Thomas & Thomas Zone 5WT 9'
In Stock • Bozeman, MT
- 3wt-4wt Medium/fast action
- 5wt-10wt fast action.
- Natural finish carbon appearance.
- Clear anodized premium aluminum hardware.
- Blue fiber reel seat hand rolled at T&T.
- Composite reinforced premium-quality cork grips.
Description
TNT Zone 905
9' 5 weight, four-piece fly rod
The Zone 905 is sneaky powerful, and durable for everyday use wherever your next adventure takes you in pursuit of wild trout. At $495, the Zone is a great value in that TNT combines advanced technology with practical finishing to deliver an American Made fly rod at a very accessible price point.
Medium Fast / Fast Action
The Zone fly rod family from Thomas & Thomas brings high-performance and cutting-edge technology to amid-price fly rod. Incorporating T&T’s proprietary StratoTherm resin into the Zone family has resulted in a lightweight, durable, and powerful lineup up USA-made rods that are more accessible to more anglers.
Technology
Thomas & Thomas rods are built by a select group of skilled rod-building artisans, in our Greenfield MA factory. From the raw material preparation to the final layer of varnish — each step in the process is performed by a specialist with years of experience. We are proud to say that every aspect of the production process for every fly rod we sell occurs in-house. Premium Graphite Options Thomas & Thomas knows the finished fly rod is only as good as the materials that go into it, and that the stiffest graphite isn’t always the right choice for a given rod or purpose. Thomas & Thomas builds fly rods from a range of premium quality graphite with different strain rates and recovery speeds, providing the necessary elements for Tom Dorsey and our design team to create the most effective modern tapers and actions while maintaining the distinct Thomas & Thomas feel.
Proprietary Bonding Agents
The performance of graphite fibers is subject to the quality of the bonding agent that holds them together. Bonding technology has been improving rapidly in recent years, and T&T has been working with industry leaders to develop a proprietary resin that improves the performance of our graphite materials. Our new resin employs nano-scale particles to eliminate microscopic voids in the graphite. Filling these tiny gaps with our high-performance resin improves the strength, durability, and dampening characteristics of the rod blank while reducing overall weight.
Ferrule Reinforcement Process / FRP
On a multi-piece graphite fly rod, the areas immediately above each ferrule connection are the critical stress points at maximum load – that means these areas are subject to potential failure. Thomas & Thomas resolves this problem with our Ferrule Reinforcement Process – a strategic extra layer of high strength graphite we hand-roll over each ferrule section. In addition to reinforcing the ferrule strength and durability, FRP adds a distinct visual detail only available on Thomas & Thomas fly rods.
Optimal Blank Curing / OBC
The latest nano particle resins used in graphite rod blanks requires a meticulous curing process to unlock their unique performance qualities. Thomas & Thomas knows that subtle changes to the curing process with these resins can make a big difference in performance, so we take the curing process for our rod blanks very seriously. With our industry leading heat application method and precise temperature control, we meticulously regulate the process to ensure Optimal Blank Curing. OBC helps us achieve the highest level of performance with our premium graphite and bonding agents while maintaining product consistency and stringent quality control.
Low Friction Finish / LFF
When you pick up a Thomas & Thomas rod you will notice a something special about the way the blank feels to the touch. Our Low Friction Finish uses nano-technology to create a slick surface that repels water and defeats the surface tension that exerts drag on a fly line during the cast. The LFF gives Thomas & Thomas rods a performance advantage that you can feel, and is a key element in building rods that cast and shoot line effortlessly.
Warranty
Thomas & Thomas warrants its graphite and fiberglass fly rods and blanks against breakage due to defects in materials or workmanship for the life of the original purchaser as long as he/she retains ownership of the rod. The warranty shall be effective only for new rods purchased from an authorized Thomas & Thomas dealer and registered with Thomas & Thomas within 30 days of purchase. This warranty is limited to the repair or replacement of the rod.
