I picked up the Mystic Tremor Saltwater Fly Rod in an 8-weight for my trip down the Pan American highway. It’s labeled as a saltwater rod but my intentions are both fresh and saltwater.
I’m thinking an 8-weight can handle light duty saltwater fishing while crossing over well to catching bass, some salmon and even large trout. It will likely serve as my general jungle fly rod as well when I have no idea what will eat my popper or streamer.
Right now, I’m 3 weeks into the Baja section and have been using the rod more than intended. So this review is coming ahead of schedule. I arrived in Baja ahead of the really good beach fishing which means I’m setting down the 10 and 12 weights most days and using the 8 weight to catch Corvina, grouper, trigger fish and other species hanging around the rocks.
Tremor SW Fly Rod Specs
- Compound taper with additional carbon fiber at high stress points
- Comes in 7, 8, 9 and 10 weight models
- 9’3” length, calibrated for supple tip section and heavier midsection
- Fast mid-tip action
- Oversized titanium stripping guides
- Anodized, saltwater resistant reel seat
- Premium multi-density cork end piece
My Fly Line Setup
The line has a major influence on performance and my line choice is somewhat unique right now. In the future, I will definitely pair the rod with various sink tip lines and standard weight forward floating lines.
Sitting on the filet table.
Currently, I have a 240 grain, compact floating line from Cortland. I had tried this line on 6 and 7 weight rods and it was too much line. I decided to try it here and it pairs perfectly with the Mystic Tremor fly rod. The Tremor has the spine needed to load this beast of a line and it launches the entire line with a single double haul. I’m pretty excited about the setup. It feels like casting a sink tip, but with a floater. It also turns over big bugs very easily.
Casting the Fly Rod
The rod loads up like a dream. I am curious how it will feel with a normal fly line. This Cortland line is seriously heavy and it loads deep into the spine.
I think a normal weight forward or a sink tip will have a faster load and not push the limits so much. Even with this line, it loads up great and has a very comfortable it flex.
One of my favorite things is the grip. It has a nice feel and the size fits the hand well. It’s more comfortable than many of my larger rods and as a result, I find myself comfortable casting for longer periods of time without wearing down.
While I don’t have an official rating scale here, I’d give the rod all of the stars. It’s light, smooth and fast. What else can you ask for from an 8-weight?
Durability Insights
Three weeks is pretty early in the game and I’ll be pushing her limits on this trip. So far, everything looks tight and well made. The ferrules fit snugly, all components look great and after stumbling around on slick rocks for a few weeks, I have no wear down whatsoever.
Tremor Fly Rod Performance Review
The rod looks good, is well built and casts great. The tip is more sensitive than most fast rods. I really am enjoying that on soft grabs, especially those coming from grouper and other species I’m picking up for the dinner table.
Like I said, this rod will take a beating on this trip. When I’m back in the US next year, I see it working as a great rod for Pyramid Lake and for pike fishing in Montana. It’s a killer stick and looks like it’ll be a workhorse for me throughout Central and South America.
You can check out the Tremor Saltwater fly rod here. I believe they sell direct and through dealers. Check out the site for more details on that front.
