Another change Scott has included in this rod series is a hollow internal, to make the rod more flexible, stronger, and, that create an advanced multi-modulus graphite. Learn to Tie Trout Flies for the Farmington River & other CT streams with … Hardy Zephrus Freshwater Series Zephrus 905. I think it matches the rod well, but let's face it, I would have preferred some cocobolo. Lamson Speedster 2 – Grey/Org $329 $180 The new G. Loomis NRX+ LP comes in 2 nd followed closely by the Orvis Helios 3 and Hardy Zephrus. The new Sage LL and the Winston Air were disappointing and finished at the bottom of the pack. I think it will be the go to 5-weight for many Scott fans, particularly those who found the Radian a bit too fast for their liking. Winston Boron IIIx 9' 5-Weight Review, Classic look and feel that stays true to its roots. Like the Zenith, Wraith, Zephrus and all Hardy rods from the last decade or so, the blanks for the new Zephrus Ultralite family are rolled in Korea. It’s not really there when you’re casting—the Zephrus Ultralite has a decidedly medium action, very similar to the old Winston GVX—but the second you hook a fish you’ll feel it. What we don’t: We still prefer the Scott Radian above. C $870.12 to C $981.47. The first time I went to cast one of these rods, my local Hardy rep said he’d bet $20 I’d throw a tailing loop. So many aspects go into blank performance that it’s hard to single out one of them. The Zephrus Ultralite just doesn’t live up to that level of wind-beating performance. The Helios 3D and Sage X lead the pack in that regard. Both series represented two of the finest all-purpose 5wts in the industry during their time. To my credit, I didn’t throw a tailing loop, but my first cast wasn’t exactly pretty. The best part? Some anglers may not be, though. As the name implies, the new Zephrus Ultralite is light. Read on to see if the Zane Pro stands out in a crowded market filled with exceptional 8wts geared for the flats fanatics. Hardy Zephrus 905-4 – $699 – $420. Add some Hardy gear and hit the water! This is a new rod that utilizes Hardy's Sintrix 550 carbon fiber material. It has tiny amount of cosmetic wear on the bottom of the butt of the rod from contact with the bottom of a drift boat. Notably light. My initial reaction was that it was a fast rod and that it was smooth and powerful. George’s Comments: Hardy has given us another magical rod that produced an absolutely stunning performance to blow away all the contenders. U.K.-based Hardy has been on the scene seemingly forever, including a relatively recent acquisition that left some loyalists wondering about its future. This is where you’ll see the biggest difference in the two rods. 5. At ICAST, I cast the 905 figuring it to be the most important rod in the series. 8 – Excellent. I’d even go so far as to say the Zephrus Ultralite deserves to be in the conversation for best fly rod on the planet, alongside rods like the Sage X, Orvis Helios 3, Loomis Asquith and NRX-LP, Scott Radian, and Winston Boron IIIx. Like the Zenith, Wraith, Zephrus and all Hardy rods from the last decade or so, the blanks for the new Zephrus Ultralite family are rolled in Korea. In fact, the new Zephrus Ultralite from Hardy is likely my favorite fly rod currently on the market. The 8’8” 4wt is nearly the same (.05 oz less on both). Where some rods separate themselves from others is in their ability to handle above-average wind. Deadly. Item is sold as-is. When you read everyone’s comments on the Zephrus, you will see that we all agreed that this is a very special rod, for a variety of reasons. I’ve always looked... I’m a firm believer that experience and knowledge play key roles in our angling success. Titanium recoil single-foot guides adorn the rod, kept in place with thread that matches the blank color. Wraith FWS Rod £792.99. What’s really eye-catching, though, is the reel seat. Build quality and reel seat View Shopping Cart. Both rods are fantastic! Perhaps surprisingly to some, where a blank is rolled or a rod is assembled doesn’t impact its performance or quality. Die-hard fly fishers embrace... Commercial fishing interests and even recreational anglers often bemoan the political creation of Marine Protected Areas around the globe, but the science suggests these... Rubber boots were a daily wear item back when I owned a farm and have been a vital piece of equipment for a lot of my hunting, fishing, and exploring. Scott G-Series Fly Rod Review: A look at the GS 884 and 905. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Of course, accuracy is more dependent on the angler than the rod, but a great rod helps. The Hardy Zephrus FWS is a range of high-end fly rods aimed at the trout fisherman who is fishing rivers or stillwaters. Here at Trident, we were big fans of the Zephrus and its predecessor, the Zenith. Not one. In my short time in the industry, I can’t say that there’s ever been a more anticipated rod release than the Scott G-Series. 