Looking For New 5 Wt Rod

Where and how are you fishing?
I'd go used NRX lp for dries,
or used Hardy Zenith for nymphs or streamers.

Or used Scott Radian or Winston Biiix.

If you want to buy new with warranty, check out the Sage Pulse, Winston Nexus, Orvis Recon, Loomis Pro4x, Scott Flex.

Might also find a close out Sage One.
There is a nice Winston in the classifieds,

Any 5wt rod will fit the bill. You just have to choose one that YOU would like.

OMJ is correct. What we like to cast may not be what you'd like. Rod choice is a personal one. I own many different brands of 5 weights and do not necessarily like one above all the others. Over the years I've gone from using fast rods to slower action rods so what I once liked to use has changed.

You really need to cast a fly rod to determine if it is something you'd be happy with. The high priced rods are not necessarily a rod for you. One of my favorite rods came from an Orvis beginner kit yet I own much, much more expensive rods.

Sorry, there is no perfect 5 weight for all fly anglers... if there were, you wouldn't have so many different brands to choose from.

GAT said:

Sorry, there is no perfect 5 weight for all fly anglers... if there were, you wouldn't have so many different brands to choose from.

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Or, market base of adequate size to support a large brand pool?

Perhaps there are too many choices. It is Marketing's job to mislead user's into believing there "tool" is correct for the "tool" purchasing them.

Spend $325 on a used high quality rod and spend $75 on a good new line to match.

Ideally find something you can test cast. A big bonus to buying used is if you find you don't like the rod, you won't take as big of a depreciation hit if you decide you want something else.

Kyle Smith said:

Or used Scott Radian or Winston Biiix.

If you want to buy new with warranty, check out the Sage Pulse, Winston Nexus, Orvis Recon, Loomis Pro4x, Scott Flex.

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This^^^ (b3x)

If you can find a Winston WT 8'6" 5wt...many say that is one of the best trout rods of all time. 400$ for a used one can be had. If you are fishing bigger waters mostly, I would get something more on the lines of the Radian or Recon though.

What kind of water are you planning to fish mostly?

Until you let us know what you plan to use the rod for its hard to make suggestions.

Every rod listed here is a fine, top quality rod. That said I would choose some over others depending on the intended use. Looking for an all around, do everything rod? (In my opinion the Z Axis 590 is where I would look). Looking for something to throw nymphs and indicators out of a boat? Need a rod to throw larger dries and some streamers when the 4 wt just won't cut it? Gonna fish stillwaters mostly out of a tube? (I'd lean towards a 10 footer). Gonna throw mostly dries and emergers to rising fish?

Not all five weights are created equal. What you plan to use it for can really help narrow down some suggestions

I'm bordering on being an old fart but still partial to my Sage 590-4 RPL that's 25 years old or so. Pretty versatile rod albeit hard to find. That being said I've not had the opportunity or the inclination to try much of the new technology in 5 weights. Got a spare 590-4 RPL in the closet for the sad day when the original one has an "incident".

saffman said:

I'm bordering on being an old fart but still partial to my Sage 590-4 RPL that's 25 years old or so. Pretty versatile rod albeit hard to find. That being said I've not had the opportunity or the inclination to try much of the new technology in 5 weights. Got a spare 590-4 RPL in the closet for the sad day when the original one has an "incident".

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I feel the same way about my Scott SES 905. I haven't found anything with a similar feel.

Kyle Smith said:

I feel the same way about my Scott SES 905. I haven't found anything with a similar feel.

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Like an old friend.

Has anyone here cast the Sage VXP's you can find on closeout for about $275 - $300 in a bunch of different places? Online reviews seem to be pretty good. Curious why so many are still around though. Seems like have been on sale for months now.