I love maxcatch, I have three of their rods, graphite and two glass. Great quality, practical weights and lengths...all under $100. I'm a maxcatch lifer and I'm not ashamed of it.
The Maximum Catch reel needs be reassembled properly if you take it apart, or clean it. The beveled spring washer needed to be flipped on mine, and I got the drag-function back. I rarely dunk a reel, fishing smaller streams, usually for smaller trout. I'm really impressed by their floating lines, super manageable line right out of the spool. Their 4-piece entry-level graphite rods are awesome. I own three of them. I understand why they design, manufacture, and sell something more than entry-level fly rods. But, in the thirty-years-of-fly-fishing, I have never felt like I needed to use or own one. The fly rod in itself is something to appreciate; they all have a specific bend, length, and a happy-spot for wave frequency and amplitude of a given length and set-up of line / leader for your type of cast that you are performing. Every fly rod has some kind of limitation, and some kind of window of opportunity - find it and fish accordingly. Maximum Catch rods are durable, and what I consider to be state-of-the-art as far as aesthetics or beauty.
I use the Avid, Avid Pro, Gaze, and Tail reels. I really like the Avid Pro and Gaze reels. They are all worth looking at. I have had the Avid reels the longest and have not had one fail yet.
The 5wt extreme was my first fly rod combo a year ago. It was definitely worth it’s price but I soon learnt that the action was bit too stiff for me as a beginner. About 5 months later I got another medium-fast (felt more closer to medium) action rod and suddenly everything just started to make sense. I could feel and see everything that the rod was meant or not meant to be doing. My learning went into turbo drive. I’m keen to pick up the extreme again now and see how It goes now that I’ve got those fundamentals down pat.
Nice! You can also overline it by half to a full size bigger(like a standard 6wt weight forward). That would definitely slow the action down too. Good on you for recognizing the action and pursuing the fly rod rather than dismissing it entirely. That takes some determination! Tight lines!
@@MosesMLam I was lucky enough to get my hands on a 5wt Hardy Shadow for a third of the average price as it was on clearance. It’s now discontinued and replaced with the Aydon which sounds to be similar.
I own the Extreme 4wt 9' and the 7wt 10'with the my second 8wt 10' coming soon,I bought the 4wt 9' to handle small flies (#12 and smaller) and 4x-6x tippet and it does the job very well for the rod's price point, also chose the longer length for Euro nymphing ,but it seems that the 4wt 8,6' is equal to the task, regarding Euro nymphing.
I have used the 8’6” 4wt with a mono rig and it holds up well. I do like the extra reach a longer rod gives but do agree with you that it holds its own. Thank you for watching 🤘
I own 2 Extremes (8'4" 3wt & 8'6" 4wt) paired with Aoka reels from Piscifun. I torture every fly rod I've ever owned, these rods are the real deal. They can handle my abuse and I'm confident in their ability to bring in 20"+ browns and rainbows all day every day. 100% would recommend and will buy others in the future.
@@TheTabarnac i have the link in my description. I believe it takes you to the 6wt 9ft model. But you can choose whichever. If you’re going for smaller fish like trout and panfish. 5wt is great. If you’re into bass and wanting to chuck larger streamers like sizes 4 and even size 2. The 6wt will be way better for it. Hope this helps
@@TheTabarnac haha!! I was the same way. My favorite is a 6 weight for versatility. Fly rods are super subjective but I have never regretted my 6wt. Btw. Tabarnac?!? Hahah!!! A fellow Canadian!!
Yep. I'm a fan. Most fly rods under $600 are made in China. Buying from Maxcatch eliminates the middleman. If you feel sorry for domestic companies, then send them a donation. Lol. I have several Maxcatch rods, including a 6 wt, 9'6" Extreme that is great. Just got their Nano nymphing rod which is super high quality. I got a bunch of their fluorocarbon tippet made in Japan for 4-5 dollars per 55yd spool. A recent $195 order, incuded the Nano rod, 9 spools of tippet (a couple for salt), and several other items. They also threw in about $100 worth of additional free gear (all that I can use). It shipped from China but got here in under a week.
