The short answer
Get the Redington Classic Trout 590-4 if you want one trout rod that does a bit of everything, the Echo Carbon XL 590-4 if you want an independently reviewed 9-foot 5-weight one step up, or the Redington Path II 590-4 if you are learning and want to keep the first rod cheap.
Our verdict
Top Picks: Fly Rods for Every Budget
The 9-foot 5-weight sits at the centre of the fly rod lists that rank for this search. Outdoor Life’s trout rod test puts it plainly: “Those looking for more of an all-rounder should check out the 9 foot, 5-weight.” Six of the nine rods below are exactly that, from an entry-tier learner’s rod to premium-tier all-rounders.
Related guide: 1 Wt Fly Rods: 7 Picks Compared
The other three cover what one 5-weight does less well: a fiberglass rod for small streams, a short 8-weight for bass bugs and a 9-foot 8-weight for saltwater. Every pick is stocked on Amazon in the exact length and line weight we describe.
Rod finder
Find a fly rod for your water
Pick what you fish for and what you want to spend. The suggestion is our editorial starting point, drawn from the nine rods below, not a test result.
Tiers are relative to the rods in this guide; live prices are in the comparison table below.
Compare the picks
Compare the 9 Fly Rods
Every row is the exact Amazon variant we link. Line weight, length, action and pieces are as each maker lists them; “not published” means the maker gives no figure.
Redington Classic TroutAll-round trout rodTrout, all-round, beginners9' 5 wt$199.99
Evidence: Outdoor Life, 7'6" 3 wt; same series, not this 9' 5 wt 4-piece (590-4)
Echo Carbon XLIndependently reviewed 5 wtTrout, dry flies, nymphing9' 5 wt$289.99
Evidence: Man Makes Fire, this exact model
Greys LanceMid-tier medium-fast 5 wtTrout, all-round9' 5 wt$259.95 Prime
Evidence: Trident Fly Fishing (a retailer), not independent
St. Croix ConnectAll-water 5 wtTrout, streamers, western rivers9' 5 wt$295.00 Prime
Evidence: Murray's Fly Shop (a retailer), not independent
TFO Pro IIILearner's moderate 5 wtBeginners, trout9' 5 wt$229.95
Evidence: Outdoor Life, 9' 6 wt; same series, not this 9' 5 wt 4-piece (TF 05 90 4 P3)
Redington Path IIBudget first rodBeginners, trout, panfish9' 5 wt$89.99
Evidence: Into Fly Fishing, 9' 4 wt; same series, not this 9' 5 wt 4-piece (590-4)
Redington Butter Stick v3Fiberglass small-stream rodSmall streams, trout, panfish8' 5 wt$329.99
Evidence: Hatch Magazine, previous generation
St. Croix Mojo BassShort rod for bass bugsBass, poppers, streamers7'11" 8 wt$180.00 Prime
Evidence: Top Fly Guides, this exact model
Echo Boost BlueSaltwater 8 wtSaltwater, redfish, stripers9' 8 wt$374.99
Evidence: Trident Fly Fishing (a retailer), series overview; weight not stated
How We Narrowed the Field to Nine Rods
How this guide was built
built from manufacturer documentation, published third-party reviews and owner reports; we have not tested these products ourselves.
What each rod had to clear
- Stocked on Amazon in the exact variant. Each link opens the length, line weight and piece count the review describes, confirmed from Amazon’s variant data, sold new by Amazon, the brand or a named fly shop or retailer.
- Specs from the maker. Line weight, length, action and pieces come from Redington (Far Bank), Echo, Greys, St. Croix and TFO. Where a maker and its Amazon listing disagree, we say so in the review.
- A clear job. Six picks are 9-foot 5-weights at different price tiers and feels; three cover small streams, bass and saltwater. No two picks share a role.
- Something outside the maker to lean on. An independent review, a retailer’s review (labelled as such) or owner reports, graded on every review’s Evidence line.
