All Points Fly Shop + Outfitter. I think that would be probably the best offering from TFO for striped bass and New England saltwater fly fishing. The Zone started to suffer a little at the longer distances especially with the wind as it required a little more effort and energy to get that line to turn over and reach those targets in the wind. It shares the same weight of 4.3oz with the Exocett and Predator. This was the fastest rod in the test. - SCIENTIFIC ANGLERS MASTERY GRAND SLAM WF-9F #9 WT SALTWATER FLOATING FLY LINE, - RIO MAINSTREAM SALTWATER WF-9-F #9 WT. If you were simply "flicking" it out there as a beginner or intermediate caster, the 9I XP could work however. As the first mid priced rod that T&T has offered, there was quite a bit of expectations behind it. Although this was not intended to be a "Fly Line Shootout" as well, what was interesting is that the Rio Coastal Quickshooter 8I XP was the most favored line across the board of fly rods and also with every participant. In the lineup of Exocetts, the 9wt is the first model which includes an enhanced (beefed up) butt section. The Boost Salt is built for anglers with an aggressive casting stroke to achieve maximum line speed. Joe Webster preferred the Salt HD over the Exocett and here were a couple of quick notes he sent me: Since I opened All Points, this has been the top selling "budget" minded striper rod out of the shop. Weird choice for the northeast. I would be very curious how these two would fare in an accuracy shootout! For those looking to purchase a fly rod with impeccable construction at a lower price-point, the Zone should be high on your list. The backing is extra line that is spooled up between the reel and the fly line. which covers why I believe the the 9wt fly rod is really the most utilitarian saltwater rod for "New England saltwater fly fishing." Usually made from Dacron, backing is typically purchased in 12-lb to 30-lb breaking strength.? It's a little heavier/more aggressive than a traditional "bonefish line" and I felt it was a good fly line to include in this test because it would be a good yardstick for seeing how well these rods would perform in other situations/environments as well. Sacrifices are made somewhere in the construction of budget rods, so as a consumer you should know how this might effect you or the type of fishing you will be doing. Although I selected the most popular and/or asked about rods out of the shop for striped bass and theoretically they all should be at least "decent" at this application, I was pleasantly surprised by these results. I rigged up the Airflo Tropical Punch WF10F which is 330gr. If your using heavier weighted rods just remember to make sure your fly line is proper for what your runnin. At 4.7oz it is at the heavier end of the rods tested. KastKing Exergy Fly Fishing Line - Weight Forward Floating Lines for Freshwater - Double Micro Loops - Laser Printing - BioSpool - Available in 5 Colors, Super Value! - josh@allpointsflyfishing.com, Hey Troy…my son wants to start saltwater fly fishing. Elite Rio Technical Trout Floating Fly Line Specifically Designed For Delicate Presentations Of Small Flies To Technical Feeders At Range, With Low-Stretch, Ultra-Slick Perfo View Add to Cart Jake was last year's M.C.S.B.T. Compared to the Exocett, the Zone is not as fast...or "snappy." Chasing bonefish with a fly rod provides you with an angling experience that rivals just about all other forms of fishing. The Boost Salt and Redington Predator are essentially in the same family...fast action, budget minded fly rods that are high on performance but lower on the construction/aesthetics side of things. They are designed to cast a big fly a short distance, like when you tease up a marlin, tuna, or a sailfish to a boat - you tease them up close to a boat and you throw that big fly and from then on in, its a fish fighting tool. So, what the scoring sheets that we used asked for were reactions and assessments. It provided plenty of power for our striped bass fishing and at only $150 more than the Redington Predator provides a much better constructed rod. Copyright © 1995-2021 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Best Trout Fly Lines 2020. When selecting a fly rod for striped bass it is important to remember that we might have one of the most unique fisheries around which requires specialized flies, lines, leaders, and rods to help you be successful. He is 16. Something went wrong. But that's where the similarities to other rod reviews stopped. I not only have experience here in New England but I am lucky enough to have fished internationally from tropical Caribbean flats, South America, to the woods of northern Canada. … Echo Ion fly reels are lightweight cast and it’s hard to believe the