James Anderson 5 Weight Shoot-Out

"The biggest problem with fly rods is that they must not only meet all the physical criteria for the fishing you do but also inspire love."

                                 - Tom McGuane, The Longest Silence.

A good rod vs a great rod

What makes the difference between a good rod and a great rod?  Now that's a tough question, and in the end, something only each of us can answer for ourselves.  I do believe Tom's quote strikes at the heart of this matter.  As anglers, we not only demand that our favorite rod(s) perform universally - we also look to them as a source of inspiration and joy.  While there are many rods out there that can simply get the job done, few are special enough to capture not only the fish we pursue, but also our hearts.  I sincerely hope this article will help you find the rod which most speaks to you and that it may become your faithful fishing companion for years to come.

The evolution of rods from 2006 - 2011

Testing rods this year took a lot more awareness and focus than previous shootouts.  The reason for this is that the level of competition has dramatically increased in the past five years.   In our last test there was a wide variety of different actions - the clunkers were noticeably different than the winners, even in the hands of someone who was not passionate about angling.  In our 2011 test however, rods were very similar with subtle differences in power, feel, weight, ect. You really had to put on your thinking cap and settle into a certain mind set to really feel their unique differences.

The Revolution is here

I've never been a huge fan of conformity, but I must say I like the direction that the fly rod industry is headed.  Powerful butt sections with lighter, more precise tips.  The technological advancements we're witnessing today are revolutionary - much like we saw when the ski industry first started producing shorter, fatter, parabolic skis.  In the same way those skis made it easier for the average skier to rip down the hill in style, the newer generation of rods are make casting easier for everyone from beginners to experts.  Along with that technology, we are starting to see a serious change in overseas production.  While it is sad to see the loss of many jobs here in the US, the free market has set forth a new standard, which ultimately is leading to lower prices. I was blown away by the quality of our inexpensive rods.  For me, now the only true reason to buy a $700 rod over a $200 is that it will inspire more love and appreciation.   

The duty to evaluate all products equally

One of our biggest concerns from the get-go was that we needed to provide unbiased feed back to the angling public.  We have already been bombarded with enough bull butter.  Our goal has always been based on the same concept - go beyond the marketing hype to determine which fly rods perform best and will make people better anglers.  In order to produce unbiased, independent results that anglers can rely upon when purchasing equipment, we found the most important thing was to be honest.

The double edge sword here, is that there is a fine line between being honest and insulting. No one likes to hear criticism, about a rod that they made, or about a rod that they have grown to love.  Our sincere apologies go out to anyone who's toes we may step on in the process of trying to express our opinions. Which in the end, is all they really are - our honest observations and opinions. 

After the last shootout we received our fair share of criticism ourselves.  One that I remember in particular, is that we praise the rods we sell in our shop, and harshly criticize rods which we do not carry.  I understand the origins of this misconception, but let me expalin...

We've always wanted to sell the rods which we thought are the best rods on the market.  We have always carried Hardy reels, but we never brought their rods into the shop (until now) because we felt they were a tad shy of the best.  Now that we have seen what a miraculous rod Hardy has produced in the Zenith, as well as some of the Greys rods, of course we will be stocking them!  Obviously we cannot stock every brand and every rod on the market so we have to choose the lines and rods we feel strongly about. 

The difference between a review and a test

Even though we sometimes call our shootout a rod review, it's actually more of a rod test. A test is much more thorough than a review and (at least in our case) designed to compare rods to each other in order to find out exactly what their distinctions and specialties are.  In a review, "testers" often get one rod in the mail, go out to their local stream, fish for the day, come home and write about it - probably the next day since they are tired from fishing.

Meanwhile, the pure truth of their review is decaying - Did they take the time to stop and write notes on the stream?  Doubtful.  Did they take 5 different rods with them, all rigged with the same type of reel and line so they could compare them equally and efficiently?  Not a chance!  We've found an angler can "adjust" to any rod on the stream and make it work for them.  While it is more fun to "test" rods by going fishing, we've found it is not as good a way to really figure out what makes each rod tick. 

Perhaps our biggest gripe with reviews is even if they are written by well known authors or anglers, they rarely have anything bad to say about the rods. All they emphasize are the good points.

In our shootouts, we are going to give you a lot of information on the rods tested, but we'll also give your honest opinions and tell you which rods we feel are the best and why.  There will be winners and losers.  We don't want to overly antagonize any manufacturers, but we aren't going to pull any punches either. 

Unlike other testing organizations we always return the rods after testing and never accept any advertising revenue.  Thus we are able to remain completely independent and unbiased. 

Please show us your support

We hope this shootout will aid you in determining which rod is ultimately right for you.  We understand that many people will go to "their shop" and after reading this shootout, try a rod or two and buy one from them - and that's a good thing. If you do not have a shop however, or they do not carry the line of rods that you are most interested in, please give us a call and buy a rod from us!  I can't tell you how many 18 hour days and nights we've stayed up past 2:00 AM to make this shootout happen.  If you've appreciated our efforts here, the best way to reward us is by buying a rod, outfit, or other flies and tackle that meet your needs.  Give us a call or e-mail us   We are always happy to take the time to help you determine the perfect rod or outfit for the fly fishing you are doing, either in fresh or saltwater.  406-222-7130. 

