1. Scott Radian five-weight
Best For:Dry-Fly Casting
Hyperfast action rods—those that flex at the tip and load faster—are all the rage. With the Radian, Scott follows the trend without producing a finicky, fussy caster. The remarkable feel, along with titanium guides and a Portuguese-cork handle, allow for tight loops even in wind. 8'6″, 9', 10'; $795;
2. Orvis Helios 2 ten-weight
Best For:ٷɲٱ
Orvis describes this rod as “a featherlight war club that defies the laws of physics.” That’s laying it on a bit thick, but during a test trip in pursuit of stripers off Montauk Point last fall, we found the Helios 2 a perfect choice for big salty game—lightweight, easy to use, forgiving for its strength, and able to cast a country mile. 9’; $850;
3. Redington Path five-weight
Best For:ԲԱ
This five-weight packs huge performance at an affordable price. The smooth and easy action makes casting a cinch, especially for novices, who will also appreciate the lifetime warranty. 8’6”, 9’; from $110;
4. Sage One four-weight
Best For:Doing It All
With plenty of power to throw heavy rigs but enough feel to present a dry fly like a feather, the fast-action One has become the standard-bearer for versatility since it was introduced in 2011. It’s the ideal stick for fooling practically any fish in any conditions. 8’6”, 9’, 9’6”, 10’; $775;
5. Patagonia Tenkara
Best For:Backpacking
This spring, Patagonia, at the behest of owner Yvon Chouinard, teamed up with Temple Fork Outfitters to produce a modified tenkara, a traditional Japanese setup that forgoes a reel. That, combined with telescoping rod technology, makes it perfect for backpacking, and the long length is for swinging wet flies. 8’6”, 10’6”, 11’6”; $259;