11 Best Fly Rod Combos for Trout in 2023

Here’s our short list of the best fly rod combos for trout in 2022:

1. Fenwick Eagle Combo
2. Orvis Encounter Combo
3. Wetfly Nitrolite Combo
4. Temple Fork Outfitters NXT Combo
5. Echo Base Kit Combo
6. Redington Vice Combo
7. Sage Foundation Outfit Combo
8. Sage Trout LL Outfit Combo
9. Maxcatch Extreme Combo
10. FISHINGSIR Fly Rod Combo
11. Lamson Center Axis Combo

Our Review of the Best Fly Rod Combo for Trout

New and old fly fishermen purchase fly rod combos often. They’re the best way to get a perfectly balanced fly fishing combo for trout.

There are many fly fishing combos available in 2022. These combos offer a ton of value when it comes to bang for your buck. The quality of lower cost rods, reels, and lines has gone up, so being able to save money anywhere is always good.

Read on to learn more about the top 11 best fly rod combos for trout!

#1: Fenwick Eagle and Pflueger Medalist Combo

Fenwick is one of the most reputable names in fly fishing. The Medalist reel combo makes this rod and reel combo a great value for the money. The Pflueger reel is another highly respected piece of equipment. 

The rod features a medium fast action. When it comes to a fly rod combo for trout, we recommend the 4 or 5 weight kit. 

The wooden handle and Medalist reel have a great look and feel. However, this model comes with the smaller arbor reel versus the large arbor reel. The reel comes pre-spooled with backing and a floating fly line.

Overall, a pretty solid option for anyone looking for a fly rod combo for trout. 

Pros:

• Very affordable
• Good action

Cons:

• Experts will want an upgrade
• Does not include a case

Specifications:

• Available weights: 4, 5 and 8
• Comes in four sections
• Included in the combo: Fly rod, reel, backing, fly line, and tapered leader

View on Amazon

#2: Orvis Encounter

The Orvis Encounter is another fly rod combo designed with the beginner in mind. For the freshwater fisherman, we recommend the 5 or 6 weight combos. For any saltwater fishermen here, go for the 7 or 8. The Encounter rod’s action has been built for the beginner to the intermediate fly fishermen. Expect a medium fast action with your cast. 

Like some of the other combos here, it also comes with a sturdy rod tube. Overall, another great option for beginners. Orvis is a well respected brand in this sport, so you can buy with confidence. 

Pros:

• Good action for beginners
• Good selection
• Very sturdy

Cons:

• Conssidered heavy by some
• Reel contains plastic

Specifications:

• Available weights: 5 – 8
• Comess in 4 sections
• Included in the combo: Fly rod and case, reel and reel pouch, backing, fly line, and tapered leader

#3: Wetfly Nitrolite Fly Fishing Rod and Reel Combo

The Wetfly Nitrolite fly rod is powerful enough to cut through heavy winds but sensitive enough to feel even a smaller bite. The carbon fiber rod is pretty durable and very lightweight. The rod has medium-fast action.

The reel is a Nitrolite SD Sealed Drag Reel. It boats high resistance to corrosion, freezing temps and abrasion. Designed in the USA with a lightweight, heavy duty frame with click and pawl retrieve and a large arbor design enabling maximum line recovery.

Pros:

• lightweight rod
• Corrosion resistant reel
• Good value for the money

Cons:

• Some users didn’t like the reel

Specifications:

• 4 Sections
• 5-7 weight
• Combo includes 10 items

#4: Temple Fork Outfitters NXT Black Label Kit

This rod makes fly fishing accessible for beginners and experts alike. It’s a great rod to learn the sport, but even better, one you don’t need to ditch as your skills grow. 

It comes in a 5 and 8 weight. They’ve hit the mark with a perfect beginner fly rod. The grips are reconstructed cork with aluminum reel seats for good durability. The NXT Black Label is definitely a reliable, durable rod and reel combo. 

The 5 weight combo comes with the NXT BLX II reel and the 8 weight combo comes with the NXT BLX III model. Both of these are very well balanced with the larger Arbor reels. The reel also comes loaded with backing and a good weight-forward fly line to make things easy!

As an added bonus, it comss it a solid case to keep your new purchase protected. Overall, this is a great rod especially for beginners looking to improve. 