Where the evidence comes from and how it is graded and what owners and testers keep repeating
Where the evidence comes from and how it is graded
Two picks have an independent review of the exact model we link: the Echo Carbon XL (Man Makes Fire) and the St. Croix Mojo Bass (Top Fly Guides, a guide service). Four rest on an independent test of a sibling in the same series: Outdoor Life fished the Redington Classic Trout in a 3-weight and the TFO Pro III in a 6-weight, Into Fly Fishing fished the Redington Path in a 4-weight, and Hatch Magazine covered the previous Butter Stick. Three rest on reviews by shops that sell the rod (Trident Fly Fishing for the Greys Lance and Echo Boost Blue, Murray’s Fly Shop for the St. Croix Connect), and each of those is labelled “Retailer review (sells it), not independent”.
What owners and testers keep repeating
The ranking r/flyfishing thread on recommended fly rods comes back to one point: “Any decent shop should take you out on the lawn and let you try out a rod.” The same thread has an owner of a premium Orvis Helios who writes, “I have a Helios D 9ft 5 but find myself fishing a cheap greys lance because I like how it feels.” Feel is personal, so treat every action description below as a starting point and cast a rod before you buy it if you can.
Detailed Reviews of the Top Fly Fishing Rods
Redington Classic Trout, All-Round Trout Rod
9' 5 wt 4-piece (590-4) · Not published
A trout angler who wants one forgiving 9-foot 5-weight for dry flies, nymphs and small streamers.
$199.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 4, 09:39 UTCVerdict
A 9-foot 5-weight trout rod from Redington’s parent company’s own storefront, with a moderate action on Redington’s series list and a lifetime warranty.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. Outdoor Life: 7’6″ 3 wt (376-4).
Redington describes the 590-4 as “the bread & butter of trout rods”, and its own page gives two action words for it: the series feature list says “Moderate Action”, while the 590-4 description says “The medium-fast action presents dry flies accurately and delicately, but still has enough guts to handle nymphs, buggers, and indicators when conditions call for it.” Outdoor Life’s test of the 3-weight disagrees on accuracy: it listed “Not the most accurate rod” as a con and scored it “Accuracy: 5/9”.
Outdoor Life named the Classic Trout its “Best Budget” trout rod, but it fished the 7’6″ 3-weight (376-4), not the 9-foot 5-weight we link. The tester wrote, “I included the 3-weight version, which is a good choice for creeks and smaller streams,” and pointed all-round buyers to the 9-foot 5-weight. If small creeks are your water, Redington sells the same series in 7’6″ and 8-foot lengths.
The finish is classic: a dark clay brown blank, a rosewood reel seat insert, custom machined reel seat parts and titanium oxide stripping guides, delivered in a divided tube.
Specs (linked: 9′ 5 wt, 4-piece, 590-4)
Pros
- Outdoor Life found it “Easy for beginners to cast” (3-weight tested)
- Sold by Far Bank, Redington’s parent company
- Same series comes in shorter 3- and 4-weights for small water
- Lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship
Cons
- “Not the most accurate rod” and “Max Distance: 60 feet” in Outdoor Life’s test of the 3-weight
- The independent test covered the 3-weight, not this 9-foot 5-weight
- Rod weight not published
Who should buy it
A trout angler who wants one forgiving 9-foot 5-weight for dry flies, nymphs and small streamers.
- Length and line weight: 9’0″, 5 wt
- Pieces: 4, with alignment dots
- Action: Moderate (series feature list); medium-fast (590-4 description)
- Blank: Graphite (Amazon listing; Redington’s page says “lightweight blank”)
- Handle: Standard cork handle, rosewood reel seat insert
- Guides: Titanium oxide stripping guides
- Rod weight: not published
- Warranty: Lifetime, defects in materials and workmanship (Redington; Far Bank charges a fee for other repairs)
- Price tier: $$ (live Amazon price in the table above)
Echo Carbon XL, Independently Reviewed 5 Wt
9' 5 wt 4-piece (590-4) · Not published
An angler moving up from a first rod who wants a moderate 9-foot 5-weight with an independent review behind it.
