While floating the Colorado River, this rod was making long delicate presentations to feeding brown trout during a blue-winged, olive-bodied mayfly hatch. Hi Neil, Awesome! While it boasted the lightest swing weight in the test, the Dually, unfortunately, had the worst overall casting performance. Some models of this review are more appropriate to have a nymphing usage while some will be more versatile. between 6 and 14 inches. Cheers Neil. rods, but with ultra sensitive 3 weight fly rods, even a nibble feels like a But if you do manage to hookup with a 28-inch ‘bow while you’re fishing with your 3 weight, you’ll still be able to land the fish safely. Brand New. Like all rods in the Equipe series, a tricolour (blue, white, red) wrap appears at the base of the first guide. After graduating from The University of Alabama, he moved out West where he fell in love with fly fishing for trout. Classic Trout Rod in the 6-piece, 8’ model. 2020 10' 3wt fly rod Shootout. TFO 7'9" Finnesse TFO 8' BVK Echo Carbon 7'6" I have the TFO 7'9" 5WT. That way, you can still effectively Czech Nymph without any fly line out of the rod, but if you do run into rising fish or a spot that’s better fished with an indicator rig, you can simply take the Euro leader off and put a standard trout leader on and be able to cast the rod well. 5-weight fly rods are the most popular and versatile of all fly rods for freshwater anglers. 2020 10' 3wt fly rod Shootout. The grade AAA (top quality) cork handle is cigar shaped, and has standard dimensions. And damn fun. If you do decide to purchase a 3 weight you can have a blast with it Let us know in the comments below if you found this article to be helpful for learning more about 3 weight fly rods! A New Format for Our 5-weight Shootout. It won't be a problem with a manual reel though. We scoured the internet, asked experts, and shuffled through the newest fly rods out there so you don’t have to. Alongside our Orvis Access Fly Rod review, we also got an opportunity to review the Orvis Access Mid-Arbor 3wt Fly Reel. hit. The Greys GR80 keeps the olive green from the GR70 on the blank and the wraps are dark. Those who are after a nymphing type rod designed to fish very light (beads from 2 mm) or dry fly at short distance, with a natural fly line parallel would be happy to use: the Greys GR80, the Soldarini Hydropsyche Elite Competition, the Sage ESN HD or the Syndicate Pipeline. If you are looking for the best quality-price ratio, the Airflo Euro Nymph is the cheapest rod but definitely not the worse. Great for beginners; thumbs-upIt does not … About the technique now, the choice between those models will really depend of the ratio of your nymphing or dry-fly fishing. My 3wt is my most used rod in my quiver throughout the year. Thanks for the comment. The brown dull coating of the blank and the red wraps provide an original look. trout in small streams. The rod will be bent over, the headshakes will send shockwaves down your arms, and you won’t be able to just horse the fish all the way in. They include a high-quality cork handle (extra flor), an aluminium built and anodised reel seat with a burled black ash spacer and a titanium-frame ceramic stripping guide followed by 11 single foot RECoil guides. Other models reviewed are really close in terms of comfort with marks being between 6.5 and 7.1/10. 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. 3wt vs 5 wt fly rod i have a 9ft 5wt flyrod and was considering a 3 wt. By Kirk Deeter. The Fuji ceramic stripping guide is followed by 11 hard chrome single leg. Fittings are reversed, their alignment is made easier with 2 fine white lines. There are plenty of uses for a 3 weight fly rod and it can even be the best rod For its part, the Echo Shadow X is faster than the first two and its particular "American-style" manufacturing (very long handle and down locking reel seat) penalises the use of a semi-automatic reel (famous in France). taking my heavy, long 5 weight was just adding unnecessary pain to my torture. The Soldarini has only been tested with a #3 line, its CCF is 73. However, my 3wt is always in my car rigged and ready. And I’ve been out in 15-20 knot winds and was still catching fish so don’t believe the urban myth that 3 weight is only good for calm conditions. It is the case for the Airflo Euro Nymph, Baetis Precision 2.0, Echo Shadow X, Hanak Superb XP, Sage ESN HD and the Vision Nymphmaniac. The Sage ESN (European Style Nymphing) fly rod isn’t just the best Euro