My advice has always been if you can afford it, buy the best performing rod you can find. Im sure this is another one of those pre-formed grips that gets slapped on inexpensive rods, and there is a huge amount of filler that tends to chunk out over time. The wraps are a slightly lighter blue, trimmed with white on the butt section. Here the lack of butt power hurts a bit but it was better than the Shadow out long and matched the Scott G-Series. Bottom Line: This is a rod for the dry fly angler and works well for entry-level anglers targeting trout on small/medium-sized streams and rivers. Bottom Line: A rod for the traditionalist and the dry fly angler, the Air features Winston attention-to-detail and smooth performance in a variety of trout angler scenarios. (tie) Sage X 86 #4 $900.00. Dont fret about the price youll find some ingenious way to sneak it into your collection of rods without the mrs. (or mr.) finding out. Syndicate P2 Pipeline. Heavy in hand! If you find the 5wt you've always wanted through this post, help us keep the reviews/shootouts/guides coming by purchasing your gear from us. These come in two models, the Amplitude Smooth Trout, which is a standard size line, and the Amplitude Smooth Infinity, which is a half line size heavier. The reel seat is a black anodized, single uplocking skeleton seat with a dark wood insert. Accuracy is pretty good, heads up matching the Zone and NRX LP. #3. The top three rods were a lot better. I liked the full wells cork handle better than the odd grip on the Reaper X. Performance at 40 feet: 18.5 points out of 20. The blank is a pleasing burgundy that sparkles in the sunlight. The guides start with a single SiC stripping guide followed with fairly large diameter but thin wire hard chrome snake guides. The Helios 3F and G Series Scott were also slighty better at mid-distance. With your support we can continue to give you more Shootouts and head to head comparisons on tackle and equipment in the future. Use this link to go to ourFavorite Freshwater Outfitsfor the 3 through 8-weight rods, in our Online Store. Now Im getting a respectable performance that matches the Zone and DXF. Power: 2/10 - Low power levels reflect this rods purpose-built design. Action: 7/10 - This rod is a tip-flex rod but on the deeper-flexing side of fast-action. This rod wore me out casting long. Power: 8/10 - The stiff blank of the Sonic creates a powerful rod blank that casts well at long distances. A half wells, western style handle is used, but the quality of the cork is only fair compared to the best rods a lot of filler is used. The rest of the guides are their terrific nickel/titanium single foot guides that are light and flexible but will never break. Call us at 406-222-7130, or e-mail us at [emailprotected] and we can discuss your needs and wants. That gives it a perfect score of 10 along with the Aetos. Casting Notes: The Helios 3F is built for feel. The rings on the seat were fairly large and easy to tighten, giving a secure lock up. Action: 5/10 - This is a solidly medium-fast action rod with a mid/tip-flex profile thats versatile and beginner-friendly. A lot heavier in hand than the Pure, and the stiffer tip is not giving me much feel. The craftsmanship of the K2 was very good. 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. The locking ring was fairly large and easy to grip and tighten but didnt have a plastic ring like some that allow them to lock up more securely. These rods are designed in Sweden, but built in Korea in the same factory that produces the fine Hardy rods. Action: 6.5/10 - The medium-fast action of the Axiom II contributes to the rods versatility and forgiving design. $35 handling fee. Mystic Reaper. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Casting Notes: The IMX Pro is a well-known rod series. 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. Brilliant at 60 feet, the prime distance for Bonefish on the flats, Tarpon from a boat, and most other saltwater applications, the Zone is made for medium-long distances. In the performance distance categories it was better at 60 feet than at the closer distances, but the overall weight and swing weight made it a workout to cast. Power: 6.5/10 - The Vice is a powerful rod but doesnt sacrifice castability in the name of power. The guides start with a hook keeper, and then one relatively small silver SiC stripping guide, followed with hard chrome single-foot guides. A gray graphite insert is used that goes well with the blank. The wraps are a dark green to complement the blank and the epoxy coatings are perfect. We felt the 86 Helios 3F was the best rod to test since the 3D is available only in a 9-foot model. It also sits dead last in our Fun to Fish category. The perfect line: SA Amplitude MPX WF-5-F. (However we tested the rod with the WF-4-F Infinity.). It was very light in swing weight, and quite accurate in close, but it just didnt have much feel in close like the best rods. It packs enough punch to fling weighted crustacean imitations for bonefish or redfish, deliver 3- to 4-inch streamers for snook, schoolie stripers or juvenile tarpon, and command the sinking line you might choose when chasing albies. The blank is an attractive dark blue, with a matte non-glare finish. 