Yellow Dog Saltwater Invitational: 11-Weight Tarpon Course

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Welcome to Yellow Dog’s Saltwater Invitational, hosted by Turneffe Flats Lodge in Belize and presented to you in partnership with The Angling Company in Key West, Florida. A follow up to the 2025 5-Weight Invitational, this is a detailed, performance-driven evaluation of modern saltwater fly rods including 8, 9, and 11-weight rods. With nearly every major manufacturer represented and participating in this event, we set out to create something that was considerably more detailed and precise than traditional saltwater rod reviews that have – in the past – simply ranked rods based on pure distance and the opinions or preferences of one or two evaluators. 

This segment centers on 11-weight fly rods, real tarpon fishing scenarios, and the terminal tackle used when targeting the silver king.

Table of Contents

Please Read: What This Is (And What It Isn’t)
Questions and Answers About the Yellow Dog Saltwater Invitational
The Saltwater Invitational Casting Team
Deflection Charts
The Overall Cumulative 11-Weight Fly Rod Rankings
11-Weight Economical Rods Cumulative Rankings
Top Performing 11-Weight Fly Rods by Distance
Standard Deviation Scoring
Echo Fly Rods
G. Loomis Fly Rods
Hardy Fly Rods
Orvis Fly Rods
Redington Fly Rods
Sage Fly Rods
An Interview With Nathaniel Linville

Please Read: What This Is (And What It Isn’t)

We know what you might be wondering. Which fly rod was the overall “best”?

Sure, as you’ll see in the video segments of the Saltwater Invitational, even we get excited to see which rods land near the top within specific categories. But that was never the point of this evaluation. While some rods finished with higher cumulative scores, our goal was not to crown a single winner and send everyone home. Instead, it was to provide anglers with meaningful, usable data that helps them identify which rods perform best for how and where they actually fish. While we focused our testing on 8-, 9-, and 11-weights for the “Big 3” of saltwater fly fishing–bonefish, permit, and tarpon–these same rod weights also apply to a wide range of other species and scenarios where they find their voice. Dig into the data and find what suits you as an angler.

Fly rod performance is situational. A rod that excels at punching a fly seventy feet into the wind to a tailing permit might be exactly what you are looking for, but that same rod can feel overly stiff and disconnected when a redfish appears at close range in high, tannic water, demanding a quick and accurate presentation in close quarters. If your comfort zone lives in the 40 to 50 foot range, the rods that stood out there deserve your attention. If you regularly fish ultra clear water, where longer presentations matter, there are rods in this lineup that clearly separate themselves at distance. The value of this project lives in those distinctions, not in a single ranked list. It is also important to be clear about what this evaluation represents.

This was a performance based fly rod study, conducted by experienced casters, under repeatable conditions. Each rod was tested according to the manufacturer’s intended design. We controlled variables where possible, including casting environment and fly line, while fully acknowledging that no fly rod evaluation can ever be completely free of subjectivity. That reality is not unique to fly fishing. It exists in golf clubs, skis, surfboards, and virtually every performance driven tool. We also heard the feedback from our previous invitational. About expert casters. About line selection. About subjectivity versus objectivity. About testing environments.

The Saltwater Invitational was intentionally designed to address many of those points by moving the evaluation onto the flats, introducing real wind and casting angles, casting relative to defined targets (instead of at them), and evaluating rods in the same environment and by the same criteria that anglers actually use and assess them. By using real-world distances and use cases for the casting course, the expertise of the casters was used to evaluate rods for scenarios that every angler, even a beginner, would expect to experience.

We didn’t ask them to do things that most casters can’t do. Instead, we put together a very straightforward and simple course so that we could compare the rods to one another within the actual world they were designed for. This is not a buying directive. These results aren’t etched in stone. It is not a declaration of winners and losers. It is a detailed snapshot of how a wide range of saltwater fly rods performed under real conditions, interpreted by casters who can consistently direct those rods to their intended application.

Your own preferences, casting style, fishing scenarios, and personal feel will always matter, and no review should ever replace time spent casting a rod yourself. This evaluation is meant to inform decisions, not make them. When it does come time to purchase, we hope this information helps narrow the field and ask better questions. And when that time comes, we hope you will choose Yellow Dog Flyfishing or our friends at The Angling Company.

