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Fly rods come in all price ranges. You can easily spend several hundred dollars. But you don’t have to. Here is our guide to the best fly fishing rod under 200.
Most anglers have a budget for their equipment. If yours is big, you won’t have a problem spending more than $500 or even $1,000 on a fly fishing rod. The great thing though is: you don’t have to in order to get a quality fly rod.
In this guide we want to give you our top choices for the best fly rod under 200 dollars. Our focus will be on the #5 weight section since that is the type of fly fishing rod most people use. It is a great weight class to fish for trout and small bass for example. If I had to get one rod, it would be a #5. If you are looking to get an entire fly fishing set, make sure to check our Fly Rod Combo Guide.
The supply for products nowadays is huge. As a consumer it’s not always easy to fight your way through. Especially as a beginner you need someone to help you make a decision. This could be a fly fishing friend or an expert at your local fly fishing store. In this review we want to give you our top 5 best fly rods under 200($).
Table of Contents:
What to Look for in a Quality Fly Rod
Best Fly Rods under 200 Quick Answer List
What to Look for in a Quality Fly Fishing Rod
Just because you don’t want to spend $500 or more on a rod, doesn’t mean you won’t get quality. There are two things that you should consider when getting a rod.
Often the premium manufacturers offer entry level products at a fraction of the price of their high end rods. What’s great about this is the fact that they will still use their know-how for these less expensive rods. Such is the case in our review for example with the rods from Fenwick, Redington or Echo.
Another important aspect you should consider is warranty. Many manufacturers offer great (lifetime) warranties for their products. These can be really helpful in case your rod breaks due to a technical defect.
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Best Fly Rods under 200 Quick Answer List
2. TFO PRO II
3. Moonshine Co. The Drifter Series
5. Echo Lift
Review: Best Fly Rod under 200
Redington VICE w/ Tube
Starting at less than $150 the Redington VICE is a fantastic product for any new fly angler. The great thing about this one is the vast variety in rod weights.
If you’re mostly fishing small creeks, you can go with the #3 of the Redington VICE. For trout you should pick a rod in the #5-#6 range. There is even a #9 weight for saltwater fishing.
The Redington VICE is a fast-action rod which makes casting for beginners and intermediate fly fishermen and women easy. It comes with a cordura tube and a lifetime warranty. A very nice, elegant built that has great value for money.
TFO PRO II
The TFO PRO II is another great fly fishing rod for well less than $200. With rod weights ranging from a #2 all the way to a #10, there is the right choice for every angler. This rod aims to convince beginners and intermediates as its action is forgiving and it still delivers even if a cast doesn’t come out perfectly.
The TFO PRO II is held in a beautiful classic black with silver markings at the bottom of the blank which has a medium-fast action. Compared to the Redington, one downside of the TFO is the fact that it only comes with a rod sock but no tube for protection.
In terms of performance the TFO PRO II does not need to hide behind higher priced models. The reel seat features carbon fibre inserts for less weight and hard chrome snake guides round off the solid build quality of the TFO PRO II.
Moonshine Co. The Drifter Series
The Moonshine Co. The Drifter Series is the perfect choice if you are looking for a fly rod under 200 dollars that has the looks of a beautiful, traditional rod.
The Moonshine Co. The Drifter Series features a cork grip with burled ends and a spalted burl reel seat. Great attention to detail for a product in this price range.
But the Moonshine Co. The Drifter Series does not only have the looks it also casts beautifully. A great all-around rod that comes with a cordura rod tube, an extra tip and a lifetime warranty. Comes in weights from #3 to #8. A beautiful, classic fly fishing rod at an incredible price.
Fenwick Aetos
Here comes another great fly rod under 200 dollars: the Fenwick Aetos. This freshwater model comes in a wide variety of sizes and is an ideal entry level product for people just starting out with fly fishing. But don’t be fooled, the Fenwick Aetos has enough bang to be a solid choice for intermediate casters as well.
The fast action of the Fenwick Aetos makes it easier to perform a proper cast. The all black design fives this rod a sleek and minimalistic look. Comes with a tube and Fenwick’s limited lifetime warranty. A great allrounder entry level fly rod.
Echo Lift
With the Echo Lift we wanted to include a fly rod that does not only come in at below $200, it even comes in at less than $100. The man behind Echo is Tim Rajeff, one of the most respected fly anglers in the game. He knows a thing or two about casting performance.