$289.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 4, 09:39 UTCVerdict
A 9-foot 5-weight trout rod with an independent review of this exact model and a moderate action Echo pitches for “everything from dry fly fishing to nymphing and even light streamers”.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Man Makes Fire: 9′ 5 wt.
Man Makes Fire fished the 9-foot 5-weight on the Owyhee and wrote, “The 9-foot 5-weight Echo Carbon XL is a joy to cast and fish.” The same review keeps it in proportion: “I didn’t get the sense that it made me any more accurate than usual, nor did it allow me to cast appreciably farther than I already can with most other decent 5-weight fly rods.”
Related guide: 3 Wt Fly Rods: 9 Picks Compared
Echo calls the action moderate; the Man Makes Fire reviewer headed his section “Medium Fast(er) Action?” and found the rod “loads easily yet responds with a good amount of crispness.” Echo’s own model note calls the 590-4 “The most versatile ECHO freshwater trout rod, period”, which is the maker’s claim about its own range.
Echo lists the 590-4 at 3.5 (Man Makes Fire gives “3.5 ounces”), with an anodized aluminum reel seat, a carbon insert, a rod sock and a tube. Echo’s warranty page says its rods “are covered against manufacturing defects for the life of the original owner”; for breakage, “replacement parts may be available for purchase at the discretion of the ECHO Warranty Team.” The Amazon listing is sold by The Kingfisher, a fly shop’s storefront, and shipped by Amazon.
Specs (linked: 9′ 5 wt, 4-piece, 590-4)
Pros
- Independent review of this exact 9-foot 5-weight, praised for feel
- 3.5 oz rod weight (Echo); Echo calls it moderate, and its reviewer found it “loads easily” with “crispness”
- Echo lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects for the original owner
Cons
- Premium price tier ($$$)
- Its reviewer found no extra distance or accuracy over other decent 5-weights
- Sold through a fly shop’s Amazon storefront rather than Amazon itself
Who should buy it
An angler moving up from a first rod who wants a moderate 9-foot 5-weight with an independent review behind it.
- Length and line weight: 9’0″, 5 wt
- Pieces: 4
- Action: Moderate (Echo)
- Blank: not published by Echo (Amazon: carbon fiber)
- Handle: Cork, single-uplocking anodized aluminum reel seat with carbon insert (Amazon listing)
- Guides: Single-foot guides (Man Makes Fire)
- Rod weight: 3.5 oz (Echo; Man Makes Fire)
- Warranty: Lifetime, original owner, manufacturing defects; breakage parts at Echo’s discretion (Echo)
- Price tier: $$$ (live Amazon price in the table above)
Greys Lance, Mid-Tier Medium-Fast 5 Wt
9' 5 wt 4-piece · Intermediate modulus carbon
A trout angler who wants a medium-fast 9-foot 5-weight in the mid tier, bought straight from Amazon.
$259.95 from AmazonAs of Nov 4, 09:39 UTCVerdict
A medium-fast 9-foot 5-weight sold by Amazon itself, for anglers who want a medium-fast trout rod in the mid tier.
Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Trident Fly Fishing: 9′ 5 wt.
Greys builds the Lance on an “Intermediate modulus 4pc Carbon blank” and lists the 9-foot 5-weight (GROLAN905) as medium fast with 11 guides, a AAA cork handle and an anodised alloy reel seat with dual locking nuts.
Trident Fly Fishing, which sells the rod, reviewed this 9-foot 5-weight: “We don’t often get excited about rods in the Lance’s class, but we’d gladly take this do-everything 5wt to the local trout stream.” Trident wrote that at 45 feet “the Lance came into its own” and noted, “we weren’t having quite as easy of a time making pin-point shots as softer rods out there” at 30 feet. That is a retailer’s review, not an independent test. An owner in the r/flyfishing thread reaches for a Lance over a premium Orvis Helios “because I like how it feels.”
