I can't begin to explain how important this video is for the sport. Your honest opinion of this cost conscious rod/reel setup will influence new people into the sport.
I grab a Traverse Kit for my son today after watching this video yesterday, tested it on the nearby park. Man, I love it! It cast like a charm. I will get another one for my self for sure. Thanks for the review Kelly.
It's nice to hear that a "low cost" rod is your favorite rod. Being the cheapskate that I am I may have to save up my allowance and spring for one of these. Ya know there's lots of good trout water here in Michigan. Keep the good stuff coming Kelley.
Interesting vid. I have Sage, Winston, Scott and Loomis rods and bought the Traverse kit for a friend who was going to visit and had never fly fished before. I picked it up after our trip was over and have fished it consistently. Great rod for anyone
Kelly, your honest review of this "Pack Rod Kit" is a breath of fresh air. I know the owner of a small local Fly Shop who would probably scoff at such a thing as he wants to sell the Thousand dollar rods you mention. I wonder if ECHO will expand their offering to include an 8wt or 9wt for Saltwater Backcountry Fishing..? 🤔 THAT would raise some eyebrows down in the Keys..! Thank you for all of your videos.
We definitely need to hear more about your horses. I see that as an opportunity for a whole new world of Kelly Galloup gems. The Slide Inn Horsemanship Channel. I'll be the first subscriber.
Not if you saw me ride, she is actually my pack horse. Stay tuned for more mountain horse capade videos this summer, natural horsemanship from the ground looking up.
Kelly thanks for the video. I have been looking for another rod and real combo but as a disabled veteran living on my disability check I don't have a lot of disposable income. But this rod really looks like it would be great for me. So I think I will buy one. Thanks again.
Got a great deal on the 4wt kit last August. Had the same reaction and it's been my go-to ever since. I just can't put it down. Haven't been kind to it either - ridden hard and put away wet :)
Frustrated fly fishing old guy, finally breaking down to take some lessons. I have other rods and practice with them but decided to pick up the one you're supposed to start with - the 9' 5wt, so I went for the Traverse kit after watching many of your and Brian's videos. Really impressed - seems much easier to cast than the others. Thanks for the review and hopefully this helps me learn and catch fish!
Same thing happened to me when I picked up a cheap Redington 9' 5wt starter outfit to keep in my work rig. I fish that all the time now unless I'm fishing small tight creeks. Then I break out my other cheap Redington 3wt starter kit. The Crosswater and Path are both amazing and I choose them over all my higher end or vintage rigs..
I purchased three different Echo rods. Two backup rods for salmon and steelhead fishing here in Michigan and an Echo "Starter" rod for my son and his girlfriend. Well, I broke both of my custom rods, all my fault, and picked up my Echo backup 9 weight for salmon fishing. Wow, what a fly rod for the money! I probably won't have any rods built anymore now that I have my Echo's. But I will buy more Echo rods! Thanks for an honest review, Kelly. People don't need to spend big money for a quality fly rod.
Im not surprised, I wen't through most of the rods in my local fly shop when I was looking for a new coastal trout rod for Scandinavian waters, and I ended up buying cheapest one I tested. I'm also very glad for the fact that the trend of stiffer and faster rods has for some years now been reversed. It used to be that you had to overline your rods to find a good match, in which case that #5 weight is actually a #7 (also according to ERN etc.). Now I bought a #8 rod for a #6 line (long belly so it is heavy) and it casts like a dream. It's the Guide Line Elevate series but I'm not sure it's available in the states. I reckon the Echo is a similar story. Now, instead of saving all the money for that one really expensive rod, people can buy several rods. This is not only good for the consumer, as the total amount of money spent on rods probably is the same as before.
I have always believed that with many things there is a law of diminishing returns, fly rods included. You can pay $1k for a fly rod and fish right next to a guy with a $150 rod and the fish won't know the difference. Nearly every fly shop carries high dollar rods, but I truly believe that the industry would be far better off building high quality rods that the average person can afford and which the fly shops can sell more of. Kelly, you brought this idea out on your video regarding fly reels. You can pay a ridiculous price for a fly reel or get a Lamson Liquid and have a great functional reel that will get the job without breaking the bank.
been a loomis sage guy for decades..fished a 200 buck tfo lasr week in nz..like the echo...just as good as the big brands mentioned....echo will be my next ..gr8 vid
This summer was my “full entry” into fly fishing purchasing equipment, apparel, and a pontoon boat. Purchased both an Echo Lift and Echo Traverse with a very successful fishing season here in Central Oregon. My friend and mentor is a great follower of your fly tying and professional advice Kelly!
They make really good kit. I use an Echo Bravo 7-9 on my 8wt carp outfit. It's also on my saltwater setup. Can't fault it and plan to get the Bad Ass Glass 7wt for my next carp and bass rig.
I have at least a dozen rods. I bought a Fenwick 4wt. glass rod and just loved casting it. Fished quite a bit over the past 50 years. A mid-flex, slower action is the best for most trout fishing situations and I actually, think that they help beginners develop a greater overall casting stroke. BTW the rod cost me 79 dollars.
