet, but as youll see, there are several rods that scored very well at all distances. No handling fee. This is a fast action rod and the deflection profile is a lot like the SKY G, and NRX+ LP, with a slightly softer tip. Good feel and accuracy in close despite a heavier swing weight than the Zephrus. But as you will see, the best Presentation Rods produced outstanding accuracy, even at 70 feet! We are sorry if we offend some people or some manufacturers. This is another rod that has a strong butt and mid-section but a softer and more flexible tip. Best Mid-Priced Rod: At about half the cost, the Legend Elite runs neck-and-neck with the best on the marketplace, a touch heavier than some but with the same quiet, subtle, enchanting performance you'd expect from one of the best rod manufacturers. The standard sized cork rings were not nearly as high quality as we saw on the Hardy Zephrus. One rod simply cannot suit all these purposes perfectly well, in our experience. They also posses the backbone and power to handle multiple nymph rigs with indicators, which require a lot of mending. Also in the Presentation group, the amazing Fenwick Aetos at $199.95 placed above the $800-$975 rods from Scott, Winston and Sage! Once we compile the points for all the rods at the different casting distances, we then add up points in the other categories to determine the final finishing order. Normally Ill try to compare 2-4 rods at one distance, make some notes, and then move on to another distance. 5. Scott GS 7ft 7in 5wt 4pc Scott. Fast action. With its supple tip, serious mid-section muscle, smooth-as-wax . Standard cork rings are used and are as close to perfect as youll see, something we have come to expect with Hardy rods. Alignment dots are helpful and T&T puts the serial number on each section, which helps you to keep from mixing sections if you have multiple T&T rods of different weights. Many anglers use them only for fishing dry flies, while others use them primarily for nymph fishing, often with an indicator, two nymphs and even some weight like split shot. One of the more interesting deflection boards shows the previous 5-weight winner the old G. Loomis NRX LP along with the new NRX+ LP, as well as the Sky G that is our Presentation Rod winner as well as the NRX+, the Power Rod winner. I think the slower action and stiffer tip on the LL killed its chances to perform well. a handy guide to help you get the most from your rod. The lighter, standard size fly line, like the Scientific Anglers Amplitude Trout, is the fly line we picked for these Presentation Rods, while the half size heavier Amplitude MPX is a better match for the more powerful Power 5-weights. We have found that these hand-tied leaders, with stiffer Clear Maxima butt sections, turn over better and give greater accuracy than any of the knotless leaders on the market. Tippet materials are getting stronger every year, and today we end up fishing 6x, 6.5X, and 7x fluorocarbon much of the time, trying to get that perfect drift to entice a big fish to sip in a fly. If they can do that, the accuracy is almost always excellent. It isnt the lightest rod in either overall weight or swing weight but it performs surprisingly well at all distances, surpasses a lot of far more expensive rods. Youll never regret spending those extra bucks once you get the rod in your hands and see how well it performs compared to your old rod. The best Presentation Rods as well as the best power rods need to score 19.5 points or better here to be in contention for top honors. Accordingly, we have separated the tested rods into two categories, thus comparing each rod against others, which are best suited for the same fishing application, as follows: 1. The good news is that the Centric does more . The epoxy job over the guide wraps was too heavy, one of the reasons we downgraded the craftsmanship slightly. All you have to do is take your new rod out of the shipping box, put your broken rod back in the shipping box, tape the pre-printed label over the old shipping label and drop it off anywhere that picks up FedEx. Guides start with a hook keeper, then a single SIC stripping guide, followed with black, hard chrome one-foot guides the rest of the way, but not the good flexible ones found on the Zephrus. The Scott 9ft. There are several types of stripping guides, but the best seem to be the titanium frame, SIC style guides. These nickel-silver components are simply gorgeous. The tip has the"feel" to be able to make quick sniper-like casts at 10 to 20 feet; something not as bragable with many fast actions. Also,you shouldnt have to double-haul at 45 