We recommend the Sage X Fly Rod (available at Amazon). You can add a kit of 4 weights (2 of 5g and 2 of 10g), in order to balance the rod, whatever the reel you use. Rather than have this many rods in the total write up, we decided to hone in on the ten best 6-weight rods, along with what we felt was the best mid-priced rod, and the best inexpensive rod. The wraps are dark brown, with gunmetal trim wraps on the butt. Looking for a 10 wt - The North American Fly Fishing Forum A nice blend of both power and feel. Having the difference in colors between the head and running line allows you to judge how much line you have out of the rod in the air, and when casting longer distances using a double haul. On this 6-weight NRX+ Loomis uses a small inch fighting butt with a rubber cork cap. The grey aluminium reel seat has a bottle green insert, the shape of the handle stays the same as the MX. The most reactive rod is the JMC Pure Equipe with 80 cpm, its ERN is 3.72 which makes it a #3/4 and explains its good ranking. Rods that were $795 got an 8.3, while rods at $895 were an 8.0. The perfect lines: SA Amplitude MPX (best all around) or the SA Anadro/Nymph (nymph and streamer fishing), both in WF-6-F. If youd like to read more about the other 30 rods tested, we have prepared a PDF describing each rods action, performance and components. A fast action helps cast through stiff wind but For its SX series, Maxia changes the yellow wraps of the MX and goes green ! You can check the current price on Amazon here. It has a Sage lifetime warranty. So if you like what we are doing, and found this 6-Weight Shootout helpful, the best way to thank us is to buy a rod, reel, or outfit from the Yellowstone Angler. This Contact series is built with a dark gray blank, the trims and wraps are brown olive, very pragmatic and change from the usual black. To determine the top ten, we selected the rods that performed best at a combination of 30, 50 and 75 feet. And a big part of accuracy is the feel you get through the handle that gives you the confidence to put the fly where you want it. As in our past Shootouts, we know how important it is to make an effort to eliminate any variables. Dark blue wraps with 12 guides including 11 recoil single leg. This Abel fly reel should provide a lifetime of performance. Not particularly responsive for small fish and fast action fishing. For Orvis Helios 3F 9 #6 $949.00. Before you purchase any rod, check the manufacturers for updates to warranty policies as these are occasionally revised. I like everything Hardy has done with this rod and was impressed with it when Howard Croston, Hardys head rod designer, brought it by our shop last fall so that we could to try it out. What We Think Is The Best 10 Weight Fly Rod, 4. $60 handling fee. Its also nice to look down at your rod and reel and appreciate the craftsmanship and function of one of the very best rods. Broken sections are replaced. It is followed by the Echo Shadow X (7.8/10). This rod has done well for us in past Shootouts. In upgrading the NRX rods, Steve utilized a blend of three things:Mega Modulus+ Graphite, GL8 Resin, and Multi-Taper Design. The rods stiffness hurts the feel a bit in close and Im not getting the kind of feel or accuracy that I had with the Sky G. Im able to form nice loops with ease, and the rod tracks well. Once you get your new rod or outfit, do some casting on the lawn, and if you feel it is not just what you want, (and has not been fished), well allow you to return it to us for a full refund, less the shipping charges. Fly Best 10' 3wt fly rods comparative review | Trout & Co The perfect line: Scientific Anglers Amplitude MPX in WF-6-F, Extremely light in hand, and super accurate. Youll find these on our Yellowstone Angler home page at yellowstoneangler.com. In order to refine our conclusions, we decided not to publish all our notes and scores on these other 30 rods, but if you want more info on these rods, just call us or e-mail us and well be happy to provide this information. Complementary dark green wraps are used, and coated perfectly with multiple coats of epoxy. Keys of green, signatures of theNymphmaniac series,singularize the product, especially at the level of inscriptions on the first pieceand wraps of the joints. If you are using your 6-weight for a lot of dry fly fishing, then stick to the Amplitude MPX, but if your 6-weight is going to be a nymph fishing workhorse for you, consider the Anadro line instead. It also comes with a full wells grip, a unique taper, and a strong butt section. We would have liked to see T&T use the flexible nickel/titanium snake guides, similar to the ones Loomis uses on their Asquith. In looking at our deflection charts you can see that the Centric is slightly slower in action than the G.Loomis rods and the Sky G. It also has a softer mid-section than the Loomis rods, the Sky G and the Hardy Ultralite. At short distance, the softer tip gave me good feel and accuracy. Some