Nice! Always nice when they throw some goodies in the box. They have definitely peaked my interest in some of their other offerings. Their fiberglass rod looks money!
@@greenhornflyhorn Agree. I've got a couple Aventik sticks that are really nice too, a 7'6" 3wt glass rod and a 10' 9wt. I've also got an Echo 9' 5wt which is nice but not better than the Maxcatch or Aventik gear, imo.
Don’t forget, there is that factory in South Korea that has made some of the finest fly rods, and fly reels, in the world (including some budget rods too). Examples are Hardy Zenith, Douglas Sky and Sky G, and for budget rods, the Greys are super for the money, the GR80 and GR60 are superb. Many of the Hardy mid priced rods too, like the new Aydon - these rods all have great workmanship, fit and finish. Many of the more recent Sage and Hardy fly reels are made in Korea too. I have had some problems with a few overseas rods but there are definitely some good ones too. The Cabelas CGR glass fly rods have been really good for years (China). So, just depends on what you want.
Dude these rods are actually legit. I've got the 3wt. If you don't need elegance and just need something that works these things are gonna get the job done and then some.
I agree with your review on Maxcatch rods. I’ve owned several as backups; I’m really a Sage guy. But for the money I highly recommend Maxcatch rods. The reel you’re using is their cheapest, and it sucks, not very durable, but take a step up and try a Maxcatch Tail, Tino, Toro, or Avid; excellent reels. Really! They’re still very reasonable for a reel, the drag is incredible. The Avid reel is the best and most expensive, but still very reasonable. My goto in the Maxcatch reel line is the Tino, 3 wt up to 8 wt. But their rods are as good as any mid priced name brand rods. I didn’t know about their wareenty, I’ve never had to use it, but it’s good to know they back their rods. I’m not keen on their lines, the floating doesn’t float well, the intermediate feel apart where the nail knot attaches, they didn’t come with loops. And I question the sink rate of their sinking lines. Their lines only run about $10 but save your money, they might be alright for teaching someone to cast in a parking lot so not to ruin a good line.
I have the maxcatch premium combo, its a great rod and reel. Drag adjustment could be a little better. No complaints. Avid reel. My son has the cheaper reel, it's not very good.
Wondering what wt of fly rod I should buy from max catch? I'm looking for a rod I can cast dry flies with, but also catch larger bass. If anyone can recommend me what wt I should use, it would be greatly appreciated.
@@519fisherman what you described, I would recommend a 5 or 6 weight. 6 weight is more versatile incase you want to try your hand at some large mouth or carp. But the 5wt will be just fine on the bass you described. Good luck!
@@519fisherman i have a video on the topic, it’s a lot of talking but some good points in there. th-cam.com/video/KyKNol1A5Xg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Jc46Mu25rBu83ZN0
I own an echo bravo reel. That thing is amazing! Sealed smooth drag, basic meat and potatoes type reel but has to be one of the best bargains out there. Plus it sounds sweet too! Thanks for your input, tight lines man!
