Thomas and Thomas Zone Fly Rods

In this in-depth review, we’ll look at the Thomas & Thomas Zone 9 wt. 

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First, We’ll look at what makes it an excellent 9 wt rod, the pros and cons of the Zone, as well as the castability in various conditions.

Lastly, we discuss what level of casting ability the rod is best for and what fishing scenarios suit it best. If,after reading this review, you think this rod is for you, you can order below. If you still have questions, shoot us a message to phil@themightyfish.com

 

 

What Makes a Good 9 wt?

Just like any saltwater fly rod, a good 9 wt should meet all the basic requirements of it's line weight. It does not only need to cast well, but also needs to have good fighting capabilities, protect relatively light tippet, and be corrosion resistant. That said, let’s jump right into what makes an excellent 9wt fly rod for striper and bluefishing on Cape Cod.

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Fishing Scenario

Except for a couple of very unique freshwater fisheries, a 9wt is intended to be used in the salt water and is the ideal, all around line weight choice for fishing the Cape. If you have ever fly fished on Cape Cod in the spring/ summer/ winter, you already know the wind is always a factor in saltwater scenarios. 

 

A fast-action fly rod performs best in saltwater. It enables the angler to reduce loop size with weighted flies and generate high line speed. This line weight will allow you to deal with wind. It will also let you get the fly to the intended target quicker, resulting in more fish caught.

Fly Size

A good 9 wt will allow you to present size 4  Crab pattern gently to skittish stripers on the Monomoy Flats, but also excel at  bombing out a size 2/0 baitfish imitation with one false cast to stripers crashing the surf.

 

It is an incredibly versatile rod that will enable the angler to target many different fish species in many different conditions.

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Fighting Ability

I think the best fish to use as an example of a 9wt’s fighting ability is a big bluefish. These fish fight incredibly hard. The fish’s endurance is unfathomable and if it was able to grow to 50lbs like a striper, you could probably never land it. A good 10wt fly rod has the perfect blend between fighting power and tippet protection.

Corrosion Resistance

As mentioned earlier, a 10wt fly rod, in my opinion, is meant to be used in saltwater. The rod builders have chosen good quality, top of the line components that are corrosion resistant. We emphasize resistant because if you don't take reasonable care to wash off after saltwater use, you could eventually get some corrosion. These top quality components do not negate the fact that you need to clean your equipment every single time you use it.

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After Sales Service

I always recommend fellow anglers to buy a rod from a manufacturer with a reputable after-sales service. No matter how well the rod is built or how often you clean your equipment, things happen. It is essential to know that the rod you’ve bought can be repaired quickly and without much hassle.

Where the 10wt Thomas & Thomas Zone Shines

So, where does the 10wt Zone shine? Let’s have a look at what it does well.

Situation

The rod is a joy to fish with under 60 feet, aka reel saltwater fishing distance. It is very versatile in terms of the species you can target with it, which include milkfish, trevally, permit, and triggerfish.

 

Skill Level

The Zone is suitable for both moderate and experienced anglers. It does make a difference to a moderate caster’s distance and accuracy. Experienced anglers will get even more out of the rod.

Fighting Ability

The Zone performs well when fighting fish. I’ve always been amazed at the amount of pressure you can apply on big Stripers while protecting 25lb tippet close to the boat.

Where the 9 wt Thomas & Thomas Zone Falls Short

In my opinion, the Zone only has two shortcomings, namely:

Swing Weight

The first is that its  weight is a touch more more than $1000+ rods. But this is to be expected at nearly half the price.

 

Distance Casting

If you have to consistently deliver very accurate casts at 80ft and over, the Zone is a decent option.

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What’s in The Box?

Thomas & Thomas ship the Zone with the following:

Rod Sock

The sock is made from a tan/sand-colored fabric with black trim and laces. A T&T tag is positioned where you slide in the sections.

 

The rod sock is subdivided into four appropriately sized sections to accommodate each rod piece. The sock does not have a rod identification tag.

Rod Tube

The natural aluminum rod tube has a square Thomas & Thomas Zone decal on the side. The aluminum cap screws into this tube and has an O-ring to make it waterproof. The cap has the rod information on it, which says “910-4 Zone”.

 

Warranty Registration Card

A warranty registration card is included with the rod. The rod model (Zone 910-4) and the serial number has been prefilled. You can mail the completed card to Thomas and Thomas or send a photo of the card to their email address. Alternatively, register the rod on their website.

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Thomas & Thomas Zone Features and Specs

Let’s have a look at the rod itself:

Fighting Butt

The 9 wt Zone has a substantial fighting butt that is long enough to keep a spinning reel away from any snags. It is made from a combination of natural and reinforced cork. The latter makes the end of the butt durable and will last many years to come.

 

Reel Seat

The uplocking reel seat skeleton is made from anodized aluminum. It features two locking screws and a reel securing ring laser engraved with the Thomas & Thomas logo. The blue composite insert matches the rod’s blank color well. What material it is, I cannot tell you as T&T describes it as “blue fiber reel seat hand-rolled at T&T.”

 

A saltwater fly rod’s reel seat is one of the most vulnerable to corrosion. During the time I spent guiding in Seychelles, we experienced no problems with the reel seats of the Zones we rented out.

Grip

The Zone comes with a full-wells shaped grip made from a combination of natural and reinforced cork. The reinforced material is positioned on the front portion of the grip, where the angler’s thumb rests. This area on the grip usually takes the most beating. The reinforced cork gives a solid grip and lasts a lifetime.

