The Helios 3F was much lighter in hand at a swing weight of 9.9 oz. But it isnt in the same class as the Helios 3F or the Loomis rods. It's perfect from a boat, shore, or while stalking fish on foot in the flats. But the truth is they treat us just like any other retail fly shop, with no special treatment. Below you will see my notes for each of the rods, but you will also want to read the comments from my son James and Captain Skip Zink, our two other testers, both competent saltwater anglers and excellent casters. The guide wraps are black, trimmed in an attractive blue on the butt section and at the ferrules. For this reason, a fast action rod has become the standard in saltwater fly fishing. The best fly rod suited to your casting style will enable you to deliver a fly to the intended quarry. The head of the SA Amplitude tip is textured for the ultimate in flotation, and transitions to a smoother texture for the remainder of the belly and shooting line, allowing the line to shoot like crazy. The new lightweight, smooth and powerful G.Loomis NRX+ earns the overall win as 2020s best saltwater 8-weight rod. scott meridian vs orvis helios 3 . Both the Asquith and NRX+ were dramatically better. Can You Use a Freshwater Fly Rod in Saltwater? In my saltwater arsenal, I have all rod weights from 8 to 12. Post author By ; Post date ben crawford michael crawford; 8227l firmware android 9 . I was surprised it was able to form loops as well as it did, considering the softer feel in the tip. If youre looking for a dedicated bonefish rod this is it. Freshwater. However, there are certain conditions where a freshwater rod could be suitable. Jim Bartschi at Scott gave us a rod that combined a very light swing weight with great power and feel. This fly rod is a workhorse and is also one of our best picks as a bass fly rod. An oversized tiptop is used with no hook keeper. Nice tight controllable loops are giving me superb accuracy, and this rod handles a lot of wind easily. The Sector has some new innovations, the primary one being Scotts new Carbon Web Technology, which it is claimed improves torsional stability and rod durability by encasing the unidirectional fibers in a web of ultra-light multi-directional carbon fiber. Whatever that is, this seems to work, as this rod is a joy to cast, at short to medium distances, giving me a lot of feel in close as well as good accuracy. If you are new to reading our Shootouts however, please click on the link below which will take you to our 2018 8-Weight Shootout. this was the heaviest swing weight in our Challenge. One of the best things about the Meridian is the softer tip, which gives it wonderful feel and control at the shorter distances. Performance at 35 feet: 20 points out of 20. Apart from the specific action and cosmetic finish, the best all-around saltwater fly rod will be durable, have plenty pulling power, and comes with a decent warranty. Did browse information in the net about Ignitor and Helios and the following concerns about each of the rods: Helios 3 - dealing with the strong wind (9 and 10 weight I need mostly for sea fishing) Your email address will not be published. This is a video Scott Sector Fly Rod Review - IFTD 2019 By The Scott Sector fly rod is the hotness for 2020. Steve has given us a magical new NRX+ that blows away everything other than the Asquith in performance. They carry Doublas, Hardy, Winston, and Echo and Orvis I believe. The wraps are black but the one-coat epoxy coatings were just OK, being a little heavy in spots. The question I can't personally answer is if a Helios 3F or 3D is twice the rod as the Recon.Maybe. Saltwater fly casting is all about accuracy. Head rod designer Fred Contaoi reports that they will make a running change to give the SKY G 8-weight more power. 3. You can check out our complete reviews of Hardy fly rods here. It is a great fishing rod, especially in the 8 and 9-weight varients. Yeah it's all that. The components and finish of a saltwater specific fly rod are selected to be hard-wearing and deter corrosion. The Scott Meridian is absolutely flawless at 35 feet. Like the Tibor and Abel reels weve used in the past,the Nautilus reels are bulletproof and will provide a lifetime of enjoyable service. A short extension butt is used with a wider rubber cork cap that will be comfortable to use when cranking hard on a fish. With no wind I would be tempted to score the Meridian a perfect 20, however while the power is there, accuracy wasnt quite as good as the Asquith or NRX. The guide set up uses two of the new CeRecoil nickel/titanium stripping guides like the Scott Sector, with a slick zirconia ceramic insert. I noticed that it didnt fare as well in the wind as a couple of the best rods in our test, but there are only a few that best the Meridian at long range. The main reason for this was feedback from Key West