Epic Flyrods Compete With World's Best

Field and Stream named Epic’s Reference 476 Fastglass rod as the world’s best small stream rod, while another Epic rod, the Reference 590G Carbon Fibre, was selected as one of the 13 finalists in the Best of the Rest category.

The Field and Stream judging panel enthused over the Reference 476, describing it as “impressive”, “stunning looking”, and the “nicest looking rod in the test”.

“What a perfect special-purpose, small-stream rod. It casts like a dream, and it looks so cool. I want one,” said Field and Stream’s Executive Editor Dave Hurteau.

The rod’s success was no surprise to Field and Stream’s Editor In Chief Colin Kearns.

"The Reference 476 FastGlass we used at the test was my personal rod, and I’d be lying if I didn’t enjoy some smug delight when all of the other testers gushed over it. When it came down to awarding the Best Small Stream Fly Rod, there was no doubt this was the winner.”

The other Epic rod to be selected in the top 13 Best of the Rest was the Reference 590G Carbon Fibre, which the judges described as a fantastic rod, capable of delicate and accurate presentations in close quarters at the same time as being able to “cast a country mile”. 

The Epic company is based in the Central Otago lakeside town of Wanaka and produces carefully crafted flyrods made from carbon fibre and fibreglass for fresh and saltwater fishing.

Epic founder Carl McNeil is delighted by the win.

“For 125 years, Field and Stream have been one of the United States premier outdoor and conservation magazines and to be recognised by such a prestigious and influential organisation in this way is humbling,” Carl McNeil said.

“This win is an acknowledgement of the hard work every member of the Epic team has put in over the past few years, and I am proud of what we have achieved together.

“This exhaustive test by Field and Stream pitted us against the best of the best from throughout the world, and to beat all comers is vindication of what we are doing here in Wanaka.

“The United States is an influential flyfishing market, and to succeed in such a highly regarded competition is a coup, not just for us, but for all New Zealand.

“Epic may be a small company but to take on the international flyrod industry’s giants - all multi-million dollar companies - and come out on top is a real achievement and truly satisfying,” Carl McNeil says.

The Field and Stream judging panel put the flyrods through a week of testing on New York’s Delaware River, assessing each rod for distance, accuracy and ease of casting.

“This was an exhaustive and challenging real-world test and one we were delighted to win.  The icing on the cake is the comment from Field and Stream’s Executive Editor Dave Hurteau that he now wants an Epic Reference 476 Fastglass for himself,” said Carl McNeil.

Epic has been exporting its products to anglers worldwide for several years, both fully built rods and component kits for skilled hobbyists to build their own.

Globally, recreational fishing is a growing, multi-billion dollar industry with predictions that it will be worth $15.4 billion US dollars by 2026.

New Zealand is internationally renowned for the quality of its trout fishing, attracting anglers from around the globe and, pre-Covid, contributed significantly to the country’s tourism industry.

Trout fishing is also extremely popular among Kiwis, with around a hundred thousand trout fishing licences being sold every year. The entire test article can be found at https://www.fieldandstream.com/story/outdoor-gear/best-fly-rod/?amp.

More information about Epic Flyrods can be found at Epicflyrods.com