Related guide: Best Magnets for Fishing: 8 Picks Compared
Specs (linked: 9′ 5 wt, 4-piece, GROLAN905)
Pros
- Medium-fast intermediate modulus blank that a selling shop rated well at middle distance
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- AAA cork and an anodised alloy seat with dual locking nuts
Cons
- Trident found close-range pin-point casts harder than with softer rods
- The review behind it is a retailer’s, not independent
- Greys publishes no rod weight or rod warranty on the product page
Who should buy it
A trout angler who wants a medium-fast 9-foot 5-weight in the mid tier, bought straight from Amazon.
- Length and line weight: 9′, 5 wt
- Pieces: 4, with alignment dots
- Action: Medium fast
- Blank: Intermediate modulus carbon
- Handle: AAA cork (half-wells per Trident), anodised alloy up-lock reel seat
- Guides: 11; single-foot snake guides, lined stripper guides
- Rod weight: not published
- Warranty: not published on Greys’ rod page (Trident lists lifetime)
- Price tier: $$ (live Amazon price in the table above)
St. Croix Connect, All-Water 5 Wt
9' 5 wt 4-piece (CO590-4) · SCIII and SCII carbon fiber
An angler on larger western rivers who wants one medium-fast 9-foot 5-weight for streamers, nymphs and dries.
$295.00 from AmazonAs of Nov 4, 09:39 UTCVerdict
A medium-fast 9-foot 5-weight with St. Croix’s SCIII and SCII carbon blank, for anglers who fish bigger western water and want a rod that handles streamers as well as dries.
Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Murray’s Fly Shop: 9′ 5 wt.
St. Croix calls the Connect series “all-water” and builds it on “High-modulus SCIII and SCII carbon fiber blanks” with what it calls a Fortified Resin System and reinforced slim ferrules. The 9-foot 5-weight (CO590-4) has chrome single-foot guides, a snub nose cork handle, an uplocking machined aluminum seat and a five-year warranty.
Murray’s Fly Shop, which sells the Connect, describes this model: “5-weight, 9ft 4pc is a good streamer and nymph rod for western trout streams as well as a western dry fly rod.” The same shop adds, “This is too big for our trout fishing in the East.” That is a seller’s description, not an independent test.
One correction to the Amazon listing: its title says “Made in the USA”, but St. Croix says the Connect is “Designed in Park Falls, WI. Precision crafted at St. Croix South-Fresnillo, Mexico.” It is sold and shipped by Amazon.com.
Specs (linked: 9′ 5 wt, 4-piece, CO590-4)
Pros
- SCIII and SCII carbon blank with St. Croix’s reinforced ferrules
- Medium-fast action a selling shop pitches for streamers, nymphs and western dries
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
Cons
- Five-year warranty
- The review behind it is a retailer’s description, not an independent test
- Murray’s calls the 5-weight too big for its eastern trout water
Who should buy it
An angler on larger western rivers who wants one medium-fast 9-foot 5-weight for streamers, nymphs and dries.
- Length and line weight: 9′, 5 wt (#5)
- Pieces: 4
- Action: Medium-fast
- Blank: SCIII and SCII carbon fiber
- Handle: Snub nose premium grade cork, uplocking machined aluminum reel seat
- Guides: Chrome single-foot guides, chrome stripper guides with aluminum-oxide rings
- Rod weight: not published
- Warranty: Five years
- Price tier: $$$ (live Amazon price in the table above)
TFO Pro III, Learner’s Moderate 5 Wt
9' 5 wt 4-piece (TF 05 90 4 P3) · Not published
A beginner who wants a forgiving rod built to teach timing, and plans to keep it as a backup once their cast improves.
$229.95 from AmazonAs of Nov 4, 09:39 UTCVerdict
A moderate-action 9-foot 5-weight that TFO designs to help newer anglers feel the rod load, with a lifetime warranty, for beginners who want to build a sound cast.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. Outdoor Life: 9′ 6 wt (690-4).
TFO’s page puts the Pro III’s job in one line: “Built For: New to intermediate anglers focused on improving casting consistency.” The 9-foot 5-weight (TF 05 90 4 P3) is moderate action, 4 pieces and 3.2 oz, with SiC stripping guides, double-foot snake guides and an anodized aluminum reel seat with a carbon fiber insert.