pros and guides who wanted a rod that can handle a Grand Slam or Tropical Punch line, since many of their clients are not experts at double hauling and these heavier, front loaded lines enable the clients to have the best chance for longer casts in the wind. But I cant punch in the power quite as hard as I can with the Asquith. I had a lot of trouble maintaining good loops in the wind. They are fishing tools that can improve an already great cast. You can never go wrong with an Orvis. This hurt it when trying to hit the longest targets at 80 and 100 feet ones that the Asquith and NRX+ hit with ease. I just cast the 8'5" 8 wt on Woodward the other day. If you are thinking about buying a fly rod, we suggest reading one of our Shootouts for the line size rod you want. This is one of the four rods that tied for the lightest swing weight in our Shootout. The titanium snake guides are very large and durable, but also thin and light at the same time. 5. The big thing that separates the NRX+ from the other rods is how smoothly it casts. Ive even seen one land a 95cm giant trevally in large surf conditions in South Africa. Line Weight: 5. A good 8-weight saltwater fly rod doubles up well to target larger freshwater species such as bass, golden dorado, and salmon. It is super-accurate, and gave me great feel and control. Although you might be able to land a large saltwater fish on a 6-weight, the prolonged fight, due to the low pulling power, will place excessive stress on the fish. Plenty of guts to throw long, with very good loop control and amazing accuracy. Sure, there are days where the tide, wind, and the guides plans work out perfectly and you land a super grand slam. I can hit 100 feet but only when there isnt much wind. Bde danske, svenske og amerikanske reviews. The Asquith, with its softer tip offers the ultimate in power and feel, and was created with the SA Bonefish line in mind. With spooky, pressured fish becoming the norm, more guides are instructing their clients to make a quick roll cast, which creates less movement than a regular cast. I could hit the longest distance easily and here it was better than the Helios 3F but nowhere close to the Asquith or NRX+. A great performance in close. So if you like what we are doing, and found our 8-weight Challenge helpful, the best way to thank us is to buy a rod, reel, or outfit from the Yellowstone Angler. The question What is the best saltwater fly rod? will undoubtedly provoke many lengthy discussions. The Helios 3F is a fast action rod, and the action is about perfect with its softer tip. Nothing has changed about the Meridian, however this year the Asquith had the edge at 80 and 100 feet. The Aetos is also a surprisingly handsome rod. (tie) Scott Meridian 58.5/60 $865.00. For this reason, I recommend buying the best 9-weight you can afford. Durability is an area where many saltwater fly rods fall short. If you are looking for that perfect saltwater outfit, then check out this link for ourFavorite Saltwater Outfits. There is some light blue trim on the butt. That means when you go on a trip youll take 4 rods with you. I found the snake guides on the Helios 3F to be slightly smaller than the ones on the NRX+, especially up near the tip. A gray anodized double uplocking reel seat is used with a light but highly impact resistant dark green CI4+ insert. Go for a casting lesson or two. But as reflected in the Performance scores, it was down on power at the longest distances. At mid-distances like 45-75 feet, (that I find myself fishing an 8-weight most of the time), nothing can touch the Asquith. When it comes to the best saltwater fly rod, the Meridian is hard to beat. I use a Scott radian for some of my fishing, which would have similar characteristics to the above . A good 10-weight fly rod has ample pulling power, but can still protect tippet down to 20lb breaking strain. Orvis has totally revamped the Recon series and this is a much different (and better) rod than the original Recon 8-weight. Again, more butt and mid-section power are needed. The G-7/8 is just a size down from the G-8/9 Nautilus that won our 2014 8-weight Reel Shootout. The rest of the guides are the good nickel/titanium snakes similar to what Loomis and Orvis use. Scotts latest offering, the Sector, replaces the Meridian that so many of us loved. Although the NRX+ was able to beat the Asquith on price and warranty, allowing it to finish first in our Final Results, the Asquith retains its crown as the finest 8-weight fly rod in our Performance Only category. Table. One of the things I like the most about the Meridian is how well it roll casts. The Meridian feels the lightest and has a slight lighter swing weight edge over the Zephyrus. The Scott Sector is an outstanding fly fishing tool. At the longest distances the 3F just didnt have the power to get it done as easily as the