Questions and Answers About the Yellow Dog Saltwater Invitational

1. Why did we host this in Belize? Why not just do this on a football field or in a gym?
   From the beginning, we made a deliberate decision to conduct this evaluation on the flats. Rods were cast from staked poling skiffs and, in the case of the bonefish course, while wading. Simply put, there has never been an evaluation of this scope conducted in the environment where saltwater fly rods are actually used.
   
   On the flats, variables change. Wind is rarely consistent. Footing matters. Casting angles shift. You are managing line, leaders, flies, and body position while making presentations in real fishing situations.
   
   By hosting the Saltwater Invitational on the flats of Belize, we were able to evaluate performance where it actually matters. Not in perfect conditions, but in the same elements anglers face when chasing bonefish, permit, and tarpon around the world.
   
   
2. Why did we select elite casters and anglers?
   Here’s a simple way to think about it. Imagine your truck starts making a noise you’ve never heard before. A warning light comes on. You pull into a mechanic shop and walk up to the counter. Two people are standing there. One has grease on their hands, looks like they have been doing this for decades, and you recognize them from the last time your truck needed real work. It is obvious they run the place. The other is friendly, attentive, and clearly learning, but they are taking notes and looking to the first person for guidance.
   
   Who do you want diagnosing the problem? And more importantly, why?
   
   That same logic applies here. Professional casters and anglers have spent thousands of hours refining their craft. They can feel subtle differences in recovery, tracking, load range, and efficiency that many anglers simply cannot yet articulate. That does not make the “average” caster less capable. It just means they are still developing those instincts.
   
   Our goal was not to measure what feels good on a good day. It was to identify repeatable, meaningful performance differences between fly rods. To do that, we needed evaluators who could consistently push each rod to its intended limits and accurately describe what was happening along the way. That is why this evaluation relied on professional casters and anglers. Not to exclude anyone, but to ensure the data you are looking at is as clear, honest, and useful as possible.
    
3. Why and how did we design our unique testing courses?
   

   When anglers talk about fly rods, the conversation often drifts toward extremes. Longest cast. Fastest recovery. “Best” rod. But saltwater fly rods are not built for laboratories or indoor gyms. They are built for boats, wind, moving fish, imperfect footing, and split-second decisions.

   That reality shaped the mindset behind how we designed this course and how we evaluate saltwater fly rods. The foundation of the courses is simple: every cast should represent something you would actually do on the bow of a skiff or wading the flats.

   Rather than standing in one place and repeatedly throwing at a single fixed distance, the course is designed around three common shots anglers see every day:

   • A quick, close shot at roughly 30 feet
   • A medium presentation around 50 feet
   • A longer cast at approximately 70 feet

   Each distance is fished, not just cast. Anglers are asked to imagine a fish moving left, then moving right, making the same cast twice but at slightly different angles. This subtle change reveals far more about how a rod behaves than throwing line at a static target ever could. In addition, casters are asked to pick up and re-present across the target at the medium distance. This simulates one of the most common scenarios in saltwater fishing: a fish changes direction, and you must adjust quickly without resetting everything.

   Standing on the bow with three “fish” in front of you forces the same decisions you would make in real fishing situations. That’s intentional. All distances are measured from the angler, not from the boat’s centerline. This matters.

   If you measure thirty feet straight ahead and then step laterally, that cast is no longer thirty feet. Geometry changes the shot. Instead, each distance is positioned where a fish would realistically appear relative to the angler’s stance and casting angle.

   The boat itself is also positioned to replicate how guides actually set up shots on the flats. Wind direction, boat orientation, and casting shoulder are all factored in. We are not testing how far someone can cast with the wind at their back or how hard they can punch a line into a headwind. We are testing the most common and most likely shots anglers face every day.

   This is about average scenarios in the truest sense of the word. Not easiest. Not hardest. Most realistic.