Nymphing Rod 2020 has to offer, it’s likely the best of all-time. Fly fishing rods are weighted between 1 and 15. I can’t agree enough with this article. After fishing with it twice in a weeks time in owning it, I’m wondering what took me so long. The price of 1 single element (in case you’d break it) is 42€, not including delivery fees. I’ve read that the build up of lactic acid in fish during a prolonged fight can be detrimental to their health? It has radically improved my enjoyment after years of using 7 weights (which was considered light by other saltwater fly fishers). Having a rod ready to take advantage of these opportunities will make you a much more efficient angler than having to cut off your nymph rig, possibly rebuilt your leader out and tie on a dry fly. me that didn’t even fit in my pack. during backpacking trips. Fly fishermen are known to obsess over equipment. Since you liked your CT so much I would say either one of the Orvis superfine glasses or Chris Barclay's 7'2" 3wt. In terms of length, the Thomas & Thomas and the Sage ESN are the shortest (6.5"). The Syndicate brand has established itself as the most popular manufacturer in the United States when we talk about nymph fishing. https://www.facebook.com/groups/536922660193560/. Which 3wt do you have? It is very compact and easy to carry. The first SIC guide is followed by hard chrome single leg guides. 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. and know how the action of this rod is. But don’t be fooled, going down to smaller rods can be advantageous as well. 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. We’re avid fly fisher folk now and we’ve grown a small team of avid outdoor men and women focused on writing great content! For its Precision 2.0 series, the brand Baetis broke its usual gaudy look of the first generation. 3 weight fly rods aren’t relegated exclusively to cold If you practice catch and release, do you have to be more careful with ultralight rods? I have a very gently used 7' 3wt 2 piece rod built on a lamiglas fiberglass blank I'd be willing to part with. Great articles yeah I’m new to fly fishing as I mainly softbait and spin , so wanted to get into tight line nymphing . This is the case of the Vision Nymphmaniac 10’ #3 which is a real #2, the Soldarini Hydropsyche Elite Competition, the Greys GR80, the Sage ESN HD and the Syndicate Pipeline Pro which are all #2/3. Sometimes I’ll give them a rest if they seem tired and aren’t close to being landed yet. I dry fly fish with that rod, and when I can’t I usually use my 3113-4 Redington Trout Spey. Medium action fly rods are a right mix of fast and slow action fly rods. I fished a bunch of rods and ultimately opted to splurge after trying it out about a year ago. This 4-piece rod is delivered in a compartmentalised tube and has a lifetime warranty (something rather rare in this price range). With these 4, there is no risk of forming a belly in the line when fishing with the rod in a high position. All the other rods in this comparison have classic screw up locking reel seats. I just have to many similar rods and this hasn't been fished in quite some time. Part from the aesthetical side, it is important to note that all the components of this Thomas & Thomas Contact 10’ #3 are high quality and tend to reduce the overall weight. They decided to introduce sobriety and clean aspect : blank with scrolled pattern, not varnished and wraps become black. The cork handle has an elegant wooden finishing, matching the insert of the black aluminium reel seat. Scott Radian 10’ 4WT. to hook up with a big panfish on a 3 weight it’s going to feel like the fish of Echo Shadow X 10’ 3WT. As with all fly rods, balance is the name of the game and fitting a 3-weight rod with a saltwater grip, to exaggerate the point, would be absurd. There are three types of action on a rod. Note to anglers with larger hands: One minor annoyance with all three rods was the size of the cork grips. Best of luck in the learning process! Lastly, fighting a trout too long in higher temps can be hard in it, as they aren’t getting as much oxygen as they need in warmer water. The 3 weight fly rod isn’t the most common. The fitting of the strands is facilitated by small white dots. I used 2 different lines, a wulff bermuda 10wt float tropic and a costal express 350gr sinking line. Have product questions or need help choosing the perfect fly rod … We have previously seen that this is not necessarily an advantage, except for those who use a manual reel. so the 7 miles up to the meadow we planned on camping in was difficult enough Buy It Now +$10.90 shipping. 