Asquith or NRX+. The Orvis Helios 3F, Scott Sector, and Douglas SKY G all perform with excellence up to 60 feet but lack power when casting at the longest distances of 80-100 feet, or when battling a headwind. When used in the top half of the rod, this creates a thin diameter tip section with excellent swing weight, but more importantly helps the rod to recover and dampen extremely quickly. I deliberately refrained from choosing the heading of this section as Lifetime Warranty. Centric. This rod has no problem dealing with tarpon and jack crevalle. Even though most anglers have their favorite saltwater fly rod, there are some characteristics that these rods share. Together with the Asquith, G Loomis offers two high-end saltwater rods that will suit any fly anglers needs. I could hit 80 feet, but my cast timing had to be right on the money. An 11-weight marks the switch over to a rod that is dedicated for large fish. 22. In this 8-Weight Challenge, the Asquith and the new NRX+ are the only two rods that perform extremely well at all distances. The NRX+ series are powerful rods in general but are also dampened better than any of the other rods weve found, including the Asquith. And how does the new re-designed Recon compare to the original Recon? And now, Helios 3 rods take another giant step ahead of other Orvis rods and the competition. For those who dont like the textured coating, SA also offers an Amplitude smooth option for $99.95. The winner of our 2016 8-weight Shootout very nearly pulled it off again this year and is still the fantastic rod. In this section, I go over 5 of my favorite saltwater fly rods. Call us at406-222-7130, or e-mail us at[emailprotected]and we can discuss your needs and wants. The reasoning for this was that many new saltwater anglers have trouble double hauling and the heavier line will help them flex the rod better. This, combined with the high modulus carbon fiber, produces a rod with incredible pulling power. This regular practice will ensure that your favorite rod will last for years. Born of the same lineage as the coveted Helios 3D and 3F, the Blackout series was created with specialization in mind. Still surprisingly good, but I can tell it is starting to run out of steam. Personally, I dont like the six inches of white logo on the butt section but it sure jumps out at you from the rod rack in a fly shop. The Meridian has a very light swing weight, a comfortable cork grip, great power, excellent accuracy, and fabulous feel. easton rebel vs rival. In close the Echo Prime was much better. The rest are the superb nickel/titanium recoil snake guides that will never bend permanently or break, followed with an oversize tiptop. The guide setup starts with two titanium frame SIC style guides that are slightly smaller than what Orvis or Scott use, but they seem to work perfectly and shoot line well. Being able to deliver the fly into the feeding zone of the fish is the single most important element in saltwater fishing. I designed these leaders with very stiff butt and midsections, and a short taper that allows them to turn over extremely well, even in a harsh wind. For example, although Ive been fly fishing for most of my life, I prefer a slightly slower action saltwater fly rod. This was one of my favorite rods at 80 feet. scott meridian vs orvis helios 3. If youre going on a trip to a remote island you want something durable. The other is the expeditor warranty policy that gets you a new rod in just a few days but can cost up to $250. This new Mega Modulus+ graphite fiber is slightly higher in modulus but has a much higher strain rating than what Loomis used on the previous NRX rods. Casting a relatively large or heavy fly, sight casting to a fish at 60-plus feet, and wind. Theyve been top of their game for years. Orvis has packed a bunch of technological advancements into these rods and they're lighter, more accurate, and more dynamic than ever before. Alignment dots are used on the ferrules and there is no hook keeper. Review: Orvis Helios 3D Blackout 9' 5" 5-weight fly rod Review: Orvis Recon fly rod Review: Orvis Clearwater 11-weight 9'4" fly rod Obviously, the light weight makes the Recon pleasant to carry around all day, especially if you spend a lot of time hiking. Therefore I not so much excited about Sage Salt HD, X, Scott S4S, Meridian, etc. Could any inexpensive 8-weights under $200 outperform the stellar $189.95 Fenwick Aetos? Scott claims that this allows them to build a stronger and one less likely to break rod. My favorite 5 rods are a good starting point and Im sure that they wont disappoint you. After all the praise we have given Loomis rods over the years, anglers might think we are on G. Loomis payroll. Fabricao e Manuteno Industrial Ltda. Of the three rods, the Asquith was the stiffest and most accurate. Our deflection charts have been an integral