Many readers probably already know that Redington, the Florida-based fishing tackle manufacturer, was sold in 2003 to Sage. Under new management, Redington has introduced a new low-end consumer line of freshwater fly rods and reels called the Crosswater series. Recently, I agreed to field test and review the Redington Crosswater fly fishing combo in a 7 ½ foot 4 weight model I specifically chose for small stream fishing for Rainbow trout in my native waters in the Ozarks of Missouri.
Being a proponent of fly fishing, I am always concerned with recruiting new anglers into the sport. With that in mind, finding quality gear at affordable prices (something that has become a significant and challenging task in fly fishing in recent years) is always a priority of mine. Redington has always been one of the primary manufacturers I’ve turned to for such equipment, so I was very interested to learn of the Crosswater series rods and reels and to get my hands on one and see if it could live up to the Redington reputation for no-nonsense value for the dollar. One need not spend a king’s ransom to start fly fishing, but one also wants to avoid the “el cheapo” kits marketed and sold by Wal-Mart and other discount sporting goods stores that simply will not perform as a fly rod should. The frustration that comes with such equipment often drives newcomers out of the sport when they encounter unnecessary difficulties in casting – the chief skill of the fly fisherman. But who wants to spend several hundred dollars to find out if one enjoys fly fishing enough to stick with it? Therein lies the rub. And this is an issue Redington has long served to address with their line of fly fishing tackle.
The marketing claims of the new Redington Crosswater series read as follows:
"There is no substitute for being on the water, and the affordability of our Crosswater Outfits and rods help you get to the riffles, eddies, lakes and bays where you can perfect your game. Don't let the price of our Crosswater Outfits and rods fool you—these are big-time rods that feature the same commitment to quality and fishability we build into all our rods. So whether you choose an outfit complete with matching reel and weight-forward line, or a single rod for freshwater or saltwater, you'll know you're getting the best fishing value on the water today."
So, there it is. “…the best fishing value on the water today.” That’s a pretty big claim to fame, but one Redington is known for delivering. But, with a Crosswater rod, reel, line, backing, and leader combo coming in at an MSRP of $99.95, this was worth further investigation…even with the Redington name and new Sage management.
I put the rod and reel outfit I received from Redington’s Director of Marketing to several tests, but there is simply no substitute for actually fishing a rod under various real-world conditions to unlock and discover its true potential and worth. Upon receiving the fly fishing combo, I immediately checked it for defects in workmanship, inferior materials, balance, and aesthetics. The Crosswater rods and reels are attractive and well put together. 
The quality of the rod and reel are obvious upon casual examination. The balance between the 4 wt. rod and the 456 reel is just a tad bit off, with the reel being a bit too heavy for the short, 7 ½ foot rod I ordered, but that was my preference. On a 9 foot rod the balance would be perfect. Guides and wrapping were similar in quality of materials and assembly to what I have come to expect from Redington. The reel is a modern composite with disc drag in a large arbor style. Some fly anglers don’t like the new composite reels very much, but I have no problems with modern materials and it keeps the weight down without sacrificing muscle. In fact, it is my opinion that composite reels are somewhat more rugged and durable than their aluminum counterparts. They aren’t as pretty to look at, but they aren’t exactly ugly either.
The 4 wt. weight-forward Redington line and 9 ft. 6X Redington leader included with the kit are standard fare with Redington combos in any series/price range. No skimping there. The combo came in a cheap fabric sock. OK, at roughly one third the price of the old RedStart or RedFly combos, something had to give somewhere. Obviously, one would want to purchase a rod case. I found a Plano Guide Series fly rod case for about $40 that filled the bill nicely. That brings the total cost to $140, and I was ready to hit the water.
For my initial on-stream test, I didn’t even dress the new fly line when I installed it. Most anglers new to fly fishing wouldn’t know they should do this. If one is purchased from a local fly shop that carries Redington equipment, the salesperson should spool the backing and line onto the combo for the customer. At that time, they should dress the line. But that’s not a given either. And I wanted a true “off the rack” feel for the tackle. I loaded my new Redington Crosswater OCW-763/4 into the Plano Guide Series fly rod case and packed it along with my other fishing gear into my Jeep and pointed her towards the stream. After a minor adjustment period due more to the shorter length of the rod than I was used to than to anything else, I found the Crosswaters combo easy to cast at distances up to 80 feet. Not bad for a 7 ½ 4 wt. fly rod in the hands of anything but a champion fly caster. The disc drag was easily adjustable and finer in selection of settings than I had expected. The reel performed very smoothly and quietly. In fact, it was much quieter than my more expensive Redington reels, which are not equipped with a variable drag system. The rod proved to be a medium flex rod with a fast tip and a lot of backbone. It’s a very capable 4 wt. The shorter length allowed me to get into some nice fishing holes under overhanging trees and perform some pretty impressive roll casts without risk of fouling my line. I caught nine Rainbow trout on that first outing and they ranged in size from about 11” up to an impressive 19”. The smaller fish were fun and gave some play on the 4 wt., but the rod was up to the challenge of the 19” bruiser-weight fish. It was a bit windy that day, with gusts exceeding 15 mph. For a short rod in 4 wt, I was pleased with how the combo bucked the wind. I kept musing to myself, “I can’t believe this outfit is only a hundred bucks.” After several days on the stream with the Redington Crosswater combo, I find myself wanting another one in the 9 ft. variety…perhaps a four piece outfit for travel. At roughly $130 for the four piece combo, it wouldn’t be a huge crisis if it were damaged or lost by an airline – or stolen or misplaced while on a trip.
The other place where Redington has trimmed things down to hit the $100-150 market is in the warranty, and this is worth noting. Crosswaters rods, reels, and combos carry a one-year manufacturers defect only warranty to the original owner. In a world of “no questions asked” lifetime warranties from several fly rod manufacturers, one has to decide what one wants. A year is plenty of time to discover whether you have a good product or a bad one. What one buys when purchasing a rod, reel, or combo that carries an unconditional lifetime warranty is basically an insurance policy against theft, loss, or breakage. I, for one, think it is great service from Redington to the consumer to have the choice of NOT paying a premium for said warranty if I choose. And that’s where the Redington Crosswater series fills the bill. And at $99.95, I’ll take my chances, thank you. Comparing the Crosswater combo to comparably priced outfits (which certainly do exist), I found that the Redington Rod and reel out-performed anything in the “under $100” market. I had to jump up to about $175 for rod/reel/line combos to find anything even close to the quality of the Redington rod. Even at $200 I did not find as good of a reel, but I did find an outfit that was balanced better on a 7 ½ foot 5 wt. rod.
If you are in the market for an affordable rod/reel combo that will perform with similar products sold at two to four times the price, you owe it to yourself to look at the Redington Crosswater combos. They are proof positive that you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy fly fishing. Mine has become a regular staple of my fly fishing arsenal, and I plan to add at least one more in the near future.
Redington does not currently have an on-line dealer locator at www.Redington.com, but they do have an extensive nationwide dealer network of many fly shops in each state. Call the fly shops in your area and ask them if they carry Redington products.
optimized for web reviews by GunMuse Outdoors no reproduction of this article is authorized.
Author: GunMuse Date: Thursday Sep 23 2004 11:07:45 am