Outdoor Life fished the Pro III 690-4, a 9-foot 6-weight, in its bass rod test, not the 5-weight we link. Its tester wrote, “The Pro III is the newest iteration in TFO’s Pro series, which are designed with beginner to intermediate anglers in mind,” and found it “noticeably slower than the LK Legacy and it’s not quite as accurate or powerful as that rod. But it’s not supposed to be.” The Amazon listing is sold and shipped by Backcountry.
Specs (linked: 9′ 5 wt, 4-piece, TF 05 90 4 P3)
Pros
- Moderate taper TFO designs so new casters can feel the rod load
- Lifetime warranty
- 3.2 oz rod weight and SiC stripping guides
Cons
- Slower and less accurate than TFO’s faster LK Legacy, by Outdoor Life’s account of the 6-weight
- The independent test covered the 6-weight, not this 5-weight
- Sold by Backcountry rather than Amazon or TFO
Who should buy it
A beginner who wants a forgiving rod built to teach timing, and plans to keep it as a backup once their cast improves.
- Length and line weight: 9’0″, 5 wt
- Pieces: 4
- Action: Moderate
- Blank: not published by TFO (Amazon: carbon fiber)
- Handle: Cork grip with EVA accents (handle style A), anodized aluminum reel seat with carbon fiber insert
- Guides: SiC stripping guides, double-foot anodized snake guides
- Rod weight: 3.2 oz
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Price tier: $$ (live Amazon price in the table above)
Redington Path II, Budget First Rod
9' 5 wt 4-piece (590-4) · Graphite
A newcomer who wants a real 9-foot 5-weight to learn on and fish ponds, streams and small rivers inside 40 feet.
$89.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 4, 09:39 UTCVerdict
The entry-level pick: a medium-fast 9-foot 5-weight sold by Far Bank for anglers who want to try fly fishing without a big first outlay.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. Into Fly Fishing: 9′ 4 wt.
The Path has dropped off Redington’s own rod list, so the specs here come from the maker’s Amazon listing, which Far Bank sells: a “medium-fast action graphite fly rod”, 4 pieces with alignment dots and a divided Cordura tube. The listing says rods through 6-weight get “a half-wells handle with a wood reel seat”. Part of the listing repeats the Classic Trout’s copy (the dark clay brown blank, rosewood insert and titanium oxide guides), and its detail table says “Full Wells”, so we print only the Path specs that do not rest on that copied text.
Into Fly Fishing fished the 9-foot 4-weight Path, not the 5-weight we link. It found casts “within 30 or 40 feet” easy and wrote, “Past 40 feet, the 4-weight model begins to struggle.” The same review says, “Redington offers anglers a lifetime warranty on the Path”; the Amazon listing does not state the warranty, so check it before you buy.
Specs (linked: 9′ 5 wt, 4-piece, 590-4)
Pros
- Sold by Far Bank, Redington’s parent company
- Medium-fast graphite blank that a hands-on reviewer found easy inside 40 feet
- Divided Cordura tube included
Cons
- Longer casts are harder, by Into Fly Fishing’s account of the 4-weight
- No longer listed on Redington’s site, so specs come from the Amazon listing
- Warranty not stated on the listing
Who should buy it
A newcomer who wants a real 9-foot 5-weight to learn on and fish ponds, streams and small rivers inside 40 feet.
- Length and line weight: 9’0″, 5 wt
- Pieces: 4, with alignment dots
- Action: Medium-fast
- Blank: Graphite
- Handle: Half-wells cork, wood reel seat (listing’s rule for 6-weight and lighter)
- Guides: not confirmed (listing copy matches the Classic Trout’s)
- Rod weight: not published
- Warranty: not stated on the listing (Into Fly Fishing reports lifetime)
- Source: maker’s Amazon listing (the model is no longer on Redington’s site)
- Price tier: $ (live Amazon price in the table above)
Redington Butter Stick v3, Fiberglass Small-Stream Rod
8' 5 wt 4-piece (580-4) · T-Glass fiberglass
An angler who fishes small creeks and ponds at short range and wants a fiberglass rod for its feel.
