thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon

This rod gives me a nice light feel in hand, and Im getting good loop control combined with plenty of power and good accuracy. A darker composite cork ring is used on the bottom of the grip that is flared out to accept the uplocking seat. Here is a new rod that has not appeared in any of our previous Shootouts. If you own a money tree and enough real estate to warehouse dozens of situation-specific fly rods, stop reading now. When Orvis introduced the Superfine Glass I fell in love again. This makes for a very comfortable grip that improves casting at longer distances. Usually takes 4-6 weeks. Our deflection charts have been very popular in past Shootouts, so we are giving you more this year. Performance at 60 feet: 7 points out of 10. For the price, it cant be beat. We have found that the only good way to pin down these subtle differences is to have at least a half dozen of the contending rods with the line stripped out and sitting there in front of you on the lawn, so that you can take a few casts with one rod, lay it down and pick up another rod, and make a few casts at the same distance, make some notes and then move on to another rod or the next distance. An attractive X-pattern graphite wrap is used behind the logo, just above the cork handle. Casting Notes: Distance and power are the name of the game with the Helios 3D. Muted power and action scores put this rod in the middle of the pack which means its a safe choice for the novice angler who wants a do-it-all 5wt. Therefore, this buyer's guide should help you determine which 5wt is best for you. 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. This is also a great rod for terrestrials from a boat or smaller dries at long range. At long range, the lack of power now becomes evident. Casting and rating the performance of rods at the different distances is the real meat of our Shootouts. Built for versatility, this is a stand-out rod in this price range. It is nearly impossible to cast off the tip of the rod like I can with the best 4-weights. 7 Reviews. The cork handle is a western style grip with a comfortable swell in the middle and a nice taper forward. Makes sense because its the most expensive rod in our buyers guide. Well indicate which line proved best with each rod later in the individual rod write-ups. The soft tip also earns it one of the best scores in light tippet protection. Bottom Line: If youre an angler who prioritizes line speed and is capable of a powerful double-haul, this rod will allow you to throw bulky rigs and big flies with accuracy at distance. Action: 5.5/10 - Slightly faster than purely moderate action fly rods, the 7X has a taper thats caster-friendly and a versatile medium-fast action. Its somewhat embarrassing for a $1000 rod to finish below one that costs only $198.00, but there are some good reasons for this. We stand by our methodology however, and by far most of the anglers that take the time to give us their feedback on these Shootouts generally agree with our results. The blank is olive green with matching olive wraps that are trimmed in gold on the two lower sections. The Asquith is available in only a nine-foot model, and it is stiffer than most of the tested 4-weight rods. 9, 4-piece, $575, With a shorter length and light tip, the Prime lets anglers cast quicker and with tighter loops. Usually takes 1-2 weeks. I found the rings harder to grip than most and without any nylon spacer they will likely loosen up more easily than other rings with them. That changed when I fell in love with the Helios II. The blank is finished in a medium brown with brown wraps that complement the blank. The Aetos was dramatically better for an inexpensive rod. I just cant push it at all and have to slow down my casting stroke to get any decent accuracy. Guides start with a hook keeper on the butt, and then two SiC stripping guides, followed with hard chrome snake guides that are large in diameter but thankfully use smaller diameter wire. Performance at 60 feet 10 points available. The color of the blank is a very light silver blue, with the guides wrapped in a darker grayish blue, with some silver trim on the butt section. The other reason is that this 9 #4 SKY is just too stiff for a 4-weight. If you're still confused about fly rod action, here's a video from our beginner series. The 79 rod has a nice medium fast action, while this 8 9 model is far slower much more of a medium action rod. The casting scores were only fair to good, and in my notes I say that I am getting very little feel or accuracy in close compared to the best rods. We value your comments about the Shootout and invite any questions you might have about it or your tackle needs. #15. The new X has a nice medium fast action that delivers the best performance at short to medium distances. A big part of the score at short distances is a combination of accuracy and thefeelyou get through the handle which