   
   
4. How was the scoring system set up and tallied?
   

   
   - Backhand casts at 1 and 2 accounted for the cumulative Short Distance score.
   - Forward casts and water load casts at 3 and 4 accounted for the cumulative Medium Distance score.
   - Forward casts to 5 and 6 accounted for the cumulative Long Distance score.
    
   Each rod received three separate scores, short, medium, and long, each rated from 1 to 10 in 0.1 point increments. Those three scores were then combined to produce an overall score for the rod. With the exception of the on the water load cast at the medium distance target, every cast began from the same starting position, with no more than four feet of fly line extended beyond the rod tip.

   6.4 and below – Poor to very poor
   6.5 - 7.0 – Functional but needs improvement
   7.1 - 8 – Performs well and/or meets manufacturer’s goal
   8.1 - 9 – Exceptional
   9.1 – 9.9 – Rod assumed control
   10 – Rod defied known laws of physics
   

5. What fly lines, leaders, and flies were used?
   

   Fly Line: For the Saltwater Invitational, our casting team agreed to run a single fly line through every rod. This allowed us to control yet another variable and ensure consistency across the evaluation. Fly lines absolutely change how a rod feels. Changing fly lines introduces too many variables. If a cast crashes, is that the rod or the line? If it feels great, is the line compensating for a weakness in the blank?

   By keeping the line constant, casters develop familiarity with it quickly. Once the line disappears from their conscious thought, they begin to feel what the rod itself is doing. Any differences that emerge can be confidently attributed to the rod, not the system around it. The Balance Taper line was chosen intentionally. It is not designed to excel at one thing. It is designed to do everything well enough. It loads quickly, lands softly, shoots line when needed, and behaves predictably across distances.

   In this context, the line should not be the star. It should be neutral. 

   Leader: Umpqua Linville Tarpon Leader

   Fly Pattern: Tarpon Toad - Chartreuse - Size 1/0
   
   

6. How were these rods selected?
   

   Yellow Dog Flyfishing carries a wide array of fly rods from top manufacturers. Every single brand we represent chose to participate — including Sage, Orvis, Scott, Winston, Hardy, Redington, Thomas & Thomas, G. Loomis, and Echo. This was one of the most diverse rod lineups featured in a saltwater rod performance-based review in angling history, and we’re incredibly grateful for their participation.

7. How Did We Minimize Subjectivity?
   We took every step to eliminate bias, bringing in elite casters with no brand affiliations.
   
   - We let the casters design each course alongside Yellow Dog’s marketing and strategy teams. 
   - Casters were not allowed to discuss or share their opinions until after all scoring was complete. This format ensured that scoring was based on individual performance — not groupthink or preferences.
   
   With all of that said, some level of bias is unavoidable, and we fully acknowledge that. Completely removing it would require testing unbranded blanks with no visual identifiers, a process that would be either extraordinarily time consuming, prohibitively expensive, or both. Two of our casters regularly compete with a one-piece Hardy Marksman Z in major saltwater fly fishing tournaments. They openly acknowledged that they know this rod exceptionally well, including its strengths, its limitations, and exactly why they choose to fish it. Rather than discrediting the evaluation, we believe that familiarity provides important context.

   If a rod earns a place in high level competitive fishing, it is almost certainly because it performs at a very high level. That reality does not invalidate the results. It helps explain them.
   

8. Why were there no perfect scores?
   Our Saltwater Invitational casting team aligned with the same scoring philosophy established during the 5 Weight Invitational by John Juracek, John Hudgens, and Whitney Gould. In that framework, a score of 10 would imply perfection and leave no room for improvement. Because even the highest performing fly rods can still be refined, scores in the 8 to 9 range were used to represent truly exceptional performance without suggesting a rod has reached its final form.

9. Why didn’t we score rods based on aesthetics?
   From the outset, we agreed that minimizing subjectivity was essential to ensure a fair and credible evaluation. While other shootout or rod review models have included points or consideration for aesthetics, we deliberately chose not to incorporate cosmetic scoring. Our casters felt that judging a rod based on appearance would be highly subjective — what one person sees as sleek or beautiful, another might not care for at all. A green or matte black finish may appeal to some, but that has no bearing on how the rod actually performs.
   

