It is true that you can fish & euro-nymph with whatever rod you want, and this topic has been covered 1,000s of times in the past few years, however, the most effective way to euro-nymph is to use a rod that is built for it. If … Scott Tidal. The Fenwick Fenlite Streamflex is our pick for the best mid-priced rod. Review of Thomas and Thomas 5 wt. 6. New Orvis Clearwater (designed by George Daniel), w next level being Orvis Recon. Considering that the price of the Zone is under $500, the craftsmanship is very nice, something to be expected from Thomas & Thomas. Chloe’s Comments: The Zone has a good mix of power and performance, but I thought it was far inferior to the Avantt. At around $500, its a solid contender with the top of the mid-priced pack, and will give most pricier rods a run for their money. I did like the Zone’s appearance and cosmetics. It is comfortable to cast and very accurate in the 30-60 foot sweet spot, though you can easily throw a full line on the casting pond if you know what you’re doing. For … Of these, the Orvis is certainly the smoothest and has the better components. Scott Radian – $795. Not enough power to give me a good performance at this distance. Orvis Helios 3D – $898. I think the look can work on a saltwater rig, but I’m just not crazy about the rod’s appearance on a trout/freshwater setup. Orvis offers 21 different freshwater and saltwater Recon rods to cover many kinds of fly fishing scenarios. Quality #3. Can anglers continue to ignore climate change? The Orvis Clearwater is our best inexpensive Power rod. I see the Zone being a great choice for a variety of anglers - whether you fish incessantly and need a workhorse that won't break the bank, or you’re a more casual angler that can’t justify the cost of a flagship rod that will end up collecting dust half the year. With the new Zone series, T&T hopes to reach out to a greater audience. In the same vein, I think the Zone is also an ideal guide rod (once you’ve had clients break a few ‘flagship’ rods, the Zone becomes an even more attractive option). The Recon is a newer design, is more durable, and is backed by a great Orvis warranty. Sage Foundation – $325. If I’m being honest, she wasn’t much to look at, but we just jived. The uplocking skeleton reel seat is silver anodized aluminum, with one good-sized locking ring and sliding band, similar to the Avantt. Sage Foundation – $325. Orvis has been a long-time leader and pioneer in the fly fishing industry manufacturing quality fishing equipment for over 50 years. $695.00. Reel seat has better hardware than most rods. Utility If you have any questions or need expert advice feel free to Contact us at any time. The freshwater (3wt-7wt) series features chrome single foot guides, while the saltwater (8wt-10wt) rods feature Snake Brand E-Coating Universal Snake guides. Appearance Both offer terrific performance at half the price of the best rods in our Shootout. The Thomas & Thomas Zone came into my life like a short, pleasant fling that left me wanting more. The action is slower than the Avantt, and perhaps this is why it didn’t feel as crisp. It's that good. It was consistently accurate but lacked some sensitivity. . The Zone rods are high performance tools, not status symbols, and their utilitarian-leaning concept is aimed at those who want the best gear but don’t need the frills. The TFO BVK is our best performing inexpensive rod at $279.95 while the Fenwick Aetos is the best buy at just $189.95. Thomas and Thomas Zone Rod The Zone series pushes the envelope in both performance and price, bringing the latest R&D from Thomas & Thomas to more fly anglers than ever before. Here I’m getting nice loops and decent accuracy, but I’m working a lot harder than with the Avantt or the Helios 3F. This is a series of articles to help you fish lighter for improved euro-nymphing success. The Thomas and Thomas freshwater fly fishing collection contains a variety of weights and lengths that provide sensitivity and power. LCO Values Conservation & Education In Fly Fishing. Taylor Truth – $649. Taylor Truth – $649. The perfect rod for those looking to get their first dedicated nymphing rod. Our world-class freshwater and saltwater rods are crafted with the finest materials available and come with a lifetime warranty. The