2 years ago …after trying a Scott , a Winston and a Thomas and Thomas rod for tossing streamers a friend suggested an Echo Streamer-X …… WOW !!!! To me ? Best streamer rod I ever cast . Nailed some nice fish on the Yampa , the Green and the north platte. 👍👍👍
Agree with all of this. IM6 (T24) was at one time a favorite of the industry before manufacturers began to complicate things for the angler. It is extremely inexpensive and to me, the finest casting (especially the dry fly) rod out there. You can find kits for next to nothing to build your own as well.....Rajeff nails it with Echo.
I have to think technology ,production and design have played a big part in the advancement of low cost great casting rods . Like Kelly I own a lot of expensive rods but in the past 15 or so years have gravitated to rods from $400 down and the reason is they cast so good plane and simple. Edge , TFO, ELKHORN , Echo , CD and others have come up with great rods . I often hear that the high end rods have such a good warranty , don’t be fooled so do the ones I just mentioned . When I first purchased these rods it was to use them as backups and all of a sudden they became go to rods . Thanks for the video.
That's true, but it has to be said that the top companies back in the day really did transform fly rod design. Gary Loomis, Sage....you know all the names. I'm still using 30 year old rods but now if I break a rod I can no longer pick up a second hand rod for peanuts. As the new rods reach $1000 so people believe the old rods are worth $500. So the world turns.
@@leerichy6489 This is true , I have some old Sage SLT rods and Winston Boron ll rods and they have turned into a cult rods they are so well liked and there value is still high if you can find one . But now people like Gary Loomis ( Edge rods ) and Tim Rajeff ( Echo ) to mention a couple have come to the forefront with design and manufacturing to bring us rods thats performance is unsurpassed and in many cases half the price or less of a Scott , Sage , Winston etc. so to me it becomes a matter of economics would I rather have two rods one for my wife and one for me and loose very little if any in performance ? It’s a good dilemma for all fisherman to have the opportunity to choose . So now let’s go fishing
I've had many fly rods over many years and kinda fell in love with the 3wt (Base's successor) Lift 7' 6". Though my follow on favorite under $200 is a Carbon XL 376, I remain tremendously impressed by the Base/Lift @ about $109. Echo has done some interesting stuff.
This is the video that everyone starting out fly fishing should see. Having been fly fishing for only about 10 years, I've come to the conclusion that someone who has really mastered the art of fly casting can pretty much make any rod perform well, or at least better than a neophyte (that would be me). The well seasoned fly caster can, I think, more easily adapt to a rod's casting characteristics (good or bad) just by the feel of the rod. As for me, I'm hoping that my new Recon will let me cast like a pro 😉😉
Hi, I agree with your perspective on casting. After I had been fly fishing for a couple of years, I had someone look at my casting and recommend a course of action. He recommend that I take a lesson from a certified casting instructor, which I did. The difference that made was enormous. From there, that opened the door to me being able to feel the rod load on both my forward and back casts. Once that happened, I could comfortably double haul or roll cast. The secret to catching more fish is not thinking about your casting. Once that becomes more automatic you will start reading the water and figuring out where the trout are in the stream. As for your new Recon, the secret to unlocking the rod's potential is choosing the right line. Please don't just assume MPX is the right choice for your rod. The gen2 Recons are very different from model to model, with some having faster or slower tips. I have more fly rods than I can shake a stick at and each one is matched to its own like even in the same weight range.
@@larryh9525 I've had several good guides over the few years I've been fly fishng and one I have repeatedly used in Colorado has helped with my casting tremendously and he recommended I attend a pro fly casting school to hone/improve my casting. About the Recon, I've wanted one for several years to complement the Orvis Frequent Flyer rods I use when backpacking. I picked up the Recon at a great flyshop in Townsend Tennessee and with the help of the shop's resident expert he helped me pair a an Orvis Hydro reel loaded with Orvis Hdros line matched to the rod. I really enjoyed the feel of it when I did some practice casting with it out behind the shop. Now to put it to the test. Planning to take it with me on a horsepacking trip into the Bob for a week of fly fishing on the SF of the Flathead in August. Thanks for leaving your comment!
@@DrJohn493 The best tip I learned about casting is to imagine that the tip of the rod is like a giant marker and your goal is to draw a straight line. The point is that the line will follow the tip of the rod. Also, moving the tip in a straight line facilitates the 10-2 casting range that's taught. Most folks get in trouble because they move the tip in an arc, which makes it nearly impossible to get either distance or accuracy. Orvis has a great fly-casting video where this is explained in detail. Also, when casting in an arc it is impossible to feel the rod load. As for rods, I had 4 gen1 Recons and sold three of them as my experience progressed. The gen1 rods were quite good value for money, but the more I fished the more I wanted a rod with more feel (e.g. not quite as fast). If you have the desire to upgrade your Orvis Frequent Fly, check out the Hardy Aydon 6-piece rods. I have the prior generation Demon Smuggler in a 5, 6, and 8wt. All three are fantastic. Finally, my favorite way to acquire new rods is on closeout sales. I just picked up a Hardy 6wt saltwater rod for $299 (originally $600).
Thank you for the review! This doesn't feel like a forced review by the mfr so that Kelly makes some money. I believe him and trust that he actually likes this kit. And if Kelly and Brian speak highly of this rod...I'll believe them! I'm going shopping now for the 4wt! :)
Echo produce some nice kit, I've got the River Glass 3 weight for small stream fishing. I've had it about 3 years and it has been well used - and if you're into fibreglass it's a great little rod for the money.
It’s amazing to see so many positive reviews for this inexpensive fly rod kit, and then I read so many fisherman criticize the Moonshine fly rods. Makes a person really think, doesn’t it?
