Yellowstone Angler provides the only possibly unbiased, objective comparisons of fishing rods I can find - but only fly rods. I don't know a single report comparing the actual PERFORMANCE of different brands and models of casting rods or spinning rods, but I would certainly applaud such a factual, measured comparison. I've heard enough claims of "fast", "smooth", "powerful", "soulful", "responsive", "incredible", and "magical" rod blanks.

The intro to one video says "We'll give you our impressions. . ." "sweet rod" "nice" "soft tip" "does everything well" "I think a rod with a softer tip is far far better" "Doesn't have the power at long range. . ." "plenty of power" "NRX, better than anything" "very very good at 30 feet" "NRX has a reserve of explosive power" "4 piece is a heavy clunker"

"@#$%&"



Not objective.

Rather than complaining about it, why don't you do something about it? If there is something I want, I go out and get it. I don't ask others to do it for me

If Phil couldn't complain, he would have very little to say.

lol..play nice..

Yellowstone Angler provides the only possibly unbiased, objective comparisons of fishing rods I can find

Phil,
Sorry - this is an oxymoron.
Unbiased - not on your life
Herb

About the only way to provide an objective comparison between rods is with relative numbers.

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Guys,guys, guys, back off, If Phil Ew is happy let him enjoy the moment it is not that often he is content, it is refreshing to see the positive side him, Hats off to Yellowstone Anglers for whatever they did.

Thanks, Tom. Numbers that correspond to physical reality is what I would like to have before I spend my money on a blank. But I wouldn't dream of depriving others of the emotional support they get from reading about smooth, fast, powerful, soulful, accurate, light, responsive, dependable, exhilarating rod blanks.

Herb: Yellowstone Anglers assembles six or eight recognized expert fly casters and provides them with eight or ten fly rods with their printed i.d. covered, but of course these guys probably know the brand and model anyway. The same brand, type, and weight of fly line is used with each rod. Each caster takes 10 casts for distance, ten for accuracy at varying distances and their attempts are tape measured and averaged , as are roll casts. The anglers' subjective opinions about the rods are also recorded, but the physical facts of each rod's performance are quantified in actual numbers, not adjectives, and are available to the public. The escape from Madison Avenue advertising hype is refreshing, and actually informative.

If they are testing for distance, then the most powerful rod will win, every time. And not all rods labeled as being for the same line weight will possess the same power. This is a long-standing marketing gimmick.

Accuracy is in the hands of the caster.

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In the golf world every thing was longer and straighter. The slicers still sliced and the hookers,well what ever. I look at all the different ways people cast. You have the over head hope to reach Europe types and the under hand skipping, with just wrist. No way could these types have the same response about the rod. Golf it was frequency, here it's common cents. The best method currently available.

I think it's a very good exercise in evaluating rods. My only point was that it is not objective. Even with the measurements of CCS, weight, and maybe a few others, I don't think there is a set of objective measurements that can totally describe a fly rod and conclude that one is the "best."

Go grab 6 or 8 regular anglers and do the same test and see if you get the same results. CCS system is the only way for now to get what you're looking for, numbers don't lie and there is no emotion or physical human attributes to change the CCS numbers.

double post



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/11/2020 07:14AM by Terry Kirk.

You can look up the Yellowstone Fly Rod Shoot Outs on line. They do a pretty good job of NOT promoting any make or model - they just report what each rod will do in the hands of expert fly casters. The rods these accomplished fly casters like and which perform best for them may well not be the best rod for you or me, but at least you won't have to wade through another pile of "smooth", "fast", "light", "lively", "quick", "soulful", "powerful", "satisfying" and other such drivel.

The CCS is completely objective. It is the same system we use for measuring length, weight, etc. But as Michael mentioned, it only measures inherent properties of a rod - it does not proclaim that any particular one is "the best." That sort of thing is subjective and remains up to the individual to decide based on what works best for him and the way he fishes.

If you're looking for something or someone else to tell you what the best rod is, you're apt to be forever disappointed. What is best for you may not be best for me.

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“smooth", "fast", "light", "lively", "quick", "soulful", "powerful", "satisfying" on a lawn or parking lot may not translate to pleasure/performance when presenting flies to a trout. Our individual trout settings and casting styles certainly come into play as well.

Of all the adjectives thrown around the one that gets my antennae up the most is “powerful”. Once spoke to a well known bamboo blank maker about my desired use for a four weight bamboo blank. He recommended a blank he makes and I placed the order. As we finished the conversation he added “you’ll be throwing 60 foot casts in no time with this rod”. Right then and there I should have backed off, but didn’t. I now have a nice 7’6” bamboo rod that needs a five weight line to enjoy.... This would be fine if I didn’t already have a couple other nice five weight bamboo rods.

Jeff, you hit the nail on the head..these rods that cast a country mile are not worth a crap for fishing the distances we mostly fish at..but that,s all they talk about not about all the fish they catch.

Salmon & Steelhead Journal did many articles some years ago on rods and reels used for these fish. Edge Rods was started, according to Gary, when he got calls for the rods he built from his NFC blanks that did so well. The articles were well received, but very time consuming to do.