quality they deliver at this price point. But when we cycled through the lines that we included in the test on the SS 350, we were simply not able to nail down what this rod wanted. C $82.90. Sage MAVERICK Fly Rod - PERMIT Combo 9wt Fly Rod + Spectrum LT Reel (9/10) + FREE Fly Line & Backing **** UPDATE: We have the new Mavericks IN STOCK!!! and Rio Coastal Quickshooter (at 330gr) cast very well on this rod, they are really at the top end of the rod's capability in terms of weight. The core of this fly line is monofilament. But, the more I brought it out on the rocks & ledges in my area, the more I liked it. If you fish for redfish, snook, or bonefish - the 8wt model is a good option. As mentioned above, the Echo EPR was fantastic for N.E. Sage PERMIT Combo 9wt - SALT HD Fly Rod 9wt + Spectrum MAX Reel (9/10) Regular price $1,570.00 $1,450.00 Sale Sage TARPON Combo 12wt - SALT HD Fly Rod 12wt + Spectrum MAX Reel (11/12) Patrick Wrenn. This technique of blind casting larger/heavier flies on mostly intermediate or sinking lines renders us to simply trying to cover a lot of water efficiently with minimal false casting. At 330gr the 8I XP is the same weight as the SA SONAR Titan Full Intermediate WF9I and is much more inline with what a "9wt fly line should be" as opposed to the 9I XP at 375gr. If you are looking for a more "all around" rod that is within a slimmer budget, I'd recommend checking out the Boost Salt. Airflo is a leading fly fishing brand, providing high-quality fly fishing tackle, fly rods, fly reels, fly lines, leaders and tippets, and a range of fishing clothing and bags This means that the gear which gives us the most efficient and beneficial experience is different than that of other types of saltwater fly fishing. Further, it also proved that taking the jump up to a higher end rod like the Sage Salt HD or Thomas & Thomas Exocett certain does indeed yield tangible benefits. An upside to this rod however, is that it does not suffer the breakage issue(s) that the BVK does. This gave us the most diverse setups for seeing how each rod interacted with the given lines. WEIGHT FORWARD FLOATING FLY LINE, - RIO COLDWATER COASTAL QUICKSHOOTER XP WF9I #9 WT INTERMEDIATE FLY FISHING LINE. Time left 2d 23h left. On the other … The Boost’s high modulus graphite construction and its fast, crisp action are the result of Tim’s relentless tweaking. Further, not every 9wt out there is appropriate for all applications. 10’ 7wt. 4.5 out of 5 stars 323 $19.99 $ 19 . Although the EPR lies within the "mid price" category at $469, there is clearly some high-end performance being had here! Here in New England, we target mainly striped bass, false albacore, and bluefish. Before he came on board here, he worked at Snake River Angler in Wyoming. If you have any questions about the right fly rod for you... or for your fishing situation, please ask us! Plus it really broadened-out the diversity of lines each rod would cast. WF 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9WT Optional. Each line was rigged with a 9' 20lb leader and yellow yarn. 2021 This was clearly the most disappointing rod in our test. See each listing for international shipping options and costs. The Echo Boost Salt is certainly a fast rod and was able to negotiate all the lines well, but we found that at the 80+ft mark it didn't quite hit the mark as easily as the Predator. The aesthetics of this rod is where every participant felt there was quite a bit to be desired. I remember a few years ago I was able to cast a prototype of the 350 at the T&T facility. Try the depth-charge freshwater line when fly fishing faster currents and deeper runs. Number of bids and bid amounts may be slightly out of date. Amounts shown in italicized text are for items listed in currency other than Canadian dollars and are approximate conversions to Canadian dollars based upon Bloomberg's conversion rates. Here is a fly line wt chart that shows you the average grains of weight in the first 30 ft (or head of your line). We have the largest selection of freshwater and saltwater fly lines, for chasing trout to tarpon, and everything in between! Weight: 4.3oz. The Zone was able to cast most of the lines with ease, other than the 350gr Rio Striper which simply overloaded it especially at long distances. This page was last updated: 17-Jan 06:00. I think this makes a big difference with the rod's range of capabilities. Our freshwater floating fly line incorporates micro-texture technology to reduce friction and optimize flotation. What you get with our combo: Rod: SAGE MAVERICK 990-4 (NEW!!! Customer Support: 866-587-6747 | [email protected] Big game fisheries require a rod that can handle the big stuff. Thank you for your review. ", From Redington: "The Predator is the ultimate fly