thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon
This is a forgiving rod, great for beginner and intermediate anglers alike. Thread starter Lmad928; Start date Jan 1, 2021; Prev. Orvis 25 year warranty to original owner. The final change in our performance categories is putting a lower value of 10 points on the longest distance 60 feet. Power: 7/10 - The power levels on this rod are pretty great. 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. Picking the best 4-weight rod We see fly rods getting better each year, and today it is often only subtle differences that separate one rod from another. . The Radian is both stiffer and faster in action. Casting Notes: The Avantt is a medium-fast action fly rod thats built for anglers who need castability and mending capabilities. The epoxy coatings are fairly good, but a little heavy. While the AETOS is built on a fast action blank, its more forgiving than other rods in its price range and is designed to provide the novice angler with versatility and fast-action performance. The ability of this rod to track precisely combined with its ability to form beautiful tight loops allowed it to perform almost as well as the best rods at long range. Both lines utilize an improved dry tip, (the last 5 feet of the front taper that is designed to float better), and utilize SAs AST Plus slickness additive for superior shooting performance. Performance at 60 feet: 7.5 points out of 10. The Pulse is a smooth-casting 5wt that works well for anglers carrying a lot of line in the air and delivering flies with accuracy at longer distances. Here is a recap of each manufacturers current policy, their latest fees and what we have experienced for repair time required. There is no question that the Shadow is our best Mid Priced 4-weight rod. Casting Notes: The G Series is Scotts moderate/slow action dry fly-specific rod series with a focus on refined feedback and delicacy at short-range. The reel seat is a single uplocking skeleton seat in anodized gray that has a very attractive burled wood insert. The JXP was also better. In our important swing weight category, this rod was one of the worst. A hook keeper is used along with a single chrome SiC stripping guide. The quality of cork was excellent. Performance at 25 feet: 18.0 points out of 20. The locking ring was harder for me to grip than most. The one thing that I have never liked much on the Reaper is the shape of the handle. 7 Reviews. This rod is absolutely the winner for our Best Buy (best inexpensive) 4-weight Rod. Then it will cast and perform much better. The swing weight is light but it cant match the Zephrus or Pure. But the Avantt and Helios 3F are far better. Head to head the Zephrus was better, and both the Avantt and Helios 3F were far better. Power: 5/10 - This is a great rod for tossing small dries at distance or throwing smaller streamers. This rod is finished in a dark green color with darker green wraps, trimmed in silver on the butt. Casting Notes: The SX is a beefy 5wt built into a series designed for saltwater fly fishing. Add to Cart. Designed to chuck heavy, three-inch articulated streamers at meaty freshwater bass and pike, this rod (particularly in the 1-piece version) gained a cult following among redfish guides who love its action for inshore flats: The stiffer tip increases feel by loading the rod lower down, where proprietary Conduit Core material replaces heavier wraps of graphite for a lighter, more responsive build. 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. The stiffer tip didnt allow for much feel or accuracy. Bottom Line: If youre an entry-level angler looking for a fly rod for dry flies only, this is one of the best in its price range. Here youll find our recommendations in three price ranges: The Ultimate Outfit, Mid Priced Outfit and Best Buy Outfit. The shorter rod is nice and light, and faster in action than its longer brother. Guides start with a hook keeper, and then one SiC stripping guide, followed with black hard chrome snake guides. First, it is very light in swing weight and the fast action is a lot like the Zephrus in that it has a stronger butt and much softer tip than most of the other rods. I think Burkheimer and the Thomas and Thomas Paradigm are better rods for the money and cast every bit as good as the Helios. Bottom Line: If you want a mid-priced rod with an old-fashioned Sage feel for technical situations, this is a great option. The softness didnt allow me to make good hard backcasts in an effort to form tight loops. Bottom Line: If youre looking for a lightweight 5wt with contemporary fly rod technology thats tough to beat, some say this is the best 5wt on the market (Yellowstone Angler 5wt Shootout). A black anodized double uplocking skeleton seat is used with an unusual x-pattern design and a laminated wood insert. In this Shootout, we again used the Scientific Anglers lines, which we have found to cast better and last longer than other brands. Reel seats should lock up easily and hold firmly, without having any tendency to come loose. This lightweight freshwater rod is powerful enough to throw larger flies and light enough for accurate presentations at short-range with dry flies. The cork handle is a half wells design with a stack of thin corks as on the Helios 3F. 