When a new fly rod comes out, there is always praise – often even before the rod has touched the hands of the those offering the praise. Devotees come in all shapes and sizes. There are those loyal to the brand and will love anything with that logo on it, there are folks whose livelihood depends on sales from that company, and there are those absolute gear junkies that go bonkers every time something new comes out.

Let’s be honest: Any time Sage releases a new rod, many anglers go wild. (Imagine some pandemonium.) This excitement comes from brand loyalty on one hand and passion for innovation, improvement, and evolution on the other. With decades of producing extraordinary high performance fly rods, Sage has earned this enthusiasm. And with the new Sage SALT rod, Sage will likely strengthen the devotion of their fans and welcome new boosters.

The SALT will replace the now discontinued Xi3 as the most high-end saltwater-specific fly rod from Sage. While many loved the Xi3 for having a model that perfectly fit every plausible saltwater scenario, some found that the situation-specific make-up of the rod family served too-narrow a casting style or application. While I have friends who found the Xi3 to be the cat’s meow (not their words), my style of casting drew me more to the MOTIVE (the lower-end saltwater rod from Sage) and now the SALT. With the SALT, all anglers might find an ideal saltwater stick.

To first address the components, the SALT uses Sage’s Konnetic Technology® and their finest graphite, Fuji stripping guides, high grade cork, and a uniquely heavy-duty aluminum reel seat. The reel seats for each model also feature a hidden hook holder and even have the rod weight etched on each model. (Note: After recent fumbling on a boat offshore from rod confusion with tuna busting the surface, I find this small feature very attractive.) Finally, the “dark sapphire” color of the rod blank should appeal to anglers who love that deep blue color of saltwater rods.

I casted the 9-foot 8-weight SALT at the Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club in San Francisco with George Revel, club president, competitive casting champ, and owner of Lost Coast Outfitters in the city. For myself, the rod was a joy to cast. Matched with an appropriate 8-weight line, the fast rod allowed me to pick up a lot of line and smoothly and quickly fire it back out there with ease.

This rod casts beautifully. There is plenty of feel in this stiff and fast rod. As someone who takes numerous saltwater trips per year, I am uncompromising when it comes to gear. If I am going to travel 3,000 miles for a shot at a tarpon in the Keys, I want performance I can rely on, and this rod will have a perfect place in my quiver. I can’t wait to get the 9-weight and know that this rod will serve all of my casting needs in demanding, windy saltwater settings in which the trip can be made or broken with a quick 30-foot to 90-foot cast, hopefully followed by a gear-testing battle.

Sage SALT Fly Rod Review from The Venturing Angler on Vimeo.

For George Revel, the SALT also has a place in his gear stash. For Revel, the SALT, “Throws a nice, powerful loop with very little effort … The SALT delivers a really great casting rod – great for bonefish quickcasts, great for backhanded casting, great for shooting quite a bit of line in windy environments.” And Revel has already snagged a 9-weight SALT.

George Revel with a tight loop!

The SALT is just now hitting stores, and the demand is appropriately high. From bonefish to giant trevally and more, the SALT will draw anglers with diverse fly fishing needs. We anticipate some pandemonium!

To check out more on the Sage SALT fly rod, please click here.

And to check out more from George Revel and Lost Coast Outfitters, please click here.

– Tim Harden

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Disclosure: Sage is in a professional relationship with the Fly Fishing Guide Directory, LLC and the Venturing Angler. Though potentially benefiting from this relationship, we do not post what we do not believe to be true. To read more, click here.

Sage recently unveiled their new ACCEL rod with fanfare at ICAST/IFTD, winning best new freshwater fly rod. The ACCEL series feature a medium-fast action and Sage’s Generation 5 graphite technology and come in line weights 3-9. The rod is an attractive emerald color and features a half-wells cork grip. Beyond the physical components, the ACCEL is great to cast, and we recently tested out the rod with Willy George in San Francisco.

