The world of fly fishing rods is a strange and dark place… We have all been there, looking for the perfect rod that would ultimately make us better fly anglers and help us catch more fish. We often hear guys talk about the “best” rod on the market and every year there is a new kid on the block challenging for that top spot. The truth is there is no one “best” rod but there is the “best” rod for you.
For the last year and a half I spent a lot of time looking for a 7wt rod that would be my go to weapon on the Vaal River for targeting Largemouth Yellowfish. I cast several brands and models who all did the job but I just did not feel that they were the right fit. I was looking for consistency above all, a rod that would perform just as well at 25 meters as it does at 10 meters. A rod that would give me the same distance and accuracy even after a long day on the water making hundreds of casts with my arms tired and mind fatigued. I was given a demo rod to try out that did just that, and the first day on the water I knew I found the rod I was looking for.
The Xplorer T50 is no stranger to the South African market, in fact it took top honors in a recent shootout done locally by the complete fly fishing magazine. The 7wt model I was given to trial, although unbranded, had T50 written all over it. It had the same quality and build I have come to expect from this top of the range Xplorer outfit. The lightweight fast action rod carried the biggest and heaviest streamers in my box with ease and I was amazed at how much control I had over my casting, even when changing flies and casting distance. The rod also featured the renowned butt strength that made the 9wt version a hit amongst Tigerfish anglers, and pulling 10lb beasts away from heavy structure was an easy task for the T50 7wt.
So impressed I was with the new model T50, I decided to take it along on my annual trip to the Pongola River for some Tigerfish action. The Pongola can surprise you with its 10 -12lb specimens but I was confident in my 7wt to stand up to the challenge. Although there were no double figure brutes on this particular trip, the T50 had its first taste of a Tiger fight and went the distance with every opponent. Casting foam poppers to undercut banks is where the T50 came into its own, as a well-placed cast could not be resisted by the toothy denizens of the Pongola River.
The new Xplorer T50 7wt will soon be available in South Africa and I personally can’t wait to see the finished product. Visit www.xplorerflyfishing.co.za or contact Jandi Trading for more details on the arrival and ordering of the new T50 7wt.
Area Fishing: South Africa
Discipline: Freshwater Fly
Species Targeted: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Yellowfish, Largemouth Yellowfish, Natal Scaly, Tigerfish, Bass, Carp
Rhuan grew up in a fishing family and being raised on the banks of the Vaal River he spent many hours targeting anything that swims. He started out as a lure angler fishing with his father in local bass circuits and money trails. He caught his first Yellowfish on fly in the Vaal River and has been hooked on fly fishing ever since. Nowadays Rhuan spends his time in the KZN midlands fishing the pristine trout waters in the area and every now and then he visits his home waters of the mighty Vaal River.
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