The Hardy Ultralite LL is an impressive newcomer in the Euro-nymphing rod market.

The first time I tried Euro-nymphing, I remember being vocally skeptical about the whole idea. I’d tried tenkara not long before and made a complete fool of myself with the 12-foot rod and level line. I wasn’t keen on using another long rod with light, nearly weightless line.

Luckily, I took to Euro-nymphing better than tenkara (though, I’ve come to enjoy tenkara in the right situation). A half-dozen Euro-nymphing rods sit in my quiver, I have a mostly full box of Euro nymphs, and I’m certain I’ve bothered my friend Lance Egan to death with incessant questions about technique and presentation.

Regardless of where you’re at in your own Euro-nymphing journey, I’ve found that most conversations about the method start, end, or revolve around Euro rods. In most of fly fishing, the rod you use is less important than how you use it; however, in Euro-nymphing, the right rod is the difference between frustration and success. Think of it like fishing a flat high-country meadow stream for 10-inch cutthroat, but your only rod is a 7-weight. Sure, you can get the job done, but you won’t be very effective nor will you enjoy it as much as you would with a 3-weight.

That’s the goal with this article – to help you find the Euro-nymphing rod you’ll most enjoy fishing. To understand what separates Euro rods from each other, though, we need to start with what features a Euro rod needs.

What Makes a Great Euro-Nymphing Rod?

Whether you’re dead-drifting streamers or feeding tiny nymphs to tailwater trout, there are a few must-have design features in any good Euro-nymphing rod.

Good Euro rods need to:

• Be lightweight
• Have a sensitive, yet powerful tip section
• Balance well with a variety of reels
• Have decent torsional stability for accurate casting

Weight and Balance

Since Euro-nymphing is essentially high-sticking drifts all day long, you need a rod that’s light. Your arm will still hurt after a day of Euro-nymphing, but with a Euro rod it’ll hurt less.

This leads us right into the question of balance, which I’ve found is more of a personal preference than anything else. Generally speaking, though, you want a rod that balances well with a variety of reels, which gives you more options when putting together a Euro-nymphing outfit. If you can use a reel you already own on a new Euro rig, then you potentially have a few more bucks to put towards the rod you really want. And fewer reels means fewer chances to leave the right one at home (which I’ve done more than I’d care to admit).

Sensitive, Powerful Tip

The big appeal to Euro-nymphing is that it allows you to feel far more of what happens to your flies beneath the surface. That increased feel leads to hooking more fish. All the feel in the world, however, isn’t worth anything if the tip of your Euro rod is too soft to drive home a solid hook set. The balance of sensitivity and power is key to a great Euro rod.

Stability and Casting

Torsional stability refers to how much a rod vibrates horizontally when moving between the forward and back cast. The greater a rod’s torsional stability, the more accurate it will cast. For Euro rods, this is a must-have feature since you’re often only casting leader. A rod that tracks straight and doesn’t throw your flies at odd angles to the left or right will make your Euro-nymphing experience much more pleasant.

The Best Euro-Nymphing Rod for You

I put this list together with the intent to give a wide variety of good Euro rods I’d be happy to fish myself. I’ve spent time on the water with each of these rods, and they all sport the must-have features.

Hardy Ultralite LL

• Extremely light rod
• Multiple configurations
• Versatile applications

Price: $825.00

The Hardy Ultralite LL was designed by Howard Croston, who in addition to being Hardy’s rod designer, was the 2019 FIPS/Mouche world champion angler. He built the Ultralite LL to specifically handle the diverse demands of the competition fishing circuit, and it more than delivers. The rod is insanely light, balances superbly with a wide number of reels, and has enough reserve power to tame big fish in heavy current.

My personal favorite model is the 9’9″ 3-weight. While that’s shorter than a typical Euro-nymphing rod, it’s the right length to serve as a great do-it-all rod. I’ve thrown everything from streamers to small dries on the 9’9″ 3-weight, and loved every minute of it.

If you’re looking for this in a dedicated Euro configuration, I’d recommend the 10’8″ 3-weight. That model comes standard with a downlocking reel seat and cork butt, making it ideal for long days on the water.

Sage ESN

The Sage ESN is a long-running favorite in the Euro world.