Willy George has a reputation as a master caster and a gear fanatic, analyzing specs and performance to strictest detail. George is a professional fly casting instructor and is certified by the International Federation of Fly Fishers as a Master Casting Instructor, which is their highest level of certification. Also co-founder of the San Francisco School of Fly Fishing and an instructor for the California Fly Shop (a local Sage dealer), George was an excellent choice as a rod and casting expert to test drive and review the new Sage ACCEL fly rod.

From George:

I was asked by the Venturing Angler to review the new Sage ACCEL fly rod.  I strung up a 9 foot 5 weight ACCEL on a quiet afternoon at the Golden Gate casting ponds in San Francisco.  Since I hadn’t done any research on this new rod, it was truly a “blind taste test.”  The rod initially felt light in the hand, of course a light reel can help there as well, but my first impression was good.  I typically run a new rod through its paces by first roll casting it and then doing overhead casts.  I start with a short line, about 20 feet of total casting distance, and then extend 10 feet at a time.  I call my testing protocal “short, medium, long, and extra long.”  I find that casting a rod to a single, standard distance, say 45 feet (i.e., with the design spec of 30′ of fly line outside the rod tip) doesn’t tell me much about the “range” of the rod and its true potential as a fishing tool.  I cast the ACCEL overhead a few times and found that the rod bent fairly deeply especially at the medium through extra long distances.  It was definitely a slower action rod than I was accustomed to for rods that had the word SAGE on the label.  I wouldn’t say that the rod was “sluggish” but I did notice that I had to slow down my timing and widen my casting arc to maintain a straight rod tip path.  I asked Tim what line was on the rod.  His answer was a Scientific Anglers GPX WF5F.  This started to explain things.  I knew that the GPX lines were one half weight heavier than a standard line weight.  I went back to my gear bag and pulled out a WF5F line that I knew weighed exactly 140 grains at 30.’  When I switched to that line the rod was much more responsive.  It was still a slower action rod than we typically shake in the shops these days, but I would call it somewhere between a medium and a medium-fast action rod, relatively speaking.  This was a true 5 weight that I was casting — that is a compliment, by the way.

I see this as some good news.  It had been a while since I cast a graphite rod that had slower responsiveness.  It seemed to me that year after year every new rod was stiffer yet and overlining by at least a half line weight had become the norm. But a slower action rod definitely has its place in a fly fisher’s arsenal.  Casting the ACCEL reminded me of some of my favorite all-time rods like the Scott G-series rods and the venerable Sage SP series rods.  I wish I could have done a side-by-side bake off with those two sticks and an ACCEL just for comparison.  My sense is that the ACCEL is a bit faster action than the Sage SP but still a nice step away from the super fast rods of the Sage TCR and TCX eras.

I just returned from fishing the three famous Paradise Valley spring creeks near Livingston Montana – Nelson’s, Armstrong’s, and DePuy’s.  I used either bamboo or my Scott G-series rods on these creeks. I like the gentler presentation and tippet protecting qualities of a slower action rod on this type of stream and I seldom find that I need to cast 80 feet to hook a fish.  In fact, being able to make an accurate cast with only 5 feet of colored fly line out the rod tip is another advantage that a softer rod has over its stiffer cousin.  I think the ACCEL would make a great spring creek rod.  Whether you are on the Henry’s Fork, where I’ve spent upwards of 30 days each of the last few years, or California’s own magnificent spring creek, Fall River, I think the ACCEL would be a great all-around rod.  I remember one day on the Fall River wishing that my fast action Sage rod could magically turn into a Scott G-series rod once I had hooked a fish on 6X. I believe the ACCEL could fill that gap with just enough punch to throw some tight looped distance while also providing a lighter touch to better hook and land fish.

Another perfect application for the ACCEL would be as a nymphing rod.  I find myself using slightly slower rods for the various tight line nymphing techniques (aka Czech/Polish short leader and Spanish long leader) that I am using these days because I like the shock absorber qualities of these somewhat softer rods.

To learn more about the new Sage ACCEL, please click here.

To check out the San Francisco School of Fly Fishing, please click here.

And to check out the California Fly Shop, please click here.

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Disclosure: Sage is in a professional relationship with the Fly Fishing Guide Directory, LLC and the Venturing Angler. Though potentially benefiting from this relationship, we do not post what we do not believe to be true. To read more, click here.