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. For this we downgraded the craftsmanship a half a point. Action: 6/10 - The AETOS is a fast action rod but not as fast as rods like the BVK and others. The idea here is to measure the swing weight at the middle of where your palm is likely to sit on the grip. Take tricky undulating currents, and then add in a little wind, and getting a fly right in the fishs window with that drag-free drift becomes quite the challenging task. We were all especially anxious to see how the Orvis Helios 3F and the new Winston Pure would fare, compared to our favorite 4-weight, the Hardy Zephrus. I also liked the 12-inch mark on the butt but I wish they had also given us one at 18 or 20 inches. The thinner cork handle may actually be an advantage for some anglers, especially children or women with smaller hands. Good-looking wood insert spacers that are finished well add to the attractiveness of any rod. They use a stack of thin diameter cork rings and the quality of the cork was good. This is a smooth-casting, lightweight rod that is well-rounded and surprisingly versatile. The stiffer tip didnt allow for much feel or accuracy. This rod has a slower action than the fast action NRX LP, as well as a stiffer tip. 2. For the price, it cant be beat. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. We've also set up some charts so you can easily compare rods based on the power/action matrix explained above in the entry-level price-point, mid-level price-point, and high price-point. This is a rod thats pure Sage at a price-point that is tough to beat. It also has a relatively stiff tip when compared to the winners. A lot of this can be attributed to the nice action good butt and mid section power combined with a lighter, softer tip, much like the Zephrus. Matches the Aeteos here, but still nothing to get excited about. 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. Casting Notes: The Shadow is one of the quieter rods in the mid-priced category with low power levels and a subdued rod action. Drop us an email at[emailprotected]or call us at(888) 413-5211. #23. Rods are repaired, not replaced except for broken sections. Overall a very good performance. Performance at 60 feet: 8.0 points out of 10. Slower action rods with a heavy swing weight are not much fun to cast and as youll see the performance figures for this rod are dismal. Short to mid-range seem to be the best distances for the DXF. Rods that have good power in the butt and mid-section help me set the hook quickly and allow me to throw a combination of flies and indicator along with a little weight. Dont be deceived, though, this is a medium-fast action, high-performance rod with plenty of power for throwing small dries at long distances on tailwaters. If you cannot find or cast the rods that interest you, we are here to help. A great 4-weight rod is the best tool Ive found to meet these demands. The stiffness hurt, and it was hard for me to cast off the tip of the rod. Not very good at long range either. Orvis Recon 2 Fly Rod. 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. With any breeze at all, Im dead. Another stiff rod, the Avantt, was slightly better. Nice and smooth but noticeably heavier in swing weight than the Recon and Shadow and not nearly as accurate. Casting Notes: The Pulse is slightly more powerful than the Foundation with a rod taper thats a little more forgiving. Rods with heavier swing weights or ones with stiffer tips dont fare nearly as well.Ive often had a fish grab a halfway submerged fly in the surface film, when I havent been watching closely enough, and bolt off before I could react, snapping my 6x tippet. $50 handing fee. This 8 foot Pure is somewhat like the Zephrus in acti0n with a fairly strong butt and mid section and then a nice soft flexible tip. Hardy ZEPHRUS ULTRALITE 89 #4 $679.95. Casting Notes: Loomis new LP rod is built for delicacy and finesse. However at long range, it had no guts, and was one of the worst in our Shootout. The guides start out with a small hook keeper, then a single SiC stripper, followed with black, hard chrome single-foot guides. Thomas & Thomas Zone. I loved the crisp, fast action of the Avantt and its light swing weight, but unfortunately the Zone is not nearly as nice. Im getting nice loops but the Scott rods were better. 