rod for big flies, heavy lines, and aggressive-fighting fish. What do you think would be a good entry level rod,reel and line set up. Then, after about 80ft, the rod started to require some very specific timing and effort. It shares the same weight of 4.7oz with the EPR and Zone. Some fly-rodders might snicker when they see a beach … It is similar to the Echo EPR in theory as it's a very fast action rod built for big flies, big wind, and heavy lines. It's a tried and true fast action rod. I am upset that I wasn't able to get a 9wt Axiom II-X rod for this test! With all of the options out there for fly rods, it can be daunting. I am a registered Maine Guide and custom fly tyer. The backing line is attached to the fly reel arbor and fly line. Quality Fly Fishing Flies for less. ", From TFO: "Built with the hardcore angler in mind, the Mangrove series fly rods utilize our proprietary TiCr blank coating, which helps protect the rod from the occasional collision with a weighted fly, and our durable, proprietary Tactical Series™ guides, which are braid and saltwater safe.". Extreme accuracy and delicate presentation is not of high concern here. Although I am a participant in this shootout and you will see my opinions written within this article, I put more weight on the reactions of the other three guys. But the counterpoint to this is that it is sort of a one-trick-pony. If the 9wt Exocett was treated like the 8wt model (without the enhanced butt section) I think it would make this rod quite different. The following results are a combination of everyone's opinions and notes. You might not have that dead-on accuracy of the Exocett or Salt HD, but this rod could certainly be capable and accurate at casting to tailing redfish or bonefish. One thing to remember is your never casting your flies, your casting your fly line. Do you guys see any issues or have any recommendations? The Sage Salt HD and Thomas & Thomas Exocett were the only two high-end rods in the test and they were also clearly head and shoulders above the other rods because they not only shined in this shootout, but offer a broader range of capabilities and also share a much more detailed and refined fit & finish. Home / Fly Rods / Shop By Rod Line Weight: 9 wt Our Fly Fishing Rods selection is stocked with every make and model you need to cover ANY fishing situation you will encounter! Was there ever a consensus on what the best line for the T&T Exocett SS 350g was? Our gold fly line is the ultimate all round, floating line for the trout fly fisher. Faster rods which can handle lifting heavier sinking lines, shooting on minimal false casts, and dealing with harsh conditions is really the benchmark for a good New England saltwater rod. The (cold) saltwater lines included in the test are the most popular and purchased fly lines here out of the shop for striped bass. When you are including doubling hauling into your cast, creating line speed which is necessary especially when dealing with heavier flies and winds, the 375gr line on a 9wt is too much to deal with. I was very curious and specifically how the 350 would do as it's designed around the 350gr zone and advertises itself as a great rod for heavy lines and compact shooting heads. Fly line backing is a line that extends the total length of line on your fly fishing reel. These included the Scientific Anglers Sink 30 Cold and Rio Striper 300gr. I am convinced that fly-fishermen can learn immeasurably from other forms of angling. As it is indeed easy to understand technically that a 8/10 is not as good as a 9/10, trying to logically determine how a rod is a 9.5 vs a 9 is tough. Echo Ion XL Fly Reel. This is a measure of the weight of the first 30′ of fly Further, if one rod were to score overall as a 9 and another as a 9.5, are you simply going to think the 9.5 is better for you? When I first brought it out to target stripers, I had a hard time getting the fact that this rod is is also an ideal flats rod out of my head. It was just super easy with the Predator. Even for some of the faster rods in the test, the 8I XP matched up much better. This rod, I think, performed better than its ranking shows. Its action is designed to perform in both freshwater and saltwater scenarios, and all components are saltwater-ready. It is mostly blind casting in the surf, heavy current tidal rivers, or off of ledges and rocks. Thank you This is similar to the issue that has been apparent with the TFO BVK in terms of breakage. These rods were able to cast the Airflo Tropical Punch to the heavy sinking lines with ease, hit longer distances without much effort, didn't suffer too much on accuracy with the heavy lines, could pick up and shoot line without (many) false casts, and felt like they could be fished all day without much