5WT 9' - Matte

I was in a pinch... needed a 9 wt for a trip to Grand Cayman, and I was leaving in 5 days!!! I scoured AMAZON and my choices were limited to what would ship immediately, and arrive in 2 days. The rod looked pretty good so I took a shot and gambled on MOONSHINE. The price was reasonable, and the rod is absolutely terrific! Windy weather so the 9 wt was the only way to go. 3 nice Bonefish and 1 small Tarpon later I WAS SOLD!!! The rod is beautifully made, the hard case with its 5 individual pockets is great! AND the inclusion of TWO TIP SECTIONS is a bonus! Well done MOONSHINE!!!

First off, I don't leave reviews almost ever, so that should tell you something right off the bat. I started my fly fishing journey about a year ago with the KastKing Emergence combo. It's a ~$130ish rod 'n reel set up that gets you in the water as quick as possible. For someone who had never fly fished before, it was a fantastic combo to get you going. As I started to fly fish more often (around 3-4 times a week) I decided it may be time to invest a bit more into my hobby. I did my research, watched my YouTubes, and found my way to this guy here. One of my gripes with the Emergence was that I felt as though I couldn't ever cast out as far as I needed to. I'm primarily a stillwater fisher; you won't catch me on streams and such often (no trout where I live). I decided to stick with a 5wt, but went up to a 10 foot rod. My first cast with this rod took about a fourth of the amount of false casting I normally would've done to get the amount of line out that I needed. After two days, I've already landed a personal best largemouth. This thing is the truth! If my old rod was a rifle, this thing is a howitzer. It's unbelievable how far I can cast out with this rod. Pros: - Beautiful rod, very classy - Well constructed, appears durable (time will tell) - Medium action, allows for more tactile feel while in the water and also more bend in the rod for longer casting. - Effortless casting. A beginner was able to operate this rod like a seasoned pro within 15 minutes. - Comes with extra tip section. Cons: - No guide dots on the sections. This is a minor gripe and can be DIY remedied if you wish. - The cork feels wonderful, but I noticed very small pieces of it flaking off once my hand got a little wet. I'm unsure if it'll last through the rigors of kayaking, but again, time will tell.

I found Moonshine Rods while researching for blanks to build a flyrod to replace one that got donated to the fish gods. I spent 3 days researching Moonshine after finding them here on Amazon. I've enjoyed fast action flyrods for years, but as I get older I find I like a little slower, less demanding action. The Drifter seemed like "the one" to me. I ordered a 9' 5weight. 2 days later, I was opening a box to reveal something I didnt expect. A VERY NICE looking rod appeared as the packaging went away. Initially, you are attracted to the burl wood insert on the reel seat, then the cork handle, and then your eyes start wandering over the guides thread windings. Beautifully executed, no gaps, no lumps and well done top coat finish. After receiving my new reel and line, I strung up this gem and headed to the yard to see how this baby casts. Few false casts to feel out the action and let her rip. That's when I noticed something you don't see even on high dollar factory rods unless its a custom build on a mass produced blank. Most rods don't have enough line guides. This causes the line to sag between the guides, slowing down line speed and making casting long distance difficult. This rod has more line guides than most 9' rods, and if you load the action up statically, you'll find the line follows the blank perfectly! The Drifter casts effortlessly for me to 50-60 feet. and further with a bit more effort. Well done Moonshine Rod Co, for actually building a flyrod correctly!!! The extra tip section is a nice bonus as well. I'm looking forward to actually fishing this rod. At 200 bucks, I wouldnt call this a "budget" rod, but I would call it a very high value/per dollar spent rod. You can spend more, you could spend less, but this rod hits right in the feels for the best bang/$$ IMO. BTW, customer service is unbelievable. I emailed a question at 6:30 PM mountain time, I got a response and hour later. How many business answer emails after hours? These folks are awesome

The craftsmanship on this rod is absolutely top-notch. From the moment you take it out of the case, you can tell it’s made with care and attention to detail. As someone who really appreciates quality gear, I was impressed right away. Out on the water, this rod performs just as well as it looks. The casting is smooth and accurate, with a great feel and balance in hand. It loads well and delivers a clean presentation without much effort. I’ve used it primarily on the North Platte River in Wyoming and had excellent success with it—plenty of control even in variable conditions, and the backbone to handle feisty trout. The weight feels just right for all-day use, and I had no issues with fatigue or strain after long sessions. It’s clear Moonshine Rod Co. knows what they're doing. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just looking for a rod that will help you grow in the sport, this is a rock-solid choice and a great value. The weight and size of the rod are perfect for larger rivers. It's not the best choice for fishing small rivers and creeks but for decent sized fish this is a great option. Highly recommend—beautiful rod, reliable performance, and a great company behind it.

Awesome fly rod, great price

I bought Moonshine Vesper 10'6" 3wt for euro nymphing in a river located in the prefecture next to Tokyo, where stocked rainbow trout are released. I tried it at the end of January. I only caught one trout this time, but I still enjoyed euro nymphing with the Vesper. I especially love the design—the gray blank and orange accents are beautiful and exceeded my expectations before purchasing. I’m already looking forward to using it on my next trip.

Fantastic rod. It even came with a spare top tip section! That is like getting a second rod! My new favorite rod.

one cool lil rod! im on 2lb test and this rod handle some big fish today. alot of action, looks amazing, so glad i gave this company a shot! i paired it with a tica cetus sb 500 and love it. light weight setup but packs a punch. bonus it came with a carrying case its so well built the rod was worth the price alone.

Haven't used it yet but as far as I can tell the craftsmanship on this rod is unmatched. Thank you moonshine rod co

cette canne fait le travail aussi bien qu'un modele au de gamme et a une fraction du prix

This rod is very sensitive, perform well for nymphing and for dry fly. It's probably going to be my favorite rod for trout fishing.

Have fished this rod for a few weeks now on the small streams of Dartmoor, and have to say it's a little cracker! Handles casting into stiff breezes admirably, and when playing decent moorland trout it bends deep for maximum enjoyment during the fight! The quality of the rod and fittings is excellent, it looks great and is a joy to use. Just buy one you will not be disappointed.

What a nice rod!! I am relatively new to fly fishing and after buying few rods I decided to buy Moonshine's. Beautiful rod, from tip top to bottom. I have the 7' 6'' 3-wt and it casts fantastic with a relatively cheap line and reel. I am extremely happy with the product.