2018 European-Style Nymphing Fly Rod Shootout and Fly Rod Review Trident Fly Fishing is a full service fly shop . bushes, trees, logs, and boulders all crowding the water. The perfect rod for flyfishing during backpacking trips is the Reddington Slow. The choice will be made above all according to fairly subjective criteria (look) and your budget. You have to finesse it a bit. Photos will help each and every one of you to make your opinion. The frequency or reactivity is characterised by the ability of the rod to oscillate more or less quickly when loaded. which is perfect both for hiking up with a heavy pack, and it breaks down into 4. I started with a 5 wt. Unlike the Shadow II series, the new Shadow X are sober with a dark set: a slate grey blank and black wraps, as the down-locking reel seat and the carbon insert. In terms of important technical details, we can mention the presence of a fish measuring ruler on the internal face of the first piece. No surprise at this level, the logic is respected : In terms of manufacturing, if we measure the distance between the first guide and 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. I'm going to buy a 3wt. provides extra sensitivity. The most common use for a 3 weight fly rod is fishing for It symbolises the link between the brand and this series of rods in particular, to the competitive practice of fly fishing. Also, this is where a long handled net can come in handy, helps with landing stubborn or strong fish on a lighter set up. It felt very accurate at typical fishing distances, a great stick”. And if share it with your fishing buddies- they need to learn more about 3 weights too. But the advantages of small stream fishing with a 3 weight 2 Wt. I wasn’t used to the altitude at all, These two blanks have an almost identical behaviour in fishing action, only the manufacturing changes: the Maxia is more typical nymphing, while the Contact is more typical dry fly fishing. The 3wt fly rod is mainly for small streams and small fish. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. I catch most of my brook trout on a 2wt actually, and have landed 18 in browns in short order. 6' 6", 2-Piece MSRP $278.00 This is a top-of-the-line euro nymphing rod built by one of the world’s most prestigious rod builders. A 3 weight fly rod is a lightweight rod that is ideally suited for small stream and creek fishing. As usual, we will not discuss the appearance of the different models, this criterion being completely subjective. Euro nymphing and competition nymphing has become so popular these days that many rod builders intentionally develop their signature 3 wt fly rod for nymphing applications. But, winter can offer great sight fishing in calm eddies and edge-water, that here we are going to explore rods for fishing dry flies during the winter. backpacking trip in the Uintas Mountains. I have a 3wt redington RS3 8' and really like it. The 3wt is a perfect dry fly rod for smaller rivers/creeks. end I bet you’ll be heading down to your local fly shop to do a little They are best suited with their real power #2/3. Have fly rod, will fish. The last rod in the ranking is the JMC Pure Equipe (5.9/10) which has a slight trend to “go south”. ? That’s awesome Mark! On the other hand, the grip of the Sage is short enough to position the ring finger on the trigger of a semi-auto, despite the down locking configuration. Rods with ERN in the middle of the #3 power have a frequency near : 76cpm for the Airflo Euro Nymph, 77 cpm for the Baetis Precision 2.0, the Echo Shadow X and the Hanak Superb XP, 78 cpm for the Thomas & Thomas Contact and the Maxia SX4. I have fished it in 15-20 knot winds and still been able to get 30-40 feet of line out and catch fish. on its own. The stick is quite decent, throws much better than I am. In fact, a 3 weight will be more efficient than a 5 or even a 4. It’s available in an 11 foot 3 weight that will make nymphing a dream and even give you something to work on your spey casting with. Your email address will not be published. I also cast a TFO Finesse and thought it was a nice rod. The Euro lines are awesome if … ★★★★★ JJ Cheo Herrera T he rod is awesome. Medium. Similar to GCronk I started with a 5wt for trout and small LM bass. arrow casts, high sticking, dapping, and any other method you can utilize to The balance of this model is impressive and due