Pros:

• Great value for your money
• Comes with lifetime warranty on the rod
• Good for beginners and experts

Cons:

• Rod is heavy

Specifications:

• Available weights: 5 & 8
• Comes in 4 sections
• Included in the combo: Fly rod, reel, rod, and reel case, backing and fly line

#5: Echo Base Kit

Echo fly fishing rods are designed by Tim Rajeff. Tim is a single hand distance casting world champion. He also understands the principles of fly rod design better than almosst anyone. With that said, the Echo Base combo creates an excellent package for fly fishing for trout. 

The rod is built on a medium-fast blank with mid to high power. The reel seat is black anodized aluminum making it very durable, but a little bit heavy. The rod comes with Echo’s lifetime warranty to the original owner which is always reassuring.

The Echo Base reel features a composite frame with a Rulon disc drag. This has been a reliable reel at lower price points. 

Pros:

• Lifetime warranty on rod
• Good value at this price point

Cons:

• Reel is heavy

Specifications:

• Available weights: 4 – 8
• Comes in 4 sections
• Included in the combom: Fly rod, reel, backing, fly line, and rod and reel case

View on Amazon

#6: Redington Vice Combo

The Redington Vice fly rod combo for trout features a lightweight, fast action blank. The fast action is awesome if you’re used to it. It can be a bit more challenging for beginners, but with a little bit of practice, you won’t be disappointed. 

The rods come in a wide range of weight options, from a 4 weight, perfect for smaller streams, to a 9 weight. Again, if you’re looking for the best fly rod combo for trout, we’d recommend the 4 or 5 weight. 

The Vice fly rod Combo includes the customizable Redington I.D reel. This reel features a flat surface on one side where you can install custom decals. Each combo comes with a specific reel for each individual rod size/weight. 

The combo comes pre-spooled with backing and fly line. The combo also includes a rod and reel case.

Pros:

• Customizable reel
• Lightweight feel
• Lifetime warranty

Cons:

• Ferrule has tendency to slip

Specifications:

• Available weights: 4 – 9
• 4 sections
• Included in the combo: Fly rod, reel, fly line, and backing and rod and reel case

#7: Sage Foundation Outfit

The Sage Foundation series was released back in 2018. It’s deemed an entry level high performance rod. It’s one of the higher priced combos on this list, but is one of the most affordable high performance combos on the market. 

The Sage fly rod combo comes with the Spectrum C Series reel. Its a large arbor die-cast reel that features a sealed carbon drag. It’s a quality reel to go along with this quality fly rod for trout. The reel comes pre-spooled with backing and a a good quality fly line. 

Overall, this isn’t the best performance combo available, but if you’ve been fly fishing for trout for a while and you’re looking to step into a better class of gear, this is the perfect combo for you. 

Pros:

• Made in the USA
• Excellent quality
• Nice cast

Cons:

• Higher price point

Specifications:

• Available weights: 4 – 8
• 4 Sections
• Included in the Combo: Fly rod, reel, rod, and reel case and fly line

#8: Sage Trout LL Outfit

The Sage Trout LL fly rod combo makes use of Sage’s most recent Konnetic HD technology. This blank is designed to use a medium action. 

The relaxed feel is great if you utilize the dry fly and you’re looking for the best fly rod combo for trout.

The reel included in this combo is a newer model. It makes use of a modern sealed carbon drag system that ensures a very smooth and durable drag.

The reel comes prespooled with Dacron backing and fly line from Rio. The In-Touch series of fly lines from Rio is an excellent option. With their low-stretch core, it helps retain direct contact between your fingers and the fly.

Pros:

• Lifetime warranty
• Made in the USA
• High-quality construction
• Fast action but relaxed feel

Cons:

• High price point

Specifications:

• Available weights: 3 – 6
• 4 Sections
• Included in the outfit: Fly rod and tube, reel, backing, fly line, and tapered leader

#9: Maxcatch Extreme

The Maxcatch Extreme Complete Fly Fishing Kit is an awesome value for money. The combo comes in variety of sizes and weights. 

Like other models in this round up, the 3-5 weight models are excellent if you’re looking for the best fly rod combo for trout. The 6. weight is an excellent all around model, and as we’ve said previously, 7+ is great for the bigger saltwater fish. 