$329.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 4, 09:39 UTCVerdict
A medium-action T-Glass 8-foot 5-weight for small streams and panfish ponds, for anglers who want the feel of fiberglass rather than another graphite rod.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, previous generation. Hatch Magazine: 7′ 3 wt and 7’6″ 4 wt (2019 version).
Redington calls the 580-4 “the do-it-all glass offering in our lineup” and pitches it at “blue lines for brook trout” and “your local bass pond”. The v3 gets a semi-translucent yellow T-Glass blank, a “classic medium action casting stroke”, a traditional half-wells handle, a cork reel seat with a threaded lock nut and four pieces for travel.
Hatch Magazine reviewed the previous Butter Stick (the 7-foot 3-weight and 7’6″ 4-weight), not this v3 5-weight. Its reviewer wrote, “The new Butter Stick is a throwback rod when it comes to both appearance and performance,” and also reported “significant line slap” on that version. Glass suits a slower casting stroke; Hatch’s reviewer warns that “If you’re too fast with your cast, you’ll pile line around your feet in no time.”
Specs (linked: 8′ 5 wt, 4-piece, 580-4)
Pros
- T-Glass fiberglass blank with a classic medium action
- 8-foot length that suits tight, brushy streams
- Lifetime warranty and Cordura rod case
Cons
- Glass rewards a slow stroke and punishes a rushed one, per Hatch
- Hatch reported line slap on the previous version
- Premium price tier ($$$) for a specialist rod
Who should buy it
An angler who fishes small creeks and ponds at short range and wants a fiberglass rod for its feel.
- Length and line weight: 8’0″, 5 wt
- Pieces: 4, with alignment dots
- Action: Medium (Redington: “classic medium action casting stroke”)
- Blank: T-Glass fiberglass
- Handle: Traditional half-wells cork, cork reel seat with threaded lock nut
- Guides: not published
- Rod weight: not published
- Warranty: Lifetime, defects in materials and workmanship (Redington; Far Bank charges a fee for other repairs)
- Price tier: $$$ (live Amazon price in the table above)
St. Croix Mojo Bass, Short Rod for Bass Bugs
7'11" 8 wt 2-piece (MBF7118.2) · SCII carbon fiber
A bass angler who fishes poppers and streamers around docks, weeds and lily pads, from a boat, kayak or float tube.
$180.00 from AmazonAs of Nov 4, 09:39 UTCVerdict
A 7’11” 8-weight with a fighting butt, built to throw big poppers and streamers into tight cover, for bass anglers rather than trout anglers.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Top Fly Guides: 7’11” 8 wt.
St. Croix builds the Mojo Bass for “air-mailing big, wind-resistant flies into tight target windows”. The 8-weight (MBF7118.2) is 7’11”, 2 pieces and med-fast, on an SCII carbon blank with a full wells cork handle, a fighting butt, 3D stripper guides and a five-year warranty. Like the Connect, it is designed in Park Falls and crafted in Fresnillo, Mexico.
Top Fly Guides, a Washington guide service, wrote of this rod: “This rod still has plenty of power at 7’11” and because it is an 8 weight it turns over big streamers with ease.” The guide also explains the length: a tournament rule barred fly rods 8 feet and longer, hence 7’11”. Ralph’s Fly Box fished the 7-weight sibling for a year from a float tube and wrote that the short length “did not hamper elevation at all.” The Amazon listing is sold and shipped by Amazon.com.
Specs (linked: 7’11” 8 wt, 2-piece, MBF7118.2)
Pros
- Short, powerful 8-weight that an independent guide review says turns over big streamers
- Fighting butt and full wells grip for pulling bass out of cover
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
Cons
- Two pieces, so it travels less easily than the 4-piece picks
- Top Fly Guides: “definitely a boat rod more than a wade fishermen’s rod”, with “maximum casting range to about 60 feet”
- Five-year warranty
Who should buy it
A bass angler who fishes poppers and streamers around docks, weeds and lily pads, from a boat, kayak or float tube.
