[msteudel]

I've been fly fishing for quite some time now and I'm still using the first rod I built, a bottom end St. Croix 5wt blank. I fish enough (in my mind) to justify buying something like a helios or equivalent high end rod, but I don't know the rod scene well enough to know if rods like the helios are overpriced or if they are worth the cost? I would like to buy a rod with a great warranty, the hassle of not worrying about the rod when traveling, is worth paying extra money. For my primary 5wt should I stick with medium flex or look at tip flex rods? What else should I be thinking about?

TIA, Mark

 

[topcd098]

I would look at the TFO. I have a 7wieght 10ft that I LOVE!

 

[Poopy McButtfart]

Depends what your budget is and what you're after. I don't think a rod has to be expensive to be good. I think companies like Echo make rods in the lower price points that are every bit as good as rods 2-3x the price. My opinion is that as long as you have the right size/length rod for what you're doing, and have a good line, you're fishin just fine. I fish 2-3x a week, and fish inexpensive rods (Echo, TFO, and a Guideline that I splurged on).

 

[Rick Todd]

All the top end rod makers have an excellent warranty. You have developed your casting rhythm and you are comfortable with that, so go cast a bunch of rods and see which action suits you. I have Winston, Sage, Loomis and St Croix rods and I like them all for different types of fishing etc. Rick

 

[Kaari White]

You really need to go cast some rods to see what you like and what you don't. For me, the best 5-weight I've ever cast is a 9' Scott G2. It's an extremely versatile fly rod and can make beautifully precise casts, but has plenty of power for chucking streamers. For an all-around trout rod, I think it's the best out there.

If given the choice, I'd buy a medium action 4 weight and a fast 6 weight with a fighting butt than a 5 weight.

 

[luv2fly2]

i had a rpl that i liked but it broke and before i got it fixed i got a streamdance glx that i really like. i have an echo(10 ft, 6 wt.) that casts as good as a winston or sage in my opinion. the thread above is correct, you gotta get out and throw some rods and some will feel better. mike w

 

[Jason Shutt]

Go to your local shop and cast all the options. Get all your fishing buddies to let you fish their quivers. You'll know just which one feels right in your hand.

Nobody can tell you which brand or which action is 'best'; it's all personal preference. That being said, just make sure if you spend some coin it comes with an unconditional lifetime warranty.

Good luck

 

[Mumbles]

+1 on cast everything you can get your hands on. Friends, clubs, shops...it will find you.

 

[Kent Lufkin]

Hey Mark. +2 on casting demo rods at your local shop.

Asking anyone here what's the best 5wt rod will only result in a bunch of "Get a _______. I've got one and I love it" replies. The problem is that not everyone casts exactly the same way you do. What works great for one guy may not work at all for you.

K

 

[orangeradish]

+1 on cast everything you can get your hands on.

Go to Mumbles' crib. He has one of everything.

 

[Old Man]

Why spend money on something that costs more. The fish don't care what you use.

 

[Sportsman]

Mark, Lot's of good tips already, but if you spun up your first rod, maybe do it again?! The Batson Rainshadow RX8+ is one fine blank. I have several Gloomis GlX and IMX's and while my 2 RX8+ casts differently it is every bit as fine a blank and more forgiving to cast than the GLX. Just a thought!

 

[shastaski]

I am surprised no one has mentioned the Orvis Hydros? It is just like the helios, but with lower cost hardware and a $495 price tag.

 

[Dead Drift]

i have all echo rods, 2 3wts, 3 5wts, and 2 8wts... i will never buy anything else. they are cheap, cast like a dream, and in my experience, when a piece of the rod breaks or is faulty they replace it. i bought my first echo 9' 5wt back when i was probably 14 (im 20 now) and i have used it for everything from summer run steelhead on the skykomish, trout on the yakima, and bass on the snake without even the slightest problem with its casting or fighting ability. the only reason i have more than one rod of each line class is so i can switch from sinking/sink-tip/ and floating line and different types of flies as fast as possible. But seriously... echo rods, i will honestly never buy anything else

 

[John Dude]

The Orvis Hydros series is the same as the Helios, except its 400$ cheaper and you don't get a carbon-fiber rod case.
I really like Echo products, but find TFOs are good.
If you have more cash look at Loomis and Sage products

I've been fly fishing for quite some time now and I'm still using the first rod I built, a bottom end St. Croix 5wt blank. I fish enough (in my mind) to justify buying something like a helios or equivalent high end rod, but I don't know the rod scene well enough to know if rods like the helios are overpriced or if they are worth the cost? I would like to buy a rod with a great warranty, the hassle of not worrying about the rod when traveling, is worth paying extra money. For my primary 5wt should I stick with medium flex or look at tip flex rods? What else should I be thinking about?

TIA, Mark

 

[Richard E]

I am surprised no one has mentioned the Orvis Hydros? It is just like the helios, but with lower cost hardware and a $495 price tag.

Great call! The Helios is one of the best rods out there, and the Hydros is a super value, relative to the Helios (offering Helios performance at a much less cost). With that said, there isn't anything out there that is as light as that Helios. Orvis is a super company, too, and our local shop has some incredible people working there that will provide you great customer support.

I have to agree with the bulk of the folks on here, that you should cast a few rods to see which you like. Ideally, they should be side-by-side, with the same line, so you can get a true comparison. If you have a decent 5 wt line that you don't mind bashing on the asphalt (or may consider that you need to sacrifice a line to find the 'right' rod), take it with you when you cast the rods.

I do disagree that the lower cost rods cast as well as the higher priced rods; generally speaking, I don't find that to be accurate. HOWEVER, do the upper-end/higher-priced rods perform that much better to justify the cost? That's for you to decide. A whole lot of fish could be caught on a piece of fly line attached to a stick, but I woudn't want to do it.

Any top of the line offering from the big guys, like Orvis, Sage, Loomis, T&T, Winston, S,t. Croix they're all good. Redington, TFO, and Echo offer rods that are excellent performers, and are bonafide deals given performance per dollar. I'll get shot for this one, but the top of the line Cabela's rods are excellent, too.

Here's a sleeper for you, though. If you like St. Croix, the Legend Elite they offer is an awesome rod. I think it's one of the most under-sung values out there. It's performance, quality, and hardware is on par with the best out there, for under $500. On a work travel trip to CO I had a couple of hours to spare before flying out of town. I stopped at a local shop and cast a few sticks. I cast a Sage VT2, then a Legend Elite right after, and I couldn't believe how 'clunky' the VT2 was compared to the Elite. The Legend Elite reminded me of a Z-Axis, which is arguably one of the best 5 weights out there.

Go have fun shopping and casting!

 

[Annie Rutherford]

ECHO or TFO.

 

[Matt Marsh]

I have St. Croix, Tfo and 2 Echos and of them all my favorite to cast was the cheapest, the Echo Carbon.

 

[Miso Harney]

I'll get shot for this one, but the top of the line Cabela's rods are excellent, too.

not by me bro! I have sticks in their L-Tech, LST and Clear Creek series and they are all ridiculously good rods for the price......and this is from a guy who owns a lot of Winston, Sage, TFO, Loomis, Cam Sigler and a whole bunch of Redington CPS rods.