The Redington Vice fly rod is one of the best intermediate rods on the market. Is the Vice the right rod for you? How does it compare to other similar rods on the market right now? It’s not easy to search for the perfect rod for your needs, so let’s start this Redington Vice review to find out more!
I’m always looking for new gear, so I was excited to find out that Redington had released the Vice fly rod aimed at intermediate anglers.
The Vice is being hailed as the rod that will turn you into a fly fishing addict, so let’s take a closer look and see if it lives up to the hype!
Redington Vice Review
Redington Vice Specs:
| Line Weight: 3 – 8 | Length: 7 – 10ft |
| Action: Fast | Handle: Full – Wells |
| Rod Weight: – | Handle: Full-Wells |
| Color: Green & Gold | Sections: 4 |
| Warranty: Lifetime Warranty | Country Of Manufacture: USA |
Overall Score
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The Vice is a firecracker fly rod that’s available in sizes from 8 foot 3wt. all the way up to a 9wt. At the higher weights, it’s a fast action rod that has been designed to handle high winds.
It has a multi-modulus blank if you need a little more manageability. In flashy green and black, it’s an attractive rod, and comes in at an affordable price, too!
Paired with a RIO line, you can get pretty tight loops on your casts, as a result of the dynamic tip. It’s designed to teach you the skills you need to do short-range fishing, so while it allows open loops, it’s versatile enough for shorter casting.
You’ll cast to 20 ft easily and accurately, and can even push that casting distance up to 60 ft. If you’re new to fly fishing, the Vice will let you try out a range of different waters and casting distances.
We’ll take a closer look at fishing and casting at different distances with the Vice It’s perfect for small and medium-sized creeks and awesome for trying out new techniques. However, the Vice beings to struggle when you cast beyond 50 ft, and may not have the strength necessary for catching big fish.
Features and Benefits
Let’s dig in deeper and see exactly what the Vice has to offer!
Weight
The Vice feels heavy at short distances, but when you cast it to 45 feet, it comes alive. Its fast action blanks are accurate, so it’s made to catch trout and bass. If you’re an experienced fly fisherman, you’ll have no trouble controlling it, even in the wind.
Its weight is perfect for dry flies, large nymphs, and streamers. Where this rod excels is in the mid-long range, getting your fly out quickly and precisely to your target.
The Vice does feel fairly bulky at 30 feet and loses accuracy at long ranges, but it’s not designed for that. If you’ve been fly fishing for a few months, it will introduce you to a bulkier rod. If you want to learn short-range casting for the first time, the 3wt model will give you the pace you need.
Build Quality
The Redington Vice combines a quality cork grip with chrome stripping guides and snake guides. The guides are a decent size, and the grip feels comfortable in hand. Another bonus is that you won’t need to hunt for the model or line weight, because they’re laser-engraved into the rod.
Its black anodized aluminum reel seat is built to last, and its components are solid. It comes with a Scientific Anglers Mastery MPX, an excellent trout line perfect for this review.
In our opinion, the green blank with black finishing looks awesome out on the water and will stay in style for a long time. Not everyone will go crazy for the black and green color, but you can’t deny that it’s a classic look for a fly rod.
The Vice comes with a long-lasting Cordura rod tube to keep it safe between trips. Constructed with a multi-modulus blank design, the Redington Vice is incredibly versatile. The reel is made from anodized aluminum with distinct markings so that you don’t end up attaching a 6 weight part to your 3wt gear.
Versatility
The Vice’s rod specs are carefully thought out. You’ll have no trouble battling flat saltwater or choppy freshwater fish. For extra versatility, try a Vice and RIO line combination.
Your fly line has a huge effect on how well your rod will behave, so don’t judge this gear before you experiment with a range of different Vice combo accessories.
This is one of the cheapest tools you’ll find, quicker than a Crux with more power in the midsection. The swing might be heavy, but it performs well.
You can check out our full Redington Crux Review here.
Action
The Vice is really built for quick casts, and it’s smooth as silk. This is one of the best intermediate rods on the market. When you remove it from the tube, you’ll be suspicious of its bulkiness, but when you use it, the Vice will be sure to surprise you.
It’s not as light as its direct rivals, so you’ll get plenty of exercise while you try out new flies. It’s an awesome, stout-feeling rod that delivers large bass flies with ease. You’ll be able to search out the bass, trout, and more, wherever they’re lurking!
That said, the Vice rod loses accuracy and feels heavy in high winds at longer distances, so you won’t be able to push it to 100 feet.
Warranty
The Redington’s Vice rods come with a lifetime original owner warranty. That’s an impressive backing for an affordable rod. Unlike some brands, the reel itself is only covered by a material and workmanship defects warranty, which lasts for one year. If you damage it during action, you’re on your own.
You can also take a look at the Redington Predator fly rod here for a full review.
Online Reviews
The Vice has been widely reviewed. Some anglers love it at short ranges, and others prefer it at 80 feet. It lacks a delicate presentation, according to one review – Redington Vice gets in the way of your sense of control.
VICE’s multi-modulous carbon fiber blank has a fast but manageable action. I’d agree. Refined power is the best description.
the Redington Vice is a fly rod you go to when fly fishing starts to become a lifestyle and not just a hobby.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Offers enough versatility to practice a huge range of distances and weights.
- Solid craftsmanship makes for a durable rod
- Affordably priced despite its graphite and stainless steel frame.
Cons
- The Vice is built to teach, not to excel.
- The cork grip is made with filler, which won’t last a lifetime.
- The Vice doesn’t transfer vibrations all the way to the end of the line.
Wrapping Up
Redington has crafted a perfect intermediate rod for salt flats and lakes. If you’ve been on the search for a great rod for saltwater and freshwater, the Redington Vice might be just what you’ve been looking for! The Vice’s proportions will impress anglers who enjoy classic rods.
It has a few advanced features, and its multi-modulus blank design makes it impressively versatile. You can use it to cast precisely to trout and bass time after time, and it can stand up to the wind too. The construction is faultless, from the reel seat to the stripping guides, and the striking green blank is eye-catching.
The Vice is a saltwater grade tool that resists harsh saline water, so if you’ve been dying to branch out into new environments, you’ve met your match.