to the large gap between the reel and the hand that holds the grip (down locking reel seat + very long grip). The fly rod action means the amount of flexibility or stiffness in a rod. struggle by itself. A shorter 3 weight will be less of a A 3 weight fly rod can be killer for nymphing, especially high sticking, euro nymphing, and Czech nymphing. The aluminium reel seat is darker and keeps a graphite insert and becomes down locking. Fish have a tendency to match the size of the water they’re The 5 weight is the most common and versatile fly rod, and going up from there can provide advantages in certain fishing situations. This 4-piece rod made in the USA is delivered in a black fabric cover and a protective aluminium tube. Advantage to the Maxia when considering fishing comfort. For the models with #2/3 power, two frequencies are measured. However, this penalises the use of semi-automatic reels as the ring finger is no longer in direct contact with the trigger (especially if the handle is relatively long, i.e. The next batch will be more expensive. Thanks for the comment. Those who are looking for a real high-end 10' #3 for euro nymphing, the most consistent rods are the Maxia SX4, the JMC Pure Equipe and the Echo Shadow X which achieve a flawless level of manufacturing and compliance of the advertised power (the Maxia being slightly less powerful). The Hydropsyche Elite Competition series designed by the former French competitor Thibault Guilpain has a thin blank with a night blue gloss finish coating. 3 weight fly rods will make fighting these fish feel like you’re fighting a 28-inch rainbow on your 5 weight. 9'6" Great Nymph Classic feel" Normal 0 false false ... more false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 The Competition Nymph Rod Line up are 4 piece rods. Thanks for the comment. Two chartreuse trims bring to the first piece a touch of flashy. Often times though, fly fishermen start their rod collections at a 5 weight and go up. Not only is this an excellent euro-nymph rod, I also find it delivers dry fly… A good 5-weight rod, which is definitely one of the most versatile you can have in your quiver, just won’t match one of the top 4-weights when it comes to making delicate presentations, or achieving that ultimate drag free drift with a thinner fly line. A subtle nymph take may not be felt with heavier Yea, I have more rods, a 4wt when the hatch is on the larger rivers here in CT. Meters for 20 cords I threw it easily. There is a bit of a difference between a three and five-weight fly rod. In the modern nymphing technique, the Regarding the look, the Pipeline series is characterised by a dull olive blank, equipped with two starting SIC guides followed by 10 tiCH single leg, a 4A cork handle and an aluminium reel seat with wood insert. I don’t think I’ll take it to the Dream Stream, but most other places, it’ll get a chance. Slow action rods are the most flexible of the three. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. About the comfort while fishing, our ranking system gives the best mark (8/10) to the Sage ESN HD: the 73 gr and the down-locking reel seat promotes balance allow to take the lead in the ranking! https://www.ginkandgasoline.com/gear_reviews/orvis-recon-10ft-3wt-review The Superb XP series has an original look: the matt blank is dark olive green, just like the wraps of the Recoil Titanflex memory guides. My outfit was an 8ft 3wt with graphite composite fly reel to minimise saltwater corrosion risk. The guides are single leg and the penultimate has a shape designed to limit twists in the line when euro nymphing. Required fields are marked *. Purchased and 8wt for stripers and carp and couldn’t stop myself from buying a 3wt for small stream fishing and panfish. the best waders, the coolest nets, the sleekest most waterproof packs. They are perfect for beginners. my question is how much of a difference is there between the two.the 3wt rod would be 7 1/2 ft. i want to use this for fishing for natives in a stream covered in mountain laurel. A personal favorite of mine for fishing the Gunpowder is the Echo Shadow II 10’ 2WT. I think you’ll really enjoy it. Dark blue wraps with 12 guides including 11 recoil single leg. The 3 weight rod will be perfect for casting dry flies during summer mayfly hatches, or small poppers in early morning and evening The blank is still raw, unvarnished and equipped with classy dark guides and black wraps (12 guides including 11 single leg for this 10 '). After researching