The Sector is the your best choice for flats, inshore, offshore and beach fishing. We are always happy to talk shop and help you decide if a certain rod would be the right rod for your needs and casting style. The cork handle is Scotts modified wells style, like the Radian, where the swell is slightly forward of the middle of the grip. I liked the feel I was getting from this rod, but I was just slightly more accurate with others. (tie) Scott Meridian 58.5/60 $865.00. 03 Jun. Line Weight: 5. As you will see in our Performance Only scores, the Asquith was the best performing rod in our 8-Weight Challenge. Centric. Only the Orvis 3F felt as light and had equal feel. My favorite 5 rods are a good starting point and Im sure that they wont disappoint you. scott meridian vs orvis helios 3. The guide setup starts with two titanium frame SIC style guides that are slightly smaller than what Orvis or Scott use, but they seem to work perfectly and shoot line well. The epoxy coating on the guides is excellent. The rod is nicely balanced, allowing easy casting without having to exert much grip-pressure. However, two specific weights will allow you to cover all saltwater fishing scenarios a 9 and a 12-weight. With your support we can continue to give you more Shootouts and head to head comparisons on tackle and equipment in the future. The guide wraps are black, trimmed in an attractive blue on the butt section and at the ferrules. IFTD 2017 Update: Orvis Helios 3. Orvis: Helios 2: $895: 8: 9: 3.55: Full Wells: Yes: 23: 87.5: Quotes are not sourced from all markets and may be delayed up to 20 minutes. But in the Final Results, it lost considerable points for price and warranty cost and the NRX+ took first place. Loomis uses a stack of thin width, very high-quality cork rings that have proven to hold up well with hard use. The silver rings look good but are rather thin and harder to grip and lock up than most. Ive been impressed with all the Asquith rods in various sizes, and use them much of the time for my own fishing. The lack of backbone hurts, and makes it hard to achieve the longest distances with any kind of accuracy. It is a great fishing rod, especially in the 8 and 9-weight varients. I could cast this rod all day. Fenwick uses a solid dark gray anodized, double uplocking seat. The Nautilus G-7/8 is still our reel of choice on any 8-weight rod, especially when you need the ultimate in performance to handle sizzling fast bonefish runs or the bulldog like power of a big Louisiana redfish. The Asquith is an absolute joy to cast, and for me it stood out from the other rods in our Challenge the second I got it in my hand. Is this something you are wondering about or going through the motions to by one? Orvis uses the very best components on the Helios rods, and the rods are finished beautifully. As G. Loomis explains, the new GL8 resin is self-propagating, meaning the resin creates its own nano-particles. I designed these leaders with very stiff butt and midsections, and a short taper that allows them to turn over extremely well, even in a harsh wind. Each section is labeled 908, which is handy and makes for easy alignment. For sure, this rod walks away with the title of the best inexpensive 8-weight. Scottf13 on March 28, 2014: Arts and Crafts: Middle School: Grades 6, 7 and 8 Quizzes. The Sector is Scott's bid for "finest saltwater fly rod ever designed." These wonder rods leave us wishing for nothing. backing. Since the GL8 resin is more uniform, it penetrates the graphite fibers more effectively, thus requiring less resin. The cork handle is a Steve Rajeff design, a full wells grip that is slightly larger at the front, above the swell, than it is below. The Aetos is no long-distance cannon but at 35-60 feet it is surprisingly impressive. While the recent advancements in graphite construction are not as revolutionary as the initial jump from fiberglass to graphite rods was, there have been significant technological improvements that have greatly advanced graphite rod construction. This rod is an absolute steal at the low price of $189.95. The increased dampening and recovery also result in superior accuracy, which was evident at close range. Even though most anglers have their favorite saltwater fly rod, there are some characteristics that these rods share. The old NRX rods were some of the toughest rods we have ever fished, and tougher to break than rods from other manufacturers. The question I can't personally answer is if a Helios 3F or 3D is twice the rod as the Recon.Maybe. Shimano developed a special graphite tape called infinity tape, which is wrapped on the mandrel on a 45-degree axis. The first Helios were introduced in fall 2007 and the world was amazed at how light they were, and how well they cast. scott meridian vs orvis helios 3. The Orvis Helios 3D 8-Weight 9 Fly Rod fits snuggly in hand, with a comfortable fighting butt that allows a little extra leverage when fighting powerful fish in moving water. The 8-weight is an extremely light rod with a swing weight well below any of the other rods. Your email address will not be published. Review: Orvis Helios 3D Blackout 9' 5" 5-weight fly rod Review: Orvis Recon fly rod Review: Orvis Clearwater 11-weight 9'4" fly rod Obviously, the light weight makes the Recon pleasant to carry around all day, especially if you spend a lot of time hiking. Although the NRX+ was able to beat the Asquith on price and warranty, allowing it to finish first in our Final Results, the Asquith retains its crown as the finest 8-weight fly rod in our Performance Only category. Saltwater fly casting is all about accuracy. They cast with the ease of the beloved Meridian Series, but possess 10-15% more power in the butt and mid-sections. This fly rod is a workhorse and is also one of our best picks as a bass fly rod. There is some light blue trim on the butt. Casting a relatively large or heavy fly, sight casting to a fish at 60-plus feet, and wind. For this reason, a fast action rod has become the standard in saltwater fly fishing. But as reflected in the Performance scores, it was down on power at the longest distances. The new lightweight, smooth and powerful G.Loomis NRX+ earns the overall win as 2020s best saltwater 8-weight rod. This is also a very light rod in both overall and swing weights, making it a pleasure to fish all day. The main reason for this was feedback from