The Saltwater Invitational Casting Team

NATHANIEL LINVILLE - ANGLER, COMPETITOR, INNOVATOR
Nathaniel Linville is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished saltwater fly anglers of his generation. Based in Key West, Florida, he is the owner and operator of The Angling Company, a premier fly shop recognized for its technical expertise in casting, rigging, and saltwater fly fishing systems tailored to the challenging fisheries of the Florida Keys.

A committed Trustee of IGFA and chairman of the Rules Committee, Linville has built an exceptional competitive résumé. He is a past winner of the prestigious Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament, he has won the fly division of the Cuda Bowl four times, captured three Superfly titles, and recorded multiple victories in elite permit tournaments, including the March Merkin and Del Brown Permit Tournament.

Linville also holds four IGFA Tippet Class World Records, including the Men’s 6-pound Tippet Class World Record for tarpon (140.3 pounds, caught with Captains Steve and Chad Huff) and the Men’s 2-pound Tippet Class World Record for permit (16 pounds, with Captains John O’Hearn and Chad Huff).

Beyond competition and records, he has contributed meaningful innovation to the sport, including the development of the Cobranagle knot, now widely used in tarpon rigging. He also played a key role in launching the inaugural IGFA Permit Invitational Tournament. As an educator and advocate, Linville writes, teaches, and speaks regularly about fly casting, technical refinement, and fishery ethics. His influence continues to shape how anglers approach saltwater fly fishing, from competitive settings to real world flats scenarios. In Key West, he teaches students from around the world a system of fly casting that is efficient, effective, and easy to understand.

CAPTAIN IAN SLATER - TOURNAMENT ANGLER AND FLATS GUIDE
Ian Slater is a highly respected flats fishing guide and competitive angler based in the Florida Keys. Known for his calm, analytical approach on the water, Ian brings a disciplined, high performance mindset to both guiding and tournament fishing.

In 2024, he captured the prestigious Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament alongside Nathaniel Linville, cementing his place among the top competitors in the sport. A former collegiate and professional hockey player, Ian’s athletic background translates directly to his fishing style, marked by precision, adaptability, and composure under pressure.

As a guide, Ian is widely regarded for his ability to coach anglers through demanding tarpon, permit, and bonefish scenarios, helping them execute when it matters most. His combination of competitive success and real world flats experience makes him a trusted authority in high level saltwater fly fishing.

BRIAN O'KEEFE - ANGLER, PHOTOGRAPHER, AND WORLD TRAVELER
Brian O’Keefe is one of the most influential figures in modern fly fishing, with a career that spans more than four decades and reaches across the globe. He learned to fly fish at a young age from his grandfather on the rivers around Missoula, Montana, and went on to build a life centered on exploring, documenting, and understanding the world’s great fisheries.

Brian’s angling experience is vast, with extensive time spent guiding and fishing throughout Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, the Bahamas, Belize, Patagonia, Chile, New Zealand, Australia, Africa, and beyond. Few anglers have logged as many days on the water across such a wide range of environments, giving him an unmatched perspective on fish behavior, conditions, and the gear required to succeed.

He is equally renowned for his work behind the camera. As one of fly fishing’s most respected photographers, Brian has helped define how the sport is visually documented, favoring authentic, in-the-moment storytelling over staged imagery. His photographs have shaped the way anglers see both the fish and the places they pursue them.

Deflection Charts

The Overall Cumulative 11-Weight Fly Rod Rankings

 

FLY RODS	SHORT	MEDIUM	LONG	COMBINED
1. Orvis Helios D (72.8/90)	23.1	24.6	25.1	72.8
2. Hardy Marksman Z (72.3/90)	22.4	24.8	25.1	72.3
3. G. Loomis Asquith II (72.2/90)	22.5	24.4	25.3	72.2
4. Sage Salt R8 (71.3/90)	22.2	24.2	24.9	71.3
5. G. Loomis NRX+ S (71/90)	21.8	24.4	24.8	71
6. Scott Sector (70/90)	22.9	23.6	23.6	70
7. Echo Boost Blue (69.2/90)	21.6	23.4	24.2	69.2
8. T&T Sextant (68.2/90)	21.3	23.1	23.8	68.2
8. G. Loomis IMX-PRO V2 (68.2/90)	21.9	23.5	22.8	68.2
9. Sage Maverick (67.8/90)	22.4	22.6	22.8	67.8
10. Winston Air 2 Max (67.4/90)	21.8	22.7	22.9	67.4
11. Redington Predator Salt (67/90)	21.4	23.1	22.5	67
12. Scott Wave (66.5/90)	21.2	22.8	22.5	66.5
13. T&T Exocett 88 (65.5/90)	21.1	21.8	22.6	65.5