From Seale:
Zeitlos Glass Switch & Spey

With these rods, we believe we have reached the holy grail of glass switch & spey rods. No past or present glass rods are in the same league!

Less effort in the cast combined with an appropriate casting flow will give you the most out of these rods.
These rods feel nothing like what you would imagine when you hear about a glass switch or a glass double-hander over 12′ long. They feel light, and applying smooth control, you won’t believe how fast and how powerful they are!

The 10’7″ 8wt. 4 piece switch (scandi 350-380grain / skagit 410-440grain) is designed for single and double hand use no matter if you want to swing flies, strip streamers or using nymph rigs. In addition this rod makes a great beach rod for stripers and blues where you don’t have to worry about the size of the fish!

Our glass double hand rods come in 12’7″ 6wt. (scandi 350 grain / skagit 410grain) and 12’7″ 8wt. (scandi 480grain / skagit 480-540grain) They are designed for swinging flies in medium-sized and big rivers for trout, steelhead and salmon.
Five pieces for an easy to pack-and-go spey rod. We have done our part and now the enjoyment is up to you.

To check out more from Seele, please click here.

From Orvis:

Manchester, VT (January 2015)— Recon fly rods are a mid-priced fly rod ($425 for freshwater models, $450 for saltwater versions) and offer a big improvement in cosmetics, swing weight, tracking, and overall performance. The tapers are entirely new and are based on the Award winning design protocol used to develop the Helios 2.

“You reach that little extra point in the line length to get a little more load and BAM you just start feeling everything and casting extremely well, like having an epiphany.” Captain Tuck Scott, Bay Street Outfitters

They do not use the same blanks as Helios rods—Recon rods use a blend of intermediate and high-modulus graphite raw material with standard resins, and do not utilize the thermoplastic resins that used in Helios 2 rods. Recon rods use an improved un-sanded ferrule design, which provides better ferrule engagement and fewer issues with the occasional twisting or dis-engagement of ferrules during fishing. Reel seats are subtle black nickel anodized aluminum with a dark burl wood spacer (in the freshwater models) and a plain aluminum spacer in the saltwater models.

“Honestly this is an incredible price for an incredible fly rod. I think about how great this rod fishes and then I think about the MSRP and know that folks will be getting an incredible deal. I won’t be surprised it this is the best seller for the next 3 years.” Colby Trow, Mossy Creek Fly shop

Blanks of the Recon rods are made in Orvis’ Vermont rod shop, and the rods are also finished and assembled entirely in their shop. Even the classic aluminum rod tube is 100% made in USA.
Of special and timely interest are the nine new models that will be released in May of 2015 (see models listed with an asterisk in the rod chart). These models include three 7-foot 11-inch “brush rods” in line sizes 8, 9, and 10, for freshwater bass fishing and for back country fishing for snook and baby tarpon in tight mangrove lagoons. The shorter rods make casts in tight cover easier, and are also superb at fighting fish in close quarters.

To check out more on the Orvis Recon series of fly rods, please click here.

ECHO Base with Tim Rajeff from Rajeff Sports on Vimeo.

From ECHO:

At Echo, we look for innovative ways to deliver quality, performance, and value. At its core, Tim’s design philosophy revolves around the basic premise that you shouldn’t have to sell plasma to afford an awesome fly rod. Improved access to cost-effective, high-quality materials and recent advances in rod building technology give us the opportunity to challenge the notion that the more a rod costs, the better it casts.

The challenge: craft a budget friendly, cosmetically impressive, rock-solid fishing tool.

Any guide, instructor, or shop employee will tell you that a budding angler’s relationship with their first fly rod is not only special, but crucial to future development. Action, power, and overall “feel” can either contribute or detract from the level of enjoyment and productivity new anglers experience on the water. What they need is the right tool, at the right time, for the right amount of dough.

We didn’t invent the value-priced fly rod, we reinvented it. Introducing the new ECHO BASE.

