So I’m in the market for a 4wt for an upcoming trip to some smaller streams near where I live in VA. I’ve been doing some research, trying to find the best rod for the money.
What is the best 4wt for the angler on a budget, in your humble (and hopefully unbiased;)) opinions?
Describe the budget. It’ll help people make recommendations. 
St. Croix comes to mind…
I would check out cabela’s rods.
Randy
albright may have something on sale
I’m really trying hard to spend less than $150. Quality is very important though. I understand that I won’t be getting a top of the line rod, but I don’t want bottom of the barrel either.
Have you considered building your own from a kit? Usually you can get more rod for your money as you have to invest the time but you can build one in a weekend or so and it’s really not hard. Hook and Hackle (a sponsor on this site www.hookhack.com) is always advertising fly rods on sale - pre-built AND kits. I’ve built numerous kits of theirs and have been very happy.
I’ve also heard good things about Cabelas rods but have no experience with them.
Unfortunately, I won’t have time before the trip to build my own. But I’m definitely going to keep it mind for when I plan the next trip.
How do the Albright rods stand up next to some of the other brands? I checked out their website and they have some GREAT DEALS on what I’m looking for, but like I said before I’m not willing to sacrifice too much quality just to save some money.
I’ve looked at the Cabela’s rods as well as the Bass Pro rods. Anyone have any experience with any of the Bass Pro rods?
Take a look at TFO and Cortland too. I have several of each brand and just love them!
TT.
st croix reign from Hook and Hackle.
don’t know what you have in mind lengthwise, but the redington ct line has a 9’ 4 piece 4 wt. that retails for right around $120. i have the 8’6" 3wt. and it’s a peach. nice medium action. finish is fine for the money. the tfo bug launcher is an uber cheap rod, but a blast to fish. the 4/5 wt. is 2 piece 7 foooter. again, a nice medium action rod. i use a gpx 4wt. on mine and find it loads it just right for my taste. retails for $80.
St. Croix, TFO, and Echo are, IMHO, the way to go in that price range.
I recently bought my new son-in-law an Albright rod. Don’t remember the name right off, but it was around $50. It is a casting rocket. Medium fast action, smooth flexing, light in the hand. The rod I got him was a 5/6 weight, if the lighter weight rod is the same, it would be a sweetheart.
REE
If you go with Albright, watch the shipping. I know a few guys that nearly got bent by their shipping charges. Though I will add that another friend took advantage of one of their free/reduced shipping promos and came out of it with an A-5 (I think), that he loves.
I got a sage launch 9’ 4wt when they went on clearence that I REALLY like. I also got an Albright 3wt 7’6’‘, and I would have gotten the albright 4wt if they had their new line available at the time. The only negative I have with the albright is that it’s a 5 piece and it takes a while to rig it up; the launch I got was a 2 piece (I wanted a 4 piece but they were sold out) and I really like the 2 piece. Not great to fly with, but great for the back of the truck. Still see one on Ebay occasionally. I wish Albright made a 8’6’’ 3wt.
I’d check out the Cabelas “Three Forks” rod… Great rod for what it’s priced. I have a 5-wt and 8-wt and love them.
Anyone have any experience with the Madison River rods by the Merlin Rod Company?
Get the closeoout deal on the 4 wt. 7’ 6" Albright A-5
#1 Albright
#2 Cabelas 3 Forks
#3 Don’t be afraid to check Sierra Trading Post for a closeout deal!
Hi NCVirginian,
Two thoughts. One is that I like my 7’6" 4wt Cabelas Stowaway. It is a couple of years old, so it is a bit different from the current model which is about $130.
The other thought is to buy a good used rod on Ebay. The ones I have bought are about 1/2 the price that the rod was new, and I have gotten a couple of rods that were virtually new.
Regards,
Gandolf
I have one of the Cabels’s Traditional rods and a Cabela’s Stow Away. Both are a lot of rod for the money. Cork on the handles is nothing to write home about but it isn’t bad either. Both of these rods cast smooth, quality of fit and finish is good. Overall, really decent rods for the money. Cabela’s has their Traditional II rods on sale right now. Mine is the Traditional I but I doubt if there is a ton of difference.
St Croix Reign and Premier (predecessor to the Reign I believe) are good rods. I have a couple older Premier’s. I like the Cabela’s rods better.
I have a couple Scott G2’s and a Winston BIIt and I fish the Cabela’s rod about as much as any of them.
I’ve parking lot cast a couple TFO and they cast well, but never actually fished one. How they cast in the parking lot and how they fish are frequently two different things.
I love my top end rods, they are works of functional art, but the fish don’t really care how much you spend on a rod.
Hope you find one that meets your needs and your price. Let us all know what you decide on.
Jeff