Problem with moonshine rods is they are completely overpriced. Parts are made by a company called Leichi Fishing, google them. Maxcatch is also part of Leichi... . Same with the overpriced Cheeky reels. Now that guys are overpriced. Selling $60 reels for $400... The reels are also from Leichi. Nothing wrong with the rods and reels, just overpriced. That Echo reel also made by Leichi, and probably the Echo rods as well. I have a few Echo rods, love them.
I traded a painting that my dad did for an echo 6 weight for throwing streamers. It's a great rod. Plus I'm not as scared to take it out as my hardy zenith
I bought both my boys Echo Lift Kits two years ago. The plastic Echo reel that came with them were garbage and only lasted one season. I quickly replaced them with $80 Ions. They are great rods and stay with my raft. I love them. I have probably $180 into both combos, a 4 and a 5. Every rod purchase since then has been Echo.
In today’s grand scheme of fly rod pricing, it takes a real man to stand in front of a camera,and make that admission. The video prompted me to reflect on just how much the Rajeff family has benefited the sport. There are a few other products which, I believe, fit in the same category - Lamson’s entry fly reels, and Frabill’s landing net to begin the list. Two items on which a beginner could feel compelled to spend big dollars.
Yes it’s brand recognition but it’s also supporting USA manufacturing not just some knock off crowd that buy a top rod race it over to china/Korea and say copy this guys and we’ll flog it off cheap back in the west . Have some pride people and support your local manufacturing.
Hey Kelly great video! Question for you. I have a 5 wt rid that I currently fish for everything fresh water with. Do I need to jump in and get a 4 wt rod for bream, crappie and trout? So many people say so many things, not sure what to believe. Thanks again for sharing all your knowledge
I've been fly fishing for 30 years now. My favorite rods have always been in the $200-400 range. I can't bring myself to spend 1k on a rod. I've used a few and never was impressed enough to justify the cost. I liked the orvis helios 3 but maybe for $500 not $1000 🤷♂️
Is it better than the base series??? I have my sages and they break the same as these cheaper rods and quite honestly if you need a rod to throw tight loops at over 25-30 feet you need to focus on presentation rather than casting... these cheaper rods do all the same things the higher end rods do except for break less expensively and not burn a whole in your pocket...
MY advice to any fly fisher , no matter how much you spend on tackle , it will not make you a better fisherman , balance is the key , practice makes perfect in casting , the more you fish , the more you learn , you will catch the same fish with a cheaper rod as a vastly expensive one , and no matter how much you pay , they can still break, and its not a tackle fashion show , tight lines for the new season , enjoy your fly fishing , it is a beautiful hobby
I'm not giving up my R.L. Winston (boron) rod. Was it expensive yep but I worked and earned it. Finest casting rod I've ever owned and I've fished most of the $1k dollar rods. Built my first fly-rod myself from Fenwick blanks. Broke it on a large salmon in Alaska somewhere on the Talkeetna river.
The funny thing about $1,000 rods is the additional flor grade cork, insert rings and some thread wrap pizzaz doesn’t come close to the incremental cost on-top of a 4/500 rod made in the US. Material is negligible to warrant a 4/500 dollar increase.
David they are amazing. Older Scott’s, Sages, etc can not be beat. How ever you will find that one rod that is just any well build for a dirt cheap. I fish a Clearwater 6wt and it is that way. “Simpliesty” at its finest
Kelly, I’m thinking about getting into fly fishing and the Echo Traverse really catches my eye. Do you recommend immediately replacing the fly line on this set up to a higher quality line?
Hey Stephen, The Traverse Kit 6wt doesn't have the backbone to throw the full size KG streamers (Silk Kitty, Sex Dungeon etc). If you're sticking to wooly buggers, leeches, mini dungeons and so on, it can handle them for sure. Everyone at the shop throws a 7wt Streamer X for the bigger bugs. Give the shop a call if you want to discuss further (406) 682-4804. Hope this helps -Braeden
I've been fishing the Cabelas 6.5' CGR for the last 2yrs almost exclusively on the Platte back here in MI. and it's been a blast. It cost me about $70. I have what used to be high end rods, $400-$650, including 2 Sages bought from the Troutsman back in the day🙂. Still love those rods, but some of theses cheaper rods do cast nice. So I'm curious, what would that $270 rod kit have cost say 10-15 years ago?
I was gifted a 8’5” 4wt CGR for my first fly rod and I fish that more for dry flies than my rods that cost 5x that thing. It’s a tank too, I’ve abused that rod and it shows no sign of slowing down.
IMO, pick the starter kit that has the best warranty replacement. Personaly I chose Orvis because this is their policy: "Orvis 25-Year Guarantee. What that means is, we’ll fix your broken fly rod, and if we can’t fix it, we’ll replace it, no questions asked. Step on it, close the door on it, run over it with the car-it doesn’t matter, we’ll fix it. If we can’t repair it, we’ll choose a newer model rod of at least equal value to replace it. Your investment is assured for a nominal shipping and handling charge."