1. Hardy Zenith $645.00

I distinctly remember before picking up the Hardy and trying it, that I wanted to dislike it. As ridiculous as that sounds, all my previous prejudices, judgments, and ill opinions instantly evaporated as soon as I picked up the rod and made my first few casts.  It was like reading something profoundly beautiful for the first time that seemed to speak directly to me. I felt mesmerized by our connection, like watching a cloud bursting sunset at the beach or standing on top of a mountain. The Zenith felt absolutely transcendent in my hands, and in my mind, it's no coincidence that Zenith is spelled with Zen.

No, this rod is not one of Russ Peak's creations, although I suspect he would have loved it's smooth and effortless action. The props here go out to rod designer and casting champion Howard Croston. I don't know much about him, but obviously he is a man of unbelievable talent. His attention to detail is impeccable and his skill as an angler no doubt aided in the construction of this rod.

I was trying to figure out why this rod was so far ahead of the pack. Weight had a lot to do with it and how well balanced it felt in my hand.  It has some of the smallest nickel/titanium single foot REC and Fuji guides I've ever seen. The Sintrix material gives the rod up to 60% more strength with no added weight. Obviously, a fair amount of homework went into this rod - great job to everyone at Hardy who was involved!

At close distances, only the Tom Morgan 8'6" #5 and BIIIx felt better. At mid-range, I would have given the Zenith a score of 22 out of 20 if possible.   The rod seemed as easy to hit the target at 45 feet as it did at 25 feet - something no other rod was capable of doing. The real mystery here is how does a rod cast so well close, and cast so well at 70 feet!? Unheard of!  A major head scratcher here... The tiny single foot guides must help the line track and shoot better, although I was able to carry nearly all the line in the air as well. I simply can't explain how effortless and fun this rod was to cast. You just have to experience the difference for yourself.

James' casting notes:

Performance at 25 Feet - 20

Surprisingly, the Zenith felt lighter in my hand than BIIIx and Orvis rods. Felt exceptionally light and accurate - almost every cast hit the 10 inch target. The rod literally made me feel like a better caster - being able to throw super tight loops effortlessly. Rod felt alive with energy.

Performance at 45 feet - 20

22 out of 20 if possible. Amazingly, it was just as easy to throw 45 feet as it was 25 feet. Light, tight, accurate loops delivered to the target on point but with a gentle landing. No target slamming here, the big rainbow would have no idea what he was in store for. If I was on TV fishing show casting for difficult trout, I'd want to have this rod in my hands...

Performance at 70 feet - 20

At long distance only two rods gave me the utmost confidence, the TCX and the Zenith. The difference being that the Zenith had a whole lot more feel. I also noticed I threw fewer tailing loops with these rods, since I have a tendency to want to slam the power in too quickly.   I noticed that this rod shoots line better than any of the others. Howard Croston and the design team hit a grand slam with this one!  

Nymph Rig Performance - 20

Stellar performance. The line shoots with ease - excellent loops, still feels very light and pleasant to cast. Best mix of power and feel, with or without nymphs. Incredible indeed.

2. Sage Z-Axis $695.00

The Sage Z-Axis set a ridiculously high standard in our last shootout of what a 5 weight rod should be. To name a few of those attributes, it was (and still is) powerful, lightweight, (but more importantly has a light swing weight), smooth, accurate, quick to dampen, with smaller guides for ease of shooting line...

It took rod designer Jerry Siem three years to shape the Z-axis into the rod it is today and Sage was smart to give him the time to perfect it.   He spent many hours in the lab with casting analyzers and template work, but he also spent a lot of time on the water. Both Jerry and Sage did everything right with this rod, and the result is one of the finest casting 5 weight rods on the planet.

After our first shootout, I liked this rod so much I ended up buying one for my wife for christmas. She did catch a few fish with it, but I have to admit I "borrowed" it every chance I got.  On days that she shook her head no, I noticed going fishing without it wasn't nearly as fun. I felt handicapped without, as my other rods simply didn't give me the confidence (nor the loops) I had with the Z-Axis.  The purchase itself was hard to swallow at the time, but looking back it was one of the best fly fishing purchases I have ever made.

Anyone else notice the thread wrapped band of Rasta colors? Is this merely a coincidence?  Perhaps... but I and I gots to give thanks and praises for this rod anyway mon!

James' casting notes:

Performance at 25 Feet - 20

Awesome feel, nice and light, accurate, delicate presentations. This is what a rod should feel like - the perfect assembly of power and feel. The Z-axis and Zenith are examples of what all other rods should be compared against.  No wonder it was last shootout's winner.

Performance at 45 feet - 20

As sweet as usual, with the perfect blend of power and finesse. Enough reserve power to easily reach the target with the accuracy of sniper riffle. 21 out of 20 if possible. Nice work Jerry!

Performance at 70 feet - 18.5

Better than BIIIx for sure, still not quite the umph as Hardy, Loomis NRX, Scott, or TCX. Again anyone who would actually cast to a trout a 70 feet is going to have a hard time with the hook set. They are also going to have to have the eyes of an eagle. Why not just walk 40 feet closer?

Nymph Rig Performance - 19

Awesome - this rod felt very light and I was able to throw slightly tighter loops without a tangled mess. Really easy to cast for both beginners and experts alike.  Two thumbs up.

3.Winston BIIIX $755.00

"The best dry fly rod aside from a Tom Morgan"

I first took a liking to this rod on the lawn adjacent to the shop this past fall. Our local rep, Chris Hart, was showing it to us and I simply did not want to put it down and try anything else.  We cast it against the Z-axis and Streamdance, and it felt nicer than both up close. It looks as though the BIIIx has evolved into one sweet rod.

