DEMYSTIFLY

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Although Waterworks-Lamson is mainly known for their fly reels, they've recently made a solid push into the fly rod realm. Back in 2019, I had the opportunity to test one of their new saltwater-friendly rods, the Standard Seat (SS) 7 weight. That review proved to be quite positive, as the SS impressed with its handsome looks and composed performance. Despite that rod getting a thumbs up from me, the reel seat didn't really stand out in any way. Howev

The reel seat isn't the most crucial aspect of a fly rod to look at, but I now take the design into consideration more than I used to. Out of all the fly rods I've fished over the years, a lot of the reel seats were simply unremarkable. Looks aside, it was the function of these seats that often felt somewhat unrefined and failed to blow me away. I can accept a seat like this on a more value-oriented rod, but I've always thought a pricier stick should utilize something more su

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship I have always viewed Waterworks-Lamson as one of the more innovative—or even daring—companies in fly fishing. Constantly thinking outside the box, their products often push the envelope of design and really set themselves apart from many others on the market. For example, remember the Center Axis integrated rod/reel they introduced a few years back? It doesn't get much more unique than that! The new Litespeed F marks the sixth generation (where has t

There are a lot of important things to look at when it comes time to choose a new fly reel. Stuff like drag type, dimensions, and looks all surely come into play, but weight has always been one of the most critical specs I make note of. If I have a rod that feels like a feather in my hands, choosing a super-lightweight fly reel is a great way to compliment it. When a rod and reel setup feels extremely light for its size, that combo typically becomes one that I REALLY look for

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship What are three of the main aspects you look for in a fly reel? Appearance, drag performance, and weight are likely the big ones, but what about retrieve speed? Just because a reel has a large arbor doesn't automatically mean it has a fast retrieve — a bigger spool diameter gives you that faster rate of retrieve. With a name like Speedster, it was obvious that Waterworks-Lamson built these reels with an emphasis on rapid retrieve rates. Redesigned to

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Fly reels can cost an arm and a leg, but thankfully there are plenty of great options out there at friendlier price points. From my observations, the Guru line of reels from Waterworks-Lamson has seemingly always been an extremely popular series, to say the very least. Recently, these reels were revamped and hit the market in mid-late 2019 now carrying the "Guru S" name. I have zero experience with the last generation of Gurus, but with the new serie

Since our first Force and Purist reels were introduced in 1996, Waterworks-Lamson has set the standard for fly reel design. From the world’s lightest machined reel (Force) to the best value in fully machined reels (Guru) to the best-performing hybrid die cast and machined reel (Liquid), Waterworks-Lamson has consistently pushed the frontiers of design, performance and value. Our new lineup for 2020 takes these standards to a new level. We’ve always believed that form shoul

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Waterworks-Lamson has historically been known best for their popular fly reels, but did you know they now offer fly rods as well? To me, their most innovative and downright polarizing offerings undoubtedly come in the form of the Center-Axis rod/reel setups. Now, what if you like the looks of these rods but aren't necessarily keen to the whole integrated reel thing? The Center-Axis is personally not my cup of tea, but I was glad to see that Waterwork