- Length and line weight: 7’11”, 8 wt (#8)
- Pieces: 2
- Action: Med-fast
- Blank: SCII carbon fiber
- Handle: Full wells premium-grade cork, uplocking machined-aluminum reel seat, fighting butt with EVA end cap
- Guides: 3D stripper guides with aluminum-oxide rings, chrome snake guides
- Rod weight: 3.9 oz (Amazon listing)
- Warranty: Five years
- Price tier: $$ (live Amazon price in the table above)
Echo Boost Blue, Saltwater 8 Wt
9' 8 wt 4-piece (890-4) · Not published
An inshore or surf angler with a strong casting stroke who needs a 9-foot 8-weight for redfish, stripers and wind.
$374.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 4, 09:39 UTCVerdict
A fast-action 9-foot 8-weight with titanium stripping guides, for inshore and beach anglers who want distance and wind-cutting power.
Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Trident Fly Fishing: weight not stated.
Echo built the Boost Blue for “anglers with an aggressive casting stroke to achieve maximum line speed”, and describes the 8-weight’s water as “From beach coho to the inshore marshes of the Southeast USA”. The 890-4 is 4 pieces and 4.2 oz, with “upgraded titanium stripping guides”.
Trident Fly Fishing, which sells the rod, included it in its value saltwater roundup: “For those that remember the old broomstick Echo Boost Salt, the Boost Blue is a tamed down version that’s more forgiving and fun to cast.” Trident did not name the weight it cast and listed its trade-offs as “Not a presentation rod” and “Lacks accuracy at close to medium range”. The Amazon listing is sold and shipped by Compleat Angler Fly Shop.
Specs (linked: 9′ 8 wt, 4-piece, 890-4)
Pros
- Fast 9-foot 8-weight built for line speed into wind
- Titanium stripping guides and anodized hardware for salt
- Echo lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects for the original owner
Cons
- Trident found it short on accuracy at close and middle range
- The review behind it is a retailer’s, and it does not name the weight cast
- Sold through a fly shop’s Amazon storefront
Who should buy it
An inshore or surf angler with a strong casting stroke who needs a 9-foot 8-weight for redfish, stripers and wind.
- Length and line weight: 9’0″, 8 wt
- Pieces: 4
- Action: Fast
- Blank: not published by Echo (Amazon: carbon fiber)
- Handle: Full wells (Amazon listing; material not published), anodized reel seat (Trident)
- Guides: Titanium stripping guides
- Rod weight: 4.2 oz
- Warranty: Lifetime, original owner, manufacturing defects; breakage parts at Echo’s discretion (Echo)
- Price tier: $$$ (live Amazon price in the table above)
Choosing Weight, Length and Action
Line weight
Match the rod’s weight to the fish and the flies, not the fish alone. Outdoor Life points all-round trout anglers to a 9-foot 5-weight, and the makers and guides our size guide draws on put trout on 2- to 6-weights, bass on 6 to 8 and bonefish on 8 or 9. Lighter rods suit small flies and small water; heavier ones push big streamers and bugs and cut wind. Our fly rod size guide maps weights to species in more detail, and how to choose a fly rod walks through the whole decision.
Length
Seven of the nine picks are 9 feet long. The Butter Stick is 8 feet, which Redington pitches at “blue lines for brook trout”, and the Mojo Bass is 7’11” because of the tournament length rule Top Fly Guides describes.
Action
Fast rods bend mostly near the tip, build line speed and punch into wind; moderate rods bend deeper, which many beginners find easier to time. The action words in this guide are each maker’s own: Redington, Echo and TFO call the Classic Trout, Carbon XL and Pro III moderate (Redington also calls the Classic Trout 590-4 medium-fast), Redington calls the Butter Stick medium, while Greys, St. Croix and the Path listing say medium-fast and Echo calls the Boost Blue fast.
