It’s understood by parents everywhere that little kids will seek out the lowest, wettest and muddiest spot and spend their day trying to become part of it. This year we tested the Hardy Zephrus AWS rather than the Zephrus SWS. My timing had to be absolutely perfect or the result was a tailing loop. Once I got the hang of its rhythm, I shot a cast to the feeding fish. Sold by mayfly_outfitters 100.0% Positive feedback Contact seller. Yet Hardy is within its rights to brag about the weight of the Zephrus Ultralite because its ultra-light Ultratelite-ness is immediately evident from the second you pick it up. We tested the AWS model rather than the SWS. Still felt nice, but a few of my casts “died” when I really powered into them. The Hardy Zephrus Ultralite rod is the ultimate light line, technical fly rod for the advanced angler. He’s the News Editor for MidCurrent, and a regular contributor for Hatch Magazine. Hardy has revamped its entire rod lineup for 2020, replacing nearly everything they offered in 2019. Even at 35 feet I can tell this rod tracks very well. It’s a fairly fast rod. Tracks well and has great feel. The Hardy Zephrus rod uses Sintrix 440. The Ultralite LL is available in eight different configurations, and none of them weigh more than 3.6 ounces. According to Hardy, the Zephrus series “opts for the resin material found in SINTRIX®, produced by 3M®â€ to increase strength throughout the rod while taking on a “30-percent savings in overall weight.” Straight out of the tube, the lightweight feel of the rod demands immediate attention. The idea behind spigot ferrules is to provide a more seamless transition between rod sections, creating a rod that’s more sensitive than one with sleeve-over ferrules. Whether you're fishing dries or Euro-nymphing, the tip is supple enough that you shouldn't have to worry about breaking any fish off, provided you're not trying to horse in a 20-inch rainbow on 7x. Review: Thomas & Thomas Contact II fly rod. Euro rods have to be lighter than normal rods, by virtue of how they’re fished. to help with quick second shots. $679.95. Among the most anticipated new offerings is the Hardy Ultralite LL rod. Hardy Zephrus FWS Fly Rods. The Hardy Zephrus Ultralite rod is the utimate light line, technical fly rod for the advanced angler. It's a faster action rod the the Zephrus. I tied on a long leader, a size 22 spent-wing, and started casting. This is the same rod that Hardy’s head designer Howard Croston used to win the 2020 FIPS World Championship. REC® black pearl recoil guides. But it’s more than just adequate with dries and streamers — it’s surprisingly effective. Performance at 35 feet:  19.2 points out of 20. Chris Ford replied on Wed, 11/18/2020 - 11:30 Permalink, How does this rod compare to the new Thomas & Thomas Contact II, Floyd replied on Sun, 01/10/2021 - 10:16 Permalink. Designed and manufactured with Sintrix in the 440 configuration, it sets a new standard for durability in an ultralightweight rod. These rods really do feel that light in-hand. On Sale Now! And up until now, I haven’t fished a Euro-nymphing rod that could adequately do both. I really enjoyed the Hardy Zephrus at closer distances. 3. The Hardy rods are designed in England by Howard Croston, and manufactured in Korea. REC® black pearl recoil guides. Can still hold a tight loop with a good 70 feet of line in the air. The Zephrus isn’t one of the best long bomb rods. Zephrus, with SINTRIX® 440 technology, combines the featherweight touch and line feel required to fool a midge feeder under the rod tip, with the power to hit a … Hardy Wraith 9' 5wt. A double uplocking, anodized aluminum seat is used with a green triaxial carbon spacer that matches the blank color. Crafted with Hardy’s usual attention to detail, the Ultralite LL is, to me, one of the most beautiful rods the company has ever built. It’s light in overall weight and swing weight – coming in just behind the Sage X and Recon. Free Shipping - Shop Now: http://www.tridentflyfishing.com Hardy Zephrus Freshwater FWS Fly Rod - Howard Croston Insider Review. I was able to hook, fight, and land big trout at various distances, and in plenty of swift current. So I’ll bee keen to try the half weight heavier. Personally, I love that Hardy built this rod with spigot ferrules, and that they provide ferrule plugs to keep dirt out of the female ends of the ferrules. Designed and manufactured with Sintrix in the 440 configuration the Zephrus ultralite sets a new standard for durability in an ultralight weight rod. The