Orvis Recon Rod that I have been fishing is a 9 foot 5 weight 4 piece fly rod. Orvis has remade their popular Recon fly rod series and this time it’s better than ever. New Echo Shadow II, w next level being new Echo Shadow X. Cortland Competition. Versatility is key—get incredible reach, a delicate drop, and plenty of strength to punch through a finicky breeze in a lightweight Recon fly rod. Mystic Reaper. The craftsmanship is typical T&T excellence, even though they are using lower quality components in the cork handle and reel seat. Review: Thomas & Thomas Contact II fly rod The second incarnation of T&T's Euro-nymphing specialist is like no other rod on the market Review: Orvis Recon fly rod The Vjosa River is the last of its kind. Loop Cross SW. Scott Meridian 9wt. This performance freshwater rod is light in your hand, but doesn’t skimp on power. The old Recon 8wt weighed in at 3.6 ounces with a swing weight of 79.5 gm2. The unsanded blue blank is a departure from the T&T norm and gives the blank a Scott-like appearance. Gear tips to elevate or start your smallmouth game, The secret to tying articulated streamers, Korkers outs new tactically-inspired River Ops wading boot, Scott intros new Sector fly rods, successor to the wildly popular Meridian series, Costa is turning discarded fishing nets into sunglasses. Performance at 25 feet: 18.5 points out of 20. Free shipping on many items ... Thomas & Thomas Zone Fly Rod. Concord Outfitters stocks the very best in fly rods. 5. There is a much larger gap between a budget rod and the Zone, than there is between the Zone and the top of the line. Rods. These rods fall in our mid-priced category, from $495 in trout models to $525 in the saltwater models, and will compete against popular rods in that range such as the Orvis Recon … If you want to economize, look carefully at both the Hardy Shadow at $349.95 and the Orvis Recon at $429.00. With the Zone you’re getting the latest Thomas & Thomas tech for about half the price of their flagship models. Thomas and Thomas 9'0" 4 piece 5wt. Orvis Clearwater – $198. Orvis ... Thomas & Thomas Thomas and Thomas Zone Fly Rod $ 499.00. I have used this rod for 13 years and it is the finest graphite rod I have ever owned. The Thomas & Thomas Zone is T&T’s mid priced offering. Reviews should pique … Taylor Anomaly -$559. Scott Radian – $795. After a summer of fishing, I came to realize this was overkill for most of the reds I was catching. (tie) Thomas and Thomas Exocett $895.00. Thomas and Thomas Contact 10'8" ... Orvis Recon 5wt. Whatever your story, the Zone is an incredibly castable and controllable rod that won’t disappoint, and at a price that more people can potentially swing. Helix fly rod New with lifetime warranty. Orvis Clearwater 10ft 4wt- A great action all around action not too fast not too slow, but just right. Is your fly fishing gear ready for the season? Performance at 40 feet: 18.7 points out of 20. Decent swing weight and feel (about in the middle of the pack). To boot, Thomas and Thomas is local: they’re in Greenfield, MA. Personally, I don’t like the blue theme. The accuracy suffers too. Our world-class freshwater and saltwater rods are the rods you will eventually own. 4. Wind means NOTHING to this fabulous fly rod. per page. The new Recon 2 8wt has an overall weight of 4.41 ounces and a swing weight of 90.2 gm2, a little on the heavy side. I’ve spent some time on the water with a 5wt T&T Avantt, and to my mind, the Zone feels very similar. The rod loads easily at this distance, not quite as light a swing weight as the best rods, but still pleasant to cast. Better yet, just like the award winning Helios, the rods are built 100% in America, if that is your bag of beans as it seems for many to be. Orvis Clearwater – $198. Though rod preference is such a subjective consideration, there are certain qualities of a rod that make it feel “better” than or comparable to others in a category. Thomas & Thomas Zone … Orvis Recon – $498. The lower 7 inches of the butt, including the logo is also finished in a dark blue. I thought we were on our way to a new Orvis Recon. Under $400, the Douglas DXF and Hardy Shadow are neck and neck and terrific rods for the money. The Zone was tracking exceptionally well. https://www.tridentflyfishing.com/blog/scott-flex-fly-rod-review