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Travel Rod Test

Manufacturer: Redington
Model: DFR690
No of sections: 3
Length: 9'
Line weight: 6
Price: £450

Description

Dark green low gloss blank with red-tipped green wrappings and tip over butt ferrules. Single leg snake guides and twin lined stripping guides. Supplied in rod sack and aluminium tube. Lifetime guarantee worldwide for the original owner.

Testers' comments

Terry Lawton: As with the TTF, why are the rings so small? There was a very good reel fitting, although the thread was rather fine, but the handle could have been better. This was a difficult rod to cast and not my cup of tea. It had very good loop control. When I managed to get it loaded with just the right length of line aerialised, then the line really flies. Overall I did not feel that it was as nice as the TTF.
This is another premium rod in the same price bracket as the Orvis Trident TL.

Peter Sutton: The build quality and finish is superb and this rod has a sensibly large enough stripping ring and well spaced, single leg snake intermediates similar to the TFF9064. I have to admit to having some doubts about the efficiency of these as they hold the line close to the blank at all times and must, therefore, add to the friction between these two surfaces. However in practice it didn't seem to matter very much. The size and shape of the handle suited me perfectly.

In use this rod feels incredibly light, crisp and responsive. The action is undeniably very fast and the tip speed is in the supersonic bracket. If the Trident and the TFF9064 are sports cars this is a formula one racer. Not for the faint hearted and only accomplished casters need apply. The size and shape of the casting loops produced by this rod are pencil sharp and absolutely text book helped by the lack of vibration. Needless to say the line speed was also phenomenal so long distances were a piece of cake. But it was also quite happy rolling out picture perfect loops on little 15' casts with line, leader and fly all turning over perfectly. It cast the full 100' of the RIO classic weight forward line easily enough but I also tried it with a Lee Wulf TT 6/7 and it absolutely flew, hissing through the rings. As I said to a friend of mine while fishing one day, if I'd let the running line pass through my fingers as it shot I'd end up with friction burns!

This was another rod that I actually managed to fish with and it was a delight, coping well with playing fish in spite of the enormous reserves of power carried in its butt section. You've probably already guessed that I quite liked this rod.

Summary

Not for the faint hearted and only accomplished casters need apply. 9/10

The rods

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