feet to get the rod to perform. The cork handle,which was redesigned for improved ergonomics,is a half wells design utilizing the highest quality narrow cork rings. The new G. Loomis NRX+ LP comes in 2nd followed closely by the Orvis Helios 3 and Hardy Zephrus. When I grab a 5-weight rod Im using it primarily to fish smaller dry flies, but I also want a rod that does everything well. fast action all water. In general, the best rods are in the higher price brackets, and are usually worth it, even if you have to save up to buy the one you really want. Three thin coats of epoxy are applied to the wraps, rather than a thick one-coat like so many other manufacturers use. Both the Trout and MPX lines shoot like crazy and have proven to be more durable and longer lasting than other lines we have fished over the years. Im not getting quite as much feel as with the SKY G though. These are light but have proven to be extremely reliable and never break. Durab~ Delivered anywhere in USA Amazon Sage uses a lovely brown anodized aluminum single up-locking seat with a beautiful walnut burl insert. After winning the Best Freshwater Fly Rod at IFTD in Denver in mid-October we were excited to cast this new Sage LL. One large sized titanium SIC stripping guide is used, followed with the best flexible nickel/titanium snake guides. As in our past Shootouts, it is crucial to make an effort to eliminate any variables that will have an effect on the scores at the different distances. But then our fall weather was not too good, with lots of wind, cold days and even some snow! Great rods dont make great casters, but there is no doubt that they will improve any anglers casting skills and his ability to catch fish. $207.50 3 bids 4d 16h. Shipping isfrom their US warehouse, usually takes 2 weeks. It is silky smooth with better dampening and better tracking ability than any other rods in the Shootout. The faster action rods have tips that bend more with stiffer butt and midsections, while the more medium action rods have slightly softer butt and midsections and a relatively stiffer tip. This rod is midnight blue with darker blue wraps. Only the NRX+ LP was as good. 2. To see how James, Logan, Francis, and Chloe ranked each rod click on the smaller charts at the bottom. The best 5-weight rods need to have excellent loop control and the ability to throw very tight loops, especially if you have some wind to contend with. The also rods track extremely well. For Helios 3, new Recon (2020) and the new Clearwater rods, Orvis has introduced a new section replacement program with a 5-business day turnaround. If you like more medium action rods though, you will love the Paradigm. Getting your leader and fly to turn over in a 20 mph wind with big attractor dries, requires a rod that is capable of giving you extremely tight loops. I could get the distance easily enough but with very little accuracy. To get a 10, repair charges had to be $35 or less with a quick turn around time of less than two weeks. There are dozens of 5wt rods on the market at a variety of price-points and each rod offers something different to every angler. 5-Weight Power Rods that have the strength to cast more wind resistant dries, and also chuck nymphs with indicators, and even small streamers with ease. 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. As youll see on the deflection chart, this rod bends much like the best rods, with good power in the butt and mid section but has a slightly stiffer tip than the Zephrus. Current . The Aetos has been our most popular inexpensive fly rod in the 4-5-6 line sizes. Price is always a major factor when buying a rod, but, and as you will see in this Shootout; the best rod in both categories was not the most expensive. Since our Hot Butt leaders use the same basic formula as our Clear Butt leaders I often use the Hot Butt leaders, even for fishing dry flies. No points are awarded for this category, but we know that for many anglers, this is a factor in their decision to buy a rod. Sage Lifetime warranty to original owner. Apartment in Stockholm, Stockholm County, Sweden Contact. A cigar shaped handle is used with the swell a little more forward than most. 