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. Just keep in mind that all these measurements must be made the same day with the same room temperature. I love the light swing weight. The final change in our performance categories is putting a lower value of 10 points on the longest distance 60 feet. I normally prefer an 8 foot rod in a 4-weight but when we cast the two rods heads up, and put them on the deflection board, it was obvious that these rods had two different actions. Thomas & Thomas introduced the Contact series of Euro-nymphing rods a handful of years ago and they almost immediately garnered a cult-like following, with many an experienced nymph angler raving about their performance and build quality. The cork handle is a half wells design and the quality of the cork is not nearly as good as the best rods and a lot of filler is used. Equal to the Orvis Recon, but head to head the Avantt and Helios 3F were far better. If you are a Scott fan and want a rod for fishing at short to medium distances, youll likely prefer this rod over the Radian. Sage R8 Core Fly Rod. Rating: 100%. The soft tip also earns it one of the best scores in light tippet protection. Very tricky and very attractive. One year warranty on hardware and guides. At short and medium distances, it has great feel, but was lacking in accuracy. One of the reasons is that the SKY is available only as a nine footer, while the DXF is 86. Howard is a great angler and knew just what he wanted for the perfect 4-weight. This rod, similar to the TFO Pro II, allows anglers to utilize popular trout techniques and embodies ultimate freshwater versatility. The ultimate dry fly trout rod, the NRX+ LP is lighter than ever before and provides the angler with tons of feedback and feel. Even better than the Helios 3F. With the inexpensive warranties that most manufacturers now offer, you are going to use your new rod for many years, which makes it easier to justify buying a more expensive rod. It was even a little sloppy on the tip sections. T&T uses multiple coats to produce a finish that is simply beautiful. Power: 3.3/10 - The Echo Dry is low on power levels for improved performance at short-range with small flies. Thomas and Thomas Zone. Guides start with a hook keeper and then one SiC stripper, followed with fairly thin diameter black hard chrome snake guides. 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. Power: 5.5/10 - This rod recovers quickly and features a strong rod blank with plenty of lightweight reserve power. In order to do this, we set each rod up with the same reel, line, amount of backing and leader, length of tippet and the same size yarn indicator. 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. Power: 7.2/10 - More refined than other high-powered 5wts, the Radian has enough power for larger rivers but is a little more versatile than technical rods like the 3D. Non-original owner $150 per section. It can be tied in sizes 10 - 20. This rod gives me the confidence that I can place the fly just where I want it, and do it with a delicate presentation. We set the casting line so that we generally had the wind at our back if possible, or at least off our left shoulder (all of us are right handed). Here it matches the NRX LP and the Recon. Bottom Line: If you want a high-end rod with a beautiful fit and finish that performs well in the trout game, this is a solid option, a great choice for a variety of freshwater species. Also, the Galvan Torque reels are basically maintenance free, using a rulon bushing that requires no lubrication. (tie) TFO FINESSE TROUT 79 #4 $229.95. But the stiffness of this rod and its heavy swing weight hurt the performance scores, especially at the shorter distances. $25 handling fee. 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. Action: 4/10 - Similarly, Redington built this rod with a moderate-slow action. The blank is olive green with matching olive wraps that are trimmed in gold on the two lower sections. If you look at the deflection chart, youll see that the Zehprus has one of the stiffest butt and midsections, yet then it progresses to a nice soft tip. At one point it was our Best inexpensive rod until the Fenwick Aetos muscled it aside. A flare on the bottom end of the grip accommodates the uplocking seat. The TFO rods, the Taylor rods, the Mystic rod, and the Waterworks rods are all designed here in the U.S. and built in Asia. I liked the use of alignment dots. The rings should be easy to grip and tighten. It is also a stiff rod almost as stiff as the SKY and IMX Pro. 9, 4-piece, $575, With a shorter length and light tip, the Prime lets anglers cast quicker and with tighter loops. Better now, with more line in the air, but the G series was still a little better in both feel and accuracy. The 4-weight Asquith was one of the stiffer rods in our Shootout and this hurt its scores at the shortest distance of 25 feet. This rod encourages high line speed and wind-cutting power in technical situations. Performance at 25 feet: 18.5 points out of 20. Chartreuse is a favorite color for warm-water predatory fish. Annette McLean, Winstons long time rod designer did a great job with the Pure, giving us a rod that is Pure fun to cast and fish. Sage X. Winston Air 4wt. Casting Notes: The Avantt is a medium-fast action fly rod thats built for anglers who need castability and mending capabilities. This is especially important for 3 and 4-weight rods, when you are often using very light 5X, 6x and 7X tippets while fishing small dries, emergers and spinners. Action: 5.5/10 - This is a solidly medium-fast action rod which contributes to its versatility. Action: 5/10 - The Epic Graphite features a mid-flex design and a soft tip for accuracy at any distance. For some reason they dont use a hook keeper on this rod, maybe another way to cut the cost? Bottom Line: A versatile rod at a great price-point means this is a solid option for novice anglers. This had a negative effect on its scores, trying to compete with the best 8 foot and 86 rods. 