part of our Shootouts and we have included them again here in our Challenge. (If you have ever experienced hooking the biggest bonefish of your life, only to have it break off due to a line tangle, youll appreciate the larger guides!). One of the drawbacks to the Asquith is the price of $1200, which is $200-$300 more than the other top rods. But Steve Rajeff, wanted a rod that would perform well at short to medium distances also, and gave the rod a softer, more flexible tip. The cork handle is a Steve Rajeff design, a full wells grip that is slightly larger at the front, above the swell, than it is below. The 9 foot #9 and 9 foot #10 have proven to be terrific rods for permit, and for big tarpon I use the 9 foot #11 Asquith most of the time when Im not using my one-piece NRX Pro 1. I felt that the Sector needs more butt and mid-section power to go long. But the things that matter are there, including a modern build designed to reduce wobble and side-to-side movement when casting. Since the weather in January is pretty nasty in Montana, making casting outside nearly impossible, James brought all the rods in this 8-weight Challenge with him to Florida just after Christmas. Another great flyshop that will demo rods is the Painted Trout in Dexter. And for good reason: The technique flat-out catches fish. The rod can handle large giant trevally and tarpon. A flat black anodized double uplocking reel seat is used, with two large locking rings that were very easy to grip and tighten. I own several Orvis Clearwaters and like their warranty program. 2. To make the deflection chart we place the rods at a 45-degree angle and then hang a weight of 6.2 oz from the tiptop. The key to this power and smoothness is a utilization of three things: Mega modulus + graphite, GL 8 resin, and a new multi-taper design. A comfortable full wells cork handle is used with a stack of very high quality thin-width cork rings as on the Loomis and Scott rods. This meant leaving out a lot of very good rods, like the Thomas and Thomas Exocett, the tried and true Sage X, the fabulous Hardy saltwater Zephrus, and the ultra-powerful Loop Cross 7X. We have fished all over the world in both fresh and saltwater for a huge variety of fish, and well be glad to answer all of your questions, to help you choose the perfect rod or outfit. But this rod has plenty of beans to cast long too. They were very accommodating so if you can go there and throw some line with their sticks. Og alle 3 dele er lykkes til fulde. 6. The two-piece Prime uses upgraded Recoil nickel/titanium snake guides, which I would have preferred on the 4-piece rod we tested. Of the top rods, only the SKY G was lighter in swing weight. The Asquith was the first rod to use a radical new design that Shimano calls their Spiral-X technology. Choose this caliber rod when targeting tuna, giant tarpon, and marlin. Fast action. Alignment dots are used on the ferrules, a nice touch. But these days are very few and far between. 2022-06-22; what do these words have in common solver . And once youve picked out the perfect rod, stay and enjoy a few days on the water with one of our top guides. Its not the lightest rod and the components are not that great either, but the fast action is just right and gave me pretty good feel and accuracy, especially at the shorter distances. Over the past three years Ive fished the 8-weight Asquith as my go-to rod for everything from 20-pound rainbows at Argentinas Jurassic Lake, Atlantic salmon in Labrador, to the saltwater flats in the Caribbean and Florida for bonefish, redfish and snook. Nice smoothly controlled loops and lots of feel. Although the SA Amplitude bonefish taper was the best line on the Asquith and the other top rods, we learned that Steve Rajeff designed the NRX+ with a slightly heavier line, the Mastery Saltwater taper, in mind, which is a half line size heavier than the Amplitude Bonefish taper. The guide set up starts with two large titanium framed SIC style stripping guides, followed with large diameter hard chrome snake guides and a large tip top. Rinse the rod after every days use and thoroughly clean and polish the finish once you arrive back home. The NRX range has always been highly regarded in the outer atolls of Seychelles as being incredibly durable. There is a good chance youll like it the best. Craftsmanship has always been excellent on the Orvis Helios rods. The accuracy was good but could not match the top four rods. Still booming! The Meridian is especially sweet at the short to medium distances where anglers are fishing much of the time. The navy and cobalt blue thread wraps look sharp on the signature unsanded blanks. The rod is nicely balanced, allowing easy casting without having to exert much grip-pressure. An oversize tiptop is used, and there is no hook keeper.

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