2019 Championships programs

10 Best Fly Fishing Rod 2018 Reviews

1. G Loomis NRX Lite Presentation Fly Fishing Rods

The G. Loomis NRX LP gave us the best all-around performance in both long and short casting, and has all the features that made us want to give it the first review. Due to its flex tip, it has a medium-action feel, without suffering in higher-end performance.

It’s LP “light performance” label holds true, as we found this rod to give extremely light and smooth casts, while still giving a powerful and sensitive feel to the user.

At a moderate-to-high price range, this is definitely our go-to fly rod.

2. Scott Radian Fly Rod

It’s difficult for any rod to touch the G. Loomis NRX in our opinion, but the Scott Radian takes a very good swing at it. Much like the NRX, it gives an extremely light performance; however, this still gives all the power, control, and variability that a fast-action rod will. While it performs well in saltwater, its ability to catch freshwater trout is its main draw.

This is an all-around great performing rod, and just missed the first-place ranking that the G. Loomis NRX LP holds.

3. Douglas Fly Fishing Rod DXF5904

The Douglas DXF performs extremely well for a moderately low price. While this rod comes in a few different sizes and weights for either saltwater or freshwater fishing, we’d select the 9 foot 6wt rod for maximum performance and variability.

Each rod comes with a unique cork handle for best individual performance. While this is a newer company compared to most of the others on our list, we loved the all-around feel and the great price of Douglas’s DXF.

4. Fenwick AETOS Fly Rods

Listen closely – if you’re in the market for a low-budget fly rod, the Fenwick Aetos is absolutely the rod for you. This rod is sold at budget consumer shops like Walmart, but feels like it could fit right at home mounted in higher-end fishing shops as well (or better yet, out on the water).

The Aetos gives a high fast-action performance, and feels almost as powerful as its high-prices competitors. While it might not last quite as long or be quite as durable as the higher-end rods, it will give you a hell of a ride during its lifetime.

5. Sage ONE Fly Rod and Sage Approach Fly Rod Outfite

We feel that the Sage ONE fly rod is another very good rod on our list. 4-piece, 5wt, and 9 feet long, the Sage One gave us a great performance. This was an extremely fast-action rod, so you want to make sure you’re very experienced before you pick up this rod.

Smooth, medium-fast action Sage Approach Fly Rod w/Lifetime Warranty;Sage 2200 Series Reel with premium sealed drag system;Loaded with Premium RIO Gold WF Floating Line, RIO Dacron Backing, and RIO Tapered Leader;Sage Rod & Reel Case;All outfits from ReelFlyRod.com are shipped properly rigged and ready to fish!

Comparable to the ONE, we’ve also included the Sage Approach Bundle in our list. The Approach is more of a medium-action rod, and already comes with the matching fly line and fly reel for the best performance with this rod.

Best of all, both Sage rods come with a lifetime warranty!

6. Orvis Clearwater Fly Rod Outfit and Orvis Helios 2 Fly Rod

It’s cheating, we know – but we’ve included another two rods, as we love both of these Orvis rods for their intended purposes.

The Helios 2 holds its own with the top performers in our list such as the Scott Radian or G. Loomis NRX LP. It is ultralight (20% less weight from the previous model), but still gives a great fast-action performance.

Unfortunately, this will come with a high sticker price as well. For those looking for a lower price or more of a beginners’ rod, we instead suggest the Clearwater. It is an extremely quality rod while staying at a very low price. The best part is the Clearwater is built from the same design as the Helios 2. For any moderate or amateur angler, the Clearwater will work perfectly, and will still come with Orvis’s great 25-year warranty.

7. Hardy Zephrus FWS Fly Rod

The new upgrade to the award-winning Hardy Zenith, the Hardy Zephrus is a force to be reckoned with. It is a fast-action graphite rod, and performs extremely accurately at both short and long distances.

Depending on your style of fishing, we recommend getting a 4wt 8’6 rod or a 5wt 9′ rod for maximum versatility.

Overall, this rod gives amazing control and performance, and would be a great contender if it were not for the G. Loomis or Scott rods, in our opinion.

8. Redington PATH Fly Rods

Redington’s PATH fly rod comes with a lifetime warranty, but that doesn’t mean you’ll ever have to use it.

The PATH is made from very durable material, and is built for both freshwater and saltwater. It is a medium-fast-action rod, comes with alignment dots to set up very easily, and is an all-around great beginners’ rod.

It comes in a bundle for an extremely low price as well, which means it’s good to go straight from unpacking.

9. St. Croix Legend Elite Freshwater Fly Fishing Rods

The St. Croix Legend Elite is a smooth fly rod with a gorgeous finish, but don’t be fooled – it’s got some power to it as well.

It is a graphite fast-action rod, and comes with both a carrying case and great customer service – a good option should anything go wrong with the rod

10. Winston Boron IIIx Fly Rod

The last fly rod in our list is the Winston Boron IIIX 5wt 9ft. We would recommend going with this length and weight of rod in general, but the Boron IIIX excels at these dimensions specifically.

It is extremely lightweight and fast-action, can be used in both fresh and saltwater, and is made for either long or short casts.

Why are BORON III X rods so often described with superlatives like “remarkable,” “unbelievable” and “extraordinary?” Perhaps because they are, indeed, superlative. Featuring advanced Boron III technology, these incredibly lightweight, powerful, fast action rods are capable of generating very high line speeds and have the widest casting range of any series we make. This makes them ideal for the vast majority of situations an angler may encounter, whether it’s making highly accurate, long distance casts or delicate, precise presentations up close. Cast one today, and experience why we truly believe a Boron III X has no equal. ...