The Echo Base was built with these anglers in mind. Mid-modulus graphite construction produces a medium-fast action with modest power, a combination that performs best over the widest range of casting styles and fishing situations. The blank and components are designed with durability in mind. That, coupled with handsome aesthetics, encourage years of adoration. Accidents happen, so all BASE rods share the same lifetime warranty as all ECHO rods. This series offers the best quality, value, and performance in the industry, and sets the new BASEline for what should be expected from an introductory level fly rod.

The Echo Base is available in weights 4, 5, 6, and 8, and range in length from 8-9 feet. All rods feature low maintenance components and reel seat for durability on the water, and a Cordura wrapped rod tube and sock offer protection when you’re not. Translucent blue gloss blank and silver accent wraps keep it classy, and alignment dots on each section make rigging a breeze. 4-6 weight models: $89.99 (MSRP). 8 weight model: $99.99 (MSRP)

To check out more on the ECHO Base fly rod, please click here.

The Boron III X Winter Video – Dry Fly Fishing from R.L. Winston Rod Co. on Vimeo.

Winston Rods has released a beautiful fly fishing video short with winter dry fly fishing action with the Boron III X rod. Nicely done!

To check out more from Winston Rods, please click here.

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Seele Fly Rods is offering an opportunity to win a Special Edition Zeitlos Pro 8′ 5wt fly rod.

The fiberglass rod is valued at $595 and is described as having a “smooth progressive taper with tip over butt ferrules, antique gold wraps with black trim and matching walnut reelseat.”

The winner will be randomly chosen to those who like or share their Facebook page between now and June 1.

To check out Seele on Facebook, please click here.

Manchester, VT— April 15, 2015 —Casting for Recovery, a non-profit organization offering support and educational retreats for women with breast cancer, is announcing its second year of national sponsorship from Sage Manufacturing. In 2014, Sage again committed a portion of sales from a custom, pink fly fishing outfit, the GRACE, to directly support CfR and its mission. In its second year, the GRACE partnership raised $15k for Casting for Recovery, which is directly applied to helping women diagnosed with breast cancer attend multi-day retreats that teach them to fly fish and assist with the mental and physical challenges of breast cancer, at no cost to them. Both CfR and Sage are excited to continue the partnership in 2015 and hope to see increased success through the GRACE outfit.

“Fly fishing can be therapeutic, so with that in mind, Sage collaborated with Casting for Recovery to create the GRACE Outfit – a custom Sage rod and reel with a RIO Gold Line, all done in signature pink for CfR,” says Tag Kleiner, vice president of marketing. “Our partnership with CfR is amazing. We hope our support allows more women to attend CfR retreats, and we look forward to its continuation in the future.”

“We’re so excited about the success of the GRACE outfit in 2014,” says CfR executive director Whitney Milhoan. “It’s really meaningful to see the team at Sage get behind the GRACE outfit in support of CfR—and having the partnership so well received and supported by anglers across the nation makes it even more special. Thanks to the GRACE, Sage has contributed enough to sponsor 30 women to attend life changing CfR retreats – pretty amazing!”

New for 2015, Casting for Recovery has become an official dealer of the Sage GRACE outfit and RIO Gold pink line. “By giving anglers and CfR supporters a direct online purchase option, we hope to be able to grow our partnership with Sage, increasing the number of women supported,” says Milhoan. In 2015, CfR will host 40 retreats in 35 states and has served more than 6,500 women to date. To learn more about the GRACE outfit please visit http://sageflyfish.com/fly-rods/specialty/grace-rod/, or to purchase directly online from Casting for Recovery please visit http://castingforrecovery.org/store/.

About Casting for Recovery® (CfR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996 by two women—a breast reconstructive surgeon and a professional fly fisher.  CfR’s unique program combines breast cancer education and peer support with the therapeutic sport of fly fishing. The retreats offer opportunities for women to find inspiration, discover renewed energy for life and experience healing connections with other women and nature. CfR’s retreats are open to breast cancer survivors of all ages, in all stages of treatment and recovery, and are free to participants.

www.castingforrecovery.org

www.facebook.com/castingforrecovery

About Sage: Founded in 1980, Sage was created with one idea in mind—to build the world’s finest performance fly rods. Passionate about creating fly fishing products that continually exceed expectations, Sage strives to seek performance advantages through new materials and designs based on a foundation of research and innovation. Sage also offers fly reels, fly lines, apparel, accessories and luggage for avid anglers.