of the lighter action 6-weights however, dont have this capability. Echos excellent Carbon XL at $169.00 put in a solid performance, to beat the re-designed Fenwick Aetos, as our pick for the best inexpensive 6-weight rod. This kind of rod gives you a perfect control of the drift but also enough reactivity for dry fly fishing. This year we had to put off our casting until January, in order to get all the newly released rods from the manufacturers. Even better than the Ultralite at mid-distance. If you want the best, youll likely be looking at spending $795.00 or more. But at long range, the Centric couldnt match the kind of power I was getting from both the G.Loomis Asquith and NRX+. Check this out on our deflection chart, and youll see that the Ultralite has about as much power in the mid-section as the Asquith and NRX+. This actually hurts the rods swing weight. Eliminating the biggest variable the Livingston wind! The Vesper series is $55 per section.You are sent the part within 5 business days with free 2-Day shipping. We decided to use slightly longer distances for the performance evaluations for these 6-weight rods 30 feet, 50 feet and 75 feet. Ill usually start out at our middle distance, 50 feet, to get the feel of each rod at a distance Im fishing most of the time with a 6-weight. 5. This is a handsome rod with the same superb craftsmanship that we have come to expect from T & T over the years. They use multiple coatings, carefully applied. And the swing weight was lighter than anything other than the Sky G and Asquith! Their actions are similar, of a moderate fast type, ideal for Euro nymphing. Performance distances for the 6-weight rods. A 10wt is when you start fly fishing with a 2x4, my suggestion is to get the lightest 10wt u can. This is a 9 foot long rod, which is pretty standard. Dont let the price slow you down. The Centric handle is a full wells shape, and like their previous Radian, the swell is quite a bit forward of the middle of the handle. These cutting edge Centric rods are the most efficient rods that Jim Bartschi has ever created. Most manufacturers are now using one-coat epoxy coatings over the guide wraps, but if they are not very carefully applied, they can be sloppy and this adds unnecessary weight. Although the Avantt is not a new rod, we felt it was a better 6-weight rod than their new Paradigm, which is much softer and slower in action. If you look at our Objective Observations chart, the swing weight for the SKY G was only 8.0 oz., far less than even the extremely light Asquith at 8.4 oz., and the NRX+ at 8.7 oz. Contrasting rubber/cork rings are used both at the top and bottom of the grip that provide increased durability. Guides start out with a hook keeper ahead of the cork handle, followed with one of the new titanium frame guides that has a very thin SIC ring. Regarding the reel seats, the Echo Shadow X, the Baetis Precision 2.0 and the Sage ESN HD have a down locking type model (screwing down), which shifts the reel towards the butt and therefore promotes balance from the whole combo. The handle on the 3D is a larger full wells design with a slightly larger swell in the middle and a flare at both top and bottom. It is indicative of the fishing capacity in dry fly (the higher the frequency, the more the rod will cast efficiently). WebThis shootout is designed to help anglers better understand fly lines, when to use which line, and which lines are the best in different angling scenarios. Fly selection is far less important. Scott Sector Fly Rod Series Review: Model-by-Model more infoWhen you are starting out a combo is quite a good way to go for getting started, I was surprised at the amount of the amount of different Fishtackly.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites. Only the inexpensive Echo Carbon XL uses one of the pre-formed cork grips that exhibits a lot of filler. Certainly enough power to go long, and as good as the Helios 3F, but didnt have the guts to match the more powerful rods like the Centric, Avantt or the Loomis rods. Seeking options for 9 or 10 wt fly rod | The North American Fly For those of you that want to use your 6-weight in saltwater, especially for bonefish, youll need that much backing. People like these for nostalgia and because they look very nice, although the least user friendly of the 3 main kinds. They are also some of the best dampened rods weve cast, one of the reasons they are such smooth casting rods. to Choose the Best Fly Reel for Salmon Loomis gets the perfect score of 10 for the NRX+, as does Douglas and Echo for their less expensive replacement charges and quick turnaround. Fellows like Steve Rajeff (G. Loomis),Howard Croston (Hardy), and Fred Contaoi at Douglas are guys Ive spent time fishing with on small streams, and big rivers. Special mention for the Airflo and the Nymphmaniac whose prices are much lower than the other references and which nevertheless rise at the first places of the podium in the "rod