Some years back I saw a review of a Hardy Rod. The review said it was a perfect rod for lough style fishing which is what I wanted. I paid several £’00s for this rod. It’s a lovely rod which came with a very discreet sticker, which said “Made in China”. Made me think
I’m a bass fisherman (qualified for 2 Bassmaster Classics) and a rod builder. A high end bass rod is 2 - 300 dollars and a good blank is $75. Sage rod blanks are 475? All my bass rods are one piece and one piece fly rod blanks are almost non existent? I’ve recently started trout fishing, primarily in the winter and am very confused. I’ve been using a spinning rod and primarily Crappie lures.
Holy Crap that's high cotton Ed, congratulations on the qualifying. I am not you average fly guy who only fishes flies. I grew up on bass and trout on Lake Mi. love my smallies and I know how hard that is to qualify for. Your not confused at all, the fly world is. We have been sold this bill of shit that there is something different/better about this industry's rods and people believed it for years and for the most part still does. There is one justification to the price and that is there just are not that many fly anglers compared to general tackle. Example a huge sale of a rod in fly might be 5000 units, an average say Mojo bass bait caster may sell 50,000 units. That said the Korean market Temple fork, Reddington and Echo are putting a serious hurt on the fly world, Sage owns Reddinton by the way. The quality is the same but they are off shored so costs are way lower. Thanks for watching. Kelly
I worked in the restaurant industry for several decades, and during the peak of the '90s economic boom we would sell, routinely, bottles of wine for $5,000 and up - as much as $40,000 in some cases - that's one normal-sized bottle. When people order a bottle like that, they're not worried about the cost - it's likely a few hours pay for them, at most. Typically they buy them because it's a special experience, or more likely because they're trying to make an impression. A $5,000 bottle of wine is not likely a better wine - odds are, you can get the same quality for a few hundred bucks, and often, for much less. As servers and salespeople, we knew that, and in certain circumstances we would often guide our guest to a more educated selection - but certainly not always. I think the same is true for many items that are associated with a particular economic status, when practicality isn't necessarily the first priority. I have no need or desire for a car that goes 200 MPH or a girlfriend who wears Chanel #5 - if she showers occasionally before she hops in the truck, I'm generally content. I have a few rods and reels that might be considered "high-end," and depending on what I'm targeting I might bring them along, but that's not what makes for a good days' fishing... and to be honest, I get more of a kick when I outfish some well-equipped weekend-warrior with my Fenwick 5-weight and a Medalist from the '70s. I appreciate your honesty - and your salesmanship.
It is too bad that people like Kelly can't just sit and talk about the realities of $1000 rods. But hey, if I was a shop owner, I doubt that I would mind shipping out high-dollar rods all day and all night. 🙂 Cheers!
I use a 100$ rod plus a 80$ reel plus a 80$ line combo. I personally wouldn't go with more money for a rod, because I know that I would be way too careful with a higher priced rod, and I definitely don't want a rod that I would only ever handle like a raw egg. I once fished with a rod that cost almost 400$, and I couldn't even see why it's 4 times the price of my rod. But If I had more money, who knows, maybe I would buy higher priced rods.
A 10 000 dollar rod its like worth it in my box but when people focus tooooo much on that, do you really need a house? Do you need a new car? A motorcycle? The most expensive one? Its a hobby and we love it. What you need isa rod you dont need an expensive rod but thats up to you....boooom
I can't begin to explain how important this video is for the sport. Your honest opinion of this cost conscious rod/reel setup will influence new people into the sport.
Great to see you talking about a great rod at a great price. Echo was my first rod too
I grab a Traverse Kit for my son today after watching this video yesterday, tested it on the nearby park. Man, I love it! It cast like a charm. I will get another one for my self for sure. Thanks for the review Kelly.
It's nice to hear that a "low cost" rod is your favorite rod. Being the cheapskate that I am I may have to save up my allowance and spring for one of these. Ya know there's lots of good trout water here in Michigan. Keep the good stuff coming Kelley.
Interesting vid. I have Sage, Winston, Scott and Loomis rods and bought the Traverse kit for a friend who was going to visit and had never fly fished before. I picked it up after our trip was over and have fished it consistently. Great rod for anyone
Kelly, your honest review of this "Pack Rod Kit" is a breath of fresh air. I know the owner of a small local Fly Shop who would probably scoff at such a thing as he wants to sell the Thousand dollar rods you mention. I wonder if ECHO will expand their offering to include an 8wt or 9wt for Saltwater Backcountry Fishing..? 🤔 THAT would raise some eyebrows down in the Keys..! Thank you for all of your videos.
I bought an Echo Lift 6wt and Echo Ion reel and totally my go to. love it.
We definitely need to hear more about your horses.
I see that as an opportunity for a whole new world of Kelly Galloup gems.
The Slide Inn Horsemanship Channel. I'll be the first subscriber.
Not if you saw me ride, she is actually my pack horse. Stay tuned for more mountain horse capade videos this summer, natural horsemanship from the ground looking up.
Kelly thanks for the video. I have been looking for another rod and real combo but as a disabled veteran living on my disability check I don't have a lot of disposable income. But this rod really looks like it would be great for me. So I think I will buy one. Thanks again.
Got a great deal on the 4wt kit last August. Had the same reaction and it's been my go-to ever since. I just can't put it down. Haven't been kind to it either - ridden hard and put away wet :)
Frustrated fly fishing old guy, finally breaking down to take some lessons. I have other rods and practice with them but decided to pick up the one you're supposed to start with - the 9' 5wt, so I went for the Traverse kit after watching many of your and Brian's videos. Really impressed - seems much easier to cast than the others. Thanks for the review and hopefully this helps me learn and catch fish!