 

11-Weight Economical Rods Cumulative Rankings

TOP ECONOMICAL RODS	SHORT	MEDIUM	LONG	COMBINED
1. Echo Boost Blue (69.2/90)	21.6	23.4	24.2	69.2
2. G. Loomis IMX-PRO V2S (68.2/90)	21.9	23.5	22.8	68.2
3. Sage Maverick (67.8/90)	22.4	22.6	22.8	67.8
4. Redington Predator Salt (67/90)	21.4	23.1	22.5	67
5. Scott Wave (66.5/90)	21.2	22.8	22.5	66.5

 

Top Performing 11-Weight Fly Rods by Distance

TOP RODS AT DISTANCE

Short 30’  - Helios D (23.1/30), Sector (22.9/30), Asquith (22.5/30)

Medium 40-50’ - Marksman Z (24.8/30), Helios D (24.6/30), NRX+ S (24.4/30)

Long 60-70’  - Asquith II (25.3/30), Marksman Z (25.1/30), Helios D (25.1/30)

Standard Deviation Scoring

Standard deviation measures how much a rod’s scores varied across distances (cumulative short, medium, and long scoring).

Low number equals the rod behaved similarly everywhere. High number equals the rod behaved very differently depending on distance. It is NOT necessarily an indication of a rod’s overall performance, but merely underlines how a rod performs across all three categories. 

Low standard deviation (0.2–0.6 range): These rods are highly consistent. They do roughly the same thing at short, medium, and long distances. These rods rarely surprise you. That can be a feature or a limitation.

Mid-range deviation (0.7–1.1 range): These rods begin to show distance-based personality. These rods are situationally excellent but less universal.

High deviation (1.3+ range): While these rods may perform exceptionally across distances, they truly shine at specific distances

STANDARD DEVIATION SCORES
Rod Model	Std Dev
Sage Maverick	0.2
Scott Sector	0.38
Winston Air 2 Max	0.59
Thomas & Thomas Exocett 88	0.75
G. Loomis IMX-Pro V2S	0.8
Scott Wave	0.85
Redington Predator Salt	0.86
Orvis Helios D	1.04
Thomas & Thomas Sextant	1.29
Echo Boost Blue	1.33
Sage Salt R8	1.4
G. Loomis Asquith II	1.43
Hardy Marksman Z	1.48
G. Loomis NRX+ S	1.63

Echo Fly Rods

Echo Boost Blue 9' 11-Weight | $399.99
 

From the manufacturer: What specific fishing scenarios did you design this rod for, and where do you feel it truly excels in performance?
The Boost Blue is built for anglers with an aggressive casting stroke to achieve maximum line speed. 

From the manufacturer: What fly line would you recommend pairing with this rod?
Airflo Bruce Chard Lines or the Airflo Tarpon Taper

Caster Scores:

TARPON COURSE - TOTAL SCORE 69.2/90

Echo Boost Blue		Caster 1	Caster 2	Caster 3	Avg.	Combined
	Short	7.2	7.2	7.2	7.2	21.6
	Medium	8	7.3	8.1	7.8	23.4
	Long	7.9	7.9	8.4	8.06	24.2
	Total	23.1	22.4	23.7	23.06	69.2

Caster Notes:

• Surprisingly nice for a rod that I may not pick up at a fly shop. Feels very well balanced and did what I was hoping it would do.
• A bit smaller of a grip than others; like the upturned full wells. Wobbly in close, but feels really good carrying 30-35’ of fly line. Shot 120’ of fly line in three false casts. A little sacrifice up close, but great at generating line speed.
• I like the smaller grip. This rod is fairly stiff up close, and I’d like more flex at 30’. It’s a very different experience at 50’ (medium) compared to 30’ (short). This is a great rod for distance, but maybe not in real situations. The rod doesn’t have dead spots and does the same job throughout the blank. 
  

