Fly Rod Review – Redington Classic Trout

2. About The Redington Classic Trout Fly Rod

Redington makes economical fly rods that are doing well in the fly fishing marketplace.  In case you didn’t know, the owners of Redington also own Sage which produces higher-end rods, so they are no strangers to quality.

The Classic Trout is a moderate action rod, designed specifically for trout fly fishing.  This Redington rod handles delicate situations such as smaller and technical creeks, with model / size options up to moderate weights and lengths.  Depending on which of the 11 models you choose, you can get a 4-piece or shorter 6-piece for travel fishing.

Redington states that the rod “packs enough power for big river and boat fishing,” which we do not concur with.  Other than that, and a few more details below, the lightweight blank and moderate action make this one of the best trout fly rod for long days of casting without fatigue.

We place this rod in our “practical” category, one of the best fly rods in the lower-price category.  When compared to all of our fly rod reviews, we recommend this rod for normal trout and panfish, entry-level fly anglers, as a gift, and as a back-up rod.

3. Specifications And Features

Shopping online is convenient, but we also want you to know exactly what you’re getting before you decide on the best trout rod.  That’s why our fly rods review includes design specifications and features of this Redington fly rod:

.5. Detailed Review Comments

If you’re looking for a solid alternative to the many expensive, and often overly-stiff fly rods for trout, then consider the Redington Classic Trout.  One of the best trout rods for small to medium sized streams and rivers, this moderate-action rod is easy to cast and reduces fatigue during a long day of fishing.

When we review fly rods, we also like to point out the weaknesses of a particular rod, so you have the full picture.  Unless you are fishing large powerful rivers or windy conditions, or focusing on large trophy fish, this rod will cover most situations for trout and panfish.

For some reason, many anglers pass over this rod and opt for something much more expensive.  Perhaps they consider it an entry level, or back-up rod.  But consider that the owners of Redington fly rods also own Sage, so quality is not lost on them.  Consider also that often the more expensive rods are stiffer, requiring a lot more work when in most casting conditions you don’t need that kind of power.

This is a rod that gives a smooth, energy-releasing sensation as the cast unloads, which is not only more fun, but also saves you a sore arm at the end of the day.  If you can do without a fast action, or stiffer, or a higher-cost rod, then give the Redington Classic Trout rod some serious consideration.  Spending more doesn’t always mean getting more.

A good guideline to use is 50-feet.  If you need a longer, stiffer rod with a higher line weight because you’re fishing beyond 50 feet, in powerful water or windy conditions, look for another rod.  But if most of what you fish are dries, wets, nymphs, or smaller sized streamers at under 50 feet, get the Classic Trout.

Advantages

• Action – The Classic Trout fly rod loads smoothly, with a seamless bend down to the cork that assist with touch and feel.  Soft in the tip section, stiffens gradually closer to the butt section.
• Weight – With the blank at only 2.1-2.3 ounces and total weight only about 2.9 ounces, this rod is lighter than many more expensive models.
• Color – Modern dark-clay color, with stripping guides that add to the sleek look. Actually looks more expensive than it is.
• Price – At this writing less than $150, you can buy several of these for the cost of many other high end rods.  We consider this a budget fly rod, not  cheap fly rod.  Also, it’s rare you’ll see a fly rod sale for the Classic Trout, because it’s always economical to purchase.  Of course, don’t hesitate to check for fly rod sales, but in our experience you won’t find a better price that right here.
• Combo / Package – also comes in a full Redington Classic Trout combo, an even better value than the rod by itselc.
• Tippet Protection – Softer tip helps set the hook and play fish while protecting a thinner tippet (needed in some streams where the fish are leader-shy).
• Construction – the blank, guides, and reel-seat look and feel more expensive than they are.

Considerations

• Distance – Not built for longer, powerful casting despite the manufacturer’s reference to this.  In our opinion, you can’t have it both ways – the moderate action, deep-bending design saves you energy and is great for playing fish, but isn’t really compatible when casting a long line.
• Casting Power (related to distance) – If you try to hard, it’ll result in a tailing loop with the Classic Trout.  That is to say, the tip of this rod is vulnerable to “shock” at longer distances.  Is is actually a characteristic of any moderate action fly rode, but because the manufacturer states this rod is good for large rivers, we wanted to call this out.  Put another way, with a rod the bends this much, you’ll need to be careful if you are trying to cast far or with a great deal of power.
• Reel Seat – The reel seat components look OK and function fine.  However, if you look closely while tightening down on the reel threads, you may notice the hardware feels basic, less solid than most more expensive rods.
• Handle – The handle is average quality cork, and some describe it as thicker, even bulky compared to a normal thinner diameter for a rod of this size and weight.  Maybe that’s an attempt by the manufacturer to make the rod seem more powerful than it is, but we’d rather have the handle match the action of the rod.

Despite these considerations, which apply to several Redington rods not just this one, at this price level this is potentially the best fly rod for trout you can economically buy.

7. Wrap-Up – Redington Classic Trout Review

In summary, the Redington trout is a great rod if you are focused on normal sized trout and panfish.  It comes in a variety of weights and sizes up to a 6-weight, 9′ rod, in both traditional 4-piece but also a couple of 6-piece travel models.  This is one of the best trout fly rods you can get for entry level fishing, as a gift, or if you are looking for an economical use for small to medium sized streams and rivers.  If you are looking for the best fly rod that money can buy, this isn’t it.  For example, it is not designed for large game fish, large powerful water, or saltwater.  The Redington Classic Trout is a great budget fly rod, not a cheap fly rod, but if instead you want a solid rod for normal fly fishing at a reasonable price, this is it!  consider also this Redington combo, also a great way to stretch your dollar.

If you have comments on this Redington review, please let us know on our comments page.  We want to be aware of all our readers comments, so we can include them in future updates and provide the best Redington rod review perspective we can.  This is one of Redington’s most popular fly rods, if not the best Redington fly rod, but for its price it accomplishes a lot.  We plan on writing many future Redington reviews, to bring you the latest about the best Redington fly rods, so let us know what you think!  We are also always on the lookout for fly rods on sale, so let us know when you see discounts we may want to highlight for our readers.