Same thing happened to me when I picked up a cheap Redington 9' 5wt starter outfit to keep in my work rig. I fish that all the time now unless I'm fishing small tight creeks. Then I break out my other cheap Redington 3wt starter kit. The Crosswater and Path are both amazing and I choose them over all my higher end or vintage rigs..
I purchased three different Echo rods. Two backup rods for salmon and steelhead fishing here in Michigan and an Echo "Starter" rod for my son and his girlfriend. Well, I broke both of my custom rods, all my fault, and picked up my Echo backup 9 weight for salmon fishing. Wow, what a fly rod for the money! I probably won't have any rods built anymore now that I have my Echo's. But I will buy more Echo rods!
Thanks for an honest review, Kelly. People don't need to spend big money for a quality fly rod.
My first 2 rods were produced by echo. Love their stuff!
Im not surprised, I wen't through most of the rods in my local fly shop when I was looking for a new coastal trout rod for Scandinavian waters, and I ended up buying cheapest one I tested. I'm also very glad for the fact that the trend of stiffer and faster rods has for some years now been reversed. It used to be that you had to overline your rods to find a good match, in which case that #5 weight is actually a #7 (also according to ERN etc.). Now I bought a #8 rod for a #6 line (long belly so it is heavy) and it casts like a dream. It's the Guide Line Elevate series but I'm not sure it's available in the states. I reckon the Echo is a similar story. Now, instead of saving all the money for that one really expensive rod, people can buy several rods. This is not only good for the consumer, as the total amount of money spent on rods probably is the same as before.
I have always believed that with many things there is a law of diminishing returns, fly rods included. You can pay $1k for a fly rod and fish right next to a guy with a $150 rod and the fish won't know the difference. Nearly every fly shop carries high dollar rods, but I truly believe that the industry would be far better off building high quality rods that the average person can afford and which the fly shops can sell more of. Kelly, you brought this idea out on your video regarding fly reels. You can pay a ridiculous price for a fly reel or get a Lamson Liquid and have a great functional reel that will get the job without breaking the bank.
Been looking for a decent 4wt rod....will have to give this a try. Thanks for posting!
Echo rods have great value for the money, once of my favorites is there 12ft 4wt Spey, it has served me well.
been a loomis sage guy for decades..fished a 200 buck tfo lasr week in nz..like the echo...just as good as the big brands mentioned....echo will be my next ..gr8 vid
This summer was my “full entry” into fly fishing purchasing equipment, apparel, and a pontoon boat. Purchased both an Echo Lift and Echo Traverse with a very successful fishing season here in Central Oregon. My friend and mentor is a great follower of your fly tying and professional advice Kelly!
The reels that come with the lifts are garbage. I have two. One for each of my sons. I ended up putting Ions on both. Love them. Great rod.
They make really good kit. I use an Echo Bravo 7-9 on my 8wt carp outfit. It's also on my saltwater setup. Can't fault it and plan to get the Bad Ass Glass 7wt for my next carp and bass rig.
I have at least a dozen rods. I bought a Fenwick 4wt. glass rod and just loved casting it. Fished quite a bit over the past 50 years. A mid-flex, slower action is the best for most trout fishing situations and I actually, think that they help beginners develop a greater overall casting stroke. BTW the rod cost me 79 dollars.
Got an Echo for a friend that was coming out west to fish. It is my favorite rod too.
Love my Echo Bases!
A good grab and go rod that really works. That’s really what most of us need.
2 years ago …after trying a Scott , a Winston and a Thomas and Thomas rod for tossing streamers a friend suggested an Echo Streamer-X …… WOW !!!! To me ? Best streamer rod I ever cast . Nailed some nice fish on the Yampa , the Green and the north platte. 👍👍👍
I too was amazed by the 7 weight Streamer X rod, paired with Airflo Streamer Max Short line. The fly shop owner was too. Heck of a rod.
I've got 2 Echo rods and love 'em in MI and everywhere else!
Me too.
Agree with all of this. IM6 (T24) was at one time a favorite of the industry before manufacturers began to complicate things for the angler. It is extremely inexpensive and to me, the finest casting (especially the dry fly) rod out there. You can find kits for next to nothing to build your own as well.....Rajeff nails it with Echo.
I have an Echo Carbon Xl and I love it, it's my workhorse, I throw absolutely everything on that rod.
I have to think technology ,production and design have played a big part in the advancement of low cost great casting rods . Like Kelly I own a lot of expensive rods but in the past 15 or so years have gravitated to rods from $400 down and the reason is they cast so good plane and simple. Edge , TFO, ELKHORN , Echo , CD and others have come up with great rods . I often hear that the high end rods have such a good warranty , don’t be fooled so do the ones I just mentioned . When I first purchased these rods it was to use them as backups and all of a sudden they became go to rods . Thanks for the video.
That's true, but it has to be said that the top companies back in the day really did transform fly rod design. Gary Loomis, Sage....you know all the names.
I'm still using 30 year old rods but now if I break a rod I can no longer pick up a second hand rod for peanuts. As the new rods reach $1000 so people believe the old rods are worth $500.
So the world turns.