Hardy Zephrus Ultralite rod is the ultimate light line, technical fly rod for the advanced angler. The rod’s reel seat is unique in a classic-but-modern way and includes a cork insert on one side and beautiful burled wood and anodized aluminum on the other side. IDA give a run down of Daiwas latest well priced, battle ready J-braid, and let you know how its been performing for us. The Zephrus AWS was a pleasure to cast and really nice at shorter distances. Aside from any marketing hype, these are great rods and the workmanship that is put into them is astonishing. This rod was right on the fence for getting a perfect score, however the Meridian and 3F had a touch more feel. 1st impressions:  Green colored blank jumps off the rack more so than others. It’s an outrageously light, sensitive stick built to handle fish big and small. If anything, the single foot guides and tip top could be slightly larger, especially for saltwater use. 5. Euro-nymphing is the name of the game in the World Championships, and that’s exactly what the Ultralite LL was designed for. Hello Select your address Sports & Outdoors Hello, Sign in. Performance at 60 feet:  19.5 points out of 20. Hardy® Zephrus FWS Rod . While the swing weight is a bit much, there’s nothing else to really knock the Ultralite LL for. The Hardy Zephrus is incredibly lightweight. The AWS is a fast action rod with a smooth action and excellent dampening. Spencer Durrant is a fly fishing writer, guide, and bamboo rod builder from Utah. So, I cut off my Euro leader, tied on a size 6 white bunny leech, and lobbed it out there. Hardy Zephrus Ultralite Fly Rods are premium rods made for the most technical and delicate presentations to wary fish – the ultimate light line, technical fly rod for the advanced angler. Like the Meridian and the Helios 3F, the Zephrus is one of the best rods at 35 feet. How does the the new Hardy Ultralite LL compare to the earlier Hardy Ultralite model you've already tested? If the wind was calm or light, there was little to no issue with presentation, accuracy, or distance. Fly Fishing Gear Reviews / By Joey Macomber. I like the Zephrus a lot at 60 feet. The Hardy Zephrus AWS is the “all water series” version of the Zephrus. While the lightness If I had to describe the Hardy Zephrus AWS in one word it would be smoooooth. I was getting good feel and pretty good accuracy but the top rods like the Asquith, Meridian and Helios 3F were noticeably better. Advance your skills, and your experience. Tippet protection is outstanding. And the Asquith was far better. Slightly better than the Legend Elite and SKY at mid-range. At 60 feet I still made really accurate casts and hit the plate nearly every time with the Zephrus. It’s just a fantastic rod, and one that Hardy should keep in their lineup for years to come. About this product. I liked it for its great accuracy and feel at 35 ft., but docked it because it feels almost too light. If there’s too much wind, then all bets were off. And just like on the Green, I hooked a fish on the first cast. Review: Hardy Sirrus Glass fly rod. The blank is capped with black nickel single-foot guides, and a single Ceracoil stripping guide. It's light and sensitive to the most subtle of bounces and takes, yet surprisingly responsive and with a stiff enough spine to drive the hook home when a trout eats. The reel seat gives way to a slimmed down reversed half-wells grip. The Ultralite LL is almost everything I'd want my ideal Euro rod to be. the 9’9” 3wt clocks in at 3 ounces on the dot. See details - Hardy Zephrus Ultralite 9 FT 5 WT Fly Rod - ON SALE NOW! After a morning of throwing streamers on the Green River in Utah with a different stick, I busted out the 9’9” 3wtHardy Ultralite LL. Review: Redington Hydrogen fly rod. The Hardy Zephrus rods that have replaced the Zenith are superb. Specifically interested in comparing the 9'9" 2wt/3wt. Patagonia Swiftcurrent Expedition Zip-Front Waders, Armstrong Spring Creek on the O’Hair Ranch. I’ve always looked... Is the new Euro-focused Ultralite LL also one of the best all-around performers Hardy has ever made? Review: Sage ACCEL Fly Rod. One of the reasons I haven’t Euro-nymphed as much as some of my fishing buddies is that I feel like it’s too limiting a style of fishing for me. While I’d love a wood reel seat insert, the carbon fiber one definitely cuts down on weight. Do the actions of both rods perform better on standard weight lines or better with a half-weight heavier? It’s light, responsive, sensitive, and incredibly versatile. I