The rod was extremely gratifying to cast at closer distances with pin point accuracy and the benefit of a nice, delicate presentation. Dry fly guys are going to go nuts with this rod in their hands.

Why buy this rod instead of Winston's Passport? A few reasons. The first is that you are supporting a small company based here in Montana. The BIIIx is built right here, while the Passport is imported by Winston and built in the Far East.  So not only are you helping out yourself and improving the memories you'll have on the stream, you're also helping the US get out of debt instead of encouraging overseas production. Give people in the US the jobs and consider the extra cash a donation to the cause. The wife / husband should understand completely, right?

Second is the unique craftsmanship and outstanding wooden reel seats they come with (not sure why anyone would pick the anodized aluminum unless intended for saltwater use). From the elegant cursive writing on the rod to the classy but cap and winding check - this rod is like a rolls royce of the river. The only better craftsmanship I've seen has been from T&T and Tom Morgan Rod Smiths.

Third is only a reason you can answer. For some folks any old joyless wand will work, so long as it's not broken. But for the philosopher, the dreamer, the die hard angler, it takes a more than your average stick to not only a perform well, but also make for a faithful fishing partner. Sounds cheesy, but you know it's true. Finding a rod like this, is like a musician finding the guitar he or she loves - once you find the instrument that makes the sound you have been searching for, the money portion of the equation is trivial.

The BIIIx could have won this shootout, were it not for the fact that both the Z-axis and Zenith performed better at the longer distances.  They also did a better job of casting our nymph fishing rig.  

My only real complaint doesn't have to do with the rod at all - just how hard it is to get the BIIIx rods from Winston.  From a personal viewpoint, it is sad that the smaller shops like ours, who pushed and supported Winston products for so long are very the ones to loose out on getting product while larger companies like Cabalas, seem to get everything they want and more.   Did anyone else feel that slap to the face when it hit?  I guess the brighter and bigger way to look at the situation is that at least Winston is still in business and making sweet fishing rods. 

James' casting notes:

Performance at 25 Feet - 20

Ahh... what a delightful action - smooth, light, accurate, delicate - everything the modern angler would want in a dry fly rod. 21 out of 20 if possible. The ultimate in accuracy and feel - Only Tom Morgan 8'6" # 5 weight cast better.

Performance at 45 feet - 20

Pleasant and smooth in every way. Really nice balance and an action that will be sure to please 90% of all casters, power punchers and traditionalists alike. New stiffer tip than old BIIx definitely helps here at this distance and makes the rod significantly more accurate without loss of that classic Winston feel.

Performance at 70 feet - 17

Not nearly as good as Z-axis or Hardy at this distance, way less power than the stiffer "6" weight rods. Loops were quicker to collapse or tail, especially if you packed the power in too abruptly. Again the distance part of this shootout doesn't really concern me as much as the first two performance categories.

Nymph Rig Performance - 16

Definitely a softer rod than both the Z-axis and Zenith.  A bit mushy with nymphs.  Felt like you lost power when compared to the Zenith, A-axis, NRX, and others. Harder to drive it in, felt almost like casting a 4 weight line on a 5 weight rod.  Still much better than BIIx.

4. Winston Passport $199.00

The two main reasons I put this rod ahead of everyone but the podium winners was it's outstanding price and astonishing performance at 25 and 45 feet. The rod performed so much like the BIIIx that I secretly began to wonder if Winston packed up a copy of the BIIIx mandrels and shipped them overseas! But we won't go there...

Honestly, this rod was the first rod to ever strike fear in me. I couldn't help but wonder why would anyone pay an extra $500 for a rod that didn't perform any better. How were we going to justify to the consumer to spend that hard earned extra dough? 

I fear this could be the tip of the iceberg - the days of selling mostly $600 - $800 rod may be over. Back then consumers had two choices, a $600 high end rod, or a $24.95 rod from Walmart - which performed just like you think it would have. Now with increased technology and overseas production, many companies are starting to make great rods at an affordable price.

The Passport is the crème de la crème of all economy rods. I feel as though I have just witnessed a revolutionary product. I'm sure the chase to create better and cheaper rods won't stop here - remember when a 1.2 mega pixel digital camera cost $800! Anyway, I digress...

What made the biggest impression on me was that this rod was phenomenal at both close and middle range - which is right where I fish 95% of the time. The swing weight was so much lighter than the other economy rods that it left them in the dust. The Passport also casts so much better than the other economy rods that I feel on a performance level it was the only one that could really hang with the big dogs, excluding the 70' long bomb.

The only things to improve upon: Similar to the BIIIx this rod was not as good as other in terms of long distance casting and fishing with two nymphs under an indicator. While I rarely cast 70 feet, I almost always fish nymphs for at least part of the day, if not most of the day. Making this rod a hair stiffer would do the trick.

The other thing that bothered me was that the unusually large swell in the middle of the handle.  This felt awkward to say the least.  Why couldn't have Winston used the same design of their standard cigar grip, even if this is a pre-shaped handle?

The first thing I'm going to do to my Passport is sand it down so that if feels normal - an easy fix.  No complaints on the reel seat and components - while they are not the top of the line, I felt they are equal to or better than those found on the other economy rods.

Ironically, the Passport felt far better to me than the VSL, which winston sells for $100 more!  

James' casting notes:

Performance at 25 Feet - 20

Casts more like a high end rod than the rest of the economical rods we tested. Extremely pleasant feel and incredible accuracy up close. A winner for sure. Felt lighter than all other economy rods, I would say 21 out of 20 if I could. Only weird thing was that strange "pear" shaped grip.

