The best 5 weight of 2013?

Yellowstone Angler, the famous fly shop in Livingston Montana, has published their annual shootout on the best rods of 2013. This time they took a good look again on 5 weight rods.

The big surprise is that the best 5 weight rod this year isn't another Hardy Zenith (2011 and 2012 winner)  but the G. Loomis NRX Light Presentation. The second place was (another big surprise) taken by the Loop Opti Stream. The Hardy Zenith ended third this time.

It's nice to see that Loomis made an effort to design a smooth rod rather than the stiff rod as the original NRX rod series was. Although I've never cast one yet myself, the description on the NRX series sounded just like that: powerful, stronger, bla bla... And Loomis (or Shimano) need to hire someone who takes a look at the cosmetics (and color scheme) of their rods because they are butt ugly...

I've cast the 9ft 5 weight Hardy Zenith recently for an extended period and it is indeed an amazing rod. It's very light in hand, it's sensitive yet has a powerful mid and butt section for longer casts when needed. The rod casts super smooth at 20 feet all the way up to 70-80 feet. Just one pick up back cast and delivery at 70+ feet is easy!

Very unlike the Sage One which is in my view a broom stick. Can't believe the raves it's getting... Yeah, it's probably a nice stick for tossing streamers to the banks from a drift boat.

Finally George and his men decided to make a video of the shootout. I always want to see if the guy who reviews a rod is capable of casting a decent tight loop. I just can't take a fly shop owner (or a sales representative of a rod company) who can't cast a decent tight loop serious...

Too bad the video quality is, if I may say so very mediocre... George, please use a Full HD (video) camera next time because I can't see the line at all! We want to see you casting that tight loop.




Update March 2015:
A buddy of mine has the 8.8ft #3 version of the NRX LP and good heavens it's a superb casting rod. 3 weights are supposed to be delicate rods but this rod is a casting machine. Casts of 50-60 feet is effortless.

The cork on the grip feels a bit rubbery and I'm not sure I like it. The cosmetics of the LP (dark green) is a a much more pleasing to the eye than the original NRX, which is in my view one of the ugliest rods I've ever seen.

I've yet to cast the 4 and 5 weight rods. I'm sure they are pretty amazing too. Too bad Loomis doesn't sell blanks of these rods. I'd love to get a 5 weight finished by a top rod builder like George from Tightloop.