Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/401545
S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S 1 5 0 The updated Double L is a little stiffer and a bit quicker than the other Bean rods I've cast over the years, but it still loads easily and fishes well in tight. It also boasts some of the nicest cosmetics you'll find in a rod in this price range, with red wine wraps, an olive blank, a burled spacer, and admirable fit and finish. Bottom line, you can spend a lot more than the price of a Double L and still fall short of this well- executed and versatile 5-weight. Fenwick Eagle, 8½-foot, 5-weight ($100) I'm not sure why, but when I cast Fenwick's Eagle, I can't help but picture myself on a farm pond, pitching tiny little poppers to bass and sunfish. This is exactly the kind of rod I wished I had as a youngster. It's light enough to eliminate arm and shoulder strain, it's dead-on accurate and it's able to accommodate a wide variety of casting strokes while pitching a handsome line. The Eagle, which boasts an olive finish, black wraps, and a beefy reel seat, is strong enough to withstand the rigors of a young, inexperienced angler – perhaps your son, grandson, or favorite niece – yet fully functional for folks on a tight budget or who might want to leave a back-up in the pickup or the trunk of the car. Oh, and at a hair under a hundred dollars, you won't notice your wallet getting appreciably lighter if you decide to pick one up. Sage Approach, 9-foot, 5-weight ($295) You'll notice that I haven't mentioned a single extra-fast-action rod yet. But that doesn't mean I've forgotten about all you distance casters and streamer slingers. Here's the truth. The Sage Approach will satisfy your need for speed. If you want a fly rod that will take you right up against the ragged edge of your ability, a rod that will throw darts into the wind, sling a hopper against the far bank, and high-stick a hunk of lead and two big nymphs through the Box Canyon, the Approach could be exactly what you have in mind. Which doesn't mean that the Approach won't put a PMD on a nose at 35 feet. It will. But this isn't your father's old Sage 389 LL. It's a do-it-all rod for aggressive anglers. The rod sports a black-on-gray color scheme with attractive silver accents. One final thing I should mention: If you're the kind of person who likes to experiment, you might find that this particular model purrs like a kitten when you over-line it by one weight. So there you have it. Eight different fly rods, each for less than $300. Please keep in mind that fly rods are invariably the most subjective gear I review, so your impressions may be very different than mine. And with that caveat out of the way, let me be the first person to share the following words with you for 2014: Merry Christmas!