For more information, please visit www.sageflyfish.com Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Vimeo.

From Echo:

With so many manufacturers barking the benefits of increasingly faster actions, it’s not surprising that veteran rod designer Tim Rajeff would ask “why follow the flock”?

All-new for 2015, Echo introduces the first major production run of fiberglass Spey and Switch rods in the industry. Why fiberglass? Good question. Fiberglass recovers more smoothly than graphite, giving the caster a better sensation of how the line is loading the rod. Improved feedback through the casting cycle results in a fun, effortless, bug launching.

Echo Glass Spey and Switch rods feature sensitive tips to protect tippet when slinging surface patterns on a dry line, and plenty of “sneaky power” to catapult long, heavy sink tips with ultimate ease. Steelheaders looking to increase their “hook-to-hand” ratio will be impressed with the way these rods absorb the energy of active, unpredictable fish.

The Echo Glass Switch and Spey series is available now in the following weights/lengths:

From ECHO:

The deafening call for an ultra efficient rod capable of producing blistering line speed with minimal effort has been answered. Enter the ECHO BOOST. The culmination of Tim’s relentless tweaking, the BOOST is built for anglers looking for that perfect balance of power, control, and sensitivity. Crafted from premium high modulus graphite using the latest advances in rod manufacturing technology. The result: a rod that’s “scary light” in hand. With killer features like a sexy slim profile, stealthy matte finish, and all-metal reel seat, we can’t decide which is faster… the cosmetics or the action.

To check out more from ECHO, please click here.

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash. (June 11, 2015) – Redington, maker of performance fly rods, reels, waders, apparel and accessories for fly fishing, introduces two fly rod families for 2016 – the Hydrogen and the Chromer. The Hydrogen meets trout angling needs while the Chromer is the ultimate tool for the two-handed angler.

“We’ve fine-tuned our medium-fast action and used the lightest weight components available in the design of the Hydrogen to give anglers incredible performance for trout angling,” says Redington rod designer Paul Richardson. “The Chromer has a suite of refined, premium actions to suit a variety of casting styles, and anglers will dig the running line polymer grip sections on the handles.”

The Hydrogen is the lightest trout rod in its class. It features single-foot guides for increased tip recovery and a skeletonized, CNC machined, anodized aluminium reel seat to assist in weight reduction. The smooth, medium-fast action blank has a matte grey finish for minimizing flash and all handles are half-wells using high grade, premium cork. Eight models accommodate all trout fishing scenarios and three nymph models complete the family and have a softer tip for easier turnover of heavy nymphs and parallel lines. All Hydrogen rods come in a slimline cordura rod tube with dividers and a lifetime warranty. The Hydrogen series will be available August 2016 for a retail price of $299.95.

The Chromer features a smooth, fast-action blank in matte black and an anodized aluminium, down locking reel seat for improved in-hand balance. The premium cork handle has polymer pinch grips on both the top and bottom to allow easy running line management during spey casts and added comfort during long days on the water. With three switch and five spey models, two-handed anglers can find a size for any steelhead or salmon fishing scenario. The Chromer will come in a cordura rod tube with dividers and a lifetime warranty. This series will be available August 2016 and will retail for $399.95.

About Redington:

Redington brings fun to fly fishing. Redington designs gear that gets the most out of your time spent on the water and in the outdoors. From ready-to-fish reels and outfits to a wide selection of rods, reels, waders and apparel…Redington gives you what you’re looking for. Versatility that performs. Value you need. And, the quality you deserve. Please connect with us at www.redington.com, on Facebook, Instagram or on Twitter.

From Sage:

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WASH. (June 11, 2015) – Renowned fly fishing manufacturer Sage introduces the MOD, designed and handcrafted on Bainbridge Island, USA with Sage’s Konnetic Technology®. Thoughtfully crafted with contemporary line designs, fly patterns, and angling styles in mind, the MOD is a modern interpretation of a moderate action specific for trout fisheries.

