Masterline Ideal XL Fly Rod - Ex Display Rods 4375

Independent Review - Tony Scott STANIC Casting Instructor "I hold the STANIC (Trout) qualification, and over the last few years have been closely involved with many Junior and Senior Flyfishing Days. A question I often get asked of beginners and juniors is " How much should I spend on my first flyrod, and which one should I buy". As an instructor I nearly always recommend a 9.0 rod with #6/7 rating. Indeed we use this length and rating on most courses. It can be difficult to find a useful rod at a cheap price, however the XL 9.0 #6/7 fits the bill nicely. By no means an expensive rod, but with a good flyline this rod is perfect for beginners and juniors alike. It is lightweight and has a very forgiving middle/tip action whilst retaining a pleasant crispness when it comes to controlling the flyline. The cork handle is a reversed half wells, which makes it easier for smaller hands to hold comfortably. It is well finished too, being supplied in its own cloth bag. Having cast with many similar rods of similar price bracket over the years the XL stands out from the crowd as the best value for money combined with a quality that one would expect from a rod costing more. The 9.0 # 6/7 is the best rod I have found in the XL range. The 9.6" I discovered, was a little on the heavy side and did not quite perform as well. I know that Tacklebargains will always give free advice when it comes to adding a suitable flyreel and flyline to a rod such as this. As the Tacklebargains team all flyfish themselves, they do know what they are talking about. "