The Loop Q Fly Rod is an incredible piece of fly-casting technology at a price point you won't believe... but that's not the point of this review.This review is about taking the rod out in the field... from Montana to Mexico, and seeing how it plays out against a wide variety of fishy species while competing against the weather of all places.

Here's what we found.

January 1st 2017 - The Loop Q Debut in Wolf Creek, Montana

I made my first cast of the year with a Loop Q 4 wt.... and I caught my first trout of the year on a Loop Q 4 wt.

Review? So far, so good. It was smooth and perfect for midging with 5X tippet. Then I tried the 6 wt. A bit faster, the 6 was perfect in the nasty Montana wind. Caught fish on it too.

I liked them both. "How much are these rods selling for?" Was a question that floated around in the back of my mind after this initial test.

February 16th - The Loop Q Goes Inner-city Carping

Calvin Fuller and I went down to the Missouri River on a windy winter afternoon to cast the 8 wt. Q. Calvin kept pulling more and more line off the spool and sending casts far into the river despite the wicked winter wind.

He looked at me and said, "How much are we selling this rod for?"

...Then he hooked a carp and things got really interesting.

March 7th - The Loop Q Tackles Tarpon in Mexico

A tarpon rolled at 90’. I looked at my guide. He shrugged his shoulders. I pulled off some more line and let it fly. The fly landed right where the fish had rolled. While the tarpon did not eat or was no longer there, my thought was this:

This Loop Q rod is really good. How can it be priced so low? I’d fish this stick any day.

For the next two hours, I took every shot I could as far away as I could. It was simply fun to launch line.

You can order your Loop Q rod from us online right here.

Eventually, I got a tarpon to eat. He was at 40’. That’s how it usually goes, but at least I got to feel him on the Q. No problem there either. I put the rod to him hard and the Q was up to the task.

What the Pros are saying about the Loop Q Fly Rod

I messaged Loop Pro, Eoin Fairgrieve, in Kelso, Scottish Borders to get his take on the Q.

"As you know, the single handed rods are all 9’ and cover a range of freshwater species from light trout to heavy predator fishing. The Q series rods offer excellent performance at a highly competitive price point."

I messaged Loop Pro, Stuart Foxall, in the U.K. and he said,

"To me, the Q stands for quality. It’s better than a lot of other rods far more expensive. In fact, the word among many of the Loop crew is that the rod was under-priced."

I messaged Loop CEO, Gordon Sim, in Iceland, and he simply said

"The Loop Q is too good."

It looks like we have a recurring theme here. A really good rod at a really good price. This is truly a high performance fly rod series. I believe the Loop Q rod is going to up the game for many anglers just getting into the sport.

The Q is a great option for anglers looking to fill a niche in their quiver without breaking the bank.

Looking for a Loop reel to match up with your rod? We reviewed the top Loop reel we carry, right here. Check it out.

The Q is also an excellent choice for the traveling angler looking for a spare. In my case, I brought the Q along to try for baby tarpon and I ended up fishing it every day.

The Loop Q Single Hand Series

Each Loop Q rod was designed independently to work for its line class. The Q series rod profiles match their common range of use.

• 9'0"

  4 weight MEDIUM/MEDIUM FAST

• 9'0"

  5 MEDIUM FAST The go to fly rod for the trout angler. The 5 weight excels at all forms of modern single hand fly casting to present dry flies, nymphs and streamers with ease.

• 9'0"

  6 MEDIUM FAST +

• 9'0"

  7 MEDIUM FAST/FAST

• 9'0"

  8 FAST

• 9'0"

  9 FAST

• 9'0"

  10 FAST

There are currently two Spey models in the Q series. A 13’2" 8 wt. that Stuart Foxall really likes and a 15’ 10 wt. for big water and large anadromous fish. I’m told that more models are in the works.

Why Loop Tackle Design?

Many fly fishing anglers are familiar with Loop, though the brand is still new to some. Loop was an early sponsor of some young fly fishing pioneers, as they traveled the world and brought us insights and entertainment through video and film tours.

Do you remember the Trout Bum Diaries?

Loop was founded in Sweden in 1978 with the goal of making fly fishing tackle better along with educating and bringing more people into the sport. Today, Loop has grown into a global brand with a passionate following.

Did you know that Loop designed the first large arbor reel in 1984? That was almost ten years before everyone else was building large arbor reels.

Check out our selection of loop rods, reels and gear online here.

Since the beginning, Loop has pushed forward with rod, fly line and gear design concepts that make fly fishing better. When you choose to purchase Loop tackle, you are joining a passionate worldwide fly fishing community... plus we can tell you from experience that their gear is truly top of the line.

A Final Word on the Loop Q Fly Rod

I believe the Q is going to be a great gateway rod for getting anglers into the Loop brand. If you have any questions about the rod, use the form below or reach out to us on Facebook.

What is a loop Q fly rod?

The Loop Q Fly Rod Series is Loop’s entry-level fly rod and it’s an excellent choice for anyone fishing on a budget or if you’re just starting your fly fishing career. The Loop Q rod is lightweight, has a lovely feel from butt to tip in the cast, and comes in every action bar slow.

Why buy loop Q rods?

Versatility, power, finesse great words to have in a rod review and they are all here and then some. The added convincement anglers may need to commit to the Loop Q can be found in our shop, Vail Valley Anglers, where the Loop Q rods have been chosen as our rental fly rods, a testament to their quality, performance and durability.

What is the loop Q series?

The Loop Q series possesses a lot of little things usually found on rods at a higher price point. Alignment indicators are a small but significant addition when it comes down to rigging your rod for the day. The smooth, gray-steel color is very inconspicuous on the water with hardly any flash of reflected sunlight like you find on glossy models.

Is the loop Q good for bass fishing?

Included is a rod tube with individualized sleeves for each rod section, protecting the stripping guides and rod finish when traveling. These are but a handful of little things that the Loop Q is doing right. The Loop Q is an ideal bass fishing rod for still waters too.

Are loop rods good?

The Loop Q is a very nice 8-weight rod. If it weren't for the longer distance performance, the Q would have been one of my favorite rods in the Shootout. If you are looking for an inexpensive streamer rod, the Q is a winner. The Q has a nice soft tip, making it a pleasure to cast at 35 and 60 feet.

Where are loop fly rods made?

I understand that although designed by Loop, some of the components are made in Europe, shipped to Korea and assembled there on Korean machined bar stock.

What is the most versatile fly rod length?

A 7-foot rod is great for small streams and tight spaces, while a 9-foot rod provides better casting control and line management. What is the Most Popular Fly Rod Length? The most popular fly rod length is 9 feet, as it's a versatile option that can be used for a variety of fishing situations.

What is the best use for a 6 weight fly rod?

I mostly use a 6 weight for throwing bigger dry flies or nymph fishing larger rivers. In these scenarios I generally am casting between 20-45 feet and this is the heart of the sweet spot for the H3F.