If you are a fly angler, you probably know the hassles of looking for a new fly rod. It isn’t always the easiest thing to do. To help you out, in this is article we reviewed the Moonshine Rod Co. Drifter Series Fly Rod, and to be honest with you, it’s looking like a nice rod so far.
Moonshine Co. The Drifter Series Fly Fishing Rod
Here’s everything we know about the moonshine drifter series rod….
Pros:
- Comfortable casting
- Medium-fast action
- Accurate
- High grade AAA cork grips
- Splits into 4 pieces
- Line weights ranging from 3lbs-8lbs
- Works well for all levels of fly anglers (especially beginners-intermediate)
- Reasonable price
- Lifetime warranty
- Hardcover and burlap rod holder
- Two tip sections (one stiffer, not so much)
- 4.8 Star ranking on amazon (160+ reviews)
Cons:
- Accuracy dipped off at longer ranges
One of the most popular fly rods on amazon right now, the Drifter Series rod greatly outperforms its price. (Medium action blank).
The Drifter Series Fly Rod by Moonshine Co. is one of the better fly rods in its price range for a couple of reasons. One, it has a lifetime warranty. Two, it’s very reasonably priced for the level of performance it provides. Three, the rod is a medium-fast action rod that can be mastered by all levels of fly anglers.
Overall there is a lot that we liked about this rod, and not much that we disliked.
What we liked about the Moonshine Co. Drifter Series
There was a lot of positives…
How it performed
For the price that this fly rod costs, it casts like a dream. It has a slightly sensitive backbone so you can definitely feel the medium-fast action coming into play here. It casts very well and won’t be difficult for a new fly fishermen to master.
The loops that this rod provides aren’t the tightest of loops – they’re a little bit wider with a tad bit more flow to them, but the rod is still very accurate. Basically in this rod you are giving up a little bit of accuracy at long range for a super smooth rig.
The range that the Drifter Series had to offer was great in short to mid ranges. It was extremely accurate up to 30-45 feet, but the accuracy dipped off after that. For many trout anglers, that should be very sufficient.
Overall the Drifter Series fly rod is an easy casting and accurate fly rod. If this is your first fly rod, we recommend getting a Redington Zero reel to compliment it. The two combined are a nice combination, especially in the beginning.
Wide variety of options
The options that The Drifter Series has to offer are very wide. It can be purchased with a 3wt size for fishing panfish and smaller fish, or 8wt for larger fish with streamers. We personally recommend getting the 9ft, 5wt rod if you will be fly fishing for trout, as it offers the best fight versatility.
Basically if you are trying to catch any type of fish, The Drifter Series has a rod size for you. It obviously isn’t big enough to go fishing for massive fish in the ocean, but for most fly anglers, this rod will work perfectly.
Durability of The Drifter Series Fly Rod
What we saw in this rod up to this point was a well manufactured fly rod. The blanks appear to be of very high quality (especially for the price) and the AAA cork handle is very good too. Time will be the only teller whether this rod will last, but quite honestly I’m not concerned – I think it will. It has a lifetime warranty attached to it too, so as long as I take care of it, it will be fine.
It also does come with a hard cover rod case to protect it while traveling, which is very cool. No need to worry about snapping your rod on the way to the river!
Reviews
The Moonshine Co. The Drifter Series Fly Rod has some of the best reviews for a fly fishing rod on amazon. It has over 160 reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 stars. That’s an impressive feat for a fly rod that costs less than a couple hundred dollars.
Looks and design
The finish on this rod is actually super clean. The brown compliments the cork very nicely, resulting in a great looking fly rod. I personally have favored all black fly rods in the past, so the brown is a nice change.
For a fly rod that really doesn’t cost that much cash, this rod looks good. Not much more to say here…
One of the most popular fly rods on amazon right now, the Drifter Series rod greatly outperforms its price. (Medium action blank).
Related: Best Fly Rods for Trout Fishing
Conclusion: Moonshine Co. The Drifter Series Fly Fishing Rod
At the end of the day, this rod is worth the money, in my eyes. It’s very easy to cast and handle, even for a beginner fly angler. It has a medium-fast action blank which gives you smooth medium sized loops, which are easier to control than small tight loops. This rod also has a lifetime warranty, insuring that you have something for the river..
Personally, I would recommend this fly rod to anyone, whether you are just starting out, or have been in the game for a while and need a great backup.
Hope the article helped! Best of luck and tight lines!
