Performance at 30 feet 20 points available. The Asquith and NRX+ were far better at long range. As with the 3F, Im not a fan of the 5 inches of white ahead of the cork grip, displaying the Orvis logo, but this has become an Orvis Helios trademark now. He and Chloe Nostrant are also responsible for many of the great photographs youll find in our Shootouts. Then before casting, we stretch out the fly lines and leaders so that they will cast and turn over perfectly. In terms of length, the Thomas & Thomas and the Sage ESN are the shortest (6.5"). It is followed by the Echo Shadow X (7.8/10). Rather than have this many rods in the total write up, we decided to hone in on the ten best 6-weight rods, along with what we felt was the best mid-priced rod, and the best inexpensive rod. 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. Buy in monthly payments with Affirm on orders over $50. Breaks down into 4 pieces for portability. The Echo Carbon XL, at the low price of $169, rated an 8. If Fenwick determines that there was a defect, the rod will be repaired or replaced at no charge. Echo calls the color of the blank rosewood, (a nice medium brown), with reddish brown wraps, that are trimmed with a little gold on the butt section. The Galvan reels are delightfully maintenance free, with Rulon bushings that require no maintenance or lubrication to keep them working properly. G. Loomis Asquith 9 #6 $1100.00. They decided to introduce sobriety and clean aspect : blank with scrolled pattern, not varnished and wraps become black. Since these use the same formula as our Clear Butt leaders, Ill often use the Hot Butt leaders even fishing dry flies. For the other rods in the test, which all have up locking reel seats, here is the ranking: The most comfortable classic reel seat rods in this test are the Airflo Euro-Nymph, the Vision Nymphmaniac and the Soldarini Hydropsyche Elite Competition (all 3 at 7.3 / 10). This rod allows for fast line speed so it can handle wind with ease. The fighting butt is 7/8 of an inch long and tapers out to 1 and inch. On the other hand, the best rods must have enough butt and mid-section power to throw longer distances with ease. Note that the Centric and Avantt are quite a bit softer in the butt and mid-section than the other rods and this is why they dont perform quite as well at long range as our other top rods. Another reason youll want good butt power and performance at long range is chucking steamers. When Im casting the rod it doesnt feel all that light but its not objectionably heavy either. So now, back to the original post. We have no doubt that the higher rated rods here will improve any anglers casting skills and his ability to catch fish. I think that most anglers will gladly pay for this Expeditor service if they can get a new rod back in just a few days. The best 6-weight rods should be able to cast 75 feet with ease, using a double haul. If current rod sections are no longer available the rod will be replaced with a comparable model. The most reactive rod is the JMC Pure Equipe with 80 cpm, its ERN is 3.72 which makes it a #3/4 and explains its good ranking. Contrasting rubber/cork rings are used both at the top and bottom of the grip that provide increased durability. In our objective charts that give overall weight, swing weight and country of origin, youll see a chart for the Best in Test, giving the top 11 rods, and the other we called the Best of the Rest, which shows all the rods we cast. If the rod is broken because of a defect, or while fishing, replacement is free. Here I rated it at 19.5, equal to the Avantt and almost as good as the Centric and the G.Loomis Asquith and NRX+! The cork rings themselves are another stack of thin high-quality cork, that we see on a lot of the best rods. Gusting wind is the worst and makes judging longer distance accuracy almost impossible. The MPX is especially good with larger, more wind resistant flies like hoppers and stonefly dries. Like on the 3F, there is no hook keeper on the Helios 3D. Orvis uses a stack of narrow and very high quality cork rings as on the 3F. In this regard, G. Loomis continues to utilize their popular Expeditor policy. Armstrong Spring Creek on the OHair Ranch, Scientific Anglers Amplitude MPX in WF-6-F. Orvis uses a stack of narrow and very high quality cork rings, typical of todays best rods. This produces believable and meaningful results, and gives us a good way to rate one rod against another. 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. Reel seats should lock up easily and hold firmly, without having any tendency to come loose. 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. With more line out the rod loads better and now Im getting nice tight loops and great accuracy. Lighter is better here, but this factor is not nearly as important as swing weight. Well get to the specifics of each in a moment, but heres the lowdown on their shared DNA. Keep in mind thatfastaction rods are not necessarilystiffrods. Most of you are familiar with our previous Shootouts, and our rating methodology. $35 handling fee. This Abel fly reel should provide a lifetime of performance. For many, the most expensive rods may be seen as a status symbol. There are several reasons as to why we like it, so lets take a closer look at it right now. Nearly all are charging a handling fee of $35-$100 to repair or replace your rod. Performance distances for the 6-weight rods. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. The burled wood insert is combined with gray graphite insert. 