with up-locking reel seat" category. Its a great back up rod for pros, but also one that beginners will like. Well, the lower the weight class of the rod, the smaller and thinner the line it can handle. To obtain this kind of finish, multiple coatings are the key, and no manufacturer does this better than T&T. This model has a relatively large number of guidesaccording to its size (13 guides with olive wraps), the penultimate of which is snake guide, so as to limit the tangle of leaderaround the tipwhen euro-nymphing (with a long tippet leader). Take one look at the thread wraps and their finish on the Avantt and youll see the ultimate in perfection. The rods that had the most power and handled the long distance exceptionally well were the Loomis Asquith and NRX+, with both getting a perfect score. As one of the best younger, upcoming guides in Montana he is very passionate and knowledgeable about fly-fishing and has put a lot of time on the water. WebSimilar to our 5wt line shootout, we chose two different 8wt fly rods to cast these lines with. Usually takes 4 weeks. The shorter the rod is, the more maneuverable it is, thus allowing for casting out of cover, plus this is good for short distance casting too. In terms of the cosmetics, Ill admit that Im not a fan of the 5 inches of white ahead of the cork grip, containing the Orvis logo, but this has become a trademark now, and these rods really jump out at you (for better or worse) on the rod rack or stream. Here is one rod that really combines impressive power with smooth, tight loops. In the sunlight, the dark green finish just sparkles! All the rods rated 9.8 or better here are ones that we feel are really outstanding, and were convinced you will be delighted with any of them. *Note: The Sky G Salt could have been included in our top ten, however it is essentially the same rod as the Sky G except for its larger cork with a fighting butt and saltwater guides. If you are getting one of the Ultimate 6-weight outfits, well throw in a SA Mastery MPX line for free (a $79.95 value). (Answered). They will allow you to cast lighter nymphs than the rod in the next category. #1 Douglas Outdoors SKY G 9 #6 $795.00. These trims are near the fittings and the first guide. Now I was getting smooth, tight loops with excellent feel and accuracy. Fun to Fish/Got to Have 10 points available. The GR80 blank has a first SIC guidefollowed by 10 single leg. Hardy uses a half wells, cigar shaped handle with standard sized, extremely high quality cork rings, as we have come to expect from Hardy. Removing the spool on the Galvan reels is easy just a simple click of the spool release button on the handle side. This is one of the most accurate rods I've ever fished with. In my casting, the Sonic actually outscored the Sage X, to make it into our top ten best 6-weights. They can be light or heavy too, they are popular as they are usually lighter than most other rods, they have accurate and far casting abilities, and they are very sensitive too. The best fly rods are not always the most expensive. The fighting butt is 7/8 of an inch long and tapers out to 1 and inch. They are dealt a wide variety of environments to accommodate, have to manage larger fish on average than freshwater endeavors, get punished with corroding/damaging salt, and still need to find the balance between powerful, accurate, and responsive. The Best Fly Rods of 2023 | Field & Stream No surprise at this level, the logic is respected : In terms of manufacturing, if we measure the distance between the first guideand the handle, the rods that allow optimal use in nymphing (first guide located less than 15.5"from the handle) are only 4 : the Airflo Euro Nymph, the Echo Shadow X, the JMC Pure Equipe and the Maxia SX. For most of the fishing we do with a 6-weight rod a 9 foot leader is the best choice, often with a 3X or 4X tippet. Asquith rods are extremely tough, due to their construction, and we very rarely see one broken. Moonshine All rods have a lifetimewarranty to the original owner. This 10wt was similar, in some ways, to the Sage X 10wt - progressive action, high performance, caster friendly, versatile, and capable of accurately presenting flies, especially at shorter distances not a technical ultra-fast rod but a friendly combination of power and castability. He has been a very important and integral part of our Shootouts and tackle comparisons over the years. Soldarini Hydropsyche Elite competition 10' #3, Review : Diamondback Ideal Nymph 10'10" 2wt, Review : Thomas & Thomas Contact II 10'9 #2, Review : Thomas & Thomas Contact II 10'9 4wt and 11'2 3wt, Andrew Wading Boots Review : Creek and Fly, Fishing modern dry dropper methods (tandem flies). In George Daniels excellent book, Strip-Set, George says that he now only brings one rod to the A lot of anglers love to use a 5-weight as their all-around rod, but a 6-weight can make more sense in a lot of circumstances. Fly Rod A thin nylon washer is used