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2002 Rod
Review
The flyfishinginmaine.com testing crew spent this past spring and early summer field-testing some of the hottest rods from the top companies. All models tested were 9' 5-weight 4-piece rods, except for the T&T Vector, which was a 3-piece. We fished the
se rods hard, against trout, salmon, smallies and even Stripers! See how they fared in our tests, and how they'll fare against your pocket book!
 - FFIM
Testing Rating (1 = Worst, 5 = Best)
LL Bean - Double L
Rating: Price: $265
The Double 'L' proved to be a slower, yet very capable less expensive rod,
when compared to the rest of the bunch. Make no mistake, this rod can still pack a punch when loaded properly. We were very impressed with the overall feel to this rod, and just how smooth the Double ‘L’ could cast line. If you are looking for a rod th
at can cast a variety of different fly sizes, and also help to compensate for occasional sloppy cast, look no further. We would choose the 'LL' as a mid-priced alternative to the SLT, for those who are looking for a more classic feel, and want to save a
few dollars. Remember, more expensive isn’t always better!
LL Bean - Orion
Rating: Price: $305
The Bean Orion, newest model in the LL Bean line, cast very nicely. It has a crisp fast action, with a slightly reduced sensitivity when compared to the similar Scott S3, Sage XP, and T&T Vector. This rod carries a matte black finish, some might call it a
"stealth' finish, as it lacks the shiny luster of a gloss-finished blank. The reel seat and spacer were noticeably more modest, when compared to the styling of the S3, XP and Vector. This is one area in rod building that we think helps LL Bean keep their rod prices down when compared with other rod makers. Carbon colored, single foot guides give this rod a progressive appearance, and also help to reduce overall weight. We'd recommend this rod for those looking for fast action and performance, without a
lot of the bells and whistles that get used when making a high end flyrod.
Sage - XP
Rating: Price: $585
The Sage XP is a powerful yet smooth fast action rod, with a progressive taper and a soft tip. Our favorite setup on this rod was our sink tip line, as it handled the extra weight with both a power and finesse. This rod loads like a canon, and can cast a
distance to match. We were very impressed with the rod, and feel that it makes a fine choice for those experienced casters looking for a great all around rod, because this one will do it all. For this reason, we recommend this rod as a real workhorse in
the 5-6 wt. category for trout on medium to large sized rivers.
Sage - SLT
Rating: Price: $585
We also tested the SLT model, a new introduction to Sage’s lineup this year. This rod can be defined as a medium-fast action rod, with a nice smooth feel to it. We really like this rod's sensitivity for fishing small nymphs on rivers, and for casting drie
s on big and small water. We'd recommend you stay away from over-lining this one though, as there is simply no need. The slower action may take a little getting used to for those who prefer a real fast rod, as you must slow your stroke down a bit and wa
it for the line to load. One of my field testers commented how he felt this rod was designed with the intention of allowing more time in between casts to appreciate the surroundings on that river or lake, and just why we fly fish. One thing is for sure,
this rod was truly a pleasure to cast.
Scott S3
Rating: Price: $560
We liked this rod the best of the bunch, as it seemed to do it all for us, and with very little effort. Smooth and soft with dries, sensitive with the nymphs, and yet plenty of punch for launching big weighted streamers and nymphs with sink-tip and full s
ink lines. The patented Scott Slim-ferrule design is another notable feature, allowing straight lines up the rod, with no "bubbles" or overlaps at the ferrules, as on a traditional blank. We are not really sure what advantage this has, but wanted to point
it out. It may also be noteworthy to mention that although none of the Flyfishinginmaine field testers had much previous experience casting Scott rods, after fishing this one, we now look very forward to any and all other chances we may get to ca
st another!
Thomas & Thomas - Vector
Rating: Price: $650
This sweet rod from Thomas & Thomas came in a close second in our testing, as the consensus overall favorite. The design and aesthetics are definitely top-notch, with nothing spared going into manufacturing of this one folks! The rod also carries a price
tag to match, coming in at $650 for 9' 4pc 5wt as tested. Performance of this rod was excellent, serving up long powerful casts, smooth delicate presentations, and superior sensitivity. The midnight blue blanks are handsome and the zebra wood spacer, wit
h nickel silver hardware is a perfect match. T&T goes out of their way to impress their rod users, right down to the custom cloth sheath that embraces each rod section safely within the storage tube. You will find a thin, plastic rod sewn down the lengt
h of the sheath, that won’t allow the cloth to ever bunch up. As fisherman, we all know how much easier this makes taking out and put away the sheath back into the tube when it is not housing the rod sections. Although this special feature won’t help yo
u catch more fish, it’s just one of the many attention’s to detail that T&T uses, and that we hope more fly rod makers will pick up on in the years to come.
Thomas & Thomas - Horizon
Rating: Price: $560
The T&T Horizon was our least favorite rod tested, which is not to say is not a nicely constructed and fine rod to fish. It seemed very stiff, and was much more suited to a 6wt sinking line, shooting weighted flies such as big buggers, than any 5 wt with
a dry or nymph. Infact, we found it hard to believe it was even a 5 wt rod. The Horizon was also tiresome to cast, as it began to feel heavy and stiff after an hour of fishing. This one is definitely not an “all-arounder” folks. This rod might be more
suitable for those fishing Alaska and catching 2+ lb fish on every cast. We would recommend that folks look to this rod for over-lining and fishing bigger flies, as they will aid in loading it much better.
If there was one important lesson that was learned after fishing the “Horizon”, it was just how important it is to actually test your next rod before purchasing it. Don’t just take the advice of one fisherman or company over another without even testing
a rod for yourself before buying your next one. You need to make sure your next rod will be able to do everything you hope it will. Every fly caster has their own expectations on what a rod will do for them. It is important that you are able to attain
your expectations and not those of someone else. That is why we hope that you use our experiences testing these rods only as a supplement when picking and choosing your next one. Nothing should replace getting out there and casting them for yourselves be
fore buying!
We also would like to thank all of the companies that participated in the
rod review. We had a blast fishing your rods and look forward to the next
rod review.
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