Loop is a brand that’s not as familiar to American anglers because they’ve largely sold their gear in the European market. You could get their rods here in the States, but only at a handful of dealers. Now, the company offers direct-to-consumer access, and one of their latest entries into the field is the new Trak series of rods.
Action
Moderate
MSRP
$290
Pros
- Great with dry flies and nymph rigs
- Suprisingly solid at short casts on tight water
- Plenty of reserve power
Cons
- Line reccs are higher than listed weights
- Swing weight
Trak rods are designed to give “great performance at a highly attractive price point,” and in my time with the 9′ 5-weight review model Loop sent me, I found that was the case. These rods, which retail for $290, are among the best entry-level sticks I’ve used in years. The Trak has a nice medium-fast action, although it will likely benefit from a line that’s a half- or full-size heavy. Any real complaints I have about the Trak are offset by the fact that it costs less than $300 and comes with a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.
Key Features:
- Forgiving moderate action
- Phenomenal fit and finish
- MSRP: $290
Pros:
- Great with dry flies and nymph rigs
- Surprisingly solid at short casts on tight water
- Plenty of reserve power
Cons:
- Line recommendations clock in higher than listed weights
- Swing weight
For example, the suggested line weight for the 9′ 5-weight Trak is listed on Loop’s website as 185-216 grains. A 5-weight in the U.S. is rated for line clocking in at 140 grains, per AFFTA standards. I’m not sure if that’s a typo on the website, as 185 grains on this rod would absolutely be too much. But a half-size to full-size heavy line is probably best for this stick.
But we’ll get into more detail on that below. For now, let’s start with what I liked about the Trak.
What I Like
Perfect Action
I remember reading in a major fishing publication not long ago that one author and gear expert said he thinks every rod company is building sticks that are too fast for most trout fishing situations. 10 years ago, I think that was a correct assumption, but now? Most companies have figured out the best marriage of high line speeds and feel, and the Trak is no exception. This rod is the perfect balance of medium-fast action that helps you load casts well, but still gives you enough feedback to quickly dial in the casting rhythm this rod demands. For beginners, a medium-fast action like the one offered in the Trak is the best way to learn, because you can feel each part of the casting stroke very distinctly.
I also found that this action lent itself well to dry fly fishing, especially at distance. While throwing this rod on a beaver pond, I tried (and failed) to catch a rising fish at the head, probably 60 or so feet away. I got the distance, but moved my arm too far off-plane, and the cast landed too far to the right. Even though I bungled the accuracy, the fly and leader still lay down with the delicacy I wanted.
Great At Short Casts
I do a lot of dry-dropper fishing in pocket water, and really enjoy time on creeks where I can just high-stick most drifts without the need to throw a fly cast past 15 feet. Some rods are better at this than others – the ability to cast a leader and flies off the tip, without loading up the rest of the rod.
The Trak excelled here, deftly launching my flies against downed logs, on the far seam, or right at the tail of the pocket in tight quarters. I reckon this is a niche use of a 5-weight, but I love rods that are versatile enough to handle work in-close, but still have the guts to roll cast a heavy nymph rig. A 5-weight is supposed to be the most versatile rod, after all; why would we put limits on versatility?
Gets The Job Done
The Trak has more than enough reserve power for throwing heavy nymph rigs, mending line at long distance, and dealing with reasonable wind. It’s not going to cut through 20-mile-per-hour gusts the way a faster rod will, but a good caster shouldn’t have a problem getting the Trak to perform.
The Trak doesn’t really jump out at you with one thing it’s great at. Instead, this rod just gets the job done with whatever you throw at it. Most fly rods I’ve reviewed lately have a sweet spot – they’re great at dry fly fishing, or a surprisingly solid streamer stick. The Trak has more of a blue-collar, all-around attitude.
Fit And Finish
This doesn’t have any bearing on the rod’s performance, but the Trak is a well-built rod with an understated look that I think a lot of anglers will appreciate. The reel seat is carbon fiber with anodized aluminum hardware, AAA-grade cork, and branding that doesn’t feel too in-your-face.
What I Don’t Like
Line Weight Rating
Loop recommends a line that’s much heavier than AFFTA standards for a 5-weight. Most 5-weight lines are around 140 grains, with some stretching up to 146 to 150. Loop’s website recommends lines in the 185-216 grain range, which is a 7 or 8-weight. That’s a bit extreme, but after fishing the Trak with a few different lines, the Scientific Anglers Infinity Taper (a half-size heavy) felt pretty good. A slightly heavier line, or a line with a slightly more aggressive taper, would probably feel the best on this rod, but I wouldn’t go crazy and throw a 6 or 7-weight line on this 5-weight.
Swing Weight
The only real performance complaint I have is the swing weight; it definitely feels heavy when punching past 50 feet, but not unbearably so. And for a rod that costs less than $300, it’s hard to count this against the Trak.
Final Word
Loop knocked it out of the park with the Trak. This rod is ideal for folks who are just getting into fly fishing, or who want to move on and upgrade from their big-box store 5-weight into something that performs better in various trout fishing circumstances. The Trak won’t wow you with anything in particular, but it’ll be remarkably consistent and reliable throughout your fishing adventures.
Last Updated on August 28, 2026 by Kirk Marks