The Echo Lift is the successor of the hugely popular Echo Base rod line and has been improved even further to cover more fishing situations. The medium-fast action model shines throughout all distances. You can choose from weights ranging from a #3 all the way up to an #8. The Echo Lift comes with the company’s lifetime warranty. For a product at less than $100 this one is hard to beat.
Douglas Era Fly Rod
Douglas has been making a name for themselves in recent years for building some great fly rods at decent prices. Their Era Fly Rod is no exception to this rule and offers a quality fly rod for well under $200.
The Era Fly Rod is available as a #5 and an #8. The five weight is a great choice if your main target are species like trout or small bass. With the 8wt you’re capable of chasing bigger predators like bike or muskey. The Era Fly Rod is a fast-action rod that makes casting easier for beginners and intermediates. It comes with a corder tube and Douglas’ great lifetime warranty.
St. Croix Rods Mojo
The St. Croix Rods Mojo is another of our favorites under $200. It’s available from a short stick (6ft) as a #2 weight (ideal for tiny creeks) all the way to a #7 weight that allows you to pursue bigger predators such as bass.
The olive green color gives the St. Croix Rods Mojo a traditional look and feel. It features premium components such as 3D stripper rings with aluminium-oxide rings and an aluminium reel seat. The St. Croix Rods Mojo is a fast-action rod as well making it easy to load and cast precisely. Only downside is the fact that it doesn’t feature a cordura rod tube. On the upside it comes with a 5 year warranty.
Best Fly Rod Combos under 200
If you’re just starting out with fly fishing, choosing the right gear can be a challenge if you don’t have a fishing friend who takes you by the end. A good option in such as case is to go for a fly rod combo, often also called fly fishing rod and reel combo. These sets most often include a fly rod, a reel, plus a fly line and a sometimes even a leader. This makes it a lot easier for beginners, since you can be sure that the rod and reel will work well together. Here are a few solid options to choose from.
If you want to learn more about fly rod combos, make sure to check out our Ultimate Buyer’s Guide.
Redington Trout Combo 590-4
The Redington combo comes with a rod and reel, a case to hold it, a fly line, fly line backing, and a tapered leader. The combo comes with a CROSSWATER 905-4 rod that is built beautifully, with absolutely no blemishes. The rod alone costs under $100, which makes the combo’s price much more attractive. The cork grip is comfortable and the glossy blue blank makes it look pricy.
The CROSSWATER reel is made of polymer and is smooth to the touch. The reel comes with a spoked design. This medium-fast action rod is perfect for beginners. Once you practice with it, it casts wonderfully. It cast well at all distances and got smoother at long distances. The cost of the separate components would set you back around $200. So, for just $140, this trout fly rod combo is one of the best out there.
Orvis Encounter 5-Weight 8’6″ Outfit
The Orvis Encounter 5-Weight 8’6″ Outfit is our top choice when it comes to value for money. Orvis is a brand with a long tradition in fly fishing. They also manufacture high end rods. It’s always a good idea to get products from such a brand since you can be sure they use their knowhow even in their more entry level products such as the Orvis Encounter 5-Weight 8’6″ Outfit.
The basis of the Orvis Encounter 5-Weight 8’6″ Outfit is the 5wt – 8’6″ Encounter Rod that comes with a cordura rod tube. If you had to fish with only one rod, you should probably get a 5wt since you can cover most fishing situations with it (sure the bigger the fish you target, the stronger a rod you’ll need).
With the Orvis Encounter 5-Weight 8’6″ Outfit comes an Encounter reel, an Orvis WF (weight forward) floating line, Dacron backing and a tapered leader. All that’s left for you is to tie on a fly and you’re good to go. If you are looking for flies and a fly box check out our “Guide to the best Fly Boxes“.
Our verdict: The Orvis Encounter 5-Weight 8’6″ Rod Outfit is an excellent choice if you think you’ll stick with fly fishing. Orvis guarantees high quality products and this is definitely a set that you can use for years to come.
Last update on 2023-06-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion on the Best Fly Rod under 200
As you can see from our best fly rod under 200 dollars review, you don’t have to spend $500 or more for a quality rod. All the products in our test also come with great warranties. You can’t go wrong with any of these models. Since they all come in at less than $200 (the Echo Base at even less than $100) they also make for a great gift to your fly fishing friend.
Read more of our Gear Guides here:
Ultimate Guide: Best Wading Jackets
Buyer’s Guide Best Wading Boots
A Guide to the Best Sling Pack
A Guide to the Best Fishing Starter Kits
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