Performance at 45 feet - 20

Surprisingly accurate with more than enough power for controlling nice, tight loops. Wondering to self why anyone would bother to buy an rod that costs nearly $500 more? One sweet rod with a great mix of power, accuracy, and feel - though not as accurate as the Zenith or Z-axis at this distance. Trade off is feel and a delicate presentation.

Performance at 70 feet - 17

Kind of reminded me of a BIIx when trying to punch a long cast. The rod just couldn't handle it.  The power to launch was available only if you timed it perfectly.  Accuracy was not so hot with the open loop. Can't hang with the TFO or even the Grey's at this distance, but for a guy like me who rarely casts this far I'm not terribly concerned.

Nymph Rig Performance - 16

Again a softer rod than both the Z-axis and Zenith. It would throw open loop "lob shots" without a problem, but asking it to throw tighter loops ended up in a tangled mess. 

5. St. Croix Legend Elite $440.00

Although this rod tied the Loomis Streamdance in overall performance, I had to give it the edge in terms of price and the fact that it casts admirably well up close. If a rod is going to cast considerably better at two of the three distances, my feeling is that it should be better at the two closer ranges, since that's where I do most of my fishing.

The Legend Elite really knocked the ball out of the park for me in a few respects. First and foremost, is the modest price. It's not a $200 rod, but at $440.00 you'll have between $200 - $315 extra "fun tickets." Who wouldn't want to walk over to the fly bin or take a look at a new pair of waders and still get an incredible top of the line rod!?

The most remarkable feature of this rod is simply how well it performs. It is an exceptional rod up close and feels notably lighter than all but the podium winners. Well balanced in both weight and power, this rod felt as smooth as the Streamdance and equally as accurate. Delicate presentations are effortless, as are nice, tight, wind-cutting loops. The boys at St. Croix get a gold star for this one... nice work fellas.

James' casting notes:

Performance at 25 Feet - 19

Felt extremely light in hand and very accurate. Had to take a double take to make sure which rod I had.

Performance at 45 feet - 20

Super smooth, a real pleasure to cast. Somebody did a great design job on this one. Equally nice as the high end rods. Extremely accurate while still keeping a consistently smooth feel.

Performance at 70 feet - 17

Not the long bomber I was hoping for. Wouldn't throw the tight loops I was looking for and it was difficult to get to land 5 feet from the target. Feel remained great - just not enough power to really lay into it. When I slowed my timing down things went better.

Nymph Rig Performance - 18

Handled nymphs just fine with nice balance of power and feel - reminded me of Z-axis.  Serious nymph fisherman will dig this rod!

6. G-Loomis Streamdance  $660.00

Casting the Loomis Streamdance is like talking with old friend. No glitches, awkward pauses, or uncomfortable moments - just sweat memories and good times. What an incredibly smooth and graceful rod casting at 45 feet! I found it totally effortless to throw some of the tightest and most accurate loops I had thrown all day. This is the kind of rod I could fall for...

The only downside I saw to this rod was too much unharnessed power at close range. With nymphs it felt better but if you like fishing dries at closer distances, a 6 weight line would probably be the best way to go.

Nymph fisherman in particular are going to appreciate this rod's capability to throw weighted flies without feeling like a rug beater. An impressive blend of power and feel, this rod should never go into retirement.

James' casting notes:

Performance at 25 Feet - 17

Felt like you had to back the power off a bit and cast gently off your wrist to get a delicate presentation. It was incredibly accurate when you powered a tight loop, but the would hit the the paper plate target with an audible "Snap". Probably too spooky for wary trout sipping in duns on our spring creeks.

Performance at 45 feet - 20

This distance is the rod's sweet spot for sure. Extremely accurate and the perfect amount of power. Surprisingly easy to cast with effortless concentration to throw accurate shots again and again and deliver delicate presentations. Felt lighter than the NRX.

Performance at 70 feet - 19

Lots of power and didn't collapse the loop like many others. Felt better than Z-axis and BIIIx. It's easy to shoot a lot of line with this rod!

Nymph Rig Performance - 20

This rod felt really good to me with two nymphs.  Plenty of power to rocket into a good headwind or punch a long cast. Best part was it had a great feel to match the power.  I know from fishing this rod before that it will handle two streamers without flinching an inch.

7. Temple Fork Outfitters BVK $225.00

The ultimate guide "boat rod" 

This is the second TFO rod we've tested that I wanted to buy for myself. (The first was a TiCrX 8 weight streamer rod, which didn't test very well in our 8 weight shootout, but the price was right and it got the job done throwing a 300 grain sink tip). I think this rod is the ultimate "boat rod" for fly fishing guides. Here's my reasonings:

First off, is how awesome the warranty policy is - $25 and you get a totally NEW rod back in about about 5 business days. I know when I lend clients my personal rods, the one thing that I worry about is them breaking it and me having to pay $50 and possibly have to wait a month or more to get it back. Here the BVK is a no brainer!

Second is the price. If you guide, you already know that keeping costs down is a major factor in whether or not you end the year in black or red. Heck, at this price, you can buy two rods, and have one set up with a hopper dropper and the other with two nymphs.

Third - great performance, especially for nymph fisherman. Sure, we all love to throw hoppers and dries when we can, but everyone knows if you want to catch more fish it often makes sense to tie on a bead head dropper nymph. On tough days, a two nymph rig under an indicator can be a day saver. This rod's impressive blend of power and strength are perfectly suited for throwing "junk" all day and since the overall weight and swing weight are some of the lowest we tested, it won't feel like you've worn out your elbow at the end of the day.  