Yellow Dog Final Takeaway
The Echo Boost Blue 11-weight was a pleasant surprise and one many anglers might overlook at first glance. It feels well balanced with a smaller, upturned full wells grip that stood out in a positive way. Up close, the rod is relatively stiff and a bit unsettled, but once carrying 30 to 35 feet of line it comes alive. At medium and long distances it generates excellent line speed, carries line efficiently, and has no dead spots through the blank. There is some sacrifice at short range, but for anglers who value distance and line speed, this rod performs exactly as intended. Overall, very hard to beat when price is factored in!

G. Loomis Fly Rods

G. Loomis Asquith (Gen II) 9’ 11-Weight | $1,750.00
 

From the manufacturer: What specific fishing scenarios did you design this rod for, and where do you feel it truly excels in performance?
This is our concept car product in the fly arena. All-new G. Loomis offering using Spiral X core technology, still rolled in Kumamota, Japan. The product performs with enhanced balance for a feeling of weightlessness and effortless casting. New reel seat for improved ergonomic and versatility for hold positions in every scenario. 

From the manufacturer: What fly line would you recommend pairing with this rod?

• RIO Elite Flats Pro
• RIO Elite Tarpon
• SA Amplitude Tarpon

Caster Scores:

TARPON COURSE - TOTAL SCORE 72.2/90

G. Loomis Asquith II		Caster 1	Caster 2	Caster 3	Avg.	Combined
	Short	7.8	6.9	7.8	7.5	22.5
	Medium	8.5	8	7.9	8.13	24.4
	Long	8.5	8.5	8.3	8.43	25.3
	Total	24.8	23.4	24	24.06	72.2

 

Caster Notes:

• Feels fast, but a lot of backbone and surprisingly accurate (for stiffness). As light or maybe even lighter than the Hardy Marksman Z. The rod is fairly stiff at closer shots, but makes up for it in accuracy. When poking out to 70’ shots, the rod doesn’t wobble – very easy casting. I like how the cork feels in hand compared to other G. Loomis rods.
  
• This rod is very smooth in close – no clunk. Can throw very tight loops. The Asquith does a lot of the work for you, but you almost have to stop it or it wants to keep going. This rod generates a lot of line speed! Easiest of the bunch to bomb.
  
• The integrated reel seat is a ‘bold’ design. The rod feels stiffer than the NRX+ S. It’s built more for distance, in close isn’t great. In order to feel the rod in close, we’d need to make some adjustments. I’d like a little bit more bend there because it’s not very forgiving. Everything needs to be perfect to throw good loops.

Yellow Dog Final Takeaway
The all-new Asquith Gen II rod feels fast, powerful, and surprisingly accurate for its stiffness. It is exceptionally light in hand and generates significant line speed, making it one of the easiest rods in the lineup to carry line and cast long distances. At medium to long range it is smooth, stable, and does much of the work for the caster, producing tight loops with minimal effort.

Up close, the rod feels quite stiff and less forgiving, requiring precise timing to feel fully engaged. This is a rod clearly built for anglers who value speed, efficiency, and longer presentations, and who are comfortable making small adjustments to unlock its full potential.

G. Loomis IMX-PRO V2S 9’ 11-Weight | $645.00
 

From the manufacturer: What specific fishing scenarios did you design this rod for, and where do you feel it truly excels in performance?
This rod is targeted at the Southeast, Northeast, and Southwest salt angler. This includes traveling angler consumers, guides, and fly shop employees. Enhanced durability and rod action for windy days that prioritize technique. Comparable in performance to Scott Tidal or Sage Motive.

From the manufacturer: What fly line would you recommend pairing with this rod?