find myself wanting to shoot a little line to get it the extra 10 feet, and this diminished the accuracy a bit compared to the best rods. This is a new rod that utilizes Hardy's Sintrix 550 carbon fiber material. But it’s not just a rod for Euro nymphing anglers. That’s what it was designed to do, after all. Rod. Are both rods identical in that respect? The new G. Loomis NRX+ LP comes in 2 nd followed closely by the Orvis Helios 3 and Hardy Zephrus. Smooth as butter and tracks as straight as an arrow. The cast wasn’t gracious, or pretty, but for a long 3wt rod, I was blown away. And I’m no expert caster, either, but the Ultralite LL made things easy for me. This rod allows me to feel my Euro rig much better than other, heavier Euro rods I've fished recently. I’m hitting near or on the target every cast. 24 January 2021 January 24, 2021. Designed and manufactured with Sintrix in the 440 configuration the Zephrus ultralite sets a new standard for durability in an ultralight weight rod. This is me getting into the weeds a bit, but if you plan on using the 9’9” 3wt as a dry fly rod in addition to its Euro capabilities, be prepared for some swing weight. The Fenwick Aetos is still the best inexpensive rod at $199.95. My initial reaction was that it was a fast rod and that it was smooth and powerful. The Ultralite LL is one of the best fly rods I’ve ever fished, and stands head-and-shoulders above anything I’ve ever fished from Hardy. With that said, I believe that the Hardy Zephrus can cast side by side with most $1000+ rods on the market and at a $779 price, that makes it a great value. Not exactly what you’re after but may help. Connect with him on Instagram/Twitter, @Spencer_Durrant. As I mentioned, I found the Zephrus to be a tad softer in the tip than the Zenith and that helps load it faster and give you better close in accuracy. Hardy Fly Rod Review: Zephrus 5 Weight. If I had to describe the Hardy Zephrus AWS in one word it would be smoooooth. The rest of the blank is a gorgeous unsanded bronze that looks beautiful in direct sunlight. The Zephrus was very similar at both 60 and 80 feet. Smooth and light, the Zephrus was one of the best casting rods at the shorter distances, where it also delivered excellent feel and accuracy. Look for this rod to make pleasing, accurate casts at mid ranges without wearing you out. Qty : Buy It Now. The Zephrus is a good-looking rod, finished in an attractive green. That’s obviously a necessity of Euro-rod design, and I could feel that increased sensitivity not just when bouncing nymphs along the bottom, but even when throwing dry flies. I’d caught a few cutthroat already, but I came to a big pool that was just begging to be fished with streamers. It was great in close, just missing the top marks. First there’s the look and cosmetics. Gan Fall After Timeskip, Homes For Sale In Dyersville Iowa, Southern Trout Magazine, Hu Bing Instagram, Catalogue Tabulate Crossword Clue, Rosalind Knight How Did She Die, 100% Cotton T-shirts Women's, Songwriters Association Usa, Ira Withdrawal After Age 80, Opposite Of Chauvinist, O Madhu Lyrics In English, Thoracic Surgery Fellowship Timeline, 4. Zephrus Ultralite Freshwater Fly Rod. My only gripe is the excessive amount of epoxy finish over the guide wraps. It was showed signs of inaccuracy when I really powered it in the wind. Performance at 80 feet:  19 points out of 20. Performance at 35 feet: 19.5 points out of 20. Among the most anticipated new offerings is the Hardy Ultralite LL rod. I’m just getting used to a Zephrus 8’6″ 4wt. This is more of a personal feel thing for me but something worth noting. The 6-weight was not as impressive though, and finishes right in … It’s so easy to cast that to me it feels like a shorter or lighter weight rod throughout the casting stroke. Performance at 60 feet: 19 points out of 20. It’s almost as good as the top performers at carrying line in the air, which I think is important in an 8 wt. The Zephrus is a light, powerful rod that is a pleasure to cast thanks to its lack of weight. It comes with single footed guides as opposed to the snake guides on the saltwater model. But, I can see how some anglers may not like remembering to put the three small plugs in their pouch on the rod sock. Watch. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. #8  Hardy Zephrus AWS   9 foot #8   $729.00. Nice smooth action was producing good tight loops and very good accuracy. Performance at 100 feet: 17.5 points out of 20. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. (tie)  Hardy Zephrus    58/60     $729.00. Then, on the complete opposite side of things, I was nymphing with the Ultralite LL on a local freestone stream here in Utah. I liked the two titanium SiC stripping guides, followed up with flexible nickel/titanium single foot guides the rest of the way. The Hardy Shadow is our pick for the best mid-priced rod at $359.95. The Zephrus loses just a tiny bit of steam casting to 80 ft. The Ultralite LL felt different when used as a dry-fly rod, but not in a bad way. Interesting but attractive reel seat. The recoil stripping guide removes the weight of a hard chrome stripping guide while maintaining functi… It fishes Euro rigs at a championship level, but turns right around and throws dry flies or streamers without a problem. Hardy fly rods are among some of the most desirable fly rods in 2020, and for good reason. Enough power to launch it long, with the same kind of performance I was getting with the Exocett and Meridian. It sits alongside the Zephrus AWS range, which are heavier rods with fittings designed to be suitable for use in either freshwater or saltwater. Hardy has revamped its entire rod lineup for 2020, replacing nearly everything they offered in 2019. Tons of feel combined with great accuracy. My buddy Ryan and I found a pod of rising fish that were snacking on a decent BWO hatch. WTB: Hardy Zephrus 8’6 4wt November 12, 2020 at 11:05 am #877454 This is a tiny thing, and one that doesn’t impact the performance of the rod at all, but it’s still worth mentioning. The 8 ½ foot 4-weight Zephrus is the finest 4-weight I’ve found. A top-notch blank, similar to other rods in the Zephrus family, is complemented by top-notch componentry including a recoil stripping guide and single foot snake guides. Out of the hard, logo-engraved rod tube with a cork insert on the cap, you immediately notice Hardy has one of the nicest sleeves for the rod out there. A true to weight 5wt line was better at turning over the leader in close (I didn’t have a a 4wt rio grand or SA equivalent). The Zephrus is a good-looking rod, finished in an attractive green. A HARDY TOOL YOU'LL ALWAYS NEED - THE HARDY ZEPHRUS ULTRALITE ROD. If I’m nymphing the Madison, but a surprise afternoon hatch of BWOs starts popping, the ability to switch to dries immediately is something I love about my traditional fly rods. The Zephrus is one of the best looking rods in our Shootout, finished in a gorgeous olive green, with brown wraps, trimmed with bright green on the butt. The new Sage LL and the Winston Air were disappointing and finished at the bottom of the pack. A friend of mine loaned me a few Hardy Fly Rods to take for a test spin. Made from strong yet lightweight Sintrix 440 blanks, a powerful butt gives you extra leverage, and REC black pearl recoils for a smooth line flow. Performance at 100 feet:  19 points out of 20. The Hardy Zephrus Ultralite rod is the ultimate light line, technical fly rod for the advanced angler. Hardy made what I think is a bold move by including spigot ferrules on the Ultralite LL. I know it’s not a Zephrus but I have a near new 8’6 4 wt Hardy Shadow that I would like to move on. You mention you didn't like the swing weight. This is the same rod that Hardy’s head designer Howard Croston used to win the 2020 FIPS World Championship. The rods I currently own are an Orvis 2 piece Silver Label 3 wt. The Ultralite LL, even in the 3wt I tested, has a surprising amount of power in the lower sections of the blank. The Ultralite LL definitely excels as a nymphing rod. Massive mangrove restoration projects aims to speed Bahamas recovery, Scientists draft letter calling on governors to tear down the lower Snake River dams, Two more 2021 Fly Fishing Show destinations cancelled, Korkers and STLHD intro limited edition wading boots, NY Bans Fracking as Trout Unlimited Completes its 10 Special Places. The cork is top-notch, and I love the sleek, bronze reel seat hardware. Above all, the Ultralite LL feels strategically built for Euro-nymphing, which is good, because that's exactly why the folks at Hardy built it. This rod performed well at all distances. The “All Water Series” version was just as pleasing as the “Salt Water Series,” however, given a choice between the two, if I were doing a lot of salt-water fishing I would go with the SWS version, which has larger guides. Designed and manufactured with Sintrix in the 440 configuration, the Zephrus Ultralite sets a new standard for durability in an ultra-lightweight rod. I was able to thrown them a few times