Forth, the rod is more of a 5.5 weight, which means beginning anglers will be able to feel the rod tip load better and get the hang of things quicker especially with a 6-weight line on the reel.  Being able to throw nicely controlled, more open loops fishing nymphs will help beginners keep their flies in the water and spend less time untangling bird's nests.  I plan to use a DT-6-F line with this rod, so my beginner clients can cast once and keeping mending...

All in all, the BVK was a well thought out rod that was obviously whittled to perfection before production. Nicely done guys...

James' casting notes:

Performance at 25 Feet - 17

Very accurate and easy to cast despite obvious reserve power. Wondering again why pay $750 for a rod when this gets 'er done at a fraction of the price. Does feel quite a bit heavier than winners but one of the nicest economy rods. Felt better than Scott and TCX at this distance despite similar stiffness.

Performance at 45 feet - 19

Extremely accurate, effortless tight loops. More backbone than the Imperial and more accurate than Grey's. Lots of power at this distance but our winners still delivered better presentation.

Performance at 70 feet - 18

Surprising Power! Didn't throw quite as tight a loop as the TCX, NRX, or Hardy, but still gets the job done! Much more backbone than the other inexpensive rods allowed me to punch out a longer casts with ease. I'm impressed!

Nymph Rig Performance - 18

Nice loops with lots of power!  Best nymph fishing rod out of all the economy rods for sure.  Felt significantly easier to cast with our nymph rig and with far greater control than the two Winston rods.  I'm confidant this rod will handle streamers no problem.

8. (tie) Sage TCX $795.00

Let's call a spade a spade here - this is really a 6 weight rod. It performed better with a 6 weight line at every distance - especially with the nymph rig and up close.  Don't get me wrong, it is an incredible rod with superior power, and an exceptionally light weight feel. The problem is we're looking for the best 5 weight, which ultimately has to be able to perform well at 25 - the distance that is often most important to the trout fisherman.

If you tried fishing 6x tippet with this rod you would surely become frustrated with breaking every fish off on your hook set. If all you are doing is launching long bombs with hoppers or streamers at 70 to 100 feet, this might be your rod.   

I think where this rod really shines is not on the stream, but within the realm of casting competition. Short leaders, 3X tippet, drilling a size #10 dry to various targets at 26 - 42 feet. Then launching a long bomb as far as you can to gain 1 point for every meter you overcome. If technical casting or competition casting is of interested to you, then the Sage TCX would be clearly be a valuable asset.  Otherwise, put a #6 line on it and have some fun rather than being frustrated. 

James' casting notes:

Performance at 25 Feet - 11

Tried it first with a 5 weight line and it felt like trying to throw a 4 weight line with my streamer rod. Switched to a 6 for rest of test. Felt similar to Scott or the VXP. Obviously way too much power for 25 feet - had to drop cast or pile cast to get anything to land softly. Not so hot, clearly out of its element here. 

Performance at 45 feet - 17

Very accurate but my orange fuzz indicator wants to slam the plate rather than give me a featherlight landing. Backing off the power helped but not enough to be accurate as well as delicate. Nice tight loops though...

Performance at 70 feet - 20

Finally the beast is unleashed! This rod made me feel like Steve Rajeff going for a one-handed distance record.  Casting other rods this far felt formidable, while this rod was an instant confidence booster!   A great rod for technical casting competitions.

Nymph Rig Performance - 16

I was surprised to see that this rod wasn't nearly as nice with nymphs since it is such a rocket launcher. The big problem was trying to cast the nymphs and indicator with a #5 line!  A  6-weight line would definitely help here. 

8. (tie) G-Loomis NRX  $720.00

For me, this rod felt closer the S4 and TCX because it performed so well at long distances, while failing to perform well up close. Again, it feels more like a 6 weight than a 5 weight rod, especially at 25 feet. Clearly this rod was built for experts by a World Casting Champion. If this were a 12 gauge shotgun, the barrel on this puppy is full choke!

While this rod felt vague up close, my opinion of it transformed instantly as I let the line shoot further through my fingers. As I let more and more line out with each back cast and forward cast, I could feel the rod change from a toad into a prince. It was the only rod that felt as nice as the Hardy and TCX at 70 feet. It was powerful, but more importantly I could control that power. This rod will throw incredibly tight loops with great accuracy. I'm not a tournament at caster at 70' by any stretch of the imagination, but this rod made me feel like one. I would expect to see some blue guide wraps on the podium at casting competitions this year.

Loomis fans might be surprised about where the 5-weight NRX placed in our shootout with all the hype and momentum Loomis has created with their advertising.   It's stiffness and lack of feel in close killed the deal for me with the 5-weight NRX.   However, I was able to fish the 8 weight version of this rod and was blown away by it's refined performance. It was extremely light and radiated with power. The 10-weight was even better and felt as light as my CrossCurrent GLX 8-weight!  These heavier line size NRX rods are sure to be some of the sweetest rods in the whole line up and very possibly the best big rods on the market today. So yes, believe the hype - just not the niche for a universal 5 weight.

My take on the controversial blue guide wraps - good for Loomis to have the balls to try something different.  That being said, if I had a choice I'd probably go for something simple like the GLX Classic or the finish on the Native Run. 

James' casting notes:

Performance at 25 Feet - 15

Way too stiff up close, even compared to the StreamDance GLX, which I also found disappointing at short range. Had to back the power WAY off and thus accuracy declined greatly. Any sort of accuracy smacked the fuzz indicator down loud enough to echo in the gym!