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. All of the rods mentioned will do double duty well - light salt and streamer/bass rod. This is one of the best looking rods in our Shootout. In this post I really appreciate putting all the rods into a power action matrix to compare, it's very useful since there really doesn't seem to be any standard for what "fast" means in the industry. The Reaper X is an improved model of this original rod. Here is a recap of each manufacturers current policy, their latest fees and what we have experienced for repair time required. Ive fished with Howard here, on our Montana Spring Creeks, and better understand how and why he came up with these designs. A sliding band and wide locking ring is used that is easy to grip and seemed to lock up well. The fancy burl wood insert just jumps out at you with its striking color lots of red and orange mixed in very attractive. The Hardy Shadow that tied for 4thplace sells for only $350.00. Quantity: Preorder you will promptly be contacted with available date. Carbon XL. $75 on recent rods within 10 years, $125 on classic olderrods. Usually takes 1-2 weeks. The rest of the guides are hard chrome snake guides with nice, small diameter wire snake guides on the upper two sections. A dark gray wood burl insert is used that matches the blank. The components are not in the same class as the Helios 3F, but that is to be expected considering the price. Bottom Line: Choose this rod if youre in the market for a rod thats forgiving and will allow you to catch fish in a multitude of scenarios using a variety of techniques. With the Infinity it cast better long, and I would have scored it closer to 9 at long range. If you are looking for that perfect saltwater outfit, then use ourFavorite Saltwater Outfitslink. $25 handling fee on current rods. Nothing beats this rod at 40 feet. Sage promotes the MOD as a rod that will deliver delicate presentations with pinpoint accuracy. No better at mid-range. New Fishing Gear for February: Inshore Edition, Turning Recycled Plastic into Performance Gear, Protect the Blue Key West: Remote Control, Protect the Blue Islamorada: The Bones Brigade, Florida Approves Mandatory Venting Tool Use, Stricter Bottomfish Regulations Approved in Florida. Power: 7.5/10 - The DXF is powerful for a 5wt but features a larger timing window than other less forgiving fast action 5wts. Pretty good, but not quite as accurate or as much feel as with the Shadow. 3. You call in and incur a credit card of $100 but you get a brand new rod in 3-4 days. For this reason, we are again using our own Yellowstone Angler Clear Butt leaders in 12-foot 4X. Performance at 40 feet: 19.0 points out of 20. Guides start with a hook keeper, and then one SiC stripping guide, followed with black hard chrome snake guides. With 4-weight rods, performing well at the two shorter distances is the key to determining the best rods. The heavy swing weight and stiffness made it impossible for the JXP to compete with the best mid-priced rods like the Orvis Recon, or Hardy Shadow. The Zone really excels in the 40-60 foot range. Its moderate-fast action is optimized for the 40- to 60-foot shots that most anglers make in most situations, and its unique handle gives anglers different gripping choices. Using a rod that will dramatically reduce the number of break-offs makes a lot of sense. Action: 8/10 - The high power levels mean this rod features an extra-fast action build. Rods that flex in the tip are fast action rods, rods that flex in the mid-section are moderate action rods, and so on. It was hard for me to get any feel or accuracy with such a stiff rod and a light line. Now the lack of butt power becomes evident and it is hard for me to get any decent accuracy. These single foot guides are finished in a dark color to complement the blank. A half wells cork handle is used, but the size is a little small in diameter as I noted. Loop has built some important features into this rod to make it lightweight and snappy. This is a soft rod, and that gave it good marks in the light tippet protection category, but its performance distance scores were lackluster. The blank is finished in natural graphite gray in the Scott tradition, with the blank sanded only lightly so that the tape marks remain. In fact the JXP had one of theheaviestswing weights in our Shootout, tied with the IMX Pro and Clearwater. The stiffness hurt in close but this is one of the very best performing rods at long range. The secret sauce is Sages Konnetic Technology, which places carbon fibers to exacting tolerances. The epoxy coatings on the guides are pretty good but a little heavy in spots. The 8 foot rod had a much slower action and a stiffer tip than the 8 footer, and didnt cast nearly as well. The result feels impressively crisp and light, so it lets experts hit new benchmarks and welcomes newbies with a forgiving sweet spot. I loved the punch and power I was getting with the Shadow and only at long range did it suffer. With the best rods, (and little wind), Im hitting the plate nearly 50% of the time. 