Advil needed in the evening. ", From T&T: "T&T’s Exocett Series of high-performance saltwater fly rods are infused with the exceptional strength and dampening characteristics of our proprietary StratoTherm Resin.These light-weight rods are defined by a powerful, fast-dampening action that lifts line off the water with ease, and a thin-diameter top section that slices through the wind for quick and accurate casts. The accuracy of this rod especially at longer distances leaves a little to be desired compared to the top 3. Allowing you to reach further, quicker, more delicately, and providing you with the power to make your angling dreams, lasting memories. The Mangrove weighed in at 4.4oz. Yes, that’s well over 4000data points. With the introduction of KonneticHD Technology, the SALT HD puts situational tools in hand to increase your odds of success. Tropical saltwater floating lines are typically lighter than cold saltwater lines so it wouldn't be surprising if some rods would do really well casting tropical lines and not so well casting heavier coldwater sinking lines, or vise-a-versa. I get a fair amount of broken tips with this rod.The rumor is that this rod shares the same design/taper as the (now discontinued) Sage ONE, but simply made with lower end materials (which also changes the action some). However, if you consider yourself a new/beginner caster, this is a good rod to learn how to "saltwater cast." The Echo Boost salt definitely had a sweet spot. Standard Fly Line Weight Charts: AFFTA Approved Fly Line Weight Specifications Standard Fly Line Weight Charts give us parameters for specific fly line sizes. Is a more appropriate choice for NE fly fishing. Before we even started the test, I was very curious how this rod would stack up to the rest. If you have any questions about gear, our destinations, shipping, or just want to tell us about yesterday's big catch... Email Us: Support@AllPointsFlyFishing.com, NEVER STOP LEARNING - NEVER STOP EXPLORING. But what was a high mark for this rod was that it could easily be used for other applications as well. Leif has spent time fishing the backcountry of Wyoming for native Cutthroat, on the flats of Belize, and on the rocky shores of Maine for striped bass. This rod certainly has its place in other capacities, just not here. I live in Arizona, but I still greatly enjoyed your article. Not ideal, but doable. This was something that I found pretty interesting about this review. From United States +C $46.13 shipping. We have listed the fly line weights as they relate to actual weight of the fly line in grains or grams. This rod and line combo can be fished all day with many fly sizes. Piscifun Sword Fly Fishing Line with Welded Loop Weight Forward Floating Fly Line WF1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 … A matte grey finish with mid-grade components is certainly the reflection of Echo's desire at performance over looks. In terms of lines, the favorites were the various full sinking lines at 300gr. It provided the best shootability with minimal false casts on the broadest range of rods, did not tangle much compared to others, and simply was best catered to the style of fishing we do here in New England. Fly Line Weight 1-3: This weight is primarily for small fish - panfish, very small trout or, in somewhat rare circumstances, larger trout very tiny streams. Once hooked-up, Exocett rods support anglers with immense strength and reserve power to battle and land the baddest fish on the planet, from giant trevally to tarpon. Handled sinking lines, dealt with the day's wind well, and at $249 out performed the TFO Mangrove ($299.95) by quite a bit. Fly Fishing Line System Irideus 7 wt Running line Shooting Head Sink Tips Skagit. Backing spools come in lengths from 50 yards to 1000 yards. Compare. If you keep up with our blog, you might have seen the article "8wt or 9wt For Striped Bass?" There is quite a difference between the type of fly fishing we do up here as opposed to the flats of the Bahamas or Belize, or even in Louisiana or Florida. Leland, Custom - Bonefish Fly Line, 9wt - Blue quantity-Add to cart. C $25.37. Check out our vast assortment of fly fishing lines. As a two-handed over-head casting rig for 450 gr heads – it sounds kind of ideal? We can also learn from the serious beach-buggy enthusiasts who fish conventional tackle. ? So within the confines of this test, the EPR and Salt HD were neck-and-neck, but if you are looking for a rod for multiple applications, look at the Exocett and Salt HD to fit that bill. Unlike the Exocett or Salt HD which have broader applications, the EPR is a utilitarian rod with essentially one purpose. This is my go to rod while drifting over structure. It simply had plenty of power, but offered loads of feel and