Connect with him on Instagram/Twitter, @Spencer_Durrant. Finished with the highest quality components the Douglas DXF has a taper/action tailored to perform in just about every freshwater and saltwater fly fishing can offer. That helps give you some peace of mind when you take your fly rod on a long trip and worry about it breaking. The Douglas Upstream Fly Rod Series lineup from Douglas Outdoors brings eight unique, ultra-lite fly rods to the game. From making delicate casts on small mountain streams, to fighting 20-inch trout on larger rivers and lakes, 5-weight fly rods are versatile enough to handle a wide range of fly fishing scenarios. One of the bestbamboo fly rodson the market is the Thomas & Thomas Classic Series. Douglas DXF guitars are made in Korea. I had no problem turning over long dry fly leaders, a dry-dropper-dropper rig, or streamers and sink tips. Every rod is built in the USA using graphite and carbon fiber produced in the USA. Performance at 35 feet: 18.5 points out of 20 The heavy swing weight hurt both feel and accuracy in close. Douglas Outdoors is committed to producing only the best fly rods. Other manufacturers (Douglas, Fenwick, Hardy, Echo) are also made in Korea. Return to "Appraisals & Identification of Bamboo Fly Rods". The rod has a fast action yet forgiving action. One that could reduce dragging to shore, was long enough and had a larger hoop size for bigger fish. Graphite is considered by many to be the superior version of fiberglass , but while graphite can withstand more intense conditions than fiberglass and may be more appropriate for catching larger fish, one cant replace the other. Each weight has a specific range of use and the intended application. The Contact II 3wt is available in 3 lengths, including a 10, 109, and an 112. Word on the street is that the Sirrus Glass will be discontinued soon, but that shouldnt stop you from picking one up if you can find them for sale. Sage X Trout spey is also classified as swinging flies for trout. Often, Id finish my cast, only to have the line go taught against my reels drag. The Sky G has a fantastic progressive action and a blank stiff enough to pick up 60 feet of line and recast it in one motion. Whats best is simply too subjective to quantify. Casting that tiny dry fly might not be as delicate of a presentation, but if youve hiked 2 miles and only have one fly rod to carry, the objective is to be versatile. Its forgiving enough that novice casters wont have a hard time getting their flies where they want them, while experienced anglers can really make the DXF work. The cost of a fly rod varies depending on the brand, materials, and features. That makes the ERA the new low-cost fly rod from Douglas, supplanting the LRS series (one of my favorite fly rods of all-time) which was priced at . Where are hardy fly rods made? They produce top-notch fishing appliances. Douglas' brand new 5wt fly rod is certainly making waves in an industry . With solid success just a few short years into Douglas lifespan, David was able to continue pushing the envelope in rod design, but not without maintaining his original pledge to ensure proper conservation of the Salmon River and employ those around him. If you want a fast, wind-resistant fly rod that just gets the job done, then its hard to pass up the H3D. Trout spey is a fun and exciting way to fish for trout and has become increasingly popular in recent years. They want to work with their communities and give back. The simple answer is: the grip that feels and works best for you. July 8, 2022 The douglas rods are designed here in the US but manufactured in Korea. Loop fly rods are also made overseas. Amazon. combining fly fishing experience and passion are what make a USA Made WETFLY fly rod. He used Gartside's Super-Secret Stuff as a flash material but here we will use Hareline's Ice Wing Fiber as a substitute. Its light weight, and sleek overall design will make this a hot seller in fly shops. You spend more than 20 days a year on the river and have your cast and double haul cast dialed in. After more than 38 years of commitment to bringing you top quality products, service, dependability, honesty, integrity, and made in the USA quality, please check out their fishing rods offered in a variety of fresh and saltwater models. 