@@leerichy6489 This is true , I have some old Sage SLT rods and Winston Boron ll rods and they have turned into a cult rods they are so well liked and there value is still high if you can find one . But now people like Gary Loomis ( Edge rods ) and Tim Rajeff ( Echo ) to mention a couple have come to the forefront with design and manufacturing to bring us rods thats performance is unsurpassed and in many cases half the price or less of a Scott , Sage , Winston etc. so to me it becomes a matter of economics would I rather have two rods one for my wife and one for me and loose very little if any in performance ? It’s a good dilemma for all fisherman to have the opportunity to choose . So now let’s go fishing
That horse looks like a Norwegian horse from our west coast. Merry Christmas Kelly.
Pal, you are correct she is a Fyord, generally she is a pack horse but she's a smooth ride also, just a touch wide. Kelly
I fell in love with the echo base 376 in much the same way.
I've had many fly rods over many years and kinda fell in love with the 3wt (Base's successor) Lift 7' 6". Though my follow on favorite under $200 is a Carbon XL 376, I remain tremendously impressed by the Base/Lift @ about $109. Echo has done some interesting stuff.
I've been really happy with my $190 tfo combo kit from mas river outfitters
This is the video that everyone starting out fly fishing should see. Having been fly fishing for only about 10 years, I've come to the conclusion that someone who has really mastered the art of fly casting can pretty much make any rod perform well, or at least better than a neophyte (that would be me). The well seasoned fly caster can, I think, more easily adapt to a rod's casting characteristics (good or bad) just by the feel of the rod. As for me, I'm hoping that my new Recon will let me cast like a pro 😉😉
Hi, I agree with your perspective on casting. After I had been fly fishing for a couple of years, I had someone look at my casting and recommend a course of action. He recommend that I take a lesson from a certified casting instructor, which I did. The difference that made was enormous. From there, that opened the door to me being able to feel the rod load on both my forward and back casts. Once that happened, I could comfortably double haul or roll cast. The secret to catching more fish is not thinking about your casting. Once that becomes more automatic you will start reading the water and figuring out where the trout are in the stream. As for your new Recon, the secret to unlocking the rod's potential is choosing the right line. Please don't just assume MPX is the right choice for your rod. The gen2 Recons are very different from model to model, with some having faster or slower tips. I have more fly rods than I can shake a stick at and each one is matched to its own like even in the same weight range.
@@larryh9525 I've had several good guides over the few years I've been fly fishng and one I have repeatedly used in Colorado has helped with my casting tremendously and he recommended I attend a pro fly casting school to hone/improve my casting. About the Recon, I've wanted one for several years to complement the Orvis Frequent Flyer rods I use when backpacking. I picked up the Recon at a great flyshop in Townsend Tennessee and with the help of the shop's resident expert he helped me pair a an Orvis Hydro reel loaded with Orvis Hdros line matched to the rod. I really enjoyed the feel of it when I did some practice casting with it out behind the shop. Now to put it to the test. Planning to take it with me on a horsepacking trip into the Bob for a week of fly fishing on the SF of the Flathead in August. Thanks for leaving your comment!
@@DrJohn493 The best tip I learned about casting is to imagine that the tip of the rod is like a giant marker and your goal is to draw a straight line. The point is that the line will follow the tip of the rod. Also, moving the tip in a straight line facilitates the 10-2 casting range that's taught. Most folks get in trouble because they move the tip in an arc, which makes it nearly impossible to get either distance or accuracy. Orvis has a great fly-casting video where this is explained in detail. Also, when casting in an arc it is impossible to feel the rod load.
As for rods, I had 4 gen1 Recons and sold three of them as my experience progressed. The gen1 rods were quite good value for money, but the more I fished the more I wanted a rod with more feel (e.g. not quite as fast). If you have the desire to upgrade your Orvis Frequent Fly, check out the Hardy Aydon 6-piece rods. I have the prior generation Demon Smuggler in a 5, 6, and 8wt. All three are fantastic.
Finally, my favorite way to acquire new rods is on closeout sales. I just picked up a Hardy 6wt saltwater rod for $299 (originally $600).
Thank you for the review! This doesn't feel like a forced review by the mfr so that Kelly makes some money. I believe him and trust that he actually likes this kit. And if Kelly and Brian speak highly of this rod...I'll believe them! I'm going shopping now for the 4wt! :)
Echo produce some nice kit, I've got the River Glass 3 weight for small stream fishing. I've had it about 3 years and it has been well used - and if you're into fibreglass it's a great little rod for the money.
hell yea I love my river glass 4 its one of my favorite rods. I use it so much on the creeks around here
@@profpigeon5441 One of my favourite rods too.
It’s amazing to see so many positive reviews for this inexpensive fly rod kit, and then I read so many fisherman criticize the Moonshine fly rods. Makes a person really think, doesn’t it?
Problem with moonshine rods is they are completely overpriced. Parts are made by a company called Leichi Fishing, google them. Maxcatch is also part of Leichi... . Same with the overpriced Cheeky reels. Now that guys are overpriced. Selling $60 reels for $400... The reels are also from Leichi. Nothing wrong with the rods and reels, just overpriced. That Echo reel also made by Leichi, and probably the Echo rods as well. I have a few Echo rods, love them.
I traded a painting that my dad did for an echo 6 weight for throwing streamers. It's a great rod. Plus I'm not as scared to take it out as my hardy zenith
I found it's my favorite rod too.
I just got an echo carbon rod. It’s amazing. I literally see no reason why I would need a more expensive rod
They are good solid rods. I love mine. Workhorse.