Key West pros and guides who wanted a rod that can handle a Grand Slam or Tropical Punch line, since many of their clients are not experts at double hauling and these heavier, front loaded lines enable the clients to have the best chance for longer casts in the wind. Nice smoothly controlled loops and lots of feel. These are the scenarios where rods take the most beating. I do recommend spending as much time as possible casting this rod before going on a fishing trip. Aside from tremendous performance, I like the fine components Scott uses on the Meridian. The rest are large diameter black chrome snake guides that will pass line and tangles easily. The new Orvis Recon Big Game is the best mid-priced rod that handled all distances well, but especially longer distances or casting in the wind. The Helios 3 Blackout, however, seems to have made a bigger leap than usual. Of course, this will bump up the swing weight somewhat, but it will still be one of the lightest 8-weights. A good 8-weight saltwater fly rod doubles up well to target larger freshwater species such as bass, golden dorado, and salmon. Combined with the new materials and resin is what Fred calls a G ARMOR coating. The new SKY G is very quick to dampen and is very sensitive. The Nautilus reels also have a lower start up inertia than any of the reels we tested. The 3F was the softest and had the most feel. At longer distances it was really about as good as the 3D, but at the two shorter distances, the softer tip on the 3F gave us much more feel and better accuracy. Im impressed with the smoothness and the accuracy, second only to the Asquith. I loved the looks of this rod as well. $998; orvis.com Subscribe today and save. The shape and swell feel just right to me. But the things that matter are there, including a modern build designed to reduce wobble and side-to-side movement when casting. We offer free shipping on all orders over $100 and have no sales tax. The Meridian feels the lightest and has a slight lighter swing weight edge over the Zephyrus. Only the Asquith and Helios 3F felt slightly better at mid-range. On the bow of a skiff being poled around the flats in Cuba or on a transfer in a beat-up panga in Southern Sudan. Compare a freshwater fly rod to these criteria and most rods will fall short. An oversize tiptop is used, and there is no hook keeper. Of the three rods, the Asquith was the stiffest and most accurate. Durability is an area where many saltwater fly rods fall short. Weve found that some of the new lines with shorter front tapers and heads are just not well suited for flats fishing where you need to combine accuracy with a delicate delivery. Wonderful tracking and accuracy in close, edged out only by the Helios 3F and Sector. A good 8-weight fly rod will protect lighter tippets but have the power to handle bonefish. Despite how I score the rods at 80 and 100 feet, when we take people out on the lawn they can almost always cast the Meridian farther than anything else. It is super-accurate, and gave me great feel and control. Both of these rods are amazing, and with this new technology, Orvis claims they have been . The belly and front taper have a fairly traditional design, allowing for nice loops at long distance and the ability to present a fly delicately and accurately. At the outset of the Shootout, we outline our procedures and explain each of our points categories in detail. The Orvis Helios 3F, Scott Sector, and Douglas SKY G all perform with excellence up to 60 feet but lack power when casting at the longest distances of 80-100 feet, or when battling a headwind. It had the perfect blend of feel and power to make it one of the best 8-weights at this range. When last have you heard of a premium rods cork coming loose or a ferrule that wont stay secured properly? The Echo Prime 4pc is the lightest and best mid-priced rod for fishing at short to medium distances, but lacks power at longer ranges. The NRX range has always been highly regarded in the outer atolls of Seychelles as being incredibly durable. The grip is very comfortable and it forces you to choke up on the rod ever so slightly, making the rod feel even lighter in your hand. All things being equal, cheaper is in this case, may be better, making the NRX+ a very appealing saltwater weapon. Here is where the Asquith takes the lead. The epoxy coating over the guides is excellent. The Meridian is just one of those rods that performs well at every distance. Unique full wells grip feels very comfortable, albeit different from the rest. I let a 124cm giant trevally fall on top of the butt section of my old Sage Xi2. Two years ago, the Asquith won our full blown 2018 8-Weight Shootout, replacing the Scott Meridian as the previous 2016 8-Weight winner. Other anglers prefer super-fast action fly rods. The question What is the best saltwater fly rod? will undoubtedly provoke many lengthy discussions. scott meridian vs orvis helios 3 . Scott states: "Fresh, Fast and Unfiltered." They nailed it. I was able to get good accuracy and didnt have any issue with the distance. or for your fishing situation, please ask us! The reel seat is far better than on the old Recon. I must admit, I have been diagnosed with extreme GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome). The wraps are gray with attractive two color blue trim on the butt section. This, combined with the high modulus carbon fiber, produces a rod with incredible pulling power. After that, it seemed to run out of steam, and lacked the power needed to hit the longest distances with ease. The deep, dark blue finish is gorgeous in the sunlight. This is another great looking rod from Scott, finished in natural graphite gray and only lightly sanded, in typical Scott fashion, so you can still see the tape marks. Although each angler has his or her own casting style and personal preferences, almost everyone loves the way the Scott Meridian performs. Flex & Feel Just like the 3D wins the casting competition for distance, the 3F wins it for feel (and by about the same margin). 60 feet was by far my favorite casting distance for this rod, and I gave it top marks. Normally we wouldnt do two Shootouts in the same year, but after seeing how well the NRX+ rod did, winning our 2020 5-Weight Shootout, we were excited to see how the NRX+ 8-weight would compare to our 2018 8-weight Shootout winner, the G. Loomis Asquith.