• SA Grand Slam
• SA Amplitude Tarpon
  

Caster Scores:

TARPON COURSE - TOTAL SCORE 68.2/90

G. Loomis IMX-Pro V2S		Caster 1	Caster 2	Caster 3	Avg.	Combined
	Short	6.8	7.1	8	7.3	21.9
	Medium	7.9	7.5	8.1	7.83	23.5
	Long	7.8	7	8	7.6	22.8
	Total	22.5	21.6	24.1	22.73	68.2

 

Caster Notes:

• It’s a powerful rod and you can definitely feel the tip of the rod when casting it compared to other 11-Weights. It doesn’t feel as well-balanced or smooth from the pick-up/put-down casts from left-to-right. With the thicker cork handle, I’m feeling the rod move in my hand more (slipping) when making longer casts.
  
• Handsome with no frills. The composite is nice. Goes right where you want it – very accurate at 50’. Felt very good in short.
  
• A little heavier and not designed to be ‘fancy.’ This is an easy rod and feels like I could get away with more. The cork is too thick. Performs best where you are going to use it – in real world fishing scenarios. 
  

Yellow Dog Final Takeaway
The IMX-PRO V2S 11-weight is a powerful, workmanlike rod with a noticeable tip feel compared to other 11 weights tested. It is not the lightest or smoothest in hand, particularly during pick up and put down casts, and the thicker cork grip can feel bulky and less secure on longer casts.

That said, the rod shines where it matters most. It is accurate at medium distances, feels good up close, and is forgiving enough to let the angler get away with less than perfect execution. It is not flashy or refined, but it is dependable and clearly designed for real world fishing situations rather than casting for style points. 

G. Loomis NRX+S 9' 11-Weight | $990.00

From the manufacturer: What specific fishing scenarios did you design this rod for, and where do you feel it truly excels in performance?
Significant upgrade to it’s predecessor, the NRX. This is lighter weight for less fatigue on long days. These blanks offer peak performance in the market. This is targeted at the die hard angler.

From the manufacturer: What fly line would you recommend pairing with this rod?

• SA Grand Slam
• RIO Outbound Short (for shorter casts)

Caster Scores:

TARPON COURSE - TOTAL SCORE 71/90

G. Loomis NRX+ S		Caster 1	Caster 2	Caster 3	Avg.	Combined
	Short	7.5	6.3	8	7.26	21.8
	Medium	8	7.9	8.5	8.13	24.4
	Long	8	8.4	8.4	8.26	24.8
	Total	23.5	22.6	24.9	23.66	71

 

Caster Notes:

• Enjoyable to cast and I’m not finding myself trying to figure it out. Can pick up line easily and the rod doesn’t feel overpowered. Great jump from medium out to longer casts. Only critique is the thicker cork handle.
  
• Beefier grip. Nice and light. This is a Winchester 270 – fast, rocket ship. Dampens nicely in close. Effortless at 50’ and feels alive at 35’ or more. 
  
• I would like the diameter of the cork reduced. The fighting butt section is at the right distance. It’s very similar to the Echo Boost Blue with more utility in close. This is one of my favorite rods at the 50’ (medium) target. It is clearly built for advanced casting.
  

Yellow Dog Final Takeaway
With a Top 5 finish, this rod is enjoyable and intuitive to cast, with no learning curve and an easy ability to pick up and carry line. It feels light in hand, jumps effortlessly from medium to longer distances, and dampens well up close. At 50 feet, it is especially impressive, combining speed, stability, and a lively feel that rewards confident casting.

The primary critique is the thicker cork grip, which some anglers may find oversized. Otherwise, this is a fast, powerful rod clearly built for advanced casters who value efficiency and strong performance at medium and longer ranges, with enough utility up close to remain versatile.

Hardy Fly Rods

Hardy Marksman Z 9’ 11-Weight | $1,050.00
 

From the manufacturer: What specific fishing scenarios did you design this rod for, and where do you feel it truly excels in performance?
All Marksman Z rods were built on Sintrix blank, which gives incredible strength ot weight ratio and low in-hand weight. Featuring a powerful butt section but with a lighter, slightly easier flexing tip section that allows you to make a difficult shot. 

From the manufacturer: What fly line would you recommend pairing with this rod?