I bought both my boys Echo Lift Kits two years ago. The plastic Echo reel that came with them were garbage and only lasted one season. I quickly replaced them with $80 Ions. They are great rods and stay with my raft. I love them. I have probably $180 into both combos, a 4 and a 5. Every rod purchase since then has been Echo.
In today’s grand scheme of fly rod pricing, it takes a real man to stand in front of a camera,and make that admission.
The video prompted me to reflect on just how much the Rajeff family has benefited the sport.
There are a few other products which, I believe, fit in the same category - Lamson’s entry fly reels, and Frabill’s landing net to begin the list. Two items on which a beginner could feel compelled to spend big dollars.
Not a whole lot of review on Echo fly rods, but they deserve far more credit for the performance to price balance that they strike.
Yes it’s brand recognition but it’s also supporting USA manufacturing not just some knock off crowd that buy a top rod race it over to china/Korea and say copy this guys and we’ll flog it off cheap back in the west . Have some pride people and support your local manufacturing.
Hey Kelly great video! Question for you. I have a 5 wt rid that I currently fish for everything fresh water with. Do I need to jump in and get a 4 wt rod for bream, crappie and trout? So many people say so many things, not sure what to believe. Thanks again for sharing all your knowledge
So what are the qualities about this rod that make it great besides the fact that its cheap?
Have you had a chance to use the redington field kit. Very similar set up for a little more money that comes highly recommended by Brian
I've been fly fishing for 30 years now. My favorite rods have always been in the $200-400 range. I can't bring myself to spend 1k on a rod. I've used a few and never was impressed enough to justify the cost. I liked the orvis helios 3 but maybe for $500 not $1000 🤷♂️
Kelly, I would love to see a video on your opinion on 1k rods.
Is it better than the base series??? I have my sages and they break the same as these cheaper rods and quite honestly if you need a rod to throw tight loops at over 25-30 feet you need to focus on presentation rather than casting... these cheaper rods do all the same things the higher end rods do except for break less expensively and not burn a whole in your pocket...
Good to see Dudley is doing good. Ellie nowhere to be seen. Like always 😂😂😂
TAYLOR, lesssgo
Working horse!:D
MY advice to any fly fisher , no matter how much you spend on tackle , it will not make you a better fisherman , balance is the key , practice makes perfect in casting , the more you fish , the more you learn , you will catch the same fish with a cheaper rod as a vastly expensive one , and no matter how much you pay , they can still break, and its not a tackle fashion show , tight lines for the new season , enjoy your fly fishing , it is a beautiful hobby
How does this compare to the Carbon XL?
Maxcatch.... Chinese, but affordable. Fish great!
Cay can va may ban dang Gia khoang nhieu Tien
TFO rod kits are bout the same price and quality are awsum too only ones I use
Can you fish streamers and or dry droppers with this? Or is it mostly ideal for dry flies? I’m pretty close to pulling the trigger on one of these
What do you think of that kit in a 9ft 4 wt for colorado stream fishing with indicator and tiny flies (midges)?
I'm not giving up my R.L. Winston (boron) rod. Was it expensive yep but I worked and earned it. Finest casting rod I've ever owned and I've fished most of the $1k dollar rods. Built my first fly-rod myself from Fenwick blanks. Broke it on a large salmon in Alaska somewhere on the Talkeetna river.
Does Echo make a 10’ rod?
What is the quality of the cork like Kelly?
Kelly, please say more about how ridiculous $1,000 rods are. It is next to impossible to read an honest and accurate fly rod review.
The funny thing about $1,000 rods is the additional flor grade cork, insert rings and some thread wrap pizzaz doesn’t come close to the incremental cost on-top of a 4/500 rod made in the US. Material is negligible to warrant a 4/500 dollar increase.
You get what you pay for!!! lol 😂😂😂
David they are amazing. Older Scott’s, Sages, etc can not be beat. How ever you will find that one rod that is just any well build for a dirt cheap. I fish a Clearwater 6wt and it is that way. “Simpliesty” at its finest
@@wesleysmith6018 oh yes, Sage's newest $1K 9' 4 weight really will revolutionize a 4 weight rod. Keep dreaming and believing the marketing hype.
@@comodave5 what I don’t do, thank you for your forces fool. Old school the only way boo
What line comes on the reel?
I guess Echo won the Pepsi challenge
Kelly, I’m thinking about getting into fly fishing and the Echo Traverse really catches my eye. Do you recommend immediately replacing the fly line on this set up to a higher quality line?
Might as well use the line until it cracks or starts sinking, then replace it once its necessary
On another subject, which vise do you use? Thanks
Renzetti Presentation 4000
Could you comment just briefly on using the 6wt as your streamer rod???? Or, would the Echo Streamer X be better?
Hey Stephen,
The Traverse Kit 6wt doesn't have the backbone to throw the full size KG streamers (Silk Kitty, Sex Dungeon etc). If you're sticking to wooly buggers, leeches, mini dungeons and so on, it can handle them for sure. Everyone at the shop throws a 7wt Streamer X for the bigger bugs. Give the shop a call if you want to discuss further (406) 682-4804.
Hope this helps
-Braeden
I've been fishing the Cabelas 6.5' CGR for the last 2yrs almost exclusively on the Platte back here in MI. and it's been a blast. It cost me about $70. I have what used to be high end rods, $400-$650, including 2 Sages bought from the Troutsman back in the day🙂. Still love those rods, but some of theses cheaper rods do cast nice. So I'm curious, what would that $270 rod kit have cost say 10-15 years ago?
