DEMYSTIFLY

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Fly fishing can often conjure up images of softly casting to rising trout on a small mountain stream, or maybe sight-casting to bonefish schools on a slicked-out Bahamian flat. While these picture-perfect scenarios certainly do happen, the reality is that things can be much more demanding. When the wind is blowing, casts are distant, and flies are heavy, the average fly rod can come up short. In these situations, higher performance is welcomed. That'

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Ever wished for just a little more length in your fly rod? Whether added distance, line control, or casting elevation is desired, I'm pretty sure nearly all serious anglers have had this thought more than once. I know I have. A 9-foot fly rod is top dog for good reason—it delivers an ideal blend of castability, portability and control—but sometimes it's just not quite optimal. While a 10-foot fly rod can deliver the right results, in my experience th

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Can you afford an $800 fly rod? For many people, the answer is no. Fishing with a premium high-performance rod is undoubtedly something special, but you can spend a lot less and still get the job done just fine. One example of an "affordable" rod series that is often spoken highly of is the Fenwick Aetos lineup. While I praised the little 3-weight model that I recently tested right here, not every line weight in a particular rod series may be equally

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Just like with conventional rods, fly rods can be crafted with specific purposes in mind. Examples of these would include rods with oversized guides and beefed-up actions for saltwater usage, or rods that are soft and delicate geared towards targeting trout on smaller waters with dry flies. These sticks can be great and all, but many anglers simply want a rod that's made for more generalized usage. This is where the Sage SONIC comes into play. SONIC

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Based on what I see and hear, the Fenwick Aetos seems to be a popular choice thanks to the friendly price tag and solid reviews. Unfortunately, I never got around to actually fishing one of the last versions, but when I heard that a newly-redesigned Aetos series was on the way, I had to pursue getting one out here for some testing. Let's take a look at what should be an extremely fun model to fish...the diminutive 7'0" 3-weight! Pond hopping, anyone?

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship It's no secret that I absolutely love a 5 weight with a fighting butt. In fact, out of all the fly rods out there, I'd have to say this is my favorite size and configuration. For small streamer duty and even very light saltwater action there is simply no other rod that is more enjoyable to use for these tasks. Outside of the custom world, however, there aren't a whole lot of readily-available production rods like this to be had. I was intrigued when

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship It's no surprise that 4-piece fly rods are undoubtedly the most popular. A long fly rod isn't exactly easy to get around with, so chopping it up into several pieces sure makes portability less of a hassle. Although there are many awesome 4-piece rods out there, a rod with fewer pieces can offer some benefits. Less ferrules (joints) means less weight, fewer weak points, less pieces to keep track of, and possibly a little bit better casting performance

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Do you like to be different? In the world of fly rods, a handful of brand names take up a huge amount of market share. There's no doubt that these companies produce some absolutely awesome rods, but some anglers just prefer to step outside the box and fish gear that's much less common. To satisfy this desire for uniqueness, an easy solution is to seek out a custom rod builder. But who to contact? If experience and premium materials matter to you, Lev

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Scott is among those manufacturers at the top of the game when it comes to who builds the best saltwater fly rods. I had some limited experience with their last two premium saltwater lineups—the X2s and the more recent Meridian—and was thoroughly impressed with the feel and performance of each. Although casting those rods was a real treat, Scott is now delivering even more sweetness for us inshore and offshore anglers in the form of their newest Sect

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Back when I was a teenager and living in California, I had a trusty 10-foot 7-weight rod that I used for trout, steelhead, american shad, and even striped bass. That was a stick that saw quite a bit of use, but after selling it over 20 years ago I have stuck with rods measuring 9 feet and less. My move to Florida surely had something to do with that, but long rods can certainly be used anywhere a little extra reach is desired. The Lago rod series is

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Dry fly fishing. It is often a very technical game where finesse and precision can be of utmost importance. When it comes time to choose a rod for this style of fishing, it makes sense that most are made with softer actions that emphasize shorter, more delicate presentations over distance and ultra-fast line speed. Undoubtedly, there are some great choices available out there today which are tailored specifically for the dry fly angler. What sounds m

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Saltwater fly rods differ from their freshwater or more "all around" counterparts in a few different ways. Typically built with more power, faster actions, and larger guide sets, these rods are ideal for tackling wind, big flies, and ultimately big fish. Although built with salt in mind, there's nothing stopping you from using them in freshwater for fish like bass, pike, or salmon...to name a few species. From legendary labels that date back years li

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship I always laugh a little when trout-specific products are sent to me for review. The nearest rainbows and browns live hundreds of miles from here, so for my tests I'm always "stuck" with targeting typical Florida freshwater species like largemouth and peacock bass, or big bluegill. Not that I'm complaining or anything. Redington designed the new TRACE series of rods with trout in mind, but as I just eluded to, that surely doesn't mean they are only sp

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship The Helios 3 rods are Orvis' top-of-the-line offerings, and they are indeed impressive. I've fished the 5D, personally own a 4D, and have great things to say about both. But, that performance comes at a cost, and a premium cost it is indeed. What to do if you can't justify or afford such a lofty price tag, but still have an appetite for strong performance? The new Orvis Recon may be the answer. From what I hear, the last generation of Orvis Recon rod

Intro/Specs/Craftmanship When some anglers think of fly fishing, they usually envision casting small flies to trout in a mountainous river out west. Of course, there's much more to it than that. Lines can get heavy and patterns can grow to sizable proportions. Once you enter this more "extreme" side of fly fishing, a specialized fly rod will make handling things a whole lot easier. Enter the new Sage PAYLOAD series. As the name suggests, each rod is designed to tackle heavier

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Ever since I was a kid, I've had a special affection for 4 weight fly rods. While the 5 weight is undoubtedly the the most popular for freshwater anglers, the feel and fun factor of the 4 has always worked well for me and been more appealing. This size is also far more versatile than some may think, capable of handling dries, nymphs, and even small streamers. North Carolina based Mauser Fly Fishing builds rods with a meticulous, personal touch. If yo

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Delicate presentations. Tiny flies. Small fish. All things that the new R.L. Winston Alpha+ fly rods are NOT geared towards. Nope, these are made for those who love the more extreme side of fly fishing involving meaty flies, heavy lines, and big fish. As a big streamer angler, I can totally relate. This type of fishing puts extra demands on both the angler and tackle, so you had better be using a rod that's up to overcoming the added punishment. Does

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Around a year and a half ago, I had the pleasure of reviewing the Orvis Helios 3D in a 5-weight size. While I typically like to keep our reviews mixed and don't bother testing more than one fly rod from a single series, I made an exception this time. I recently bought a Helios 3D 4-weight for myself and figured it might be interesting to write this rod up to let readers know about any performance differences. Although only one line size separates it

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Moderate-action fly rods may fall short in the popularity department when put up against their fast-action counterparts, but that doesn't mean they can't fill important niches in anglers' arsenals. When delicacy and accuracy are far more important than power and distance, a moderate action can provide a distinct advantage. Dry fly anglers fishing smaller waters are one such group that cherish softer rods for gingerly placing diminutive patterns ahea

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Sage X fly rods are not exactly brand new, having filled the void leftover by the departure of the popular ONE series in 2016. With such big shoes to fill, it appears the X hasn't disappointed Sage fans in the least. Despite these rods being out for around three years now and receiving some serious praise, I had yet to fish one. While reviewing an X had always been in the back of my mind, it wasn't until I received word of a new Special Edition X ser