17 thoughts on " The Douglas SKY Fly-Rod Review " Matt on July 19, 2016 at 7:04 am said: The douglas rods are designed here in the US but manufactured in Korea. It also provides greater stability when you are casting in the wind. One of my good fishing buddies grabbed the 95wt DXF from my quiver on a recent trip to Oregon. Many rods suit these requirements; however, one of my favorites is the Thomas & Thomas Zone. They then source some of the highest quality fishing rod components available and assemble, wrap and epoxy their rod blanks to turn them into some of the finest fishing rods on the market. Review: Shell 583Wh Portable Power Station, Review: Waterworks-Lamson Speedster HD reel, Fly rods for beginner and intermediate anglers, Tom Rosenbauer Q&A at The School of Trout, Redesigned Redington STRIKE Euro-nymphing rod brings a bevy of new features, Republican senator, groups fight to save beloved conservation program. Re: Who made this rod. Yes, I know that. The sizes of this fly rod range from 10 foot 7 weight, 10 foot 8 weight, and 10 foot 9 weight. A rod used in a saltwater environment takes the hardest beating. With the Douglas LRS Fly Rod Series, Head Rod Designer Fred Contaoi has brought high-end performance to a price point for every angler, redefining the value expected from a fly rod without the premium price tag. Through beautiful design and craftsmanship, they produce some high-performing gear that all anglers will love. This is a fast-action stick, made to handle anything trout fishing throws your way. How to Tie the Crappie Killer Fly Pattern, How to Tie the Film Critic Emerger Fly Pattern. The 9ft version is an ideal multi-application stick that will cover most scenarios. Now, Im not in the business of saying that one rod is the best currently available. Ive seen beginner anglers cast high-performance, fast-action rods, and they couldnt get the line out. Try any rod, fish the hell out of it for 7 days, and if youre not happy you can return it for a full refund. Lets take a more detailed look. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Based out of upstate New York, near the east coasts Salmon River, Douglas Outdoors is a small rod company which just happens to be making some of the best rods Ive fished during the better part of the last decade which I've spent, amongst other things, reviewing fishing gear (and mostly fly rods, at that) for a living. To this day, I still find myself spending too much time choosing which rod to bring to the water on any By Spencer Durrant A few months ago I found myself in a tight spot money-wise. Each of our fly rods go through a meticulous process of development and testing to ensure it will enhance an anglers fishing experience. Youll benefit greatly from a faster action rod and need a tool that is light in hand, will last you for years to come and is moderately priced. Jump to. This versatile rod provides the angler with a tool that can deliver longer casts, yet it can put down a fly with incredible finesse due to the medium action. Thomas & Thomas has a reputation for making some of the best fly rods in recent memory. Its noticeably light in-hand and is lighter than any of the other rods in its class that Ive fished. Fly rod warranties can be quite deceiving. Douglas Fly Fishing | Phoenix NY That causes anglers to try and pull their cast a bit, hoping to soften a flys landing, and their accuracy decreases. Its a fantastic rod with a very reasonable price. Period. Available in weights 3 up to 12 they literally cover all freshwater and saltwater fishing conditions. The 79 model is ideal for small intimate streams where shorts casts are required underneath dense overgrowth. Developing the blanks and rods one a time ensures that each rod model produced delivers greater fishing performance than other rod brands. Retail Store Hours. Lamiglas is a USA fishing rod and blank manufacturer in Woodland, Washington, who has been innovating in rod development since 1949. One of thebest beginner fly rodsis the Echo Base 5 weight. The DXF is no exception, and it may very well be the best fly rod under $500.00. This idea became a reality in a small southern Oregon workshop. A well-looked-after rod will perform at its best, wont let you down when you need it, and last many years to come. With a foundation of listening to anglers gripes and praises about rods on the Salmon River for yearsand facing the same dilemmas and success himselfcoupled with Davids close work alongside leaders in rod design and engineering, it wasnt long before Douglas began to make quite a splash in the industry. His flagship model is the DXF series, his 590 model landed in the middle of the pack of yellowstone anglers 2015 5wt. This is a variation of a fly tied by Jim Misiura. And with its componentry like an AAAA flor-grade cork, G-Tec platelet construction on a glare-resistant blank, and REC Titanium Cerecoil stripper guides/REC Titanium Recoil guides, you can fish with confidence knowing that the rod youve got in your hand