I was gifted a 8’5” 4wt CGR for my first fly rod and I fish that more for dry flies than my rods that cost 5x that thing. It’s a tank too, I’ve abused that rod and it shows no sign of slowing down.
@@halvo11 yup, they're a nice dry fly rod, especially if you like a full flex with fiberglass.
The cgrs are great rods. I'm a glass guy anything 5wt and under.
No doubt glass is fun.
@@halvo11 what reel do you have on that rod? thanks
What do you think of the Redington starter kit?
IMO, pick the starter kit that has the best warranty replacement. Personaly I chose Orvis because this is their policy: "Orvis 25-Year Guarantee. What that means is, we’ll fix your broken fly rod, and if we can’t fix it, we’ll replace it, no questions asked. Step on it, close the door on it, run over it with the car-it doesn’t matter, we’ll fix it. If we can’t repair it, we’ll choose a newer model rod of at least equal value to replace it. Your investment is assured for a nominal shipping and handling charge."
At least it has a hook keeper unlike the ion xl. It frustrates me so much that the ion does not have a hook keeper….
Some years back I saw a review of a Hardy Rod. The review said it was a perfect rod for lough style fishing which is what I wanted. I paid several £’00s for this rod. It’s a lovely rod which came with a very discreet sticker, which said “Made in China”. Made me think
Yup. Blows you away doesn't it. More than likely built in the same factory as the MaxCatch rods.
Kelly, what fly line do you use for your dry flies?
Can the reel be switched for a left handed fisherman?
Yes
Yes, I switched mine very simple procedure . search the online video.
I’m a bass fisherman (qualified for 2 Bassmaster Classics) and a rod builder. A high end bass rod is 2 - 300 dollars and a good blank is $75. Sage rod blanks are 475? All my bass rods are one piece and one piece fly rod blanks are almost non existent? I’ve recently started trout fishing, primarily in the winter and am very confused. I’ve been using a spinning rod and primarily Crappie lures.
Holy Crap that's high cotton Ed, congratulations on the qualifying. I am not you average fly guy who only fishes flies. I grew up on bass and trout on Lake Mi. love my smallies and I know how hard that is to qualify for. Your not confused at all, the fly world is. We have been sold this bill of shit that there is something different/better about this industry's rods and people believed it for years and for the most part still does. There is one justification to the price and that is there just are not that many fly anglers compared to general tackle. Example a huge sale of a rod in fly might be 5000 units, an average say Mojo bass bait caster may sell 50,000 units. That said the Korean market Temple fork, Reddington and Echo are putting a serious hurt on the fly world, Sage owns Reddinton by the way. The quality is the same but they are off shored so costs are way lower. Thanks for watching. Kelly
@@kellygalloup thanks for the reply. I’ll have to watch more of your channel.
I worked in the restaurant industry for several decades, and during the peak of the '90s economic boom we would sell, routinely, bottles of wine for $5,000 and up - as much as $40,000 in some cases - that's one normal-sized bottle. When people order a bottle like that, they're not worried about the cost - it's likely a few hours pay for them, at most. Typically they buy them because it's a special experience, or more likely because they're trying to make an impression. A $5,000 bottle of wine is not likely a better wine - odds are, you can get the same quality for a few hundred bucks, and often, for much less. As servers and salespeople, we knew that, and in certain circumstances we would often guide our guest to a more educated selection - but certainly not always. I think the same is true for many items that are associated with a particular economic status, when practicality isn't necessarily the first priority. I have no need or desire for a car that goes 200 MPH or a girlfriend who wears Chanel #5 - if she showers occasionally before she hops in the truck, I'm generally content. I have a few rods and reels that might be considered "high-end," and depending on what I'm targeting I might bring them along, but that's not what makes for a good days' fishing... and to be honest, I get more of a kick when I outfish some well-equipped weekend-warrior with my Fenwick 5-weight and a Medalist from the '70s. I appreciate your honesty - and your salesmanship.
Try Limit Creek........
It is too bad that people like Kelly can't just sit and talk about the realities of $1000 rods. But hey, if I was a shop owner, I doubt that I would mind shipping out high-dollar rods all day and all night. 🙂 Cheers!
I use a 100$ rod plus a 80$ reel plus a 80$ line combo. I personally wouldn't go with more money for a rod, because I know that I would be way too careful with a higher priced rod, and I definitely don't want a rod that I would only ever handle like a raw egg.
I once fished with a rod that cost almost 400$, and I couldn't even see why it's 4 times the price of my rod.
But If I had more money, who knows, maybe I would buy higher priced rods.
Same rod 5wt £295 in the UK thats $356 today in 2023. That sucks.
A 10 000 dollar rod its like worth it in my box but when people focus tooooo much on that, do you really need a house? Do you need a new car? A motorcycle? The most expensive one? Its a hobby and we love it. What you need isa rod you dont need an expensive rod but thats up to you....boooom
Kelly on a horse…save some for the rest of us boss
Fly rod kid more than half the cost of a whiting cree cape
I don't have a horse and $200 is a lot of money for me to spend on anything
Jesus C. Again? Hate YT
I'd rather fish a expensive rod than a cheap piece of shit