Over a year ago I decided it was time to buy a fly rod. After field testing a few different companies, and thinking about what rod style best fit my needs, I decided to try out the Wild Water 7-piece rod. I was looking for something that was compact, durable, user-friendly, and high quality (something I expected to be near impossible to find). Reading reviews for Wild Water rods, I had high expectations. To be honest, I was still blown away by this rod. The components are just as high quality as top-end rods, for a fraction of the price. I wanted a rod that I could take hiking, a rod that would take harsh conditions in stride. As other reviewers have mentioned, the reel on this kit is top-notch. Line pulls out smoothly and reels in without any snags. The drag system is a cinch to operate. I've fished everything from urban ponds to pristine mountain streams with this rod, and it's never let me down. Whether floating dries to small stream trout or fighting massive Smallies, I've been amazed at both the flexibility and strength in this rod. It's caught me everything from 1" largemouth to 17" fallfish and in between. I can't wait to test it against carp and Atlantic salmon this year. Although a small, portable rod, this setup is anything but delicate. A few things to keep in mind: as with any travel fly rod, setup will take slightly longer than a 2-3 piece rod. Although it can sometimes take a bit of time to rig everything up properly, I'd say it's totally worth it for the portability this rod provides. At around 21", the rod case is slightly too large to fit into the majority of backpacks. At first this bothered me, before I figured out that the carry strap allows it to be perfectly attached to the outside of a pack. By cinching the strap tight and using two carabiners, I can have the case always at hand. Lastly, very occasionally while fishing intensively for a while, the top 2-3 sections of my rod will occasionally get catapulted into the water along with my line. It happens rarely enough that it isn't an issue, and I'd lay the blame more heavily on my casting style then on weak section joints. This rod has truly exceeded my expectations, regardless of the wonderful price tag. The fly box, clipper, and reel are all excellent quality as well. I also have to give Wild Water's flies the credit they are due. To this day, Wild Water flies have outperformed every other fly maker I've tried. I don't really know why this is, but I can't complain, especially when combined with fly durability (I've caught at least 30-40 bluegill and golden shiners with a single prince nymph I purchased on this website. To this day it's still catching fish.) Thanks a ton to the Wild Water company for my current love of fly fishing. I'd recommend this outfit to anyone.