between the ring and hood to secure a very positive lock up. We have found that to obtain accurate measurements, all this must be done the same day, at the same temperature, and within a period of less than one hour. Only the Sky G is lighter in all important swing weight. And out on water, or from boat to boat, you can tell instantly if that other angler is using a Helios rod. And then there is the fast action fly rod, which are stiff and dont bend much. I also love the large drag knob that is easy to grip and adjust. Its a good option for throwing heavy line into the wind. It is light in overall weight and also in swing weight, falling in just behind our top three rods. Rods outside of warranty, needing full replacement, have varying costs depending on series. Two chartreuse trims bring to the first piece a touch of flashy. A stack of thin, high quality cork rings are used much like on the NRX+. Very nice feel and terrific accuracy in close. Usually takes less than 2 weeks. The platelets make up a small part of the resin matrix while offering substantial benefits in using less material and maintaining high integrity in both linear and hoop strength, with added impact resistance. The epoxy coatings were all excellent. This is a subjective test designed to help give you a guide to which rods you want to try or buy. Surprisingly, this is often true. For me, the middle distance of 50 feet was where the Centric felt the best. Nice and light in my hand. It uses a dark gray anodized single uplocking skeleton seat with a nylon ring that gives a very secure lock up. In our casting, well identify the best performing rods first, which are typically in the highest price category. TaylorLifetime warranty to original owner. You can see on our deflection charts how it is a bit softer than other rods but it has a nice medium-fast action that seems just right and very forgiving. In looking at the rod, I can see that the butt section is a little smaller in diameter than the X, so it certainly isnt identical. Sage gives us their new Sonic, which performed as well as the Sage X, at nearly half the cost. Most of the top rods are now using a stack of thinner cork rings with almost no defects that are laid up and sanded down to perfection. G. Loomis Lifetime warranty to original owner. They must be accurate, especially at the short to medium distances and be able to make delicate presentations when called for. A lot of friends come to mind. WebA 10-weight is not only a great tarpon rod, but works well for permit, roosterfish, milkfish, and most larger tropical species as well as a host of coldwater gamefish like pike and The big question I had is how Fred can get this rod so light in swing weight compared to the other rods. Fly This means setting up the rods with the exact same reels, amount of backing, lines and leaders. The BVK has lots of power, is light in weight, and performs very well at all distances. G. Loomis NRX+ 9 #6 $ 795.00. For non-original owners on 2-pc models the fee is $275 per section (butt or tip). If however,you are unfamiliar with our Shootouts and wish to understand our testing and scoring methods, go directly to the Methodology and Scoring section please click here: Methodology and Scoring. A good 6-weight rod has the power to play bigger fish when you are trying to pull them away from undercut banks or underwater logs or boulders using 2X 4X tippet. Cortland Micron backing, and not jam up the reel, (which is plenty for most 6-weight fishing situations). The new Hardy Ultralite that placed 4th in this Shootout, uses their latest in materials, Sintrix NSX. We have here summarized the latest warranty policies of the rod manufacturers and our experience with repairs. Holden Russell has worked for the Yellowstone Angler for the past three years. The cork handle has an elegant wooden finishing, matching the insert of the black aluminium reel seat. Best 10 Wt Fly Rod Top 10 of 2023 Buyers Guide Words + Photos By: Josh Thelin Saltwater fly rods have a unique place in fly fishing. We dont take the manufacturers word for stated weight, (although this year most of these checked out to be true or very close). This is a new performance category for our 6-weight rods. On the cigarcork handle, a green thin ringmarks the first 7.9"from thebuttand graduation goes onfrom 3.9"to 3.9"with green wraps up to 19.7". But the amazing thing is how light it is in your hand considering how much power it has. We have been Scientific Anglers line fans for years, and their Amplitude MPX line is a perfect choice for these 6-weight rods. A stack of narrow, very high-quality cork rings are used. Note that if your rod has been discontinued for more than 5 years G.Loomis will not be able to replace the tip. Hardy Ultralite 9 #6 $ 795.00. If the rod is broken because of a defect, or while fishing, replacement is free. If the strippingguidebeing close enough to the handle does not put you off for dry fishing, remember that these rods will