“I’ve been thinking about this rod for quite some time now, it was conceived as I fished smaller to medium sized trout streams,” says Sage chief rod designer Jerry Siem. “Konnetic® has made it possible, and it’s quickly become a favorite of our testing team. I like to compare it to the short game in golf, where you need an accurate presentation with a delicate touch. The MOD is optimized for those distances and scenarios.”

In the Spey family, the moderate action of the MOD provides easy and deep loading on Skagit-style lines and soft presentations when paired with a Scandi or long-belly line.

The MOD blank is jade colored and has yellow-green thread wraps with black trim wraps. Fuji ceramic stripper guides and hard-chromed snake guides and tip- top complete the blank. The single-hand rods have a zebra wood insert with gloss black anodized aluminum up-locking reel seat with a Super Plus cork snub-nose half-wells cork handle. The Spey models feature a gloss black anodized aluminum down-locking reel seat with a Super Plus cork fore and rear grip These rods come in a black powder-coated aluminum rod tube with Sage medallion with a black rod bag with jade logo and model tag. The MOD singled-hand fly rods are available in 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 weights in 9-foot lengths, and the Spey models come in a 6 and 7 weight in 13-foot lengths. Each single-hand model will retail for $850, and the spey models will retail for $1050.

About Sage:

Founded in 1980, Sage was created with one idea in mind—to build the world’s finest performance fly rods. From the start, Sage has maintained that singular focus on delivering the finest performance fly fishing rods, reels, and equipment to the avid angler. We are a company of passionate anglers and craftsmen, continually seeking performance advantages through new materials, designs, and engagement with the fly fishing community. We fly fish. You can feel our passion for fly fishing in everything we do. For more information, please visit www.sageflyfish.com Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google+ and Vimeo. 

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WASH. (June 11, 2015) – Complementing the award-winning, medium-fast action ACCEL, Sage’s new BOLT fly rod family is the ultra-fast action take on Generation 5 technology.

“Anglers looking for long distances, fast line speeds and quick recovery in a fly rod need look no further than the BOLT,” says Sage chief rod designer Jerry Siem. “The ultra-fast action of these rods makes high line speeds and tight loops easier, giving anglers the casting confidence needed in demanding conditions.”

The BOLT comes in a salmonfly blank color highlighted with orange thread wraps and black trim wraps. Fuji ceramic stripper guides and hard chromed snake guides and tip-top complete the blank. A stealth black anodized aluminum up-locking reel seat is on both freshwater and saltwater models, but the freshwater has a rosewood insert and the saltwater models are finished with a fighting butt. All models are finished with a snub nose, half-wells cork handle. A black rod bag with salmonfly logo and model tag and black ballistic nylon rod tube with divided liner come with each model. The BOLT comes in 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 weights in 9-foot lengths and will be available August 2015 and will retail for $650.

About Sage:

Founded in 1980, Sage was created with one idea in mind—to build the world’s finest performance fly rods. From the start, Sage has maintained that singular focus on delivering the finest performance fly fishing rods, reels, and equipment to the avid angler. We are a company of passionate anglers and craftsmen, continually seeking performance advantages through new materials, designs, and engagement with the fly fishing community. We fly fish. You can feel our passion for fly fishing in everything we do. For more information, please visit www.sageflyfish.com Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google+ and Vimeo.

From Sage:

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WASH. (June 11, 2015) – Sage Manufacturing unveils the PULSE rod family. From freshwater to the salt, single-hand, switch, or Spey, there’s a rod in the PULSE family for every application. Award winning Graphite IIIe technology ensures power and durability, providing fast action performance and a connected feel. Designed and handcrafted in the US, the PULSE is finished with attention to detail.

“We’ve fished these rods all over the globe to ensure anglers get the most power and durability out of a handcrafted, fast action rod made here on Bainbridge Island, USA,” comments Jerry Siem, Sage chief rod designer. “The PULSE are finished with custom-designed componentry and eye-catching cosmetics at an unbeatable price.”