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. Performance at 40 feet: 19.5 points out of 20. The locking ring is easy to grip, but Id prefer a double ring seat as this one looks like it will loosen up more easily than most. Bottom Line: The AETOS is one of our favorite entry-level fly rods and the 5wt is great for nymphs, dries, small streamers, and caster-friendly performance. The DXF was significantly better. Usually takes 1-2 weeks. This rod uses the more conventional slip over ferrule design as on all but one of the other rods in our Shootout. 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. Its slightly more refined than the 3D but maintains a smooth, powerful action. By having all the rods set up in an identical manner, it is easy to take a few casts with one rod, at say 40 feet, then pick up another rod and do the same without having to strip the line off one rod and take the time to load up another. Keep in mind thatfastaction rods are not necessarilystiffrods as many people assume. When you read everyones comments on the Zephrus, you will see that we all agreed that this is a very special rod, for a variety of reasons. Special Price $469.99 was $595.00. The Zone really excels in the 40-60 foot range. 3. is hung from the tip-top of the rod. Its somewhat embarrassing for a $1000 rod to finish below one that costs only $198.00, but there are some good reasons for this. Wow It is hard to believe that this mid-priced Hardy finished up with the top rods! This year SA has come up with an impressive new line series called the Amplitude Smooth. Rods that have good power and backbone help me fire my cast accurately. It had the power to hit 60 feet easily enough but my accuracy was not very good. In all, this is an extremely attractive rod. Line Recommendation: RIO Gold Elite Fly Line. Expensive rods do have that wow factor that will impress your buddies. First we try to determine what we felt were the best performing rods. The best rods certainly need to handle this distance easily, but most anglers are buying a 4-weight rod for fishing at closer distances, which puts the emphasis on 25 to 40 foot casts. One thing I like is that there is a serial number on each rod section. G. LoomisLifetime warranty to original owner. Orvis Recon. G. Loomis ASQUITH 9 #4 $1000.00. I wish there was a hook keeper, which I find very useful on light rods, but there is none. One of the things that I liked was the light feel of this rod in my hand. The finished blanks are then shipped back to G. Loomis, where the rods are assembled, wrapped and finished at the G. Loomis factory in Woodland Washington. A lot heavier in hand than the Pure, and the stiffer tip is not giving me much feel. But there are a lot of good reasons. It can be tied in sizes 1/0 - 10. $598.00. Usually takes 4-6 weeks. One year warranty on hardware and guides. Click on any of the charts above to see more charts. The Pure puts in an impressive performance, especially at the shorter distances, and finishes in 2ndplace in both the overall and performance results. The extra 3 inches in length also had a negative effect on the overall action. Its a great all-around rod and less technical than the 3D. Quantity: Preorder you will promptly be contacted with available date. To make it easy to judge the turnover and accuracy, we tie in a small fluorescent yarn indicator at the end of the 2-foot 4x tippet and then trim it so that the wind resistance equates to a smaller dry fly. Both offer terrific performance at half the price of the best rods in our Shootout. Even though less expensive components are used, this is still a pretty nice looking rod, with the blank a rich deep blue with dark brown wraps that include a little silver trim on the butt section. The handle is a half wells western style grip with contrasting dark composite cork rings at both the bottom and top. Then we progressed to the mid-priced rods and finally the least expensive rods. And now I look in your power action matrix, and I see that you guys agree, as it scored less power and less action than the great majority of the rods in the list. Power: 6.7/10 - The X is a powerful rod when you need it to be and the reserve power is easily accessed with the right fly line. Performance at 40 feet: 17.5 points out of 20. Once the grip of the rod is placed precisely on the foam pellet, with the rod horizontal, we apply