Performance at 45 feet - 18

Tons of power but still struggling to find a delicate presentation - Still slamming the target with an audible snap. Felt kind of heavy in hand compared to HLS and others.

Performance at 70 feet - 20

There it is. Now this rod's brute power is an advantage. It had enough power to pick up the entire line and held it in the air at much greater distances than most every other rod. Super accurate, since you didn't have to shoot the line, simply drop it over the target. Would be one of my 1st picks for a distance competition rod.

Nymph Rig Performance - 20

Again perplexed but this time pleasantly surprised.  I thought it was going to react similar to the Scott S4 and TCX but instead this rod felt great with two nymphs.  In fact, this rod handled nymphs very much like the Streamdance, only with a little more power. It did feel heavier than the Hardy, otherwise equally as nice.

8. (tie) Scott S4  $695.00

I must say at first I was surprised to find out that this rod was designed with the Henry's Fork as the testing grounds and with the help of angling guru René Harrop. This goes to show how different each angler's preferences are and that finding the right rod for you is truly a personal quest. It proves we can all agree to disagree.

This rod didn't quite feel like a 6 weight but it was close - more like 5.75 weight. Casting it 25 feet felt like trying to fit a square block into a circular hole - I just couldn't get it to work for me. It did feel better with a 6 weight line at 25', but a 5 weight line still felt best at 45 feet and or 70 feet.

This rod's real potential was revealed at mid to long distances. I can imagine Harrop sliding in 60 feet below a rising rainbow and making one long launch without having to wade up stream or wait. If distance casting is a big part of your demands of a fly rod, particularly one which can carry a lot of line in the air, then the S4 will be a great match for you. For me, the S4 is more of a micro niche rod and not nearly as multi-purposed as the winners.

James' casting notes:

Performance at 25 Feet - 15

Picked this rod up first and it felt terrible at 25'. I picked it up later and was able to cast very accurately by backing off the power. Then tried it with a 6 weight line and it was much more pleasant to cast at this distance.

Performance at 45 feet - 19

Felt great at 45' - even had to look down to see what rod it was, thinking I might need to get one of these! Effortless light, tight loops. I thought the sweet spot was about 50-55' with a five weight line. Crisp rod and super accurate. Double take...

Performance at 70 feet - 19

Performed really well at 70 feet.  I was impressed - better than most all but not nearly as accurate as NRX, TCX, and Hardy - Stiff stick that can handle punching out a hail mary.

Nymph Rig Performance - 17

Better than the TCX but not nearly as good as the NRX.  Re-affirms my inkling that this rod is best for casts over 50 feet.  Usually I'm nymphing within the distance of 20 feet and peeling line off to try to stack mend for a longer drift. Still, I could see the advantage of being able to cast nymphs a long way - particularly on tailwaters below dams where the biggest fish tend to lie just outside casting distance.   

9. Orvis Helios  $775.00

I have to give Orvis credit for what they have done with this rod. Although the general mid-flex action is the same as the Access, this rod possess a sincere sense of attention to detail. Aesthetically, The Helios is elegantly designed using top quality components to complete the package. Functionally, it feels like the Helios is hands down the best rod Orvis has ever made.

Still, I found myself wanting to like this rod more than I actually did. I regret we did not test the tip-flex model. Perhaps it would have performed better up close, and would have delivered a more delicate presentation at all distances. 

The bottom line for me is that the price of this rod didn't match the level of performance I expected. For nearly $800 I want a rod that can accurately chip shot a trico at 15 feet and still be able to go long with a leadeye. I felt it was a challenge to do either of these with this rod and thus for me, not the ultimate fishing tool.

James' casting notes:

Performance at 25 Feet - 16

Felt like it had more energy than the Access. Felt nice and light in hand but somehow still a pinch of chunkiness, probably because of the stiffer tip. Not what I was hoping for but also not bad. Too stiff for 25 feet - felt like I was pushing through the middle of the rod instead of being able to cast off the tip.

Performance at 45 feet - 18

Felt "hingy" and not nearly as smooth as the rest of the top rods. Definitely a slower action than the other rods.  Still quite accurate but the cast was more of a power slam than delicate presentation - similar to NRX. Tried backing off from my normal casting stroke and adjusted to the rod and it performed much better in terms of a softer landing.

Performance at 70 feet - 17

Plenty of power although difficult for me to throw as tight a loop as I was getting with the other good rods.  The slower timing made things more difficult and I wasn't getting very good accuracy.

Nymph Rig Performance - 16.5

I think the tip-flex would have been the way to go again.  The rod felt light but not as powerful as the winners.  Throwing open loops  was fine but tighter loops were risky, even at longer distances.

10. Sage VXP $495.00

I think what handicaps the VXP is that it's too stiff to be a general purpose rod. In this test we are looking for the ultimate five weight rod - one that can cast everything from tiny dries to a tandem streamer rig. The glove doesn't fit here... I feel the VXP is too specialized and too powerful for 5-weight rod, despite what Sage says.

I smile to myself when while reading sage's website - I guess we don't exactly see eye to eye in terms of "delicate presentations." I do however, strongly agree with what they said about the VXP being able to handle industrial strength sink tips and weighted flies. And it does feel lighter and easier to cast...

Perhaps the best thing about the VXP is that it is forgiving in terms of packing the power in too quickly. As someone who has struggled with this in the past, I noticed that this is a rod you can punch without immediately throwing a tailing loop. I think a true beginner may have an easier time learning to cast with this rod than a BIIIx.
If you already have a 5 weight, and are looking to purchase a 6 or 7, the VXP will be a strong contender. To me, this is where the VXP hits the ground running towards it's true niche.