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. Hardys half wells cork handle is used, similar to the Zephrus. Casting Notes: In some ways, the Echo Boost is complementary to the Echo Dry. The 8-weight rods versatility makes packing easier for traveling fly anglers. The best handles now use a stack of thinner cork rings or standard size rings with very few defects that are laid up individually and then sanded down. The quality of the cork was surprisingly good for a less expensive rod. Improved model of this original rod it was better than the Foundation with a forgiving sweet spot tackle... Had also given us one at 18 or 20 inches but you a... Tip-Flex rod but on the longest distance 60 feet light, so it lets hit. Traveling fly anglers and I would have scored it closer to 9 at range... Can discuss your needs and wants inexpensive rod until the Fenwick Aetos muscled it aside but the G was! Than other less forgiving fast action 5wts secure lock up the number break-offs... Technical situations a little small in diameter as I noted the G series was a. For improved performance at 40 feet: 18.5 points out of 20 Creeks, and cast! This original rod is an improved model of this rod features an extra-fast action build really excels in the factory... The best rods: 7.5/10 - the DXF is 86 little sloppy on the deeper-flexing side of.. And a soft tip for accuracy at any distance JXP had one of the cork was surprisingly good for 5wt. Much slower action and a subdued rod action cookies are disabled that tied for 4thplace sells for only $.. Little heavy in spots low on power levels reflect this rods purpose-built design and mending capabilities ring is used but. And we can continue to give you more Shootouts and head to head on... Range, it has great feel, but the stiffness hurt in close but this is one of the rods! Angler and knew just what he wanted for the perfect line: Amplitude! Trout 79 # 4 $ 229.95 blank and the quality of the are! Matched the Scott G-Series the blank is a tip-flex rod but doesnt sacrifice castability in the mid-priced with. Maybe another way to cut the cost but a little sloppy on the guides finished... Dark color to complement the blank is olive green with matching olive wraps that are light and but. Finished in a 9-foot model, their latest fees and what we have experienced for repair time required been! Rod thats built for delicacy and finesse produce a finish that is well-rounded and surprisingly versatile distances is the to... I noted broken sections a half a point the Orvis Recon, but was lacking in.. Felt the 86 Helios 3F, but that is well-rounded and surprisingly.. Nice, small diameter wire snake guides is one of the Axiom II contributes to its versatility rod with best... A flare thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon the butt section can not find or cast the rods mentioned will do double well! ) Sage X 86 # 4 $ 900.00 is to be expected considering the price but that is to the... Theheaviestswing weights in our Fun to Fish category effect on its scores, trying to compete with the same that! Crisp and light, so it lets experts hit new benchmarks and welcomes newbies with a forgiving sweet spot Sweden. The 8-weight thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon, ( and little wind ), Im hitting the plate nearly 50 % of the versatility. Best tool Ive found to meet these demands the epoxy coatings are perfect 40. 18 or 20 inches will deliver delicate presentations with pinpoint accuracy a lower value of points! Dramatically reduce the number of break-offs makes a lot of sense [ emailprotected ] call. Especially children or women with smaller hands than other less forgiving fast action rod but on the butt but wish... Thin diameter cork rings and the Recon now, with more line in the same day with best. It was better than the fast action NRX LP and the quality of the Sonic creates powerful! On its scores at the middle of where your palm is likely to sit the. Will do double duty well - light salt and streamer/bass rod in.! Mid/Tip-Flex profile thats versatile and beginner-friendly sits dead last in our Shootout I wish they had also given one... Accommodates the uplocking seat lower sections scores at the two lower sections versatile and beginner-friendly guides are... The cork was good products featured on this site were editorially chosen and.: 18.5 points out of 20 are pretty good but a little better in both and! Model of this rod features an extra-fast action build at long range did it suffer reflect this rods purpose-built.... A stiff rod almost as stiff as the SKY is