The PULSE features a lichen blank with olive thread wraps and black trim wraps. Hard chromed snake guides and tip-top combine with the Fuji ceramic stripper guide to complete the blank. Both freshwater and saltwater models use a gloss black anodized aluminum up-locking reel seat that sits under the snub-nose, half-wells cork handle. The freshwater models have a rosewood insert and the saltwater models are finished with a fighting butt. Each model comes in a black nylon rod tube with divided liner. The PULSE will be available in August 2015 for a retail price of $450 for the single-hand models, $550 for the switch and $650 for the Spey models.

About Sage:

Founded in 1980, Sage was created with one idea in mind—to build the world’s finest performance fly rods. From the start, Sage has maintained that singular focus on delivering the finest performance fly fishing rods, reels, and equipment to the avid angler. We are a company of passionate anglers and craftsmen, continually seeking performance advantages through new materials, designs, and engagement with the fly fishing community. We fly fish. You can feel our passion for fly fishing in everything we do. For more information, please visit www.sageflyfish.com Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google+ and Vimeo.

From the Scott Fly Rod Co.:

July 15, 2015. Scott Fly Rod Company – Montrose, CO

Scott announces the new Meridian series of saltwater fly rods. Fastest to the fish.

Meridian rods build on Scott’s award winning ReAct technology to bring you a series of saltwater rods that are remarkably light, and generate exceptional line speed and power. Using increased recovery speed rather than stiffness to more efficiently transfer energy, Meridian rods have tons of feel in close and the line speed and power to quickly make accurate casts at long distance in demanding saltwater conditions.

These rods are ‘fastest to the fish’ which can make the difference between opportunity and success on the flats. Meridian rods get the fly from your hand to the fish with the fewest number of false casts by quickly generating very high line speed, compressing the line loop, and recovering quickly.

Meridian rods are fit with newly designed components that defy harsh saltwater environments. Scott designed a new reel seat milled from aircraft grade aluminum, featuring self-indexed slide hoods, extra deep knurling to easily turn lock rings with wet hands, type 3 mil-spec hard coat in non-reflective flat black, and line weight engravings for quick rod identification in boat racks.

The new fighting butt shape and transitional check ring help to quickly shed line if it gets caught on the butt by reducing sharp angles that can trap line.

Stripping guides feature SiC rings in full titanium frames and Recoil nickel titanium snake guides for low friction and corrosion free performance.

Flor grade cork grips are turned to Scott’s modified wells shape in a saltwater appropriate length and diameter for remarkable comfort and power application.

These rods will truly last and perform in the salt even under the rigors of guiding year around. Scott focused on every detail so you could focus on the fish.

Meridian rods are available in the following lengths and line weights. MSRP $865.00. Available 7/20/15.

2 pc rods                  3 pc rods                  4 pc rods                  4 pc rods

8108                         8415 BW                  906                            848

8109                         blue water                907                            8410

81010                                                        908

81011                                                        909

81012                                                        9010

9011

9012

To check out more on the Scott Meridian fly rod, please click here.

Thomas & Thomas has revealed new additions to their rod line-up, including the Aeros, Spire, and DNA TroutSpey for freshwater, and the Bluewater rod for big saltwater fish.

The Spire is a fast action rod that will be available in line weights 3-8 and all come in four pieces. These rods will come in a range of lengths as well, notably 10 foot rods in line weights 4-8, giving a nice nod to nymphers and others who like longer rods.

For those who like a slower rod and might be looking for a nice dry fly rod, the Aeros will feature a “medium+” action that is “designed with technical dry fly presentations in mind – easily turning over long, fine leaders with accuracy and finesse.” The Aeros will come in 8′, 8’6″, and 9″ lengths and in rod weights 3-5.

Noting the movement among many anglers to use two-handed rods for trout, Thomas & Thomas will also offer the DNA TroutSpey – a “progressive” action two-handed rod for line weights 3-5 and in lengths 11’6″ and 11’9″. For anglers wanting to cover big water, throw big flies, or swing for trout, this standout rod will be attractive to many.

Finally, the Bluewater rod will be a 2-piece rod for line weights 13-16 and in a 8’6″ length. Ready to throw big flies and put the heat on big offshore saltwater fishes, this rod is designed for the demands of bluewater angling.