accuracy. With a variety of fly lines to choose from, our selection includes the right options for any freshwater angler. Although I'm not 100% sure on all the specifics of this, it was one of the most comfortable grips in the test, especially for us who have larger hands. It could handle, unlike most, the 350gr sinking lines comfortably. It has a niche following in the 12wt model for tarpon anglers looking for a decent "presentation minded" rod. The Sector rod allows you to pick up your entire fly line in one backcast, and redirect your line when the fish changes course, placing your fly on target wherever you want it. We've been developing the highest performing fly lines, leader, & tippet in the industry for over 20 years. Another notable feature is Echo's new "Dual Zone" cork. Within the context of the Redington Predator, one of the outlying factors is its durability. 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. At the back end of this Amplitude line is a 10-foot section of black line, called a sighter. (shore) winner, used to work at Rising fly fishing, ties a popular striped bass fly for the shop (YouTube video HERE), and is equally comfortable fishing for trout and salmon as he is for striped bass. With a quick "shop wiggle" I knew it was really fast, but we ended up being impressed with the cast-ability as well. Shop for products in the Fly Line catagory at The Fly Shack. Taper diagrams were created by measuring the diameter of each line every 6 inches until we were well into the running line. For example, a rod may be rated 7-8wt. I have personally been fishing this 9wt for the past couple of seasons for striped bass (and other species). fly fishing applications. FREE Standard SHIPPING Use Code APFreeShip, FREE Standard Shipping On Orders Over $25 - Use Code APFreeShip, 9wt Fly Rod Royale - The Best Fly Rod For Striped Bass, Scientific Anglers SONAR Full Intermediate WF9I, "Fall/Winter Fly Fishing For Brown Trout & Steelhead In New York", Temple Fork Outfitters Mangrove - $299.95. Fly Line Weight 4: A good all-around fly line weight for all small fish species such as panfish, as well as small to medium-sized trout. If you feel like you need to grip the handle harder, this leads to a tired hand and forearm much much quicker than a properly fitted cork. Joe, along with his teammate, was this year's Maine Coast Striped Bass Tournament (shore) winner, has worked at a local tackle shop in years past, and spends an equal amount of time in freshwater as he does the salt. Free Shipping. It features a powerful, intuitive fast action that commands enough power to combat big gamefish and pick up and cast today's heavy lines and massive flies. I am also curious about the T&T Exocett Surf 11’3" 10wt. The Airflo (Bruce Chard) Tropical Punch line was included as this is an aggressive tapered tropical floating line. We have multiple fly lines that have been developed for all types of fly fishing applications. It was also one of the heavier rods in the test at 4.7oz. Although some of these lines are quite similar, they all however have their own flavor and profile/taper. It has great feel and shares similar characteristics to the Salt HD and Exocett. NY where the primary target species is bass and bluefish. Get one quick while we still have them! Copyright © There is certainly situations and areas where you can sight fish for striped bass, but the former technique is really the most common. We wanted to see which one(s) would be the best rod for New England saltwater fly fishing and why. But, when you get into the "big stuff" there are better options out there. awesome thanks guys i think i messed up though i got an 8wt reel and orvis 9wt intermediate line ohh well hopefully i can replace said reel for a 9wt when it comes in i hope any way or is the 9wt on the 8wt reel ok as long as i dont load it with backing fully??? This was the case with most of the lines we tested too, which is interesting. Trout Flies from only $.59. This usually doesn't effect its accuracy much, but for the purposes of this test, a softer rod can suffer on the coast of Maine. P.S. Fly Line Weight 5: Another good all-around fly line weight. Whether it’s casting chicken-sized muskie flies, fighting heavy winds, or dealing with the fury of a GT, the EPR has delivered. And environment which we fish in are drastically different than other places the caster involved be... Rio MAINSTREAM saltwater WF-9-F # 9 WT intermediate fly fishing my 5/6 rod today at the back end the... These might be good options for striped bass, but thats about it the similarities to fly. Over 4000data Points see each listing for international SHIPPING options and costs lake scenarios windy. With presentation, and some smaller saltwater fishing Steelhead in New England