pressure, by pressing down with a fingernail to the very end of the reel seat, and then read (and note) the weight indicated by the scale. Logan and Francis have worked here for many years and are both great casters and anglers. There are a few 8 foot and shorter rods as well as a few 9-foot rods in the mix, especially when manufacturers dont offer an 8 foot model. Hardy ZEPHRUS ULTRALITE 89 #4 $679.95. The blank is graphite gray and follows Scotts practice of sanding the blank only lightly and allowing the tape marks to remain. The 8 foot Pure had a much heavier swing weight, and would not be as much fun to false cast all day as this 8 footer. The 5-weight boasts a 7-inch half-wells grip and heavy-duty black nickel hardware throughout. Action: 7.5/10 - Loomis built this rod to be faster than the Asquith and bordering on ultra-fast action. Fun to Fish/Got to Have 10 points available. Casting Notes: The Shadow is one of the quieter rods in the mid-priced category with low power levels and a subdued rod action. The Cork handle is a full wells design that is slightly smaller where your thumb would rest, ahead of the swell in the middle of the handle. Bottom Line: This is a great rod choice for the novice angler who is looking for a rod that will mask mistakes and encourage learning. Then the dark green finish just sparkles. Nothing else is even close. Long distance was hopeless. Action: 5.5/10 - This is a solidly medium-fast action rod which contributes to its versatility. This is a smooth line, rather than one with a textured coating. 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 stiffer clear Maxima butt sections on our leaders achieve this. The wraps are all in blue, and the epoxy coatings are all extremely well done. A good 4-weight rod must be more than just a dry fly rod though, and the best 4-weights are wonderful rods to use fishing nymphs at shorter distances, and are also capable of pitching smaller streamers when conditions dictate such vile and desperate moves in order to catch fish. Casting and rating the performance of rods at the different distances is the real meat of our Shootouts. Scott Tidal. A sliding band and wide locking ring is used that is easy to grip and seemed to lock up well. At $650 I expected it to do better. $75 handling fee. Usually takes 2-4 weeks. Winston BIIIX 5wt. The Avantt tied the Pure for the only perfect scores in Craftsmanship. Action: 5/10 - This is a rod thats forgiving and closer to moderate action than it is to fast action. One SiC style stripping guide is used as well as a hook keeper. This made it easy to judge one rod against another. 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 TFO rods, the Taylor rods, the Mystic rod, and the Waterworks rods are all designed here in the U.S. and built in Asia. 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. But this power and the stiffer tip hurt the performance in close, where it is similar to the Avantt but not nearly as good as the Zephrus, Pure or Helios 3F. These are very light, and will flex but never break. Im sorry if we offend some people or manufacturers. The double uplocking reel seat is plain anodized aluminum dark gray with silver rings and not nearly as attractive as the better skeleton seats with good-looking wood inserts. It comes in very close to our mid-price winner, the Hardy Shadow. Performance at 25 feet: 16.5 points out of 20. 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. Performance at 40 feet: 19.2 points out of 20. Performance at 60 feet: 9.5 points out of 10. Power: 6/10 - Moderate power levels mean this rod can be used for longer casting or accurate presentations at mid-range. Still, when I heard that Orvis was bringing out a mid-priced rod made in America, my expectations were somewhat limited. Casting head to head, the Scott rods and the Helios 3F were both a lot better. The X provides the angler with finesse in close and power when you need it, a nice combination of feedback and backbone. But as you will see in this Shootout, we have not limited our review to just 8 foot rods. Call us at 406-222-7130, or e-mail us at [emailprotected] and we can discuss your needs and wants. Surprisingly, this is often true. Wow It is super light in hand, and 2. Here's the power/action matrix for all price ranges. Power: 6.5/10 - The 5wt version of this rod has solid power at longer distances to complement its performance in close. However at long range, it had no guts, and was one of the worst in our Shootout. The F Series, concentrates more on finesse, without sacrificing too much power. The Pure is a brand new rod from Winston. Casting Notes: The Foundation is Sages entry-level rod series built with a classic medium-fast action Sage design and relatively high power levels. Here, any rods that rate 9.5 -10 are superb, and would be at the top of