I have 3 maxcatch rods, I got the extreme first just for fun bcos it was $37 and I had to see how bad it must be !! It casts better than the rods I have in the 100 to 300 range. I got the 8'4" 3 wt and I find myself using more than the other rods I own
$129.00,….? I bought a Scientific Angler’s kit 8wt. Bass rod …. Reel and line comes in a carry tube $69.00 the reel is a kick it to the curb garbage type … you know… 🤣 But the rod has been way more than what I expected… it’s become my lightweight Striper rod but still light enough for Steelhead and trout as well as largemouth,… I do like swinging my 11 & 12 wt. rods in the surf.. I’ve tried casting 4 &.5 wt. rods,.. they feel like a a cat toy to me ,… 🤣 8 wt. fly rods are the lightest I own …..8,9,10,11,and 12
Nice review! I own two maxcatch rods, one of the cheaper models (fiber glass 3wt) that I liked so much that I thought their "high end" rod must be really great too, so I bought their most expensive rod at the time ("sky high" 7wt) and I really dislike it, its heavy even for a 7wt and casts not very accurate. Its way worse than many of the known brands entry level rods (although still a little cheaper than a clearwater for example). So my experience with them is somewhat hit&miss. I guess one should watch reviews like this one to find out which models are actually worthwhile 🙂. I do own the eco real too and while I think its the ugliest reel I've ever seen, the performance on mine is quite good, incredible value for only 15 bucks. Speaking of value, don't sleep on their flylines either!
Interesting. Thank you for sharing your experience. I wondered about the other models they carried. Definitely want to give the fiberglass rod a shot one day. Re: Eco reel. I own a few and they’re all duds. After reading a bunch of reviews and even the comments so far on this video I am starting to think I got real unlucky! Thanks again for sharing and wish you good luck on the water🤘
I also purchased this rod. It's on the stiff side. I measured it by CCS standards and it came to an ERN of 4.9 which I would call a 4/5 wt and I would use a 5wt line with it or even try a 6 wt line for shorter casting.
China finding all the fly fishing shills this year apparently. The rod is hot garbage it is ok out of the box but fails internally after a few days on the river. Best bang for the buck is Echo Carbon XL
Hell yeah! They gave me a suitcase full of cash cause I have a massive following on TH-cam. I am typing this on my yacht , just about to port in Croatia. Going to cash another Maxcatch cheque here then off to Italy!!!! Can’t wait to hit up Echo next!!! As per your recommendation of course, I will mention your name to Tim, see if he knows you. I am sure he does as only someone on the payroll would spell the good gospel of the Carbon XL!!!
My favorite budget rods are the Fenwick Aetos and any of the Greys rods when they go on sale. With the Maxcatch rods I had problems with the chrome plating wearing off the tip top guide. But that was several years ago, they might be different now.
You are full of it. Stop sounding like a snob. Not everyone takes fishing seriously enough to drop hundreds of dollars on gear. The fly fishing industry needs cheap decent entry level equipment to attract new fishermen that otherwise would not start flyfishing.
@@paulkysar6207 Trying to contribute some helpful comments and suggestions to others, to help them out. The rods I mentioned are in the budget category, not hundreds of dollars. Thats a pretty stupid definition of a snob.
I love maxcatch, I have three of their rods, graphite and two glass. Great quality, practical weights and lengths...all under $100. I'm a maxcatch lifer and I'm not ashamed of it.
The Maximum Catch reel needs be reassembled properly if you take it apart, or clean it. The beveled spring washer needed to be flipped on mine, and I got the drag-function back. I rarely dunk a reel, fishing smaller streams, usually for smaller trout.
I'm really impressed by their floating lines, super manageable line right out of the spool.
Their 4-piece entry-level graphite rods are awesome. I own three of them. I understand why they design, manufacture, and sell something more than entry-level fly rods. But, in the thirty-years-of-fly-fishing, I have never felt like I needed to use or own one. The fly rod in itself is something to appreciate; they all have a specific bend, length, and a happy-spot for wave frequency and amplitude of a given length and set-up of line / leader for your type of cast that you are performing. Every fly rod has some kind of limitation, and some kind of window of opportunity - find it and fish accordingly. Maximum Catch rods are durable, and what I consider to be state-of-the-art as far as aesthetics or beauty.
I use Maxcatch reels and have had zero issues with them.
Damn. I haven’t had the best of luck with them. I only have a few ECO reels and had issues with them all. Which models do you have?
I use the Avid, Avid Pro, Gaze, and Tail reels. I really like the Avid Pro and Gaze reels. They are all worth looking at. I have had the Avid reels the longest and have not had one fail yet.