• Downlocking reel seat is standard
• Made in America
• Crisp, quick Sage action

Price: $995.00

The Sage ESN is one of the few Euro-nymphing rods that hasn’t undergone a massive transformation in the past few years. That may mean it’s due for an upgrade, but I personally don’t see why Sage would want to mess with such a good thing. The ESN rods are light, powerful, and feature that crisp, quick action Sage is known for. And Sage was one of the first manufacturers to make downlocking reel seats standard on all Euro rods.

Downlocking reel seats put the weight of the reel behind your hand, creating better balance in the rod. It’s a design feature I think every Euro-nymphing rod ought to have, and Sage deserves all the credit in the world for sticking with that feature since the beginning.

Cortland Nymph Series

Cortland makes a sneaky-good Euro rod at a solid price point.

• Wallet-friendly price
• Smooth casting
• Great tip

Price: $299.95

Cortland likely isn’t the first brand you think of when considering a new fly rod. If you’re in the market for a Euro-nymphing rod, however, then Cortland needs to be on your list. Their Nymph Series rods are a wallet-friendly price, and while they’re slightly heavier than other rods on this list (not by much, mind you), they make up for that with smooth casting and a great tip section.

I first fished a Cortland Nymph Series rod with Chris Cutler on the Henry’s Fork, right up near the lake. Chris caught a 26-inch cutthroat, then handed me the rod. I promptly brought in a 23-inch cuttbow. Both fish put a deep bend in the rod and made what I thought were tippet-breaking runs. The Cortland’s tip absorbed the blows, though, and we got both fish in the net.

Douglas DXF

The Douglas DXF is a solid mid-priced rod from a fantastic company in upstate New York.

• Outstanding build quality
• Solid butt section
• Very soft, supple tip

Price: $439.00 – $469.00

The first Euro rod I bought myself was a Douglas DXF 11′ 3-weight. I still have it and still fish it regularly. Douglas makes some of the best rods on the market (I’m in love with their Sky G series) and the DXF offers exceptional performance at its price point. The price varies slightly depending on which model you get, although I would have to recommend the 11′ 3-weight. Even on smaller streams, the extra reach of the rod doesn’t get me tangled up in trees any more than usual.

What I love most about the DXF, though, is the reserve power packed into the lower sections. Hook into a big fish with this rod, and you’ll have no problem steering it through heavy current or away from logjams. Add to that its excellent build quality, and it’s easy to see why the DXF has so many devoted fans.

Thomas & Thomas Contact II

The Thomas & Thomas Contact II is a fan-favorite rod among serious Euro anglers.

• Built in America
• Superior build quality
• Seamless casting experience

Price: $855.00

The Thomas & Thomas Contact II builds on the success T&T had with the original Contact lineup. This rod features single-foot guides, optimized guide spacing to reduce line sag, and an updated fighting butt that improves comfort and fish-fighting abilities. That’s all wrapped up in a gorgeous made-in-America package that truly shines as a work of art. Few, if any, production rods on the market can match the superior build quality of a T&T rod.

The Contact II rods were also designed to have a stiffer backbone, aiding in better hook-sets and fish-fighting. Given that the price is right in line with other top-tier models, the T&T Contact II is worth the ol’ fly shop wiggle, at the very least.

Orvis H3F

The 10’6″ 3-weight is a purpose-built H3 that shines as a Euro-rod.

• Made in America
• Extremely light
• Extremely sensitive

Price: $949.00

I’ve made no secret of how I feel about the H3 rods from Orvis. They’re fantastic. I’ve only fished a handful of rods I’d put on par with them. And while Orvis hasn’t gone out of its way to promote certain models as Euro-nymphing specific, the 10’6″ 3-weight H3F is their winner.

It’s extremely light and sensitive with a tip that lets you feel every pebble along the stream bottom. Casting accuracy is second-to-none, and there’s very little swing weight for a Euro rod. It’s hard to find something not to like about this fantastic piece of gear from Orvis.

And there you have it, folks. A list of great Euro-nymphing rods that’s sure to help you find the one that’s best for you. As always, if you have questions about gear, don’t hesitate to drop us a line or leave a comment. We’re more than happy to talk shop!