The guide wraps are in blue with some silver trim on the butt. I thought the Exocett would be better at 100 feet. At $198 this rod is definitely a great value. The Recon was much better. Then she was gone, on a plane back home, and I find myself missing her terribly. To me this rod just felt too heavy and clunky. ... Orvis Fly Fishing Line, Leaders & Tippets. Orvis designed the Recon … If you are a function over fashion kind of person who is tough on gear, take a good, hard look at the Zone. My most accurate and enjoyable distance with this rod. Winston Alpha – $935 Many thanks to Joe Goodspeed and John Carpenter for the loaner. I had been eyeing this 6 wt Thomas and Thomas Zone for a while but couldn't justify the price. The blank promotes the advanced StratoTherm … The T&T Avantt finishes 4 th again, with the Orvis Helios 3D right behind it in 5 th. Orvis H3. A slightly oldie but goodie. 3d. The cork handle on this rod felt too bulky. Scott G-Series. Of course, as the fly fishing world has evolved, do-it-all has changed considerably. Francis’ Comments: I get what Thomas and Thomas is doing with the Zone series of rods, offering a high quality rod at a reasonable price. Performance at 60 feet: 7 points out of 10. The BVK is a proven winner, backed by a great warranty, and half the price of the Recon. A graphite spacer is used. According to T&T, the Zone utilizes the same StratoTherm resin as the Avantt and Exocett line of rods, and features anodized aluminum hardware and reel seat (with a blue fiberglass insert), composite reinforced premium cork grips, and titanium stripping guides with zirconium inserts. Orvis … 30 45 60 120 All. If you’re on the fence about going high-end or mid-range, you shouldn’t worry about outgrowing it. Orvis Recon. This was the best distance for me with the Zone. $198 Shop Orvis Clearwater Fly Rods Now Redington Vice 10ft 4wt - Fast action and great stick for $199. The wraps are all in blue, and the epoxy coatings are all extremely well done. I have the 8' Orvis Superfine Glass 5 weight, the 7'10" Echo 5 weight, and a 7'6" TFO Finesse Glass 4/5 weight. In fact, they call them the 'Swiss Army Knife of fly rods'. The cork handle also felt a little large and bulky for me and maybe this is why it didn’t perform as well for me at short distance. The best deals, discounts, and sales on all your fly fishing rods from Orvis, Scott, Winston, Thomas and Thomas and more . $495.00 to $545.00. Trickle-down technology means the new Recon 2 rods have features and performance found in the Recon’s higher-priced cousin, the Orvis Helios 3 fly rods, but for half the cost. Get the best deals on Thomas & Thomas Fly Fishing Rod Fishing Rods & Poles when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. We have been testing out this rod out for a while now, and we are extremely impressed. The Orvis Recon is a Made-in-America fly rod designed as a do-it-all workhorse. Winston Boron III Jungle. According to T&T, the Zone utilizes the same StratoTherm resin as the Avantt and Exocett line of rods, and features anodized aluminum hardware and reel seat (with a blue fiberglass insert), composite reinforced premium cork grips, and titanium stripping guides with zirconium inserts. I use it mostly for largemouth and smallmouth bass and it is a fascinating casting rod. It is cheaper than the ESN, however, and is completely made in the USA. Much heavier in hand than the Avantt, and the stiffer tip is not giving me as much feel or accuracy. Handwritten rod model number and serial number on each section as well as alignment dots. The blank itself is unsanded natural graphite gray, much like the Scott rods, leaving the tape marks visible. With the Zone you’re getting the latest Thomas & Thomas tech for about half the price of their flagship models. The Orvis Recon is here in the shop and has been received with high reviews by all of us at Fins & Feathers. I struggled to make consistently good casts. I was impressed with the Zone’s ability to track well and produce good accuracy. In 1976, San Fransisco was ground zero in the world of graphite fly rod design. Good, just not great. A little over a year and a half ago, when Thomas & Thomas announced the sale of all company assets and its manufacturing facility, the response from long time Thomas & Thomas rod owners was a bit unexpected. 