@@brendonvirgil-virgilcustom8441 noted! Thanks a bunch
The 5wt extreme was my first fly rod combo a year ago. It was definitely worth it’s price but I soon learnt that the action was bit too stiff for me as a beginner. About 5 months later I got another medium-fast (felt more closer to medium) action rod and suddenly everything just started to make sense. I could feel and see everything that the rod was meant or not meant to be doing. My learning went into turbo drive. I’m keen to pick up the extreme again now and see how It goes now that I’ve got those fundamentals down pat.
Nice! You can also overline it by half to a full size bigger(like a standard 6wt weight forward). That would definitely slow the action down too. Good on you for recognizing the action and pursuing the fly rod rather than dismissing it entirely. That takes some determination! Tight lines!
Curious what medium-fast action rod you went with? I had an extreme but sent it back. Looking for something with less action.
@@MosesMLam I was lucky enough to get my hands on a 5wt Hardy Shadow for a third of the average price as it was on clearance. It’s now discontinued and replaced with the Aydon which sounds to be similar.
I own the Extreme 4wt 9' and the 7wt 10'with the my second 8wt 10' coming soon,I bought the 4wt 9' to handle small flies (#12 and smaller) and 4x-6x tippet and it does the job very well for the rod's price point, also chose the longer length for Euro nymphing ,but it seems that the 4wt 8,6' is equal to the task, regarding Euro nymphing.
I have used the 8’6” 4wt with a mono rig and it holds up well. I do like the extra reach a longer rod gives but do agree with you that it holds its own. Thank you for watching 🤘
I own 2 Extremes (8'4" 3wt & 8'6" 4wt) paired with Aoka reels from Piscifun. I torture every fly rod I've ever owned, these rods are the real deal. They can handle my abuse and I'm confident in their ability to bring in 20"+ browns and rainbows all day every day. 100% would recommend and will buy others in the future.
Best bang for the buck for sure! Tight lines!
thankfully you only need a decent quality reel for the heavier rods. The reel is just a line holder on smaller weights. Just look at Tankara lol
I’m just getting into fly fishing and this was hugely helpful. Great videos, keep it up!
Thanks for the positive feedback! More coming down the pipe🤘
Hey! I’m actually buying right now using your link. Can you advise on a good weight to go with? 5wt is what I see advised.
@@TheTabarnac i have the link in my description. I believe it takes you to the 6wt 9ft model. But you can choose whichever. If you’re going for smaller fish like trout and panfish. 5wt is great. If you’re into bass and wanting to chuck larger streamers like sizes 4 and even size 2. The 6wt will be way better for it. Hope this helps
@@greenhornflyhornawesome thank you. I have no idea what I’m gonna fish I’m just gonna go for it and want something versatile.
@@TheTabarnac haha!! I was the same way. My favorite is a 6 weight for versatility. Fly rods are super subjective but I have never regretted my 6wt. Btw. Tabarnac?!? Hahah!!! A fellow Canadian!!
Yep. I'm a fan. Most fly rods under $600 are made in China. Buying from Maxcatch eliminates the middleman. If you feel sorry for domestic companies, then send them a donation. Lol.
I have several Maxcatch rods, including a 6 wt, 9'6" Extreme that is great. Just got their Nano nymphing rod which is super high quality. I got a bunch of their fluorocarbon tippet made in Japan for 4-5 dollars per 55yd spool. A recent $195 order, incuded the Nano rod, 9 spools of tippet (a couple for salt), and several other items. They also threw in about $100 worth of additional free gear (all that I can use). It shipped from China but got here in under a week.
Nice! Always nice when they throw some goodies in the box. They have definitely peaked my interest in some of their other offerings. Their fiberglass rod looks money!