 

When purchased new, the grip comes wrapped in plastic and has a decorative Thomas & Thomas decal wrapped around it.

Line Guides

The two stripper guides (the first and largest guides on the rod) have a titanium frame with Zirconium inserts. The rest of the snake guides are Snake Brand E-coating Universal guides.

 

These stainless-steel guides have a concave radius below its feet, allowing it to self-align and conform well to the blank.
Both the line and stripper guides are well selected for saltwater use, and if looked after properly, will serve you well for years to come.

Finish

A thin clear coat has been applied over the natural carbon fiber. The rod blank’s finish is similar to that of the premium Scott rods. Blue thread wraps are used on the line guides, rubber winding check, and ferrules.

 

Silver decorative accent wraps are used on the butt section. The serial number is handwritten on each rod section and is used to align the rod sections.

If I have to look for one thing that I don’t necessarily love on the rod, it would be the Zone icon above the grip. I know this is nitpicking, and I must mention this is a personal preference and will not influence my choice if I was looking to buy the Zone.

Build Quality

The Zone has incredible build quality for the price. It does justice to Thomas and Thomas, and not for once did I feel that some items could have been put together better. The reel seat and cork grip perform well. The guides and hardware are corrosion resistant and selected correctly.

 

The clear coat is perfect with no signs of bubbles or uneven application. Yes, if you put it right next to the top of the range Exocett, you’ll pick up some differences, but that is to be expected.

Action

The 9wt Zone is a fast action rod. This action is perfectly suited to the intended application, which is fishing flats from a skiff or while wading. The rod action allows you to form tight loops and punch in power when needed. This makes it easy to deal with wind at actual fishing distances.

As part of my review, I had a couple of guys cast the Zone to see what their reactions were. 

Most said: “Wow, it’s fast!” After about 10 minutes with the rod, everyone delivered much tighter loops and gained at least 15 feet on their cast.

Material

The Zone uses the same StratoTherm resin technology as the top of the line Avantt and Exocett models. Comparing the 9 wt Zone to the Exocett, it is slightly heavier, but in my experience, it is more durable, and I prefer the action.

 

Weight

• Physical Rod Weight (9wt): T&T does not disclose the rod weight; however, it measured 4.0 oz on our scale at the shop.

• Other rod weights available in the model range: 11 models, from a medium action 3wt to the 10wt.

A suitable 9/10wt reel and line balanced the rod well. It is a rod that you can spend the entire day casting at typical fishing distances without wearing your arms out.

After-Sale Service

Thomas & Thomas warrants all their rods against breaking due to defects in material or poor workmanship. This warranty is only available to the original owner of the rod and must be registered within 30 days after purchase.

If you have a secondhand rod, or you broke the rod by stepping on it in the skiff (like myself), T&T will repair the broken section for a fee.

I always recommend anglers to buy from a reputable brand that has a long history of good after-sales service. Let me assure you; you can buy a Thomas & Thomas with confidence.

 

Casting the 10wt Thomas & Thomas Zone

I tested the 10wt using a cold-water weight forward floating line and a 9ft straight 30lb monofilament leader. The fly is a size 1/0 popper with the bend of the hook cut off with pliers.

Casting The T&T Zone 10wt Fly Rod

For the first test, I took it to the beach to test it on the water and the beach. I asked one of my friends to join me to see how it will suit his casting stroke and what distance and accuracy he could get from it.

Finally, I took it to a field to spend more time with it, specifically focusing on accuracy in a more controlled environment.

It must be noted that before this review, I had extensive experience with the Zone range. The 8, 9, and 10wts were used as rentals on Alphonse Island. I used the rod myself and guided anglers, with a wide range of casting ability, on the flats.

30ft Casts

At 30ft, about 21ft of the fly line is out of the rod tip. In most flats fishing scenarios, this is considered as close range. Although the rod doesn’t load properly at this distance, it is very accurate. Even a beginner or moderate caster can present the fly exactly where it needs to be with consistency.

 

40ft Casts

With around 30feet of fly line out of the rod tip, the rod feels very lively. It is easy to carry this amount of line in the air. This distance was my favorite for the rig combination I used. Once again, it was accurate and, if the loops were nice and tight, it achieved this distance with great ease.

60ft Casts

Accurate 60ft casts are what catches you the most saltwater fish. I was able to pick the line up from 20ft and deliver the fly to 60ft with one false cast. The rod responds very well to a double haul, and I recommend any saltwater angler to learn this technique.

 

At this distance, you can feel that the rod is not the lightest quiver out there. However, I like how solid it feels in hand.

80ft Casts

An accurate 80ft cast is hard with even the most expensive rods. Yes, they’ll get you the distance, but can you repeatedly hit a 5-inch by 5-inch target. Well, I can’t.

At this distance, I felt that the Zone lacked slightly. It does have the power, but I couldn’t make the cast accurately. It must be noted that accuracy and castability at this distance much depend on the line you’re using. So perhaps a fly line with a longer head would have performed better.

My Thoughts

So, what are my thoughts on the Thomas & Thomas Zone? Let’s have a look at the pros and cons first.

Pros:

• Great value for money as you’re getting a hand-built rod made in the USA for just over $550

• Saltwater specific components are corrosion resistant

• Great casting rod at close to medium fishing distances

Cons:

• Not the best rod for super distance casting