2. I’ve had the privilege of fishing the Zephrus Ultralite in a 9’9” 2wt, 8’9” 4wt, 9’ 5wt, 9’9” 4wt, and 9’9” 5wt over the past few months. In all honesty, the GS looks pretty much just like its predecessors. One thing that has changed is the reel seat. Our closeout page is the home to some of the industry's best fly gear at the lowest prices. Lots of bend, but still recovers fast and very progressive. The 9’ 5 weighs 2.85 oz with the top 3 sections weighing in at being .9 oz. I’d be interested to cast the new GS 884 side-by-side with the older G2 884 to see how big the difference really is. Hardy Zephrus SWS 9’ 5wt Fly Rod. I think it matches the rod well, but let's face it, I would have preferred some cocobolo. The 5wt feels like a really sweet medium-fast action rod. The Hardy Shadow is our pick for the best mid-priced rod at $359.95. Accuracy and feel The back half has a thin bit of hardwood veneer, striking a unique balance between the classy look of wood and the light weight of cork. You’re not going to want to throw any BB split shot on, but the 9’ 5wt is totally versatile enough to do some light nymphing, particularly if your casts are in close. Redington Hydrogen 905-4 $299 $179. Nevertheless, I found the 884 to be more accurate than the new Hardy Zephrus Ultralite that I cast alongside it. At 45’, the story doesn’t change much. This rod feels lighter in hand. Sign up for our Newsletter, a monthly dose of new ideas and exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly to your inbox. Starting at under $700 and offered in weights 2-5, the Zephrus Ultralite provides performance equal to or exceeding other rods priced much closer to the $1,000-mark. One thing that has changed is the, . Just for grins, I cast the 905 at 60’ and I was pleasantly surprised, on a nice calm day, how well it cast! G. Loomis NRX LP 904-4 $775 $465. Anglers used to high line speed, laser-tight loops, and the hiss of line shooting through your guides won’t get that experience from the Zephrus Ultralite. Hardy is calling the new Zephrus the "evolution of carbon fiber fly rod technology." Buyer beware: you may need to slow down your stroke a bit to make this rod perform as you’d like it to. The new $700 offering from Hardy puts itself in the conversation for best fly rod on the market, Where Daylight Can't Come Soon Enough: Idaho and Montana 2013 Trip Report - Part II, Business Trip: Wisconsin's Driftless Region. Anyone who’s fished recent Hardy rods knows they’re on the faster end of the spectrum, and that’s what I expected when I threw my first lawn casts. One simply did not fish dry flies without a Hardy bamboo rod. The Ultralite replaces the Zephrus as Hardy’s high-end, freshwater rod series. Casters used to faster action rods will still find that they’ll need to alter their stroke for the 884. It is always difficult.... Any thoughts on the Scott G 773 for small stream/brookie fishing? ILS 396.62. Item is sold as-is. G. Loomis NRX LP 883-4 $750 $450. And therefore unique, to Hardy& Greys Ltd. Leland on Hardy The history of Hardy is long and stoic. The logo-imprinted cork in the tube lid is a nice touch, and metal caps over the ferrules gives a little extra love to a sometimes vulnerable part of the rod. The 884 has a completely different feel. The Hardy zephrus Series of fly rods features our Award winning sintrix material - sintrix 440.The zephrus exhibits high recovery and enhanced in hand feel for a fast action rod, whilst generating high line speed and phenomenal line control. I will say that with Rio InTouch Gold, the 8’8” didn’t perform its best at 45’; I think something like Wulff Triangle Taper would work better in windy conditions. Like my desk. by Spencer Durrant - Monday, Oct 9th, 2017. Spencer Durrant is a fly fishing writer, outdoors columnist, and novelist from Utah. It’s really stayed very true to its G-roots. Comparing this to the G2, it’s a much faster more useful rod. What struck me the most about the 9’ 5-weight is how easy it was to cast. What’s impossible to notice until you actually fish the rod, though, is its backbone. Free shipping for many products! Wind Even lordly(as in Lord Hardy) if you will. To sum it all up as quickly as possible, I’ll mention just a few things. Orvis Helios ZG Fly Rod Mid Flex 905-4 (9' 5wt.) Do Marine Protected Areas make a difference? The manufacturer did not nail the 905. That’s the trade-off you make for light weight and insane feel in close and it’s one I’m personally happy to make. REELS. The front half of the reel seat —where the reel foot is held in place—is all cork. HARDY 905-4 ZEPHRUS FWS 9' 0" 5WT 4 PIECE FLY ROD W/ Warranty Card. Compare . At that price there may not be a better rod on the market. Connect with him on Twitter/Instagram, @Spencer_Durrant. Every high-end rod (which I classify as $650+) handles average wind just fine. But it’s become a moot point since rods like Winston’s IM6 or Sage’s XP hit the 3.5oz or lighter mark. ILS 2,595.20. Scott is truly at the top of their game – it seems like they are more in demand than ever! It's now a black anodized aluminum with a Micarta insert. The rod that has spent the most time in my hand is the Hardy Zephrus. The Hardy Zephrus Ultralite rod comes in a range of models. The Zephrus Ultralite costs significantly less. One of those brands that focus on the quality of every small part to bring together a fantastic quality product. The aluminum locking reel seat has cool green/brown wooden inlay to add to the design of this beautiful fly rod. Like all of the USA made boutique rod makers, Scott rods look great! Is the Bahamas fly fishing economy circling the drain? No champions here, however, the 9’ 5wt is actually not too bad at longer distances. From streamers to small dries to my standard dry-dropper rig, the Zephrus Ultralite put my flies where I needed them. Line speed Very classic. The rod comes in its Hardy cloth bag and tube and with its stopper. reinforced carbon, includes stylish thread wraps, Scott Sector Fly Rod Series Review: Model-by-Model, R.L. For $699.95 you can get the 9’ 5wt Zephrus Ultralite with Hardy’s lifetime warranty, superior build quality, and all the incredible performance attributes mentioned above. From an 8’8″ 3 weight to a 9’9″ 5 weight, there are seven different rods in this lineup, and the rods range between $679.95 and $769.95, depending on the model. I cast this rod with a Rio Perception fly line and it liked it. The rod also features cutting-edge fiber and resin systems that create an advanced multi-modulus graphite blank design.