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 4 6 such excellent equipment. By the way, each rod here is a 4-piece model that's easy to pack and carry. So let's get started. Orvis Clearwater, 9-foot, 5-weight ($198) This past spring, while we were rigging up to fish Rock Creek, I asked Tom Rosenbauer of Orvis about the Clearwater series. I don't remember Tom's exact words, but I do recall the gist of his answer: The Clearwater is a seriously nice rod for the money. After spending time on the water with this rod, my only concern is that it offers too much performance for the price. I have no idea how Orvis is selling this rod for under $200 – but they are. This particular Clearwater is quick and powerful, with enough backbone to cast the entire line, yet you can still feel it load at normal fishing distances (25 to 45 feet). It throws beautiful loops with very little effort, and while it likes a firm casting stroke, it's also reasonably forgiving. The cosmetics are nicer than you'll typically find with an inexpensive rod, and the green blank and black wraps are handsome but understated. If you're looking for the perfect Christmas gift, the Orvis Clearwater deserves your serious consideration. St. Croix Rio Santos, 9-foot, 5-weight ($130) St. Croix is known for building extremely nice rods at very reasonable prices, and the Rio Santos is no exception. The rod has a firm butt with a slightly softer tip, and it's versatile enough to handle a wide range of fishing situations and casting strokes. The Rio Santos really shines with dry- fly presentations at average casting distances. The rod forms nice loops in close, and it's accurate and fun to cast. Which doesn't mean that you won't be able to rear back and let it fly. A good caster can push the Rio Santos out to 75 feet. Its real strength, though, is in tight, where most of us fish on a regular basis. The Rio Santos sports an olive blank and olive wraps. The black reel seat is utilitarian rather than fancy, but for the price of a night on the town, you can have a well- made rod that will last for years and handle the majority of angling situations you're likely to face. Mystic Reaper, 9-foot, 5-weight ($229) It's not always easy to find a rod that does everything well – drys, nymphs, streamers; in close and far off; plenty of backbone but also plenty of feel – for $750. The fact that Mystic's Reaper does it all for a third of that – heck, for less than a third – is one of life's ongoing mysteries. I took the Reaper down to the Missouri River, where it handled both hoppers and tiny bugs with ease and came up aces with a couple of truly oversized brown trout. Just as importantly, the fast-action Reaper throws tight, gorgeous loops and, assuming there's no operator error, will put your fly on a dime both near and far. I'd like this rod a lot at twice the price. As Each of the rods river-tested by the author sells for under $300. The models pictured here feature some level performance – power, accuracy, touch, etc. – that he found noteworthy. PHOTO BY TOdd Tanner