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. This 5-weight will be a pleasant rod to fish all day, especially with dry flies. When Im nymph fishing I often switch to one of our Hot Butt Leaders that utilizes five feet of fluorescent red Amnesia for the butt section, followed with the same clear Maxima we use in our Clear Butt leaders. The G series is softer and much more of a medium-action rod, and many anglers that prefer a medium action have loved this rod. This makes the blank much stronger under lifting load with less overall material. For sale is a mint Scott Radian 904/4 Fly Rod. Fenwick came up with a new and very light rod, their Fenlite Streamflex, to complement their outstanding, inexpensive Aetos. Knowing the new NRX+ is even tougher than the old one is very good news. I dont think people voting at IFTD ever cast this rod. The Paradigm is finished in a flat dark blue color, like the Avantt. So, often the cheap outfit is mothballed, sold on e-bay or handed down to one of the kids. Im having trouble getting good tight loops and the accuracy was not nearly as good as with the best rods. Scott fly rods feature the ultimate in accuracy, hugh-performance and quality. All of us were excited to see the new G. Loomis NRX+ trout rods; especially since their outstanding predecessor the NRX LP won top spot in our last three consecutive 5-weight Shootouts. . If we could control the wind, so all the rods tested were evaluated in identical wind conditions from one minute to the next, we would do so. For broken rods that are not registered to the original owners, some companies are going to charge you $150 or more for repairs. We stand by our methodology since most anglers that take the time to give us their feedback have agreed with our opinions. With your new rod they include a FedEx call tag so that it does not cost you anything to return your broken rod. It is light and powerful with excellent craftsmanship. Using the charts you can examine each rod and see how stiff it is compared to other rods and how much the tip bends. Fishing broad water with sinking lines comes naturally to the Centric 1006-4. Was fished one day. We have found that the only way to fairly compare rod performance under identical conditions is when there is little or no wind either by casting indoors, or outdoors when the wind was negligible. Good, just not great. The T&T Avantt finishes 4th again, with the Orvis Helios 3D right behind it in 5th. The increased dampening and recovery also result in superior accuracy, which immediately impressed me when casting and comparing the SKY G to the other top 5-weight rods. The Expeditor service fee for the Asquith rods is $250.00 for ground or $275 for 2-day air. This new rod from G. Loomis was delightful to cast at all distances. The Orvis Clearwater is our best inexpensive Power rod. The most expensive power rod, the G. Loomis Asquith is $1100.00 but it did clobber the other Power Rods in the Performance Only class. But the Paradigm didnt perform nearly as well, mainly because of its much slower action. Other repairs usually take 4-8 weeks. A slightly softer tip would help in close. We also have some impressive light new rods from Taylor the Truth and Anomaly, which are light in weight and performed very well. The blank is sanded only very lightly, and then finished so that you can see the tape marks. Reasonable price. The new NRX+ rods are the smoothest and best-dampened rods weve ever cast. Looking at the figures for swing weight, the Shadow is heavier than our top five presentation rods. The Scott Radian places 2 nd again, just as it did in our previous 5-weight Shootout - and for good reason. Watching Howard cast, the only guy Ive seen that could match him drilling long tight loops is perhaps Steve Rajeff. A fancy burled wood insert is used. They need to be soft enough in the tip to handle 6X and even 7X tippets with ease. Where would all these exciting new rods fall in when compared to some of our old proven standbys that have placed highly, like the Scott Radian, and the Hardy Zephrus? The best Presentation Rods need to perform exceptionally well at short distances. Sage slt 389-4 sold. There is only one wide up-locking ring, with a nylon ring on the upper side, but it seems to lock up securely enough. Used Scott Radian 9ft 5wt Fly Rod (590-4) $795.00 $539.99 -50% Out of stock Used Hardy Zephrus 9ft 4wt Fly Rod (490-4) $799.00 $399.99 -84% Out of stock Used Mystic M-Series 10ft 3in 3wt Fly Rod (7103-4) $499.00 $79.99 -21% Used Scott Centric 10ft 6wt Fly Rod (6100-4) $945.00 $749.99 -36% Used Sage X 9ft 5wt Fly Rod (590-4) $950.00 $604.99 -35% Fortunately we have access to a good indoor facility at the Livingston Civic Center gym. Add the Sage X and Scott Radian to your list and go test cast them, if possible, together, then decide which floats your fly. The Scott Radian 9'6" 5wt fly rod excels as an all purpose, go-to rod for trout. Dark blue color, like the Avantt darker blue wraps mid section would have helped than our five... 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