4. James’ Comments: The new T&T Zone series has received a lot of attention recently, both on social media and by winning the best saltwater fly rod at IFTD. Orvis Recon - Freshwater . As someone who has written more fly rod reviews than he can remember, I have some straight advice to offer: Don't ever NOT buy a fly rod based on anything you read. You’ll hear their concerns about public lands, and... On December 6, 1960, President Eisenhower’s Secretary of the Interior created the Arctic National Wildlife Range, protecting nearly 14,000 square miles of the far... “We shouldn’t be fishing this time of year,” John says as I lay my rod in the 4 x 4. Over the past few months, I have had the chance to demo the Orvis Recon Rod while fishing near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. You’re getting everything you need from a $800-1000 rod, with nothing that you don’t. The guides start with a hook keeper, and then one relatively small silver SiC stripping guide, followed with hard chrome single-foot guides. Originally purchased an Orvis Recon 8 wt for fly fishing red fish on the Texas coast. But after running the Zone through its paces at 40 and 60 feet my enthusiasm ran short. Protecting the Vjosa, Europe's last wild river, Patagonia wants you to stand for the waters you stand in, Protecting the Tongass: Lessons Already Learned, Review: Simms Rivershed Boots with StreamTread. $498.00. While my opinion alone may not have swayed you, trying one out for yourself just might. Home / Products / Orvis Recon Freshwater Fly Rod. Naturally I was excited to get a Zone in my hands and see what all the hype was about. Winston Rod Co., and Harry Wilson – who had started the Scott Fly Rod Company in a basement on Cook Street just a … But then rather than a beautiful piece of burled wood insert as on the Avant, there is a plain piece of blue colored graphite that also shows the tape marks. Orvis Recon – $498. Logan’s Notes: The Thomas and Thomas Exocett is … This is T&T’s mid-priced rod, but if you take a look at the best mid-priced rods in our Shootout like the Shadow at $349, the Recon at $429 and the DXF at $349, the Zone’s performance doesn’t match any of these rods. The Winston Alpha + proved to be … It was very good, but the Asquith, Orvis Recon, Loop Cross SW, Sage Motive, and Douglas DXF were better throwing the long bomb. Price The Rio Trout LT cast effortlessly, with nice, tight loops and ultimate control. Honestly, up until a couple of years ago I didn't think much about Orvis … SUBSCRIBE for more fly gear reviews: http://bit.ly/trident-subscribeTrident Fly Fishing is a full-service fly shop. Performance at 60 feet: 8.5 points out of 10. With the right line, the 5wt would make an excellent dry fly rod on big water where you need to be able to perform long, accurate casts and punch through the wind. The Recon caters to the backcountry angler who chases blue lines on a map and is light enough to pack on any trip. This is T&T’s mid-priced rod, but if you take a look at the best mid-priced rods in our Shootout like the Shadow at $349, the Recon at $429 and the DXF at $349, the Zone’s performance doesn’t match any of these rods. If you're bushwhacking with a fully assembled rod I'd go Recon… The Zone has the power needed to make casts at 60 feet, but I’m feeling a slight loss of control and accuracy. "I don't know what the conversations were like at Orvis when this rod was being developed but I'd be shocked if no one expressed concerns that it was too good for the money." Thomas & Thomas Avantt – $845. The quality of cork is pretty good, but not in the same class as Avantt. Euro-Nymphing: Fish lighter to improve your nymph game Part 2: The Rod. It might not have quite the level of fine detailing as a flagship model, but I’ve never met a fish with strong feelings about rod aesthetics. Anything closer and I’d lose some accuracy any further and I’d lose power. At my summer gig working at a fly outfitter on the West Branch of the Delaware, a half dozen or so shop guys and guides got to try out the Zone, and everyone loved it; “pretty sweet,” was the term used most, and these weren’t your average casters. 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