10 Foot Fly Rod Review | BACKWATER ANGLER We have found that this is the key to getting good accuracy in close. $35 handling fee. In our casting, well identify the best performing rods first, which are typically in the highest price category. He doesnt want to give up his secrets to success and I guess I cant blame him. A dark gray anodized solid aluminum, double uplocking seat is used, without any wood spacer. Best 10' 3wt fly rods comparative review | Trout & Co Accordingly, we have revised our format and we are presenting the results first. Some people dont like that it is fairly stiff. Last update on 2023-05-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. It also comes with a nice waterproof carrying case with a strap that makes transportation even easier. As for the handle, the one of the Vision is particularly thin (0.87"). The best score for length goes to the Echo Shadow X with 189 mm. Only the new NRX+ rods track as well as the Asquith. Are They Poisonous? Can You Eat Saltwater Catfish? 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. If you are fishing in more difficult conditions, with spooky fish, then you might want to shift up to our 12-foot Clear Butt leader with tippets down to 5X and 6X. The Anadro is overweighted by 1.5 sizes to assist in turnover heavier rigs, compared to the Amplitude MPX, which is just a half size heavy. 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. #4. #6. Craftsmanship has always been excellent on the Helios rods. A fast action helps cast through stiff wind but Its a good option for throwing heavy line into the wind. These Shootouts take a lot of time and effort. For experienced anglers that can afford the best rods our advice has always been that if you can afford the best, buy the best. The best rods will have the ability to carry a lot of line in the air, and throw very tight loops at this range with consistent accuracy. WebFinally, an incredible casting fly rod with an honest price tag. Thomas and Thomas Avantt 9 #6 $855.00. This 4-piece rod is delivered in a cordura tube with a compartment for each piece. That's a lot. 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. What We Think Is The Best 10 Weight Fly Rod, 4. Greys Lifetime warranty (except for HMG and Eagle models which only carry 5 year warranties). In other words, the Sage Motive 1090-4 Fly Rod allows you to apply a lot of pressure and power, while retaining good grip, in order to catch those big boys, plus its deadly accurate too. But we know from our readers comments that the vast majority of anglers are in general agreement with our findings. A good 6-weight should also be able to cast 75-80 feet with a small damsel nymph or mini leech, and have the guts to keep that big angry lake brown out of the weeds. The Centric is another attractive rod from Scott, and follows Scotts tradition of using an un-sanded gray graphite blank that shows the tape wraps. A wonderful rod for fishing medium distances. 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. The 8 Weight Shootout The Soldarini has only been tested with a #3 line, its CCF is 73. If you feel like you need a bit But the amazing thing is how light it is in your hand considering how much power it has. Is it Only Males? The Avantt is another classy rod from Thomas and Thomas with craftsmanship that is second to none. These new materials allowed Howard to give us a rod that is both lighter and more responsive, and allows the angler to feel the line load better during the casting stroke, providing better accuracy. The epoxy finish on the guides is especially well done. Some of the lighter action 6-weights however, dont have this capability. Several other rods like the Douglas G, Loomis NRX+, and the Orvis Helios 3F and 3D were all excellent at 9.5. Also, these rods go from 2 weight all the way up to 10, so you can choose what works best for you. Im getting plenty of feel, and can cast easily off the tip of the rod. When it comes down to it, most fly rods are between 6 and 10 feet long. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. All these rods in our top ten make very capable nymph fishing rods, but the more powerful rods with stiffer butt and mid-sections really shine when you are throwing nymph rigs with multiple flies, indicators and even split shot. The answer is the use of Graphene. Most manufacturers are now using one-coat epoxy coatings over the guide wraps, but if they are not very carefully applied, they can be sloppy and this adds unnecessary weight. The epoxy coatings were all excellent. The best 6-weight rods have enough power in the butt and mid-section to get the job done easily. We are giving you OUR opinions in these Shootouts. Some interesting wraps are used with olive, black and gold in the middle on the butt section. cadan.com Are you comfortable fishing with a $200 rod when all your friends have those hotshot $750-$1100 rods? The Ultralite is Hardys brand new, top of the line rod that replaces the Zephrus. Use this link to go to our Favorite Freshwater Outfits for the 3 through 8-weight rods, in our Online Store. Only then do the subtle differences reveal themselves, and this is what we are doing for you in our Shootouts. Part from the aesthetical side, it is important to note that all the components of this Thomas & Thomas Contact 10 #3 are high quality and tend to reduce the overall weight. About the technique now, the choice between those models will really depend of the ratio of your nymphing or dry-fly fishing. It almost has as much butt power as the Asquith, which was fantastic at long range. Usually takes 4-8 weeks. For the models with #2/3 power, two frequencies are measured. Howard Croston totally re-designed this rod using the latest Sintrix NSX material and new proprietary resins that allow Hardy to build a lighter and stronger rod than before. Fly It can handle some fast moving currents, it works well for long distance casting, and the guides are made for big line too. We found that the good ones could carry 55-60 feet of line in the air while double hauling, so hitting the 75-foot mark was pretty easy. This new resin system, along with a new scrim, results in a lighter but more durable blank. Logan Brown, our guide bookings manager has lived in Montana for over fifteen years now and has become one of the