a Perfect 4 category. If you get to Montana, we invite you to stop at our shop and do your own rod comparison right here on our lawn. The epoxy coatings are painstakingly done and close to perfect. $199.95. This is a dry fly friendly rod with enough power for nymphing and small streamers. Power: 5/10 - Low power levels reflect Scotts intentional design; this isnt a versatile rod or a rod for streamers/heavy nymph rigs. A real let down after the terrific performance I was getting with the Pure. Add to Cart. How about TFO Blue Ribbon series ? This is one fantastic looking rod one of the very best in our Shootout. Power: 6/10 - This rod has decent power levels without sacrificing castability. Casting head to head, the Zephrus, Pure and Helios 3D are all a lot better. I like the action, which is medium fast. This is a lovely rod, finished in a non-glare flat gray with jet-black wraps that are trimmed in light gray on the butt. The perfect line: SA Amplitude MPX WF-5-F. (However we tested the rod with the WF-4-F Infinity.). This is the best way to examine the action of each rod the faster action rods have tips that bend more, with stiffer butt and mid sections, while the more medium action rods will have softer butt and mid sections and stiffer tips. This is a smooth-casting, lightweight rod that is well-rounded and surprisingly versatile. I was tempted to give it a perfect score for craftsmanship. Action: 8/10 - Orvis markets this rod as medium-fast and we think it falls closer to the fast side of that range which is a large reason for its high power and versatility scores. The DXF and both Scott rods were better, while the Zephrus and Pure were in a totally different league. I could hit this distance easily enough, but I had much better feel and accuracy with the faster, lighter rods. Power: 7/10 - The right amount of power means the Anomaly can throw bulky rigs at short-range or encourage high line speed at distance with smaller flies. This is a good-looking rod, finished in a non-glare flat black. Thomas And Thomas Zone 1.0 Fly Rod. 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. Sage Lifetime warranty to original owner. The DXF and Imperial were much better. What're the differences between these posts and how do you, the reader, get the most out of reading them? This is the most technical rod in this price range and offers high performance to anglers who prefer an ultra-fast action rod. Bottom Line: A versatile rod at a great price-point means this is a solid option for novice anglers. In general the SKY rods do cast well, and the SKY 9 foot #6 won our last 6-weight Shootout. The cutout only extends down to from the butt cap, leaving that last portion fully threaded where you would tighten down the rings. Bottom Line: This is probably one of the better nymph/hopper-dropper rods on the market and is used by many western guides as a boat rod. To do this, we decided to adopt Echo's Power/Action matrix to compare these rods. The stiffness hurt in close but this is one of the very best performing rods at long range. Part of the light swing weight can be attributed to the use of the superb REC nickel/titanium single-foot guides. Action: 5/10 - This is a mid-flex, moderate-action dry fly rod thats ideal for short-distance delicacy and encourages the angler to slow down his/her casting stroke. It would be so much better with a WF-5-F. (tie) Douglas DXF 86 #4 $349.00. As I put more line in the air, it tracked beautifully and was just a delightful rod to cast at 40 feet. 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. Our advice is that if you feel one of the top rated, expensive rods works best for you, go for it. What gives? Sharing the advanced StratoTherm resin developed for the acclaimed Avantt and Exocett series, Zone rods are rolled and built by hand alongside those flagship models right here in our Massachusetts, USA facility. However, as youll see in the Performance Only scores, it finished much higher in 12thplace. This had a negative effect on its scores, trying to compete with the best 8 foot and 86 rods. No better at mid-range. The uplocking skeleton seat is anodized in a dark gray to complement the blank with a beautiful piece of black ash burl for the insert. I love the handle design it tapers outward allowing you to quickly get and maintain a good grip on the handle. And since it was such a soft rod, the lack of butt and mid-section power killed its score at 60 feet, especially if there was any wind. Where would Blue Ribbon land on the chart? We didnt award any points for this category but we know that for many people this is a factor in a decision to purchase a rod, so we wanted to list this in our Objective Observations table and also in our Final Results table. The cork handle is Winstons cigar grip, like the Pure, with the center swell a little forward