imparts your confidence to put the fly exactly where you want it. A counterbalance opposite the handle is used to keep the reel running smoothly when a fish is racing away from you. We have found that the Asquith rods are terrific rods in the heavier line sizes from 6-weight right up through 12-weight. I liked the nice loops I was getting and the accuracy was also pretty good, but could not match the Recon or the NRX LP. But in looking closely at the Hardy Zephrus, Ultralite, and the Douglas SKY, they are also definitely near the top end of the craftsmanship ladder. My son, Jamie is also a fanatical fly fisherman and a great caster. I thought the larger, wider single ring on the Helios 3F was much easier to grip and seemed to lock up better. Stiff, slower action rods are NOT what you are looking for in a 4-weight, where accurate, delicate presentations are the keys to success. Performance at 25 feet: 18.0 points out of 20. Casting head to head, the Scott rods and the Helios 3F were both a lot better. Orvis Recon 5wt. But this is a fairly soft rod, and didnt have the butt power to handle the long distance quite as well as the more powerful rods. This is a good-looking rod, finished in a non-glare flat black. If you get to Montana, we invite you to stop at our shop and do your own rod comparison right here on our lawn. I think that this can be attributed to the slower action of this rod compared to the Zephrus. A great 4-weight rod is the best tool Ive found to meet these demands. We have fished all over the world in both fresh and saltwater for a variety of fish, and well be glad to answer all of your questions, to help you choose the perfect rod or outfit. According to T&T, the Zone utilizes the same StratoTherm resin as the Avantt and Exocett line of rods, and features anodized aluminum hardware and reel seat (with a blue fiberglass insert), composite reinforced premium cork grips, and titanium stripping guides with zirconium inserts. A stack of thin diameter corks is used and the quality is good. Out long the overall softness of the rod is a handicap. The action is slightly slower than the Zephrus though, and this contributed somewhat to its lack of feel and accuracy at 25 feet. Line Recommendation: RIO Gold Elite Fly Line. This rod has a medium fast action with tons of power in the butt and mid-section, which allowed it to perform pretty well at the longest distance. With more line in the air Im getting nice loops and good accuracy. The blank is a pleasing burgundy that sparkles in the sunlight. My first nymph stick that is all around rock solid. I liked the medium fast action, and this was a pleasantly smooth rod to cast, especially at the longer distances. Much better at our middle distance, and here it is as good as the K2 and Douglas SKY. Performance at 60 feet: 7.5 points out of 10. This is a sharp looking rod. The blank color at first glance looks black, but is a very dark green called Black Spruce. The thread wraps are dark green, trimmed with metallic gray on the butt section. This can come in handy if you have multiple T&T rods and get the sections mixed up. The rest of the guides start with a single wire recoil stripper like G. Loomis uses, (I dont like these much either), but at least the rest are the good flexible nickel/titanium single-foot guides, as on the Zephrus, in a black color. Casting Notes: Orvis has paired down the original fast-action Recon and built a more caster-friendly, versatile rod thats built for a wide variety of angling scenarios. The epoxy coatings over the wraps were a little heavy, but Ive seen worse. If you are thinking about buying a fly rod, we suggest reading one of our Shootouts for the line size rod you want. Action: 6/10 - The IMX Pro 5wt features a mid/tip-flex profile and a rod blank that is a workhorse with a stiff backbone for windy conditions or heavy rigs. This is a very pleasant rod to cast, and I was especially impressed at what nice tight loops I was getting at long range, where it proved to be better than any other rod tested, even the powerful Asquith. If you look at the best performing rods in general, they have stiffer butt and midsections and softer tips. As I put more line in the air, it tracked beautifully and was just a delightful rod to cast at 40 feet. Add to Cart. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. It is especially interesting to see how the rods compare in stiffness, and how much the tip section bends. The light swing weight made casting effortless, and Im getting excellent accuracy combined with delicate presentations. Action: 8/10 - The high power levels mean this rod features an extra-fast action build. But these methods and calculations were disconnected from what we were actually experiencing in our hand so, for our last 4 Shootouts, we have gone back to our original method of calculation, explained above. Mystic Lifetime warranty to original owner. Many of the best rods are built in one factory in Korea. Sport Fishing Magazine may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Orvis CLEARWATER 86 #4 $198.00. Once again we give you a Performance Only chart, which zeros in on the very best performing rods, which is the real meat of our Shootout. Sure, most of these 4-weight rods will turn over a 9-foot leader, but having to turn over a 12-foot leader requires a rod to perform at a higher level. Casting Notes: The Anomaly is a rod that provides the angler with state-of-the-art componentry and a high-performance blank at a moderate price-point. We look at many hings to determine craftsmanship What kind of guides are used? Orvis Recon. I had the chance to fish both the 9' 5wt and 8'4" 3wt Recons, side-by-side with the older models, and there is a noticeable weight difference in the updated rods. $169.99. Our reasoning in this Shootout was to pick what we felt were theBEST4-weight rods, regardless of length, and there no question in our minds that the 8 foot Pure is Winstons best 4-weight rod. I think that the vague feel I was getting hurt here. Action: 7/10 - This rod sports a medium-fast/fast action blank thats ideal for a variety of freshwater fishing techniques. Rods are repaired or replaced. Feels great out long! The handle is a half wells western style grip with contrasting dark composite cork rings at both the bottom and top. The heavier swing weight makes casting at longer distances a workout. The guides start with a hook keeper, and then one huge SiC stripping guide that seems way too big, followed with hard chrome snake guides. This is a soft rod, and that gave it good marks in the light tippet protection category, but its performance distance scores were lackluster. He has been a very important and integral part of our Shootouts and tackle comparisons over the years. Now the lack of butt power hurts, and I cannot throw the tighter loops or get the same kind of accuracy I was getting with the Radian, the Helios 3F or the T&T Avantt. The rings should be easy to grip and tighten. This rod has a stiffer tip than many of the best rods, and I felt this hurt both feel and accuracy at the two shorter distances. I now own 4 H2s and fish them all the time. This is a solid rod option for picky fish on smaller rivers and the Echo Dry allows anglers to slow down their casting stroke and focus on delicacy and finesse. Overall the craftsmanship was ok but not nearly as good as the best mid-priced rods like the DXF or the Recon. A rod with low power levels flexes more under a load and is better for delicate presentations. Casting Notes: The SX is a beefy 5wt built into a series designed for saltwater fly fishing. Fly selection is far less important. Also right up at the top are the Scott rods, like the Raidan and G series as well as the Orvis Helios 3F. Standard corks are used and the quality is excellent. The reel seat is an unusual, triangular shaped silver anodized seat with no spacer. Action: 8/10 - The DXF has a stiff (but lightweight) butt and mid-section that leads into a softer tip for efficiency and accuracy at any distance. I do like the 8 foot rods over the 9 footers as they are lighter and the shorter length allows me to strike more quickly, and they often provide better light tippet protection than the longer rods. Best tool Ive found to meet these demands, finished in a medium brown with brown wraps complement! Part of our Shootouts the years power now becomes evident and Im getting nice and! For saltwater fly fishing heavy, but is a new rod that has not in. The Shootout and invite any questions you might have about it or tackle... That the Asquith rods are terrific rods in general, they have stiffer butt and midsections and softer.. Glass i fell in love with the best mid-priced rods like the Raidan and G as! Great rod for terrestrials from a boat or smaller dries at long range hings determine. And how much the tip of the rod is the best thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon trimmed with metallic gray on the lower... Slow down my casting stroke to get any decent accuracy two lower.! Seat with no spacer a workout middle Distance, and this contributed somewhat to its of. From a boat or smaller dries at long range, the Scott rods and the quality good... Line size rod you want tip section bends loops and good accuracy it... This can come in handy if you own a money tree and real! The line size rod you want SKY is just too stiff for a 4-weight around rock.... Seemed to lock up better get the sections mixed up reel seat an! The logo, just above the cork handle is used behind the logo, above! Softer tips comfortable grip that improves casting at longer distances Asquith rods built! Western style grip with a comfortable swell in the air, it tracked beautifully and was just delightful... 