• Balance Taper

Caster Scores:

TARPON COURSE - TOTAL SCORE 72.3/90

Hardy Marksman Z		Caster 1	Caster 2	Caster 3	Avg.	Combined
	Short	7.9	6.3	8.2	7.46	22.4
	Medium	8.5	7.8	8.5	8.26	24.8
	Long	8.5	8.2	8.4	8.36	25.1
	Total	24.9	22.3	25.1	24.1	72.3

 

Caster Notes:

• This rod is like G. Loomis’s cork, but flipped. I really like it! This rod is noticeably light in hand and loads well and you can feel it through the tip. Picks up line very easily and the fly goes to where the rod tip points. Both the medium and long casts feel exactly the same!
  
• Compact, perfect-sized grip. Nice sized fighting butt. At the medium target, the rod flexes down into the middle with a very strong butt section. Precise!
  
• Nice sized fighting butt and very forgiving with the softer tip. Similar to the Scott Wave – what I put into this rod is what I get out. It recovers well where I make mistakes. It also changes directions without getting curve. 
  

Yellow Dog Final Takeaway
Finishing strong in the Top 5, the Marksman Z stands out for its balance, feel, and consistency. It is noticeably light in hand, loads smoothly through the tip, and picks up line with ease. Medium and long casts feel remarkably similar, creating a predictable, confidence building casting experience.

The grip and fighting butt are well proportioned, and the rod flexes deep at medium distance while maintaining a powerful butt section. A slightly softer tip makes it forgiving without feeling vague, allowing it to recover cleanly from minor mistakes and change direction without introducing curve. This is a precise, intuitive rod that gives back exactly what the caster puts into it.

Orvis Fly Rods

Orvis Helios D 9' 11-Weight | $1,198.00
 

From the manufacturer: What specific fishing scenarios did you design this rod for, and where do you feel it truly excels in performance?
This is an exceptional rod for tarpon, sailfish, GT’s, and other big-game species. It combines easy, comfortable, accurate casting from short to long with abundant fighting power. It has proven again and again to be a favorite among serious tarpon anglers who value precision casting with fighting power. It comfortably casts a range of floating and sinking lines including SA’s true-to-weight Tarpon line for smaller Florida Keys “spring creek” flies, SA’s Grand Slam taper for all-around applications, and SA’s heavier Titan or GT series lines for large baitfish patterns.

From the manufacturer: What fly line would you recommend pairing with this rod?

• SA Amplitude Smooth Tarpon
• SA Amplitude Smooth Grand Slam

Caster Scores:

TARPON COURSE - TOTAL SCORE 72.8/90

Orvis Helios D		Caster 1	Caster 2	Caster 3	Avg.	Combined
	Short	7.8	7.2	8.1	7.7	23.1
	Medium	8.4	8	8.2	8.2	24.6
	Long	8.5	8.4	8.2	8.36	25.1
	Total	24.7	23.6	24.5	24.26	72.8

 

Caster Notes:

• Easy. Effortless. You feel the rod in the tip section when casting, but also through the middle of the rod. Very responsive and the rod still holds integrity as you bounce around to various distances. Overall, this rod works very well at all distances, but comes alive further out. 
  
• Good load and no effort at distance. It has a good tip for short casts, but fairly stiff like all 11-Weights. I can feel the tip of the rod in close and it starts to load really well with 30’ of line out. This thing is a laser pointer at 70’. Great on the pick up and set down cast at 50’ – easy. 
  
• This is a light rod and what I give to it I get out of it. Forgiving if I make a mistake. Not challenging me at 50’ (medium). If I had a week with this rod, I could really figure it out, but it’s designed for close and long. 
  

Yellow Dog Final Takeaway
The Orvis advertising campaign might have been spot on! The Helios D is easy and intuitive from the first cast. It loads cleanly through the tip and into the mid section, remains responsive across distances, and maintains its integrity as casting range changes. While it performs well everywhere, it truly comes alive at longer distances.

Up close, the tip provides enough feel for short casts, and with roughly 30 feet of line out the rod begins to load efficiently. At medium distance it is forgiving and effortless, and at long range it is exceptionally accurate, delivering precise presentations with minimal effort. Light in hand and easy to control, this is a rod that excels both in close and at distance.