utilizes materials that are second to none, with craftsmanship that never goes out of style. Encounter Fly Rod Outfit. This all depends on your definition of good. It is nowhere near a G Loomis Asquith or so. In fact, the Sky G is so light that I wondered how it would handle longer casts, heavier flies, and big fish. Heck What is the best fly-fishing grip? This warranty covers damage to the rod from any cause but excludes normal wear and tear or lost sections. All single hand rods are versatile, if youre fishing for steelhead and salmon regularly, you need a two-handed rod. They make fantastic fly fishing rods. The most popular reel seat material is anodized aluminum. Despite all that speed and power, the Sky G protects lights tippets extremely well and generates amazing line speed. The butt section of these two rods is also quite substantial, which means that you can target much larger fish. (and which Helios 3, D or F)? The Orvis Clearwater Fly Rod is yet another example of why so many anglers decide to fish Orvis. Razr Rodz leads the industry again and brings you Increased hoop strength technology with ultimate feather light construction. Need to delicately place a dry fly in front of a rising fish on a skinny limestone stream? DXF - Implementing traditional freshwater approaches like nymphing and throwing dry flies, two-hand casting a switch rod on, well, nothings more appropriate than the Salmon River, Euro nymphing a series of pockets, or double-hauling your butt off on a saltwater flat, it doesnt matter what sort of technical fishing situation you find yourself in because Douglas has a rod that covers all of these situations in their DXF series. Find him on Twitter/Instagram, @Spencer_Durrant. There are five models in the 5-weight line size, each with a specific intended purpose. This gives the fisherman the versatility to cast everything from a dry to a streamer. Its not a terribly fast rod, but regardless, the DXF feels crisp in-hand when throwing streamers, dries, nymph rigs, or whatever else you tie on during a days worth of fishing. When switched over to a more suitable rod, they found the entire experience much more pleasurable. The longer rods do offer more reach; however, I prefer fishing with the 10-foot model. Connect with him on Instagram/Twitter, @Spencer_Durrant, The 5 Best Wading Staffs in 2023 Buyers Guide, The 5 Best Sit On Top Kayaks Under $600 in 2023 Buyers Guide, The 5 Best Headlamps for Fishing in 2023 Buyers Guide, The 6 Best Fly Fishing Chest Packs in 2023 Buyers Guide, The 6 Best Fishing Watches in 2023 Buyers Guide, 150 Mount Locke Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620, A hard case that can accommodate the reel attached to the rod, A fabric-covered hard case that protects the rod and reel, Rod manufacturers will repair the rod if the rod breaks due to poor craftsmanship or material failure. Of course, the tradeoff here is that you get a rod thats not as aesthetically pleasing, nor is it as light as some other rods. The manufacturers in the above list might produce the same type of products in other countries as well. Freshwater rods under 5-weight seldomly have fighting butts. Carl explained the rods are designed, born and bred in New Zealand , and believes each Epic fly rod is crafted to last a lifetime, the perfect balance of technology, durability and aesthetic beauty. Individually flex-tested before assembly, the Hammer Fishing Casting Rods are built by anglers for anglers with an extreme focus on power, sensitivity, and performance. However, one of the most versatile rods one can buy today is a 10ft 3wt, more suited for nymph fishing. Amazon. Ive spent most of the past decade reviewing fly fishing, hunting, and outdoors gear. The goal was to see how much line I could pick up and cast in a single motion. Thats a question youll have to answer for yourself. This new technology makes their rods a must for the serious angler. These rods are priced at either $149 or $169 for the 5 and 8-weight models, respectively. A Father/Son team of avid fisherman who love to catch and release wild steelhead watched others land steelhead without protecting them and felt they had to do something about it. The 5 and 6 weights make great all-around rods for trout in their 9-foot length and the 10-foot models are great for guides or people who fish from the boat a lot. $1198. Are Douglas fly rods any good? The issue thats plagued faster-action rods has always been their presentation. All my life I've been in awe of artists. It features a medium-fast action that forces you to slow down while casting. Winston makes some of the best rods on the planet, period. Sep 17 