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CHAPTERS: 0:00 Introduction 3:06 Maxcatch Premier 4:13 Orvis Encounter 5:24 Echo Base 6:15 TFO NXT Black Label 7:23 Redington Vise 8:11 Sage Foundation 9:15 Sage Trout LL 10:41 Lamson Center Axis 11:55 Conclusion
The Best Fly Rod Combos
I still remember the first fly rod combo I ever received. My dad had gone down to the local fly shop and found an incredible deal on a 5 weight Orvis Fly Rod and an old Sage 106M Fly reel, along with some cheap line.
It was the best Christmas gift I could’ve asked for. I don’t remember exactly how old I was, but back in those days our local fly shops would just put together any rods, reels and line that they had lying around and they’d call it a “Fly Fishing Combo”.
Nowadays a lot more fly fishing gear manufacturers, as well as online fly shops, are putting together great value fly rod and reel combos that are actually items that are well balanced and meant to go together. Fly fishing combos aren’t just for kids or beginners either.
Intermediate and pro anglers purchase them all the time and often, they're the best way to get a perfectly balanced fly fishing kit built by the manufacturer with each part of the combo made to match the next.
1. Maxcatch Premier - Cheapest Fly Rod Combo
I recently purchased a Maxcatch Premier combo set for an impromptu fishing trip in Portugal. I’ve had a couple of Maxcatch rods and reels in the past, but they’re mainly my backups for slightly more expensive bits of kit. I have to say that I was blown away by the quality of the Maxcatch Premier set and the fact that it came with pretty much everything I needed to head out on the water.
2. Orvis Encounter - Best Value Fly Rod Combo
This is another one of my backup combos and I really love the rod. The reel has a plastic frame, which I wasn’t crazy about at first, but it’s actually incredibly light and well balanced.
3. Echo Base Kit
Echo fly rods are designed by Tim Rajeff. He's not only a previous single-hand distance casting world champion, but he also understands the principles of fly rod design and that distance isn't everything. Coming in at well under $200, The Echo Base is a great value beginner fly rod combo offered by them.
4. Temple Fork Outfitters NXT Black Label Kit
Making fly fishing accessible is part of TFO's mission. That's what they've done with the TFO NXT Black Label Kit, focusing their effort only on two very popular models.
5. Redington Vice Combo
The Redington Vice fly rod combo features a lightweight, fast action blank. Although fast action might not be for beginners, it is a great option for an angler that has some experience with casting.
The rods come in a wide range of weight options, from a 4 weight, perfect for smaller streams, to a 9 weight.
6. Sage Foundation Outfit - Best Mid-Range Combo
Sage released their Foundation fly rod in 2018. It’s a high-performance rod, as expected from Sage, dedicated to the beginner and intermediate fly fisherman.
7. Sage Trout LL Outfit - Best Top-End Outfit
The Sage Trout LL rod makes use of Sage's most recent Konnetic HD technology. Although the same technology is used on their fast action fresh and saltwater rods, they have designed the blank to offer a medium action.
BONUS: Lamson Center Axis
At the beginning of this video, we talked a lot about the advancements of technology in the fly fishing rod and reel space. Well, the Lamson Center Axis Outfit is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with innovation in this centuries-old sport.
With “normal” fly rods the reel is a separate unit that is locked in place by the reel seat. When casting, this attached weight creates momentum in a different plane than that of the moving rod, resulting in less feel.
CONCLUSION
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