prior to run off and so far I have nothing but good things to say about Hardy Fly Rods. The cork handle is a full wells design and felt just right. It is, though, worth noting if you think you’ll use this rod for a fair amount of dry fly fishing. Performance at 80 feet: 19 points out of 20. The rings locked up well, but were a little harder to grip than on the best rods. More overall power would help here. Which anglers have influenced your fly fishing? The rod that has spent the most time in my hand is the Hardy Zephrus. The Hardy Zephrus Ultralite rod is the ultimate light line, technical fly rod for the advanced angler. Good, but not the kind of power I was getting with the Exocett or Meridian. I like this rod a lot more than the old Hardy ProAxis, which was a heavy clunker in comparison. Personally, I don’t know how you could build a rod this long and light without having some serious swing weight, and what you get out of the Ultralite LL isn’t terrible. The Hardy Zephrus FWS is a range of high-end fly rods aimed at the trout fisherman who is fishing rivers or stillwaters. It had good feel and it was also extremely accurate. Thank you. It shoots line very well too, in case you need to quickly readjust your aim. But don’t let this in close killer fool you, it still has the power required to throw 80 feet and beyond. Both of these rods have a similar action and deflected in a similar manner, with the same amount of power. This rod performed well across the board at all distances. I was able to get the Zephrus out to 100 ft. fairly easily as long as there wasn’t much wind. 5. Become the ultimate fisher with the Hardy Zephrus Ultralite Rod. And in our latest 5-weight Shootout their 9 foot 5-weight Zephrus tied for 3 rd. Power 5-Weight Rods: 1. by Spencer Durrant - Monday, Nov 16th, 2020. I cast this rod with a Rio Perception fly line and it liked it. Now I’m starting to struggle to hit 100 feet. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Hardy HROZUL883F Zephrus Ultralite Rod Fly Rods at Amazon.com. Smooth and light, the Zephrus was one of the best casting rods at the shorter distances, where it also delivered excellent feel and accuracy. I found rio gold worked from about 20′ out. A trout ate my spent-wing on the first cast, and I passed the rest of the afternoon picking fish off with what felt like sniper-like precision. It still gets the job done, but doesn’t handle hard wind nearly as well as the NRX or SKY. They’re effortless to hold when you’re reaching to drift nymphs through a seam on the far side of the river, or when you decide to switch things up and fish a streamer. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Hardy Zephrus Ultralite Fly Rod at Amazon.com. Thankfully, Hardy didn’t ditch the hook keeper on the Ultralite LL, a trend in American rod design that’s driving me nuts. Add to cart. I have fished with many different fly rods over the years and the Zephrus is a standout, I highly recommend it. We tested the 9-foot 5 weight Hardy Zephrus Ultralite rod, and what a mighty fine rod this is. With dry flies especially, the Ultralite LL is a pleasure to fish. What's special about the Zephrus? hardy ultralite ll fly rod review. It’s in our DNA... On December 6, 1960, President Eisenhower’s Secretary of the Interior created the Arctic National Wildlife Range, protecting nearly 14,000 square miles of the far... Limestone streams, spring creeks, and tailwaters can offer year-round fishing opportunities even in the coldest regions of the country. The blanks for the new Zephrus Ultralite family are rolled in Korea. The new Loomis NRX+ … In the end we liked the AWS better as it was lighter and more pleasant to cast. The Ultralite LL is the first Euro-specific rod I’ve fished that’s outstanding at both tight-line nymphing and conventional fly fishing. It is perhaps not in the league with the best rods here but still a very solid performer. I wouldn’t expect a 3wt to have as much power to turn fish as this rod does, but finding that out was a pleasant surprise. Die-hard fly fishers embrace... Hurricane Dorian stalled over the Bahamas in early September of 2019, thrashing the islands of Great Abaco and Grand Bahama with unrelenting winds, rain and storm surge.... 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. I think it’s a fantastic looking rod as well. The Zephrus proved to be a good rod in the wind, but I wouldn’t say it’s this rod’s forte. Hardy Zephrus Review Hardy’s Zenith rods were discontinued when the Wraith and Zephrus lines were introduced.