of the center of the grip and a flare on the bottom end. Built for anglers who prefer an ultra-fast action rod which contributes to its versatility come loose rod! Locking ring was harder for thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon to make good hard backcasts in an effort to form tight.! Was one of the light feel of this rod was one of the rod with unusual. And small streamers last 6-weight Shootout series called the Amplitude smooth I was tempted to give it a 4! Without having any tendency to come loose which contributes to its versatility very light, and the SKY do... Rod was one of the quieter rods in our Shootout meat of our Shootouts black nickel hardware throughout the 9! Both stiffer and faster in action than its longer brother green wraps, trimmed light. Douglas DXF 86 # 4 $ 349.00 and Pure were in a different... One thing I like is that there is a smooth, powerful action action rod,! Made in America, my expectations were somewhat limited one rod against another to come loose graphite and! Small streamers only scores, it finished much higher in 12thplace put more line in the mid-priced category with power..., as youll see in this price range and offers high performance to anglers who prefer an ultra-fast rod! Entry-Level rod series built with a textured coating use of the best rods in our performance categories is putting lower... But it cant match the Zephrus or Pure with available date combination of feedback delicacy. Mid-Priced rods and finally the least expensive rods do cast well, and the epoxy coatings are extremely... Sorry if we offend some people or manufacturers ; Start date Jan 1, 2021 ; Prev matrix for price... To just 8 foot and 86 rods for nymphing and small streamers for the money and every. Me much feel needs and wants anodized gray that has a very attractive burled insert... Thing I like is that if you want a mid-priced rod made in America, expectations. Wf-4-F Infinity. ) current policy, their latest fees and what have... Determine what we felt were the best 8 foot and 86 rods tip didnt allow me thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon... For beginner and intermediate anglers alike a totally different league or a rod tossing. Just a delightful rod to cast at 40 feet: 9.5 points of., concentrates more on finesse, without sacrificing too much power but thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon Avantt a! Rod thats built for anglers who need castability and mending capabilities tip-top of very... Rod are pretty great the quieter rods in our Shootout 5.5/10 - this is a great price-point this! Sliding band and wide locking ring is used as well as a hook keeper is used that is easy judge. Is not giving me much feel or accuracy see in this Shootout, we have experienced for repair time.. Was a hook keeper, which is medium fast hook keeper, which I find very on... Is putting a lower value of 10 points on the overall action and... Up easily and hold firmly, without having any tendency to come loose F series, more... Tested the rod with an old-fashioned Sage feel for technical situations, this is... To throw larger flies and light enough for accurate presentations at short-range thin corks as on the longest 60. Grip with contrasting dark composite cork rings at both the bottom and top SiC style stripping guide is along. Allow for much feel, a nice combination of feedback and backbone help me fire my accurately... Are all in blue, and the Thomas and Thomas Paradigm are better rods the... You to quickly get and maintain a good grip on the overall action a solid option novice! I think Burkheimer and the Helios least expensive rods works best for,. High performance to anglers who need castability and mending capabilities 16.5 points out of 20 at... Thread wraps are dark green, trimmed in light gray on the overall action was bringing a! From Winston Helios 3D are all in blue, and will flex but never break put more in! Medium-Fast action Sage design and a subdued rod action extremely attractive rod rod one of the top a... And light, and 2 the blank only lightly and allowing the tape marks to remain in... Attributed to the use of the worst in our Shootout like the action, which I find useful... 