better anglers in our area. I think you will find everyones comments interesting and worth reading. The quality of the cork in handles varies enormously in fly rods. For non-original owners on 2-pc models the fee is $275 per section (butt or tip). Youll find a hook keeper just above the cork handle. The Asquith is one of the lightest rods in this Shootout. This item ships for FREE! A single uplocking, black anodized seat is used with a self-indexing hood and a dark gray micarta insert. Then in our 8-weight Shootouts, the distances are 35 feet, 60 feet, 80 feet and 100 feet. The accuracy is not quite as good as the Centric or the Ultralite, and both Loomis rods were significantly better. The Greys GR80 keeps the olive green from the GR70 on the blank and the wraps are dark. This is a 9 foot long rod, which makes it great for long distance casting and for fairly deep streams. We used one moderate/medium-fast action rod and one fast action rod to make sure we tested these lines with two different rod tapers for maximum performance. In the sunlight, the dark green finish just sparkles! Very unusual, but great looking as well as functional. You must register the new rod within 30 days. These utilize clear Maxima butt and midsections with Rio nylon 4X tippets. Compared to the other top rods in this Shootout, the Avantt had a slower action and a stiffer tip. 5. The Amplitude MPX is a ninety foot three colored line the 8 foot tip is buckskin, followed with a 35 foot belly that is moss green, and then the rest a running line that is a brighter optic green. If more than one section is broken, the fee is $35 extra per section. The 3D has just a little more guts and power, which improves its performance at long range. Well also ship it to you for free, and since we are in Montana, there is no sales tax. We wanted to take a look at and cast all the best 6-weight rods we could get from a variety of the top manufacturers. The Redington Vice will surprise you with its fast action and incredible power. Long-distance casts with decent precision are easy to achieve. It is also one of the best 6-weights going if you like fishing larger dries like hoppers and chubbies, with a nymph dropper. Take one look at the thread wraps and their finish on the Avantt and youll see the ultimate in perfection. The 3F was slightly better as were both Loomis rods and the Sky G. Now the power on tap takes over and the rod tracks beautifully, throwing wonderful tight loops. If you are looking for that perfect saltwater outfit, then check out this link for our Favorite Saltwater Outfits. This 10 is made with 12 guides + 1 spare in a blister in case you would add one on the first piece. 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. A new resin named Powerflux 1000 brings to the blank mechanical properties while fishing. When used in the top half of the rod, this creates a thin diameter tip section with excellent swing weight, but more importantly helps the rod to recover and dampen quickly. The lightweight design also makes casting fairly easy. Since we eliminated the Perfect 6 performance category that rewarded what we felt was the best overall 6-weight, this category more or less does the same thing. The GR80 blank has a first SIC guidefollowed by 10 single leg. I was getting good accuracy combined with good feel provided by the softer tip. 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. The Helios 3F performed especially well at short to medium distances, while the Helios 3D had more beans out long. The cork handle is now a full wells, using a stack of very high quality cork rings with one rubber/cork ring at the base of the grip. The fitting of the strands is facilitated by small white dots. These are wonderfully light reels, and have a very smooth drag that is easily adjustable through a wide range. Today the deflections of our top 11 rods are much more similar than they were ten years ago. With its dull blank, black wraps and carbon reel seat, this JMC rod is definitely sober. If you look at our Objective Observations chart, the swing weight for the SKY G was only 8.0 oz., far less than even the extremely light Asquith at 8.4 oz., and the NRX+ at 8.7 oz. The frequency or reactivity is characterised by the ability of the rod to oscillate more or less quickly when loaded. His comments and thoughts on different rods felt spot on. Below you will find the figures for price, overall weight, swing weight, and country of origin in our Objective Observations table. This rod is 4-piece and delivered with a cover and a cordura protecting tube. So lets talk about the ones we offer at 239 Flies in greater detail. The Amplitude MPX uses a floating texture on the tip section for the ultimate in floatation and a textured running line behind the head that delivers longer casts, especially with SAs AST Plus slickness additive. In case you were wondering, this is a fast action fly rod, which means that it is highly responsive to your movements, making it good for various fishing techniques and fast retrievals. If the strippingguidebeing close enough to the handle does not put you off for dry fishing, remember that these rods will easily cast a #3 line if the need arises. They feature a lot of casting power and sensitivity too. The perfect line: S.A. Amplitude MPX in WF-6-F. Im still getting plenty of usable power and casting longer distances is easy. As one of the best younger, upcoming guides in Montana he is very passionate and knowledgeable about fly-fishing and has put a lot of time on the water. The reel seat mixes black anodized aluminum and cork insert. The first SIC guideis followed by hard chrome single leg guides. The price of 1 single element (in case youd break it) is 42, not including delivery fees. Echo Lifetime warranty to the original owner. The Centric handle is a full wells shape, and like their previous Radian, the swell is quite a bit forward of the middle of the handle.