@@greenhornflyhorn Agree. I've got a couple Aventik sticks that are really nice too, a 7'6" 3wt glass rod and a 10' 9wt. I've also got an Echo 9' 5wt which is nice but not better than the Maxcatch or Aventik gear, imo.
Don’t forget, there is that factory in South Korea that has made some of the finest fly rods, and fly reels, in the world (including some budget rods too). Examples are Hardy Zenith, Douglas Sky and Sky G, and for budget rods, the Greys are super for the money, the GR80 and GR60 are superb. Many of the Hardy mid priced rods too, like the new Aydon - these rods all have great workmanship, fit and finish. Many of the more recent Sage and Hardy fly reels are made in Korea too. I have had some problems with a few overseas rods but there are definitely some good ones too. The Cabelas CGR glass fly rods have been really good for years (China). So, just depends on what you want.
Dude these rods are actually legit. I've got the 3wt. If you don't need elegance and just need something that works these things are gonna get the job done and then some.
Yeah they’re fantastic man. Thanks for giving the video a watch, appreciate it.
I agree with your review on Maxcatch rods. I’ve owned several as backups; I’m really a Sage guy. But for the money I highly recommend Maxcatch rods. The reel you’re using is their cheapest, and it sucks, not very durable, but take a step up and try a Maxcatch Tail, Tino, Toro, or Avid; excellent reels. Really! They’re still very reasonable for a reel, the drag is incredible. The Avid reel is the best and most expensive, but still very reasonable. My goto in the Maxcatch reel line is the Tino, 3 wt up to 8 wt.
But their rods are as good as any mid priced name brand rods. I didn’t know about their wareenty, I’ve never had to use it, but it’s good to know they back their rods. I’m not keen on their lines, the floating doesn’t float well, the intermediate feel apart where the nail knot attaches, they didn’t come with loops. And I question the sink rate of their sinking lines. Their lines only run about $10 but save your money, they might be alright for teaching someone to cast in a parking lot so not to ruin a good line.
I’m currently searching for a beginner set up right now. Mostly going to be fishing for trout and panfish
Great video.
Enjoyed the gear review. Fly fishing on the cheap can be a lot of fun.
You gotta have the mindset for it though.
That’s an interesting way of looking at it, “you gotta have the mindset for it though”. I like that cause it’s very true.
Completely agree.
I wonder if it would be better paord with the picsifun sword reel over the Avid. Along with the maxcatch gold line yiu would be about $120 for all 3
I have the maxcatch premium combo, its a great rod and reel. Drag adjustment could be a little better. No complaints. Avid reel. My son has the cheaper reel, it's not very good.
Nice! I really have no complaints, especially for that price point
Great review! 👍👍🎣👌
I certainly appreciate you watching and the comment. Tight lines!
That intro tho 🔥🔥🔥
You noticed! Haha! Thanks brother
Maxcatch ,… I believe they make a quality product for a friendly price..🤙😎👍
Wondering what wt of fly rod I should buy from max catch? I'm looking for a rod I can cast dry flies with, but also catch larger bass. If anyone can recommend me what wt I should use, it would be greatly appreciated.
How large are the bass?(small mouth or large mouth?) also what are you fishing with the dry flies?
@@greenhornflyhorn I'm fishing for smallies in the 2 -4Lb range, and throwing dry flies for trout anywhere from 8-15 inches.
@@519fisherman what you described, I would recommend a 5 or 6 weight. 6 weight is more versatile incase you want to try your hand at some large mouth or carp. But the 5wt will be just fine on the bass you described. Good luck!
@@greenhornflyhorn Thank you very much, I do occasionally fish for carp on mud flats, so I think I will go with the 6 wt.
@@519fisherman i have a video on the topic, it’s a lot of talking but some good points in there. th-cam.com/video/KyKNol1A5Xg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Jc46Mu25rBu83ZN0
Maxcatch is ok, I prefer echo tho in their base and ion models
I own an echo bravo reel. That thing is amazing! Sealed smooth drag, basic meat and potatoes type reel but has to be one of the best bargains out there. Plus it sounds sweet too! Thanks for your input, tight lines man!
