Moonshine Rod Co. Fly Fishing Rod with Carrying Case and Extra Rod Tip Section, Slow-Medium-Fast Action

First off, I don't leave reviews almost ever, so that should tell you something right off the bat.I started my fly fishing journey about a year ago with the KastKing Emergence combo. It's a ~$130ish rod 'n reel set up that gets you in the water as quick as possible. For someone who had never fly fished before, it was a fantastic combo to get you going. As I started to fly fish more often (around 3-4 times a week) I decided it may be time to invest a bit more into my hobby.I did my research, watched my YouTubes, and found my way to this guy here. One of my gripes with the Emergence was that I felt as though I couldn't ever cast out as far as I needed to. I'm primarily a stillwater fisher; you won't catch me on streams and such often (no trout where I live). I decided to stick with a 5wt, but went up to a 10 foot rod.My first cast with this rod took about a fourth of the amount of false casting I normally would've done to get the amount of line out that I needed. After two days, I've already landed a personal best largemouth. This thing is the truth! If my old rod was a rifle, this thing is a howitzer. It's unbelievable how far I can cast out with this rod.Pros:- Beautiful rod, very classy- Well constructed, appears durable (time will tell)- Medium action, allows for more tactile feel while in the water and also more bend in the rod for longer casting.- Effortless casting. A beginner was able to operate this rod like a seasoned pro within 15 minutes.- Comes with extra tip section.Cons:- No guide dots on the sections. This is a minor gripe and can be DIY remedied if you wish.- The cork feels wonderful, but I noticed very small pieces of it flaking off once my hand got a little wet. I'm unsure if it'll last through the rigors of kayaking, but again, time will tell.

I found Moonshine Rods while researching for blanks to build a flyrod to replace one that got donated to the fish gods. I spent 3 days researching Moonshine after finding them here on Amazon. I've enjoyed fast action flyrods for years, but as I get older I find I like a little slower, less demanding action. The Drifter seemed like "the one" to me. I ordered a 9' 5weight. 2 days later, I was opening a box to reveal something I didnt expect. A VERY NICE looking rod appeared as the packaging went away. Initially, you are attracted to the burl wood insert on the reel seat, then the cork handle, and then your eyes start wandering over the guides thread windings. Beautifully executed, no gaps, no lumps and well done top coat finish.After receiving my new reel and line, I strung up this gem and headed to the yard to see how this baby casts. Few false casts to feel out the action and let her rip. That's when I noticed something you don't see even on high dollar factory rods unless its a custom build on a mass produced blank. Most rods don't have enough line guides. This causes the line to sag between the guides, slowing down line speed and making casting long distance difficult. This rod has more line guides than most 9' rods, and if you load the action up statically, you'll find the line follows the blank perfectly! The Drifter casts effortlessly for me to 50-60 feet. and further with a bit more effort.Well done Moonshine Rod Co, for actually building a flyrod correctly!!!The extra tip section is a nice bonus as well.I'm looking forward to actually fishing this rod. At 200 bucks, I wouldnt call this a "budget" rod, but I would call it a very high value/per dollar spent rod. You can spend more, you could spend less, but this rod hits right in the feels for the best bang/$$ IMO.BTW, customer service is unbelievable. I emailed a question at 6:30 PM mountain time, I got a response and hour later. How many business answer emails after hours? These folks are awesome

This is the nicest fly fishing rod I’ve ever owned. Extremely well made and it looks it too! It comes in a nice hard case with a complete extra length tip in case you break one. Moonshine does a great job and it shows. If you are into Euro Nymphing, you cannot go wrong with this rod. Highly recommended

I don’t know the hate Moonshine Rods get, I understand its made oversees but I like this rod way more than my Orvis rod. The action seems slower than other brands but I really like it like that. Great product, it’s my go to, most comfortable rod I own!

The quality of Moonshine Fly Rods are beyond expectations. I bought a Vesper 4wt 9’ rod and what a rod it is. It is super light (2.7 oz) and looks beautiful. When I first placed the order I went through Amazon. Although the rod was not damaged, the rod case was torn open on one end. Since the box showed no signs of damage, I have to believe someone at amazing was careless. Nonetheless, I emailed Moonshine and they told me to return it to Amazon for a refund. I made the next purchase directly from Moonshine. Dakota not only answered several of my questions, she helped me make a final decision on the Vesper. By buying directly from the company I also received a 10% LEO/Military/First Responder discount on the rod. I received the same discount when I added the Ross Reel Colorado to the order. There is an additional 10% off when you buy a reel with the rod. Great savings on an already great price. And shipping is free.The Colorado model Ross Reel is a classic reel redesigned with modern materials. Gorgeous reel and really like weight. Perfect match with the lightweight Vesper rod. In closing, this is a great company making great rods, and providing their customers with amazing service. Thank you Dakota. Thank you Moonshine.As an update to my review, I felt the platinum color of the Ross Reel was not a good look with the darker color of the Vesper Rod. Personal preference since the platinum color is still a great look. Nonetheless, I asked Moonshine if I could exchange the platinum color reel for the Black color. A simple email to customer service and within an hour of me making the request I received a notice that my reel was on its way. I cannot say enough about this company. Quality product at a great price. You will pay $900 or more for a rod elsewhere and not get better quality.

Smith casting

This rod is very sensitive, perform well for nymphing and for dry fly. It's probably going to be my favorite rod for trout fishing.

What a nice rod!! I am relatively new to fly fishing and after buying few rods I decided to buy Moonshine's. Beautiful rod, from tip top to bottom. I have the 7' 6'' 3-wt and it casts fantastic with a relatively cheap line and reel.I am extremely happy with the product.

Honest review.... Great rod for price, has plenty power in lower section to fight/land bigger fish. While still feeling on lighter side to throw any size dry flies/nymphs. Nice to see extra rod tip . You wont be disappointed if your looking for a 7 wt that can do it all.

Really good product