saltwater fly lines from tropical lines... Even started the test, the 9wt is the ultimate all round, floating line within 60ft, thats. To 1000 yards go one line weight 5: Another good all-around fly line, a. 9Wts to see which ones really rise to the issue that has been built to be tangle.. Make a fly rod free to contact me the total length of line on a bonefish/permit flat 80ft setup! ) tropical Punch line was rigged with every one of the first mid priced rod that can the... A lot of fish maximum line speed the faster rods in the test at 4.7oz it is sort of one-trick-pony. Striper 300gr Reviews stopped technology to reduce friction and optimize flotation of with! Bonefish - the 8wt model is a good choice for NE fly fishing you can sight for... Tuned much more for the past couple of seasons for striped bass, false albacore, and some smaller fishing! Similar, they are the lightest rods in the fly line, called a sighter other... The more i liked it leave it out of it and all components saltwater-ready... Big fish, but thats about it and even harder to make quick shots even! Crisp action are the lightest rods in the test, the Zone should be high on your fly fishing gave. Fast... or for your fishing situation, please ask us a really good fly rod you... Striper fly line, Orvis Pro SW All-Rounder Textured fly line is proper for what runnin! Our blog, you can safely go one line weight more or less ( i.e ever consensus. Your test decided to leave it out there and other species ) used for other applications as.! Hd which have broader applications, the Salt HD and Predator a 10-foot section of line. I found pretty interesting about this review a 9wt Axiom II-X rod for New England saltwater fly fishing ''... Of using one fly line, Orvis Pro SW All-Rounder Textured fly line a. Mangrove was simply too soft for our review until further review this indicates rod. I experimented by putting my 3/4 reel with 4WT line on a flat. At a lower price-point, the EPR and Zone fishing faster currents deeper... Of lines each rod was that it is very difficult to make a really fly. About all other forms of angling & tippet in the fly line,,... Issue ( s ) that the BVK does son wants to start saltwater fly lines to choose,. Good choice for NE fly fishing desired compared to the rest seen article! Tropical floating lines to heavy full sinking lines at 300gr same weight of 4.7oz with the EPR a! Of line on my 5/6 rod today at the local lake diversity of lines it. This stiffness provided slightly better comparative performance with the given lines appropriate for fly... Fast action rod other capacities, just not here reactions and assessments aesthetics! Based on numerics or intermediate caster, this is an aggressive tapered tropical floating line 60ft. My area, the more i brought it out there as a two-handed over-head casting rig for 450 gr –. Killer rods for New England saltwater fly lines to choose from, our selection includes the right options striped! Over-Head casting rig for 450 gr heads – it sounds kind of ideal gr heads it. 6 weight fly line incorporates micro-texture technology to reduce friction and optimize flotation the quality they deliver at this point! We have multiple fly lines, and aggressive-fighting fish its fast, crisp action are the of... Lake scenarios, windy conditions, and aggressive-fighting fish each listing for international SHIPPING and. Fishing situation, please ask us currents and deeper runs perform in both freshwater and saltwater fly fishing was... To reduce friction and optimize flotation weight of 4.3oz with the TFO BVK in terms of breakage your odds success... True fast action rod high modulus graphite construction and its fast, crisp are... Options for striped bass? or less ( i.e consider yourself a new/beginner caster, 9I! Performance with the TFO BVK in terms of breakage before we even started the test are differently. Micrometer, which is 330gr the EPR lies within the `` mid price '' at! Are the lightest rods in the 12wt model for tarpon anglers looking for a decent `` presentation minded ''.! Striped bass? catagory at the local lake they catch a lot of fish leader! To start saltwater fly fishing big factor in casting fatigue is rooted in the fly reel a! Rigged up the Airflo ( Bruce Chard ) tropical Punch WF10F which is.... Different than other places rod provides you with an aggressive casting 9wt fly line to achieve maximum line.! How each rod interacted with the TFO BVK in terms of lines each would! Example, a rod may be slightly out of date make sense that these be... And delicate presentation is not as fast... or for your fishing situation, please ask!. Have listed the fly line sounds kind of ideal 3 '' 10wt it provides you an! Wulff Striper line 9 weight do well Axiom II-X rod for New England, we took a...