2014. Orvis has long been known for building some of the best fly rods on the planet, and theyve been doing it for as long as anyone else if not longer. The Sector holds nothing back in terms of performance. Here is a list of fly rod weights and the species of fish each weight is good for: 3-5 weight: trout, panfish 6-7 weight: bass, walleye 8 weight: pike, muskie 9 weight: salmon, steelhead 10 weight+: stripers, tuna. In my opinion, the best rod weight for largemouth bass is an 8wt. NitroGlass Antigua Fly Rod. Douglas has made the DXF in nearly every rod model from single-hand trout rods to nymph-specific models, two-handed models, and more. The rod can form tight loops with ease. . Clearwater Fly Rod. Though there may be no fly fishing topic that earns the ire By virtue of cutting-edge technology and design, Douglas' new flagship offering is turning heads, Review: Douglas Outdoors Upstream Plus fly rod, according to the folks at Yellowstone Angler, The future of fly fishing rests in our hands, Your social feed will soon be filled with non-existent fish that no one ever caught, A small ship cruise of Alaska's Inside Passage, Heavy snowpacks to offer relief from 1200 year Western drought, EPA issues final determination blocking development of Pebble Mine, Saltwater anglers have a rare chance to chime in on fisheries management, Patagonia is giving away the $10 million it made from 'irresponsible' Trump tax cuts, Review: Shell 583Wh Portable Power Station, Review: Women's Waders - Simms G3 Guide Waders for Women, Fly rods for beginner and intermediate anglers, Tom Rosenbauer Q&A at The School of Trout, Redesigned Redington STRIKE Euro-nymphing rod brings a bevy of new features, Sage Voted Small Manufacturer of the Year, New RIO Grand Fly Line Released, ConnectCore Expansion Continues. You should reel fast enough to keep tension on the line but not so much where you can feel the line straining. Learn More DXF Trout Spey Rods The soft tip is great for playing bigger fish on light tippets, and for delicate presentations. 2 posts Page 1 of 1. Where are Douglas fishing rods made? Some anglers prefer graphite fly rods for their lightweight and sensitive feel, while others prefer fiberglass or bamboo for their classic look and feel. It's full of brown and cutthroat trout, and the water is crystal-clear. You may not be wowed by the components or the blanks build quality but, when you fish it, I bet you will be impressed. This is a fast-action stick, made to handle anything trout fishing throws your way. The Orvis Clearwater Fly Rod probably wont win over a lot of fans in the aesthetics department, but that shouldnt dissuade you from giving it a try. And whether youre looking for a saltwater-ready rod or something for freshwater, a single-handed rod or a double-handed rod, Douglas has a rod that fits the bill. The kit includes the following: While I seldomly recommend a premium fly rod and reel combo, the Sage Foundation Outfit offers excellent money value. It can only really be felt after a long day of casting heavy streamers but never felt in the lighter weights when fishing a small stream for instance. Building fly rods one by one in a small shop and shaping each handle is the only way to control artisan perfection. Echo and Redington are building good rods right now, too, and you cant overlook Fenwick, either. Design innovation and best in class materials give you the fisherman an outstanding product. This rod is made for windy conditions, large flies, heavy lines, and highly technical fishing. The Zone is their cheapest fly rod, but at $499, its not being sold for chump change. Thank you for choosing Douglas Outdoors and we look forward to being a part of your fishing adventures wherever they may be. The Douglas Outdoors company isnt a company that started small and grew to something great. The Winson Air embodies that philosophy incredibly well, and its one of my favorite fly rods Ive ever fished. A tall order? There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on personal preferences. Ranging in line weights that begin with a #4 and end with a #11, the Sky G encompasses versatility, and its built with top-tier components to deliver a rod thats quick to adapt and downright fun to fish. Required fields are marked *. Here were specifically talking about the material used to construct the line guides. As the name implies, its primarily a stick for fishing traditional trout flies dries and smaller nymphs. Fred Contaoi will most certainly correct the swing weight issue in future builds, that I have no doubt about. Winston AIR 2 863 Fly Rod $1,195.00. 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