Say it ain't so...Another 5-weight Rod Shootout

[Skook]

Is it me, or is the Redington Classic Trout the best value in fly rods, and by a wide margin?

Yellow Dog 5-Weight Shootout

 

[wildtrout2]

I'm partial to St. Croix for great value/quality.

 

[DaveKile]

I have a Redington Classic Trout 4 weight and it's a great rod. The action and feel as a 4 weight are just the way I like a rod.

 

[Nocktavius]

Redington is mostly trickledown tech from Sage, isn’t it? Great price point considering what those abominations of Chinese made junk like moonshine, maxcatch etc that are borderline unfishable cost.

 

[vern]

I had a nice Redington from years ago. It broke eventually. Very nice rod especially for brookies and tight water.
Replaced it with a: Penn Gold Medal IMS 6576 Graphite 7'6" 5 wt

Tried to find another one and didn't have much luck.


Had a St. Croix years ago and beat the hell out of it. It served its purpose well. Especially helping to not worry about hitting twigs or thin branches, etc. It was a beater.

Editing.. I just checked my email and there was a notice from Redington. LOL!!!
I forgot I have them on the email listing and get regular emails!
I usually just delete with other mail in broad removals.

I do check them out now and then.

The email now says they got a sale going on.

 

[vern]

The sale is for waders, and other wading stuff.

 

[dudemanspecial]

Interesting I have always heard that the 9' 5w Classic Trout was bad and it was only good in the short 3 and 4 weight sizes.

 

[Skook]

The CT ranked #2 in the overall ratings and has a MSRP of $170. The other nine rods that finished in the top ten have an average cost of $872. The rod placing tenth (Asquith) cost $1,235 and finished eight spots below the Classic Trout.

Even if the rankings aren't spot on, there's probably some element of truth to them. I have an 8'6" 4wt Classic Trout that I bought on sale several years ago for $120 but haven't fished with it.

 

[ROVERT]

Look at the deflection charts and the rankings. Those casters like a slower rod that flexes deeper into the mid section. If you look at Yellowstone Angler's shootout, you can pretty much invert the results. Just look at the Asquith and Session in each shootout.

Who is right depends on what kind of rod you like.

 

[Skook]

Yellow Dog Fly Fishing created a one hour and fourteen-minute video documenting the rod review.

 

[TerrellBFly]

Im partial to an older model Fenwick Aetos 10' 5wt, before they came out with the single foot guides. Mid level rods, can get the job done juuuust fine.

 

[NRD]

A couple years ago, I spotted a good deal on a 9' 4wt Classic Trout, so I bought it for my wife. After casting my 9'4 wt Helios 2 for a month, I took her out one afternoon with her Classic Trout. I thought it compared very favorably with my H2 except the CT felt very HEAVY. After seeing this discussion, I pulled them both out and weighed the two middle plus tip sections.

Helios @ 339 grains
vs
CT @ 448 grains.

That 32% difference wouldn't bother anyone who isn't already accustomed to a lighter rod.

 

[SBecker]

I cast the Winston Air 2 at the Jersey Show. I was looking for a 7wt that cast like the Winston Biiix 5wt I own and love to cast. They recommended the Air, and they were dead on. Pretty sure they just changed the name on their leftover Biiix stock. lol

 

[EchoRidgeElder]

I, too, have the Classis Trout in 4 weight (864). I simply love the rod. It does everything that I wish it to do. I am old guy so I do not like fast action rods. The Classic Trout is just about perfect. It is my "go-to" rods for about 90% of my fishing.