Green River Enso Fly Rod Review
Green River Enso 8′ 2wt. 2pc. Rod
In Japan "Enso" is the classic symbol for that unique and profound experience of the connectedness between all things in the natural world.
Green River Enso 8′ 2wt. 2pc.
The fly rod business is flooded with a dizzying array of high-tech materials and performance terminology. How many million modulus does the graphite need to be to deliver your "blistering" cast directly into gail force winds? If you were to believe everything, they all have power to "punch" out line with power to spare, yet are delicate and sensitive in close…..load well…look good…great value… But are they? I took the 8′ 2wt. Enso for a good long test drive.
First off, when a fly rod is in this price range the expectations are a little higher~no doubt. I’ve tried "premium" fly rods that didn’t seem to deliver the goods, and wondered what this offering from Green River would be like. If they can deliver a great rod in this length/line wt., i’d be sold.
When you hold this rod for the first time, there is an obvious air of quality about it. It certainly gives you the feeling that you have an expensive rod in your hand~aesthetics are an important ingredient in premium rods! The blank is a deep green color and nicely complimented by nickel silver hardware (made by Green River) and a stunning reel seat machined from "indigenous" burled wood. The tube, rod bag ..first class of course. Now, the good stuff!
I tend to judge a fly rod by both what it can, and can’t do when its in my hands. The Green River Enso delivers~plain and simple. Its ability to deliver a wide range of fly sizes (and weights!) truly betrays what most consider to be the role of a 2wt. rod. Its what I would consider to be a nice, fast action. I’ve never really fished a rod that was anything like it. I like the quote (review) from the Enso page on Green River’s site; "Fishing one is a sensual, almost spooky experience, as though 9′ of luminous green graphite had somehow become a cybernetic appendage" Perhaps more poetic that I would describe it, but its not a bad description. I passed this little beauty around and kept hearing the word "wow!." Why? Simple~Green River has a beautiful rod in the Enso. You can see that it is, you can feel it when you cast. It more than picks up the slack in my casting ability! (which is a bonus) From pumpkinseed sunfish, small rainbows and brook trout all the way up to a number of oversized brown trout, this rod was a shining example of how a fly rod should be. The 2wt. Enso was subjected to giant weighted zonkers twitched through plunge pools, big nymphs, tiny dries at long distance…..all without a single complaint. With Enso rods ranging from 5′ 2wt. all the way up to a 9′ 8wt., there is a model to cover almost any gamefish. (including 4 and 5pc. travel rods) Visit www.greenriverrods.com and have a look at your next rod!
Fished with a 2wt. Joan Wulff WF. fly line by www.royalwulff.com
A few fish that wanted a closer look at the Enso!
Related Link: Green River Rods
