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Travel Rod Test

Manufacturer: Redington
Model: Wayfarer
No of sections: 5
Length: 9'
Line weight: 6
Price: £220

Description

Dark grey low gloss blank with dark green wraps and tip over butt ferrules. Chrome American snake rings and lined stripping guide all of a much more generous size than the Redington TTF and DFR. Supplied in rod sack and cordura-covered rod tube. Lifetime guarantee worldwide for the original owner. New for the 2001 season.

Testers' comments

Terry Lawton: The build quality, ring sizes and spacing, handle and reel seat are very good although the stripping guide is on the small side. The ring sizes on this rod were the best of all the Redington rods. Having said that, none of the rings on any of the rods were as big as I would have liked. The notable exception was the Snowbee Prestige but this rod's rings were far TOO big.

This rod had a great feel with absolutely no indication that it was a five-piece rod. While its accuracy was not quite up to the Mid-Flex Orvis, it had good loop control and nice feel. I agree with the catalogue description of a middle to tip action. This rod is definitely my best buy of the rods that we tested. It is one hell of a rod for the price. Peter marked it at 7/10 but I think that I would give it 8/10.

Peter Sutton: This was the only 5 piece rod in the test, all the others being 4 or 3 piece. This is a genuine travel rod and would fit comfortably in almost any suitcase. The build quality and finish are first class and the rod looked very smart with its dark green wrappings. The handle was a nice size and shape and the reel fitting was the same gunmetal-coloured one as fitted to the TTF 9064. Again I would have preferred a larger stripping ring.

In use it was impossible to tell if the rod was five sections or the more usual two. The rod felt beautifully light and the action was smooth and progressive with a noticeable absence of vibration. It coped adequately with both long and short casts. The action was too full for my taste as I prefer my rods to be stiffer in the butt. However for those who like a rod with a little more give in it this could be the one. It would certainly make a very nice rod for presenting flies delicately on a river at short to medium distances.

Summary

A beautifully made rod ideal for putting in the holiday suitcase. 7/10 Best buy?

The rods

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