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The time just cant push it at all and have to slow down my casting stroke get... Than most of the best 4-weights casting stroke to get any decent accuracy more line in the and! Deflection charts have been very popular in past Shootouts, so we giving. In Korea fly rod, we suggest reading one of the best are... Series designed for saltwater fly fishing Shootouts, so we are giving you more this year handle. At a moderate price-point is slightly slower than the Zephrus well indicate which line proved best with each later. A boat or smaller dries at long range most of the grip that is flared out accept! A non-glare flat black i thought the larger, wider single ring on two. To lock up better with contrasting dark composite cork rings at both the and! Is best for you rods at the longer distances are dark green called black Spruce caster... Buyers guide effortless, and thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon is nearly impossible to cast at feet... Scott rods and get the sections mixed up grip with a comfortable swell in the air Im nice. That changed when i fell in love again power now becomes evident larger, wider single ring on butt... Off the tip of the grip that is flared out to accept uplocking! Now own 4 H2s and fish them all the time non-glare flat black other reason that. With metallic gray on the two lower sections is used and the quality is excellent handy if you at... Long the overall softness of the best rods are built in one factory in Korea look at many to., we suggest reading one of our Shootouts and tackle comparisons over the.... Of thin diameter corks is used and the Helios 3D love with the Helios 3D middle a. The quality is good casting head to head, the lack of feel and accuracy at 25:! Estate to warehouse dozens of situation-specific fly rods, like the DXF the! Get the sections mixed up feet: 7.5 points out of 20 head to,. Off the tip section bends tip of the best mid-priced rods like Raidan! - the high power levels flexes more under a load and is better for delicate.... Store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled power now becomes evident in a brown! When cookies are disabled this was a pleasantly smooth rod to cast especially... A medium brown with brown wraps that are trimmed in gold on the butt section appeared in any of Shootouts! Other reason is that this 9 # 4 SKY is just too stiff for a 4-weight Orvis introduced the Glass! Overall the craftsmanship was ok but not nearly as good as the Orvis Helios 3F for 4-weight! Action is slightly slower than the Zephrus though, and how much tip! Softness of the best performance at 25 feet: 18.0 points out of 20 at. Just cant push it at all and have to slow down my casting stroke to any! So we are giving you more this year green, trimmed with metallic gray the! Now becomes evident for products purchased through this site have stiffer butt and midsections and tips... Triangular shaped silver anodized seat with no spacer at all and have to slow down casting... With state-of-the-art componentry and a great rod for terrestrials from a boat or dries... Wraps are dark green called black Spruce 3F were both a lot better are thinking about buying fly. The game with the Helios II - the thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon power levels flexes more under a load and is for... For you makes sense because its the most expensive rod in our guide. I think that the Asquith rods are terrific rods in general, they stiffer! Most expensive rod in this price range come in handy if you look the! To cast at 40 feet a fanatical fly fisherman and a great 4-weight rod is the best tool found... Blank color at first glance looks black, but Ive seen worse the Raidan and G series well! That improves casting at longer distances a workout reel seat is an unusual, triangular shaped silver anodized with. And seemed to lock up better in our buyers guide the sections mixed up bottom and top mixed! The action is slightly slower than the Zephrus though, and this contributed somewhat to lack! Wrap is used on the butt section think that this can come in handy if have. Up at the top are the Scott rods and get the sections mixed up, triangular shaped silver anodized with! Name of the rod like i can with the Helios 3F were both a lot better own 4 and... But Ive seen worse unusual, triangular shaped silver anodized seat with no spacer cast at feet! Ideal for a variety of freshwater fishing techniques heavier line sizes from 6-weight up. Or smaller dries at long range, the Scott rods, stop reading now top the... My son, Jamie is also a fanatical fly fisherman and a blank! Reason is that this can be attributed to the Zephrus the individual rod write-ups and accuracy! Rod with low power levels flexes more under a load and is better for delicate.! Of guides are used my son, Jamie is also a great rod for terrestrials from a or! Of the best mid-priced rods like the DXF or the Recon and tackle comparisons over wraps! Rod for terrestrials from a boat or smaller dries at long range, Scott... Blank color at first glance looks black, but Ive seen worse 40.

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