In order to receive the benefits of the Thomas & Thomas lifetime warranty, please register your new rod within 30 days of purchase. Get information about registering your rod here.
T&T Zone
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Q: What specific fishing scenarios did you design this rod for, and where do you feel it truly excels in performance? A: The Zone 905 is a moderate-fast action rod that bridges the gap between the Avantt II and Paradigm. It is highly versatile and intuitive, making it ideal for both experienced anglers and beginners. The rod excels in presentations at trout fishing distances (20-60ft) and offers a versatile taper for a wide variety of techniques.
Q: What fly line would you recommend pairing with this rod?
- A: Dry Flies: SA Amplitude Smooth Trout Standard (True to Weight) // All-Rounder: SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity (Half-Size Heavy Line)
| empty | 30' Cast | 40' Cast | 50' Cast | 30' Wind | 40' Wind | 50' Wind | Reach Cast 30' | Reach Cast 30' Wind | Belgian Cast 30' | Belgian Cast 30' Wind | FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caster 1 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 27 |
| Caster 2 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 33.5 |
| Caster 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 25.5 |
| Combined | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8 | 9 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 9 | 9 | 86 |
7.5' 3x leader with size 4 Zonker
- Fast and cast better with more line at a distance. I like the grip/weight. I needed to make adjustments for shorter casts.
- Nice rod! It is a “moderate fast” action as advertised. Light, nice handle/cork. Easy to cast, could have more flex, but it does accomplish T&T’s goal. Overall above average.
- Solid grip. Very stiff, lacks communication completely. Hard to control tip at distance.
| empty | 20' cast | 30' Cast | 40' Cast | 50' Cast | 20' Wind | 30' Wind | 40' Wind | 50' Wind | Pile Cast 30' | Reach Cast 30' | Reach Cast 30' Wind | False Cast 30' | False Cast 30' Wind | FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caster 1 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 44 |
| Caster 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 41 |
| Caster 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 44 |
| Combined | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9.5 | 10.5 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 129 |
10' 5x leader with Yard Indicator
- The rod did well in close, but felt sluggish on casts further out
- It got better over time. Smooth at distance. Not bad. Fast, needed to be fast and use power in the stroke. Excelled at distance, easy to be accurate and move line out.
- Stiff but smooth. Will do all casts well, but not a lot of feel or feedback from the rod. Good overall. All casts are off the tip.
| empty | Roll Cast 30' | Roll Cast 40' | Mend at 30' | Mend at 40' | Casting 20' | Casting 30' | Casting 40' | FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caster 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 19.5 |
| Caster 2 | 3.5 | 4 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4 | 3.5 | 25.5 |
| Caster 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 3 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 21.5 |
| Combined | 8.5 | 10.5 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 8.5 | 10 | 10 | 66.5 |
9' leader with size 8 Girdle Bug and size 16 BH Pheasant Tail
- Big recovery, but the tip felt weak. It excels at casting 30’ overhead. I felt like the rod could use some more weight at the tip. It did roll cast well at further distances.
- Enough bend to feel good at 20’ and 30’. Roll casts better than most at 40’.
- Not bad, similar to Carbon XL. Solid rod and provides feedback while nymphing. Pleasant to fish.
**The Thomas & Thomas Zone 5-weight is a moderately fast-action rod that delivers solid performance across a range of trout techniques, especially at mid to longer distances. **Light in hand with a comfortable grip, it’s easy to cast and aligns well with T&T’s design intent, though it could benefit from more flex and feel—particularly at shorter ranges and on dry fly presentations. While it lacks communication at distance and can feel stiff off the tip, it performed surprisingly well on the nymph course with effective roll casting and decent feedback and on the dry fly course in windy conditions. The Zone placed tenth in the nymph course and ninth in overall performance. A dependable, well-rounded rod that offers good value and fishability, though not as refined as the Thomas & Thomas Avantt II.