James' casting notes:

Performance at 25 Feet - 14

Accuracy was OK but too much power at 25'. Put on a #6 line and it felt much better - easy and effortless.

Performance at 45 feet - 18

Forgiving for those who tend to pack to power in too quickly. No problem punching it. Very accurate, nice and light feel, powerful tip with a sweet spot around 55 feet.

Performance at 70 feet - 17

Not as awesome as I was expecting. Nothing like the Hardy, TCX, or NRX. Punching the power in quickly was no longer as easy to get away with and I threw a few tailing loops. Not nearly as accurate as the top rods but still a pretty good performance at this distance.

Nymph Rig Performance - 19

Definitely fits the bill here.  Didn't get a 20 since it felt a little heavier in hand than the Zenith and Z-axis.  It did have plenty of power and I was able to throw nice medium sized loops without thinking to hard.  Tried it left handed and it was also very forgiving, which might be good for anglers learning to "chuck and duck." 

11. Greys GRXI+  $189.00

The Grey's rod was impressive. Considering that it only costs $189 it's performance is outstanding.  The rod felt like it had a smooth balance to it, and while it didn't do anything totally miraculous, it felt very versatile and well-rounded. 

The GRXi+ is a nice rod, but perhaps the rod we should have tested, in my eyes, (along with Hardy rep Jon Malovich's and rod designer Howard Croston's) - was the Greys XF2 Streamflex.  I got a chance to wiggle the 9' #4 weight version of this rod and it felt really sweet.  Unfortunately, we were not able to get one of the 5-weight rods in time for the test, but we will be stocking this rod and expect it to be one of our top sellers.  At $299 you may have to cough up a little more cash, but it will be well worth it.

James' casting notes:    

Performance at 25 Feet - 18

In the same category rod as the best economy rods. Not as light a tip or nearly as pleasant as the Passport but nicer than the stiffer BVK. Closer to a medium action that most others.

Performance at 45 feet - 18

Smooth, nice loops but not as nice or as accurate as the Passport or TFO BVK. Nicer than Access for by a lot.

Performance at 70 feet - 17

Nice but lacked true power to blast it out like the BVK. Tailing loops can be a concern if you pack too much power in too quickly.

Nymph Rig Performance - 18

Neither terribly impressive nor unpleasant. I Keep forgetting this rod is only $189.00.  Still, for that price I could cast nymphs all day and be very happy.

12. St. Croix Imperial  $200.00

St. Croix's Imperial is and always has been a great value to anglers that demand exceptional performance at an affordable price.  Although this rod didn't make it into our original 5-weight shootout, when it appeared from St. Croix, it was apparent that this rod was an incredible stick for the price - then only $190.00.  It seemed to do everything well, and beginners loved this rod.

Since then, the rod industry has changed, as more companies are going after that lower price niche with an incredible amount of research and sweat equity.  The Imperial, falling where it did, is a clear indication of how fast technology and overseas production has taken over the market. 

Where the Winston Passport is unquestionably a better dry fly rod, I think the Imperial still stands as a stronger asset for nymph fisherman.  The only thing that really hurts this rod is the lack of performance at long distance, which isn't as important to me.  

James' casting notes:  

Performance at 25 Feet - 18.5

Felt a touch nicer than Grey's. Definitely lighter and slightly more pleasant to cast than access. Better than TFO up close but not as nice as Passport.

Performance at 45 feet - 17.5

Again very nice action - but not as nice as BVK or Passport. Equal with Grey's at this distance and also feels lighter in hand. Softer midsection than BVK, also slower in action.

Performance at 70 feet - 16

Will get the job done but I'm working a lot harder than with other rods. The BVK feels much lighter.

Nymph Rig Performance - 17

A little softer than the winners in this category but still very pleasant feel.  It would be great with smaller mayfly nymphs. 

13. Loop Evotec  $400.00

Let's get the bad stuff out of the way first.  I'll stick my neck out here and admit that I did not care for the X-grip.  The cork feels cheap, like it could easily chip away, but what concerned me most was that I could feel the cork handle hitting the base of my ring finger.  I understand the idea that it is nice to know you're lined up properly, but I don't think I've ever missed a fish because I wasn't gripping my rod properly.  At this price I'd rather have the standard premium cork rings.

I'm not a huge fan of 9 foot 3 piece rods, they are not as nice for travel and don't break down evenly.  Also, from a rod designers perspective, that's one less piece you get to play with to find the ultimate match in accuracy, power, smoothness, and a light tip to build the sweetest casting rod possible.

Brimming with power, this rod was perhaps not as graceful as the winners, but undeniably accurate.  For a three piece rod, I think the butt section is perfectly matched.  Had it been a four piece instead, I think Loop could have made a slightly stiffer butt which would have given them a better edge when throwing nymphs or going yard. 

I did like their futuristic looking reel seat.  The "techy" green wraps around the ferrule joins looked cool too.  I can see Loop building one of the best rods in years to come.

James' casting notes:

Performance at 25 Feet - 18

Didn't care for the grip - hit the base of my ring finger and felt like it could cause a blister. I guess over time I could get used to it. Tight powerful loops while still feeling accurate and light. Had to back off the power to get a better presentation which meant opening the loop a tad. Felt more accurate than Greys.