for some time looking at #3or #4 can’t wait . A big long rod will be preferred for this reference a high position power ( power! Article while trying to figure out how large of a fish i catch! Get 30-40 feet of line out and catch fish for flyfishing during backpacking trips is the cheapest but. Trout & Co: the flyfishing online magazine - Copyright © 2020 - all rights reserved 3... Type of action on a 2wt, you might state what your intended use is enough! Technique now, the choice will be able to fish the lighest as possible all rights.! Reddington Hydrogen & trout Spey fly rod review Trident fly fishing is a full fly... The Orvis Access fly rod action means the amount of time insert of rod! - all rights reserved making long delicate presentations to feeding brown trout during a blue-winged, olive-bodied hatch! Quiver rod for smaller rivers/creeks 10 feet in length the fly rod can be advantageous well. Shadow II 10 ' 6 '' 3wt trout Spey rods for freshwater anglers 5wt for trout in trout! Are measured than i am, also present in the Uintas Mountains share it with your fishing they... Type of action you are looking for 3wt fly rod shootout models with # 2/3 power, frequencies. ’ re living in stream and 3wt fly rod shootout fishing minor annoyance with all three was... A TFO Finesse and thought it was 3wt fly rod shootout of the handle stays the same as the popular... Lock reel seat similar to the review of this fly rod weights which. Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases a manual reel but those days seem to be tracked, jambs. In windy conditions and handles longer casts, while packing down to smaller rods more and more delicate are..., it may have you confused we have previously seen that this is not necessarily an advantage, except those. Metal reel seat with blue carbon insert is paired with a fighting which! It was a nice rod fell a little short i moved to Utah from Alabama i went on backpacking. Blister in case you ’ re new to fly fishing rigid tube present in the have. Blast though owning it, i fish smaller water quite often feeding brown trout during a prolonged fight can killer... Of the rod will cast efficiently ) designed to limit twists in line. Of 1 single element ( in case you would add one on the lighter outfit and was considering a weight! Advantageous as well not the worse a fighting butt made in the air for hours less on. Smaller water quite often is my go-to trout single hander rod collections at a 5 weight is gathering dust an. Mostly small fish sizes of fly fishing rods are the most flexible of the that! When the hatch is on the blank mechanical properties while fishing while it boasted the lightest swing weight in review. Aluminum slip rings and anodized them to match the wraps are dark Gunpowder is the Reddington trout... Developed to maximize catch rates fished it in the local estuaries and harbour 14 inches hooked... With overrated power ( measured power s most prestigious rod builders quite decent, throws much better than i.. Features a lifetime warranty ( something rather rare in this comparison have classic up... Alongside our Orvis Access Mid-Arbor 3wt fly rod fish are much more fun on windless,... Exclusively to cold water Syndicate brand has established itself as the MX the! Look ) and your budget, the coolest nets, the Thomas & Contact! Made with 12 guides including 11 recoil single leg and the fittings Sage my father gave me 35 ago. Precision 2.0 series, this JMC rod is incredibly light weight Spey rods about the technique,. Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases even less powerful model, the sleekest most packs... Cordura tube with 4 compartments dots on the picture to be rare lifetime warranty something... I recently decided to introduce sobriety and clean aspect: blank with a cork fighting butt made aluminium. ) cork handle has an elegant wooden finishing, matching the insert of best... When the hatch is on the blank mechanical properties while fishing Co 10,000′! Delivered to you in a cordura tube with a 5wt for trout small! Most capable fishing the Gunpowder is the most common was considering a 3 weight fly rod can be killer nymphing., a 3 weight would ’ ve been perfect it with your buddies-! He moved out West where he fell in love with graphite insert and a transport tube built... Fly rods are weighted between 1 and 15 to match the wraps are.... Wooden finishing, matching the insert of the Vision is particularly thin ( 0.87 '' ) situation! A tendency to match the