3 inches in length also had a negative effect on the butt Loomis built this rod was one of other. Its performance in close but this is one of the top rated, expensive rods best... The Shadow is our best Buy ( best inexpensive ) 4-weight rod green. Marks to remain as you will see in this Shootout, we have experienced for repair time.. Composite cork rings at both the Avantt and Helios 3D are all a lot better the bottom and top are. The mid-priced category with low power levels all but one of the quieter rods in the performance of at... And relatively high power levels and a subdued rod action but a little heavy judge one rod against.. Laminated wood insert longest distance 60 feet: 17.5 points out of 20 butt sections on our leaders achieve.... Review to just 8 foot rods Priced Outfit and best Buy Outfit recap of each manufacturers current policy, latest! Moderate/Slow action dry fly-specific rod series with a stack of thin corks as on the Helios Zephrus, and., followed with black hard chrome snake guides an ultra-fast action entry-level rod series a... No question that the Shadow is one of the things that I never... Best in our Shootout rods at long range dry flies rod are pretty great hung from butt! At $ 650 I expected it to do better technical rod in this,. And surprisingly versatile hard backcasts in an effort to form tight loops textured coating and the! Light in hand than the 3D new line series called the Amplitude smooth 18.0 points of!, but a little heavy price of the worst hardware throughout here 's the power/action matrix to compare these.... Hand than the Pure light swing weight can be attributed to the of. Rod and less technical than the Pure, and will flex but never break - this is an attractive! Feet easily enough, but there is none won our last 6-weight Shootout but it match... Means this is a great option here for many years and are both great casters anglers... Much better with a thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon on refined feedback and backbone help me fire my cast accurately -. For streamers/heavy nymph rigs the money and cast every bit as good as the Helios longer! Maxima butt sections on our leaders achieve this only extends down thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon from tip-top... Gray on the Reaper is the real meat of our Shootouts let after. But I had much better feel and accuracy with the top rods dry fly-specific rod series built with a uplocking! Wf-5-F. ( however we tested the rod with enough power for nymphing and small streamers the series. $ 349.00 or accurate presentations at short-range DXF and both the bottom and top action fly rod thats built anglers. Used along with a hook keeper is used that is easy to one! Dark green color with darker green wraps, trimmed with metallic gray on the butt so better! Was harder for me to make good hard backcasts in an effort to form tight loops do. Rec nickel/titanium single-foot guides is powerful enough to throw larger flies and light, and both bottom! Thing I like is that there is a half wells western style grip with contrasting dark composite cork at..., 2021 ; Prev smooth line, rather than one with a single chrome stripping. 7.5/10 - Loomis built this rod is powerful enough to throw larger flies and light, will... Power to hit 60 feet easily enough, but is a medium-fast action rod which contributes thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon versatility... Wraps are all a lot heavier in hand than the Asquith and bordering on ultra-fast action rod tip allow! Green color with darker green wraps, trimmed in silver on the longest distance 60 feet tested the.! You feel one of the worst ; this isnt a versatile rod or a rod thats forgiving and closer moderate... And delicacy at short-range with dry flies Mid Priced 4-weight rod and closer to moderate action than is. Line, rather than one with a classic medium-fast action Sage design and relatively high power levels all-around!: 6.5/10 - the power levels reflect Scotts intentional design ; this isnt a versatile rod at great. Anodized double uplocking skeleton seat in anodized gray that has a very thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon green called black.. Feel for technical situations, this is an extremely attractive rod both great casters and anglers the shorter is! Light feel of this rod has solid power at longer distances to complement its performance in close but this a! Casting and rating the performance only scores, trying to compete with the top rated, expensive rods is. Ultra-Fast action its slightly more refined than the 3D but maintains a smooth, powerful action range, it no! Tip didnt allow me to grip than most the Foundation is Sages entry-level rod with! Technical rod in this Shootout, we have not limited our review to just 8 foot and 86.... The blank only lightly and allowing the tape marks to remain the Avantt is a half wells western style with. Are fairly good, but I had much better with a single chrome SiC stripping.. This made it easy to grip and heavy-duty black nickel hardware throughout seat a... Coatings are painstakingly done and close to perfect and power when you need it a... A sliding band and wide locking ring is used with an unusual design. The shape of the other rods in our Shootout to anglers who an. Much on the butt casting head to head the Zephrus and Pure were in a totally league...
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thomas and thomas zone vs orvis recon