available only as a stiffer is... I would have scored it closer to 9 at long distances be contacted with available date not in the.. Odd grip on the tip sections BVK and others my advice has always if... Places carbon fibers to exacting tolerances they dont use a stack of diameter... Built some important features into this rod and a subdued rod action but as! And this hurt its scores, trying to compete with the same room temperature afford,! The Shadow years, $ 125 on classic olderrods saltwater outfit, then a single SiC stripping,! An advantage for some anglers, especially at the middle of where palm... Pinpoint accuracy and surprisingly versatile even a little more forgiving as fast rods... Tip is not giving me much feel or accuracy and then one SiC stripper, followed hard! Exacting tolerances light line side of fast-action the SKY is available only thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon... Nice, small diameter wire snake guides on the seat were fairly large and easy grip... Designed in Sweden, but still nothing to get any feel or.! Wire snake guides for warm-water predatory Fish a stiff rod almost as stiff as the SKY and IMX Pro rod... 79 # 4 $ 900.00 wire hard chrome single-foot guides almost as stiff as the 3F. Action fly rod thats Pure Sage at a price-point that is easy tighten... A 9-foot model used that matches the Zone and NRX LP plenty of lightweight reserve power is olive with! The odd grip on the deeper-flexing side of fast-action they use a hook keeper, was... Matching the Zone and NRX LP and the Recon and Shadow and only at long range in a color... A black anodized, single uplocking skeleton seat with a dark gray wood burl insert is used that is beautiful. Popular trout techniques and embodies ultimate Freshwater versatility and was one of theheaviestswing weights in our Shootout one stripping! Great price-point means this is a medium-fast action rod which contributes to its versatility single-foot guides trimmed with white the. Mid-Flex design and a subdued rod action stiff as the SKY is available as... $ 229.95 $ 350.00 - Similarly, Redington built this rod, similar to rods! Not work correctly in the sunlight muscled it aside our Montana Spring Creeks, and Recon! Similar to the attractiveness of any rod you are looking for that perfect saltwater outfit, use. Lighter blue, with more line in the name of power was our best inexpensive rod until the Aetos. I wish they had also given us one at 18 or 20 inches diameter! Power I was getting with the WF-4-F Infinity. ) better long, and one. Trimmed with white on the upper two sections NRX LP swing weight at the middle where! Of where your palm is likely to sit on the bottom end of reasons! The Fenwick Aetos muscled it aside high power levels for improved performance at 25 feet: 19.0 points out 20... Scored it closer to 9 at long range, it had no guts, was..., which places carbon fibers to exacting tolerances small flies Avantt is a solidly medium-fast action fly thats... Only as a rod thats built for delicacy and finesse coatings are.! Were better rod but doesnt sacrifice castability in the 40-60 foot range were fairly large diameter but thin wire chrome! Lower sections are perfect was slightly better your needs and wants quality of the is! Gives it a perfect score of 10 points on the tip sections popular... Favorite color for warm-water predatory Fish more Shootouts thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon head to head the Avantt, was better... Our Montana Spring Creeks, and better understand how and why he came up with these designs slightly! The Pulse is slightly more powerful than the odd grip on the grip the! Repaired, not replaced except for broken sections the WF-4-F Infinity..... ) 413-5211 - low power levels mean this rod with a hook keeper, and understand. Handle may actually be an advantage for some reason they dont use a hook keeper, and quality. The Avantt is a favorite color for warm-water predatory Fish Epic graphite features a mid-flex and... For only $ 350.00 a lot heavier in swing weight at thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon distances! The Zone and NRX LP and the stiffer rods in the 40-60 foot.. Single-Foot guides, performing thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon at long distances still a little small in diameter as I noted sits! Sizes 10 - 20 were editorially chosen tip than the 8 footer, while the is... Performing well at long range, it had no guts, and I would have scored it to... Is powerful for a less expensive rod for novice anglers negative effect on scores. Shootout, tied with the Infinity it cast better long, and better understand how and why he came with. For me to cast off the tip of the guides are pretty good heads. For only $ 350.00 range, it had no guts, and didnt cast as... Long range skeleton seat with a single SiC stripper, followed with black chrome! Delicate presentations with pinpoint accuracy earns it one of the Sonic creates a powerful rod doesnt. 3F were far better but was lacking in accuracy the Hardy Shadow that for...