Pieces, warranty and setting up
Every pick except the Mojo Bass breaks into 4 pieces for travel. Warranties differ in length and scope. Redington, TFO and Echo give lifetime warranties against defects; Far Bank charges a fee for Redington repairs that are not defects, and Echo offers breakage parts “at the discretion of the ECHO Warranty Team”. St. Croix gives five years, and its warranty page says in-warranty rods are “Subject to a $60, $100, or $150 warranty fee.” The Path’s listing states none, and Greys publishes nothing on its rod page. Once the rod arrives, match a reel to its line weight with our fly reel size guide and follow how to set up a fly rod and reel.
Which rod for which angler
Picks, with the trade-off inside each pair:
- First rod: Redington Path II is entry tier and medium-fast, with no warranty stated on its listing; TFO Pro III is mid tier, moderate and 3.2 oz, with TFO’s lifetime warranty.
- One rod for mixed trout water: Redington Classic Trout is mid tier, with an independent test of the 3-weight only; Echo Carbon XL is premium tier, with an independent review of this exact 9-foot 5-weight and a published 3.5 oz.
- A medium-fast 9-foot 5-weight: Greys Lance is mid tier and sold by Amazon, and Trident found it came into its own at 45 feet but made pin-point shots at 30 feet harder; St. Croix Connect is premium tier, and Murray’s pitches it for western streamers and nymphs while calling it “too big” for eastern trout.
- Specialists: Redington Butter Stick v3 for small streams, St. Croix Mojo Bass for bass and Echo Boost Blue for saltwater.
New to the sport? Start with fly fishing for beginners and how to cast a fly rod before you spend on a second rod.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the best all-round fly rod?
There is no single answer, but the ranking guides we read centre on a 9-foot 5-weight; Outdoor Life tells all-rounders to “check out the 9 foot, 5-weight.” In this guide, the Redington Classic Trout and Echo Carbon XL are the two 9-foot 5-weights we would start with for mixed trout fishing.
Q. What is the 60/20/20 rule in fly fishing?
It is a leader-building ratio, not a rod rule. Orvis explains: “Most all tapered leaders are built based on a 60/20/20 ratio. In terms of length, this means the leader will be 60% butt section, 20% midsection and another 20% tippet section.” See what tippet is and how to tie a leader to fly line.
Q. What is the best American-made fly rod?
We could not confirm a US-made rod among these nine. St. Croix designs the Connect and Mojo Bass in Park Falls, Wisconsin, and builds them in Fresnillo, Mexico, despite the Connect’s Amazon title saying “Made in the USA”. Outdoor Life lists the Classic Trout as “Made in China” and says the Pro III is “manufactured in South Korea”. St. Croix describes its Imperial USA series as “American-made craftsmanship”, but its 9-foot 5-weight was not sold new on Amazon when we checked, so it is not a pick.
Q. What are the top 10 best rods?
Lists differ by budget and fishing style. This guide covers nine Amazon-stocked rods: six 9-foot 5-weights from budget to premium and three specialists for small streams, bass and saltwater.
Q. What fly rod weight should I use for trout?
Our size guide treats a 5-weight as the trout all-rounder, with 3- and 4-weights for small streams and 6-weights for big rivers, wind and streamers. Our fly rod size guide explains fly rod weights by species and water.
Q. How do I set up and rig a fly rod for trout?
Join the sections with the guides aligned, seat the reel, then run backing, fly line, leader and tippet in that order; a 5-weight line goes on a 5-weight rod. Our step-by-step setup guide covers each knot and connection.
Q. Should I buy a rod and reel combo instead?
A kit saves matching a reel and line, which suits a first purchase. Every pick here is sold as a rod only, so you will need a reel and line; the fly reel size guide shows which reel fits each line weight.
The bottom line
Final Verdict
For one rod that covers mixed trout water, the Redington Classic Trout 590-4 (check price) is the forgiving all-rounder and the Echo Carbon XL 590-4 (check price) is the step up with an independent review of the exact 9-foot 5-weight. If you are learning, the Redington Path II 590-4 (check price) keeps the first purchase in the entry tier. Pick a specialist when your water calls for one: the Butter Stick for small streams, the Mojo Bass for bass bugs and the Boost Blue for saltwater.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