Performance at 45 feet - 17

Felt slightly heavier than winners. I could throw tight loops but they became target slammers.  As I opened up the loops, it was easier to cast but nor as accurate. Felt like it had a nicer, more flexible tip than Grey's and Imperial even though this was their fast action rod.

Performance at 70 feet - 16

Although fast, a little too soft in the butt section to launch like the big dogs. Nice feel but accuracy finally gone.

Nymph Rig Performance - 17

A pleasant rod to cast but not necessarily anything to tell your friend about.  I enjoyed the balance, feel, and power in this rod, it felt a bit heavier than the winners.

14. Orvis Access  $350.00

Not sure where to start here... reluctantly I suppose I'll stick with my true feelings instead of the sugarcoated version.  What disappointed me most about the Access the rod's abysmal lack of character.  To me, it felt vague at best and lacked the general feeling of being an animated fishing tool.  I felt no poetry in my hands, nor any sense of attention to tweak it into the best rod it could be. Did the designers run out of time or something?  Did they only care about the overall weight?  To me, this rod feels like it was designed to sell, not fish.  I know my friends who religiously fish Orvis rods are now deleting me from there address books...  Sorry guys, as always, in the end all that really matters is that you like your rod.

James' casting notes:

Performance at 25 Feet - 16

First impression was that it felt bland. No life in this rod. Didn't like it compared to other economy rods - and it was way off the podium rods.  Even though one of the lightest on paper, it still feels heavier in tip than many of the other rods.  Reel seat doesn't feel like good quality.  

Performance at 45 feet - 16

Had to double hall to create enough line speed to hit this distance. Noticed that it didn't shoot line as well as the others - could it be the cheaper guides are creating more friction? Felt worse than the other economy rods at this distance - even the CPX by a tiny margin.

Performance at 70 feet - 17

Slightly Better.  Casts with more power than the Passport here, but the loops are more open and difficult to control. Not as nice as TFO, and not even close to hanging with the top rods. 

Nymph Rig Performance - 16

Had to double haul hard to get the job done. Enough power but not the feel. Opposite from the winston rods that had great feel, but lacked the power.

15. Redington CPX $299.00

If the CPS is the good older brother, the CPX may very well be the red-headed step child.  With Sage as the parent company, I think we all expected something with more vitality and finesse.  You'd think Sage would have some old RPL mandrels laying around, collecting dust.  They should re-use those, or even tweak the Z-axis a bit, build it with some cheaper components, a little nano-resin and bingo!  We liked the old CPS but this rod was just disappointing. It's stiff and it's heavy.

The rod felt extremely heavy in hand, which is confirmed when you see that it has one of the heaviest swing weights.  I could possibly overlook this if it performed well but it didn't.

On a more positive note, the blank color, reel seat, and wraps were among my favorites in the entire shootout.  They were classy with a hint of bling. 

James' casting notes:

Performance at 25 Feet - 16

Couldn't help but instantly notice extra weight, especially in tip. Reminded me of the old Orvis Zero Gravity. Accurate but totally slammed the target.

Performance at 45 feet - 16.5

Very accurate but still not agreeable. Felt heavy and vague -not nearly as smooth casting as the winners. Not even close to casting as nicely as the Passport or BVK.

Performance at 70 feet - 16

Plenty of power, but that of a club.  This is one that you won't want to cast all day unless you are Captain Caveman.  Unfortunate since I really liked the older CPS.

Nymph Rig Performance - 16

Definitely had the power to get 'er done, but lacking any decent feel. It cast more like a wet sock was stuck on the end of the rod tip.

16. Thomas and Thomas HII $705.00

I guess the first thing I'll say about these last few rods is: Who cares what someone says about your rod?  If you love to fish with it, or feel it gets the job done, then that's all the matters.  It is your point of view that makes or breaks a rod, not mine. 

In hind sight, I think we probably should have left this rod out of the shootout. We're not really talking apples to apples anymore.  This rod has much more of a medium action. And it casts more like a classic bamboo rods. The rod is heavy in the tip and lacks the over all template of a faster action rod. I've been told there are better Thomas & Thomas rods to test - perhaps next time we'll test a different one.

Those who are willing to sacrifice the technological advances of newer materials, faster actions, lighter weight, as well as better power delivery and accuracy will still appreciate this rod's elegant craftsmanship and the fact that if forces you to slow down your casting stroke.   If I had one of these rods, I think I would do a lot more thinking by the stream than blind casting.  In a strange way, it might even make me a better angler, because instead of fishing blindly I'd be observing more.  

James' casting notes:

Performance at 25 Feet - 18

Traditional for sure - more flex through the middle of the rod and not as fast a tip as the others. A delightfully different feel in it's own unique way. Found myself feeling nostalgic as if this rod brought me back to days of bamboo or glass...

Performance at 45 feet - 16

Still very nice classic feel. The slower, more parabolic action became apparent. Suffers a loss of accuracy and power compared to new fast action rods. I noticed that I couldn't get quite as tight a loop with it than I could with other rods. Also feels quite a bit heavier than the other rods in my hand. 

Performance at 70 feet - 10

Felt the worst of the bunch for me a long distances. It was hard for me to slow down my casting stroke as much as I needed to avoid the tailing loops I was getting.  The line didn't track well and achieving any kind of accuracy was purely luck. I'm sure this rod was never designed to cast this far, and again who wouldn't just sneak up another 45 feet to make the cast?

Nymph Rig Performance - 12

Unfortunately for this rod there was a parallel between it's ability to throw long and throw big nymphs.  If any rod in the shootout is going to send a split shot to the back of your head (or the tip of the rod), this is it...