Included in every combo is an aluminum fly reel with a smooth disc drag system. The size of the reel differs with every different weight to ensure that the overall combo is well balanced.

Pros:

• Quality combo for the price
• Wide rod selection
• Low price point

Cons:

• Heavy reel

Specifications:

• Available weights: 3 – 10
• 4 Sections
• Included in the outfit: Fly rod and case, fly reel and neoprene pouch, backing, fly line, tapered leader, waterproof fly box, 12 flies, nippers, and lanyard

#10: Fishingsir Fly Fishing Rod & Reel Combo

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This fly rod for trout comes with stainless steel, single foot, snake guides and carbide stripper guides with stainless steel frames. It also has a hook keeper for convenient storage of hooks. At 3.1oz, this is a very lightweight rod. It has the large arbor die cast aluminum reel, which works well. 

This combo also includes the easy cast fly line. It comes pre-spooled with backing as well. It’s proven a solid option for trout, small bass, crappies and bluegill fishing in both freshwater and saltwater. Although, in saltwater, you need to be very diligent about cleaning the combo after each use with all of the aluminum parts. 

As a nice bonus, the fly combo also comes with a 24 PCS fly set including dry flies, wet flies, and streamers. This isn’t one of the most reputable models on the list, but at this price point, it’s an excellent option for anyone learning to fly fish for trout without breaking the bank. 

Pros:

• Low price
• Very lightweight
• Comes with 24 flies

Cons:

• Doesn’t feel as quality as some of the most reputable brands

Specifications:

• 4 Sections
• Available weights: 3-6 weight

No products found.

#11: Lamson Center Axis Fly Rod Combo

The Waterworks Lamson rod and reel combo offers a new design that doesn’t have a disconnected reel. When casting, this attached weight creates momentum in a different plane than that of the moving rod, resulting ina smoother feel.

The Center Axis design reduces this momentum caused by an attached reel by moving the center of gravity of the reel into the rod. Lamson made this possible by making the rod and reel one unit. The rod itself has a medium-fast action and comes in 4 different weights.

This rod and reel is a strong option as an entry level performance combo. 

Pros:

• Great balance and feel
• Quality combo for all levels

Cons:

• Not interchangeable with other reels, does not include a fly line or backing

Specifications:

• Available weights: 4 – 8
• Four sections
• Included in the combo: Fly rod, reel, and case

How To Choose The Best Fly Rod Combo for Trout

Now that you know of some of the best fly rod combos for trout on the market, it’s time to discuss what makes a good fly rod combo and how to choose the best one for you. 

Which type of fishing will you be doing?

There are different types of fly rods for different types of fishing. The main factors to consider here are which types of fish you’ll be targeting, or which body of water you’ll typically be fishing in. Typically, your freshwater fishing will be slightly lighter than what’s required for saltwater. We usually recommend 3-5 weight for freshwater and 6+ for saltwater. 

We also wrote an article about the best fishing line for trout. Check it out to pair up with your new fly rod combo!

What’s Included in the Best Fly Fishing Combo for Trout?

Many combos come with a rod, reel and are pre-spooled with fly line. However, like some on this list, some come fully stocked with all of that plus flies, containers and more. This is definitely something to consider, especially if you’re new to the sport an don’t have a lot of gear yet. 

When comparing the cost of fly fishing rod and reel combos, be sure to consider all of these extras as well since you’re likely going to need them.

The Rod

When looking at fly rods, make sure to consider your environment and your casting style. Some rods are better for tossing long distances while others best suited for roll casting.

The Reel

If you’re picking up a combo, the only thing as importsnt as the rod is the reel. The reel has a lot of technical parts as well si its important to consider things like corrosion resistance, quality, warranties and brand recognition. 

Fly Fishing for Trout Video!

If you’re looking for the best fly rod combo for trout, I assume you’re interested in actually catching them. Be sure to check out this video for some great tips on catching trout while fly fishing.https://www.youtube.com/embed/FmHP-HiUgag

Conclusion – The Best Fly Rod for Trout is…

The Fenwick Eagle Fly Rod Combo 

We really like the Fenwick combo here. It comes with two of the most reputable brand names on the list, it’s affordable and you still get a high quality combo all the way around. Fishermen have seen a tough of success with this fly rod combo for trout specifically, but also for many other freshwater fish. View on Amazon

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