easily cast a #3 line if the need arises. But to do this, the rod needs to have enough butt and mid-section power to drive a couple of nymphs, maybe a split shot or two, and also a big, wind resistant indicator, and then put the cast where you need it at 25-50 feet. The 6-weight rods also have the power to pick up lots of line to make an immediate re-cast, as you often do while fishing out of a drift boat, (should your first cast be off target). George Anderson, James Anderson, and the Yellowstone Angler crew, Scientific Anglers Amplitude Anadro Fly Line, Scientific Anglers Amplitude MPX Fly Line. If I was traveling to a fishing destination and can only take 2 rods (more than 2 is a hassle), it would be a fast 8 and a moderate fast 10, both in a 4 piece. fish on that rod. Fly Rod Next, a layer of muscle carbon is wrapped on in a conventional manner. Youll find a hook keeper just above the cork handle. Here you can more easily see the softer tip of the Sky G, in comparison to the NRX+, Ultralite and Asquith, which gives it better feel and accuracy in close at 30 feet. In a rush? Scott is replacing their beloved Meridian series with something brand new - the Sector. The aluminum reel seat is another big bonus as far as we are concerned. This makes it ideal for fairly thick line that can handle large fish with ease. They feature Scotts new generation ARC reinforcement that gives greater stability along multiple axes. 6 Reasons, Best Baitcaster Combo For Beginners: Top 6. Rods under warranty, needing full replacement, are $50 total under the Excellerator Plan. You call in and they charge your credit card $125 but you get a brand new rod in 3-4 days. Howard Croston totally re-designed this rod using the latest Sintrix NSX material and new proprietary resins that allow Hardy to build a lighter and stronger rod than before. New custom rolling equipment also allows Scott to control fiber placement and density with new levels of precision as the rod is rolled. It also comes with a convenient carrying tube, something which also helps make life a little easier. Only the SKY G was better at short range. Rods are either replaced with a new rod or the broken section is replaced. The Fuji ceramic strippingguideis followed by 11 hard chrome single leg. Some interesting wraps are used with olive, black and gold in the middle on the butt section. The Greys GR80, la JMC Pure Equipe, la Maxia SX, la Soldarini Hydropsyche Competition, la Syndicate Pipeline and the Thomas & Thomas Contact are moderate-fast action rods. Another reason youll want good butt power and performance at long range is chucking steamers. Everything here is made with strong and durable materials that can resist the effects of saltwater. The rest of the guides are the top-notch Recoil nickel/titanium snake guides that will flex but never break. Nice delicate presentations were easy. The Galvan reels are delightfully maintenance free, with Rulon bushings that require no maintenance or lubrication to keep them working properly. This rod is finished with a flat, non-glare gray, which I do like. We are giving you OUR opinions in these Shootouts. The first Objective Observations chart shows you our top ten 6-weight rods in finishing order, (plus the Echo Carbon XL our pick for the best inexpensive 6-weight). The tips on the faster action rods bend more, and if you look at the top rods, you will see that they tend to be faster action rods. They are ideal for fishing bigger, more wind resistant dry flies like hoppers or stoneflies. Photos will help each and every one of you to make your opinion. If you are looking to economize, especially on the mid-priced and best buy outfits, you can save about a hundred bucks by picking the Galvan Rush Light reel, which comes in the same sizes and has the same smooth drag and backing capacity. Performance at 75 feet 20 points available. The accuracy was excellent but the rod feels a bit heavier in hand than the Sky G or Asquith. This is a medium-fast action rod. This is measured on a scale of 1 to 12, and it is very important to match the weight class of the fly rod with the weight of the line, at least if you want the best results. 1. Rods with a light swing weight are delightful and effortless to cast and fish all day. New Sintrix technology turned Hardys Shadow into a terrific mid-priced rod. Not only do these more powerful rods turn over a heavy nymph rig better, but they also are better at setting the hook quickly with authority. The final version of this 9-foot SKY G is just a fantastic rod, that produced an amazing performance in our Shootout at both 30 feet and 50 feet, picking up perfect scores from me at both distances. Advantage to the Maxia when considering fishing comfort. The Sky G was in a class by itself here. Having multiple outfits set up makes these comparisons easy. In terms of length, the Thomas & Thomas and the Sage ESN are the shortest (6.5"). Here at Trident, we carry over one hundred 5wt fly rods.