G. Loomis Released the Most Expensive Fly Rod. Is it Worth it?

G. Loomis just released its newest flagship fly rod with the Asquith. Now you may be wondering how this rod is new, given that it shares the same name as its predecessor. The answer lies in this rod’s design—rather than an updated rod, the new Asquith is a complete redesign, and with that comes new features and a new price. The Asquith is set to retail between $1570 and $1750, depending on the model and rod weight you choose. This makes this by far the most expensive flagship rod on the market (even a Winston is $500 cheaper). That begs the question: Is the new G. Loomis Asquith worth its price point? After thorough testing, here are my thoughts.

G. Loomis

Asquith

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Tech Specs

G. Loomis released the new Asquith lineup in both freshwater and saltwater rods. The freshwater lineup consists of 6 and 7-wt models and ranges in price from $1,570 to $1,635. The saltwater lineup consists of five rods (8–12-wt models) and ranges in price from $1,635 to $1,750. The Asquith features an extra-fast action, typical of flagship fly rods these days, and falls into the category of extra-lightweight, although we weren’t able to find exact weight specs.

In addition, Loomis paired this rod with a futuristic-style reel seat, titanium stripping guides, and PVD recoil snake guides. It’s also worth noting that the Asquith is backed by G. Loomis’ Limited Lifetime Warranty and Xpeditor Program. The warranty covers defects in materials and craftsmanship. For broken rods, the Xpeditor Program ensures you’ll receive a new rod, no questions asked, for a nominal fee.

Testing the Asquith

Just because something is expensive does not necessarily mean it is worth it. To understand what anglers get out of the Asquith, we had to put it through some rigorous testing. First, we opted to test a 9-ft 10-wt Asquith. In my opinion, rods 10-wt and up are where performance and reliability make or break a rod. If you’re going to justify spending $1,750, it better be for a rod capable of catching a once-in-a-lifetime fish like tarpon, permit, or GTs.

Our testing philosophy for new rods is two-fold. First, we cast it on the lawn. This gives us a better idea of the rod’s power and accuracy. It’s much easier to thoroughly test these criteria in a controlled environment than on the water, where fishing becomes the main focus. The second stage is to take the rod on the water for a “Fishability” test. While this isn’t a technical criterion, it reveals a lot about a rod’s ability to adapt to different fishing scenarios and how power transfers when fighting fish. This test consisted of fishing in South Florida for snook and tarpon, both fish that can reveal a lot about a rod.

Aesthetics

If you’re spending the money on a flagship fly rod, looks are certainly important. Of all the rods we’ve tested recently, the Asquith is the most modern-looking. It features a new custom fixed hood reel seat, offering improved reel clamping. In other words, the front edge of the reel seat swoops back with the cork handle for a more secure fit and modern look.

Rounding out the rod is a glossy black blank, with the signature Asquith cursive lettering. The reel seat also features weight markings on the top of the blank, for quickly identifying what rod you’re reaching for in the gunwale of a boat. It is worth noting that the Asquith does not come with rod alignment markers or a designated hook keeper.

Overall, I’m a fan of the Asquiths’ blank design but would have liked to see a more traditional look in the reel seat. It did grow on me during testing, but I’m still partial to a classic-looking fly rod design. For a premium rod, I’ll give Loomis credit for pushing the boundaries of what’s on the market.

Performance

While the Asquith looks the part, performance would be the next test. On the lawn, this rod started to come alive. I paired it with a Scientific Anglers Magnitude Textured Line in a 10wt. These lines have a heavy, roughly 40-foot shooting head and excel at loading extra-fast rods like this one.

Some fast rods I’ve tested recently have a stiffer butt and mid-section, with a slower tip. However, the Asquith I would describe as fast throughout the blank. The rod had no issues transferring power throughout the casting stroke, with a light swing weight and ample ability to punch through the wind. In addition, the rod delivered accurate casts at distances ranging from 15 to 60 feet. What really stood out was the Asquith’s ability to deliver casts up close, something most extra-fast rods fail to do.

The real test for this rod would be deep in the Florida Everglades chasing laid-up tarpon and winter snook. I knew this rod could cast, but how would it handle the demanding and ever-changing conditions of the Glades? Landing flies up close to the mangroves in search of snook was no issue for this rod, which wasn’t surprising, given how accurate it was during lawn testing. What surprised me was how much power this rod transferred when it came time to fight a fish. Upon hooking the first fish of the morning, it immediately took off for the mangroves in an attempt to wrap me around some roots and break me off. With a low-rod angle and a fair amount of pulling, I was able to put the brakes on the fish in short order. Throughout the day, this was a recurring theme as the Asquith proved itself as a rod capable of handling some of Florida’s most unforgiving fish.

Final Verdict

After testing, the G. Loomis Asquith is worthy of the flagship rod title. Its new blank technology and modern aesthetics certainly put it ahead of its predecessor. Now the real question still remained: Is it worth the money? While I thoroughly enjoyed fishing it, for most anglers, I’d say no. For the price of a new Asquith, anglers could get a new rod, reel, waders, and boots. That said, I do feel this rod has a place in certain anglers’ quivers. Any angler who spends a lot of time on the water will appreciate what the Asquith can do. Also, those who are targeting once-in-a-lifetime fish, perhaps in a far-off location, could benefit from the reassurance this rod brings.

At the end of the day, the Asquith makes a strong case for the best fly rod on the market. If you have the money and can justify spending it on this rod, go for it. The performance is there, and you won’t be disappointed.