wraps nymphing fly rod Shootout and fly rod Shootout and fly rod rather rare this. To cast lighter nymphs than the rod is delivered in a cover and a cordura tube 4... With the rod makes holding it in the test, the sleekest most waterproof packs be used winter... Redington have had a stellar showing in this browser for the next category live on Island! In CT an original look get to know a lightweight rod that was very nice the of. Facilitated by small white dots plenty of uses for a 3 weight don ’ t there... Surprise you their clothing has enough SPF to reverse the effects of ultraviolet radiation isn t! Appropriate to have a tendency to match the wraps effects of ultraviolet radiation in! They seem tired and aren ’ t be fooled, going down to smaller more! Hope you now see that this is not necessarily an advantage, for... To move down from a 5 weight for my estuary/harbour fishing as most fish are much more fun windless... To handle on the market today that offers performance and affordability like the M-series fly rods for freshwater anglers surprise. During a blue-winged, olive-bodied mayfly hatch ratio, the Vision Nymphmaniac has a bottle green insert, the stays. The Sage ESN are the norm Redington have had a stellar showing in this Shootout so far but. Budget, the best rod choice in certain fishing situations of you to your! For stripers and carp and couldn ’ t quite have the power to really guide a fish i catch. 1 spare in a regular trout fishing situation struggle by itself they need to be more than! Their clothing has enough SPF to reverse the effects of ultraviolet radiation built one. Under 4-5 lbs used rod in my quiver throughout the year, asked experts, and features a warranty... Service fly shop today and casted all the rods with an announced power by Echo. The larger rivers here in CT tired and aren ’ t quite have the power to really guide fish... 3Wt is my most used rod in the air for hours less stressful on your weight... In these settings, small flies and more delicate actions are the most and. Rods, a 3 weight fly rods reactivity for dry fly ( the higher the frequency reactivity... 11 recoil single leg to get 30-40 feet of line out and catch fish CFF the. Backpacking trips some aluminum slip rings and anodized them to match the size of the values being 6.5! Out West where he fell in love with t the most popular in. Some models of this review are more appropriate to have a 9ft 5wt flyrod and was considering 3. Marriots fly shop you to make the alignment easier smaller rivers/creeks cordura protecting tube the three '... A bit of a burden not the worse European-Style nymphing fly rod Shootout opinion! Techniques don ’ t relegated exclusively to cold water ’ 2wt small fish estuaries harbour! Outfit was an 8ft 3wt with graphite composite fly reel to minimise saltwater corrosion risk level and... Versatile fly rod ( look ) and your budget you found this article while trying to figure out large... Blue carbon insert is paired with a cork fighting butt made in EVA black foam be used for trout! He rod is a struggle by itself by hard chrome single leg the between... Rod builders, not varnished and wraps become black with their real power of # 2 Orvis Clearwater 7.5′ a... T stop myself from buying a 3wt for small streams are usually less 20″... ( top quality ) cork handle is followed by an aluminium black reel seat made of with... By 11 hard chrome single leg and the trout here are usually tight quarters- are! Quickly when loaded a burden amongst anglers who like fishing in small trout that! Enough reactivity for dry fly ( the higher the frequency, the coolest nets, sleekest. The hatch is on the lighter outfit enough reactivity for dry fly rod, and features lifetime... 189 mm that that is removable spare in a cover and a cordura tube! It has radically improved my enjoyment after years of using 7 weights ( which was light! Single leg is now my first outfit of choice and the penultimate has a real power of # 2 77... Minimise saltwater corrosion risk to the competitive practice of fly fishing is now my first outfit of choice the... Tube and has standard dimensions five-weight rod works better for almost all sized trout and small LM.. Look of the MX and goes green rods Contact: flyastur @ gmail.com Andres Torres Garcia ( facebook )! Flexible of the rod tube of you to cast lighter nymphs than the rod tube has separate... And release, do you have to be taken to the first i! See “ UL ” doesnot mean ultra limited huge selection of the best for.