I have 3 maxcatch rods, I got the extreme first just for fun bcos it was $37 and I had to see how bad it must be !! It casts better than the rods I have in the 100 to 300 range. I got the 8'4" 3 wt and I find myself using more than the other rods I own
they punch way above their price for sure. Thank you for watching.👍
$129.00,….?
I bought a Scientific Angler’s kit 8wt. Bass rod …. Reel and line comes in a carry tube
$69.00 the reel is a kick it to the curb garbage type … you know… 🤣
But the rod has been way more than what I expected… it’s become my lightweight Striper rod but still light enough for Steelhead and trout as well as largemouth,… I do like swinging my 11 & 12 wt. rods in the surf..
I’ve tried casting 4 &.5 wt. rods,.. they feel like a a cat toy to me ,… 🤣
8 wt. fly rods are the lightest I own …..8,9,10,11,and 12
Nice review! I own two maxcatch rods, one of the cheaper models (fiber glass 3wt) that I liked so much that I thought their "high end" rod must be really great too, so I bought their most expensive rod at the time ("sky high" 7wt) and I really dislike it, its heavy even for a 7wt and casts not very accurate. Its way worse than many of the known brands entry level rods (although still a little cheaper than a clearwater for example). So my experience with them is somewhat hit&miss. I guess one should watch reviews like this one to find out which models are actually worthwhile 🙂.
I do own the eco real too and while I think its the ugliest reel I've ever seen, the performance on mine is quite good, incredible value for only 15 bucks. Speaking of value, don't sleep on their flylines either!
Interesting. Thank you for sharing your experience. I wondered about the other models they carried. Definitely want to give the fiberglass rod a shot one day.
Re: Eco reel. I own a few and they’re all duds. After reading a bunch of reviews and even the comments so far on this video I am starting to think I got real unlucky!
Thanks again for sharing and wish you good luck on the water🤘
I own a 3wt and absolutely love the rod. The reel is absolute trash and I had to upgrade.
Definitely agree with you on the reel. But the rod👌
Ty bro
I also purchased this rod. It's on the stiff side. I measured it by CCS standards and it came to an ERN of 4.9 which I would call a 4/5 wt and I would use a 5wt line with it or even try a 6 wt line for shorter casting.
I had an ERN of 5.5 with the CCS. That rod grew legs and walked far away from the truck. It was a great stick!
This looks like the same combo I got from Temu. I paid $7.50 for the reel and $15.50 for the rod...😂
This is the real reel review I’d like to see lol
China finding all the fly fishing shills this year apparently. The rod is hot garbage it is ok out of the box but fails internally after a few days on the river. Best bang for the buck is Echo Carbon XL
Hell yeah! They gave me a suitcase full of cash cause I have a massive following on TH-cam. I am typing this on my yacht , just about to port in Croatia. Going to cash another Maxcatch cheque here then off to Italy!!!! Can’t wait to hit up Echo next!!! As per your recommendation of course, I will mention your name to Tim, see if he knows you. I am sure he does as only someone on the payroll would spell the good gospel of the Carbon XL!!!
@@greenhornflyhorn lmaooo
My favorite budget rods are the Fenwick Aetos and any of the Greys rods when they go on sale. With the Maxcatch rods I had problems with the chrome plating wearing off the tip top guide. But that was several years ago, they might be different now.
You are full of it. Stop sounding like a snob. Not everyone takes fishing seriously enough to drop hundreds of dollars on gear. The fly fishing industry needs cheap decent entry level equipment to attract new fishermen that otherwise would not start flyfishing.
@@paulkysar6207 Trying to contribute some helpful comments and suggestions to others, to help them out. The rods I mentioned are in the budget category, not hundreds of dollars. Thats a pretty stupid definition of a snob.