To check out more from Thomas & Thomas, please click here.

Hardy has announced the Zephrus series of fly rods – new line of rods that will attract anglers of all kinds. With freshwater and saltwater applications in mind, the rod comes in a range of sizes, from an 8-foot 3-weight to a 9-foot 12 weight.

The Zephrus series “opts for the resin material found in SINTRIX®, produced by 3M®” to increase strength throughout the rod while taking on a “30-percent savings in overall weight.” The rod also features REC® black pearl recoil guides and titanium Fuji® stripper guides for increased performance and durability.

Among the wide range of rods that will be available in this series, of note are the 8’10” one-piece saltwater rods that come in rod weights 8-12 and the 9’6″ and 10-foot 6-8 weight all-water rods that will attract steelheaders and others.

The Zephrus rods will retail between $649 – $799 depending on model and features a fast action.

We presently have our hands on an 8-weight and will have a review soon.

To check out more from Hardy, please click here.

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Disclosure: Hardy is in a professional relationship with the Fly Fishing Guide Directory, LLC and the Venturing Angler. Though potentially benefiting from this relationship, we do not post what we do not believe to be true. To read more, click here.

At the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show in Orlando in July, Hardy came ready to show off their rod lines, even having a Range Rover in their booth, adding to the high-end British vibe. However, despite the Rover and nice decor, the draw for me to the booth was the new Zephrus rod.

I had the opportunity to spend some time with the new Hardy Zephrus just prior to the show, and I’ve enjoyed casting the rod since. Having put in some substantial time with the 9-foot 8-weight SWS (saltwater series), I am impressed with numerous aspects of the rod.

1.  Look

Let’s be real: How a rod casts is everything … but we also want a rod that is attractive. The Hardy Zephrus comes in a hard rod tube and wrapped in a nice rod sock. The logo-imprinted cork in the tube lid is a nice touch, and metal caps over the ferrules gives a little extra love to a sometimes vulnerable part of the rod. The rod itself has a nice blue finish – a look that is enhanced with a unique blue reel seat. I don’t know what it is, but blue color on a saltwater rod is always welcome.

2.  Feel

The Hardy Zephrus is incredibly lightweight. According to Hardy, the Zephrus series “opts for the resin material found in SINTRIX®, produced by 3M®” to increase strength throughout the rod while taking on a “30-percent savings in overall weight.” Straight out of the tube, the lightweight feel of the rod demands immediate attention. And as mentioned in the video below, it even feels too light to be an 8-weight. Well done.

Hardy Zephrus Fly Rod Review from The Venturing Angler on Vimeo.

3.  Casting

While the lightness of the rod is one of the most attractive aspects of the Zephrus, it raises immediate concerns about heavier lines and flies. Would the rod have lifting power for heavier lines (ie shooting heads), flies, and even harder-fighting fish? In short, yes. This rod is beautiful to cast, with the lightness giving a great deal of feel to the fast action, but this great casting saltwater rod does not cast at the expense of power. At the end of the day, anglers will not have to compromise feel for strength (or vice versa), and for anglers casting larger line weights all day, this will be very well-received. Ease in casting means less fatigue.

4.  Options

The Zephrus series does not fall short in giving anglers what they want. Many saltwater anglers love one-piece rods, and the Zephrus series includes 8’10” one-piece saltwater rods that come in rod weights 8-12. From the flats to offshore, these rods will provide the ultimate in strength in the series. In the AWS (All Water Series), 9’6″ and 10-foot 6-8 weight rods will attract steelheaders, nymphers, and others who like 6-12 more inches in their rod. Finally, the FWS (Freshwater) rod come from 8-foot 3-weight to 10-foot 5-weight rod options (with 9-foot lengths from 3 to 6-weight).

The Zephrus rods will retail between $649 – $799 depending on model and will be available at fly shops soon.

To check out more from Hardy, please click here.

– Tim Harden

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Disclosure: Hardy is in a professional relationship with the Fly Fishing Guide Directory, LLC and the Venturing Angler. Though potentially benefiting from this relationship, we do not post what we do not believe to be true. To read more, click here.