Spencer Durrant

Before the Scott Session showed up on my doorstep, the only other Scott rod I had fished was a Radian. I loved that rod—even though I never owned one—and I was curious what direction Scott would take with its friendlier-priced Session (it retails for $675). Would the company opt to keep it in that familiar "fast-meets-feel" design family, or branch out...

When I think of a Winston, I think of my collection of pre-IM6 Fisher-rolled 2-piece graphite rods that are unquestionably the best dry fly sticks ever built. My mind is as far away from big flies and meat-eating trout as it's possible to get. A few months ago, however, while on a visit to the R.L. Winston Rod Co factory in Twin Bridges, Montana, longtime...

Before 2024 I'd never fished a Thomas & Thomas rod. I'd thrown them at fly fishing shows, and wiggled a few at fly shops, but I never had the chance to get one out on the water. Then the 9' 5-weight Avantt II showed up, and I spent the better part of two months with it as my primary stick. I don't think Thomas & Thomas could've made a better first...

I grew up fishing my dad's St. Croix fly rods, until someone left them in a hot truck all summer (sans rod sock or tube) and they eventually succumbed to the heat and careless handling. So, when I heard St. Croix was re-entering the fly rod space a few years ago—this time with an emphasis on creating a premium, top-tier rod—I was hit with a wave of...

Simms' latest and greatest wader is truly an impressive piece of gear. It's accompanied by an equally impressive price tag—$999.95. The way I see my role as a gear reviewer isn't to tell you to go buy something (that job belongs to the marketing department). My role is to cut through the marketing fluff, put a product through the wringer in real-life...

By now you've seen the social media posts, web banners, and videos telling you that the latest and greatest rod from Orvis is "four times more accurate" than their previous flagship, the H3. It's supposedly 25% stronger, more enjoyable to cast, and will only run anglers $100 more than the now-discontinued H3 lineup. The new rod - simply called the Helios...

John Gierach once wrote that you forget your troubles while on a trout stream because you “begin to see where your troubles fit into the grand scheme of things, and suddenly they’re not such a big deal anymore.” I’ve fished with John and I’ve read most of his books. I agree with him a lot, but in this instance, I think he’s wrong.  To prove my...

Wader reviews are hard to write. Essentially, what people want to know is will this wader keep me dry? Is it worth the money? Will it last a long time?  I can answer the first question easily, but the last one becomes moot with how often wader lines are updated and because each angler's definition of "a long time" is different. As for the cost-to-value...

Editor's note: Conservation/environmental issues are always complex and suggested solutions are never tidy. Dealing with invasive species, both fauna and flora, is a prime example of the need for nuanced thinking paired with careful practices backed by the most up-to-date science. MidCurrent does not have an official stance on the use of chemicals to...

Lamson is best-known for their fly reels (I have one buddy who refuses to fish anything else) but in recent years their product lineup has expanded to include fly rods. Over the past couple of months, I've had the chance to fish their 9' 5-weight Guru. I've been thoroughly impressed. The Guru is an entry-level stick (priced at $249) with a pleasant...