New fly fishing gear: March 2026 | Hatch Magazine
March 14, 2026 
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With winter loosening its grip and a new fishing season about to kick off around the country, many anglers are looking to fill out their quiver with new rods, reels, lines, apparel and other odds and ends. Gear makers have obliged and while the winter months are often spartan in terms of new product releases, many manufacturers have bucked the trend this year, giving fly fishers a host of shiny new gear to covet.
To help fuel your daydreams and lighten your wallet, ere’s a rundown of what’s hit shop shelves since the start of 2026.
SAGE POWER R8
Building on its established baseline R8 tech, Sage is launching — no pun intended — a new ultra-fast action line of all-purpose fly rods aimed at anglers “who live to let ‘er fly and find that ‘6th gear’ when it counts.” The new Sage Power R8 (pictured at top) fully incorporates the latest in the company’s high-modulus carbon fibers that boast “nano-textured” surfaces that help resins bond better. Add in reinforced hoop fibers, and Sage claims the resulting fly rod offers a “crisper feel, improved energy transfer, and heightened feel from hand to fly.”
The R8 line of rods is no joke, and we’ve fished a number of versions featuring the company’s proprietary tech. This newest rendition is meant to inspire anglers who love the long cast, need to battle Tierra del Fuego-grade wind on a regular basis, or find themselves throwing big flies at big fish. The new Sage Power R8 comes in weights 5 through 9.
Photo: Skwala Fishing.
Skwala Fusion vest
Skwala has swiftly become an industry leader when it comes to wading and weather-proof products. The company’s new Fusion 90 vest is a good example of the Montana-based outfit putting its proprietary tech to good use in multiple products. Fly rod manufacturers do it, so why not soft-goods crafters?
The Fusion 90 vest uses the same synthetic insulation material found in its popular 3/2 puffy jacket — the material is meant to trap heat under the protection of an abrasion-resistant, water-repellant, stretchy shell. It comes with an insulated and adjustable hood, and the whole garment is built to last. That latter snippet of information is why potential customers might not want to turn up their noses at the price tag.
Photo: Orvis Fly Fishing.
Orvis Hydros fly reel
The newly updated orvis Hydros fly reel is the company’s “mid-priced” offering that now offers a larger arbor, machined aluminum handle, and a larger drag knob (a trend that most anglers will really take to). Orvis says the reel boasts “zero startup inertia” — marketese used to explain how the drag won’t be too grabby and break off fast-running fish, particularly for anglers using light tippet. While the Hydros isn’t a designated saltwater fly reel, it is salt-capable, Orvis says, and is a particularly good option for inshore fish like bones and redfish.
Simms Access wading boots
Built for the stick-and-move fly fisher who covers water and covers miles on the trail, the new Access wading boot is, according to some of the longest-tenured folks at Simms, the best all-purpose wading boot Simms has ever built. Constructed with the tried-and-true Vibram Idogrip outsole and the Idogrip Flex midsole, the boots are designed to cling to rocks on the water, and propel the angler upstream, whether on the trail, through streamside willows, or on exhausting bushwhacks into the backcountry. The boots are light (45 ounces in a size 9), making them much more trail-worthy than traditional wading boots, and the sole is stud- or cleat-ready, should additional traction be needed on mossy or slimy river rock. They are constructed to drain quickly, reducing in weight the farther they get from the river, and they’re coated in a thin layer of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) to make them a bit more bombproof for demanding off-the-water wear.
Photo: Far Bank Enterprises.
Sage Shift and Shift LT fly reels
Of all the notable features in Sage’s new Shift and Shift LT fly reels, Sage’s hallmark one-revolution drag knob is likely what anglers are going to notice first. This simple and easy-to-adjust knob, even on the fly with a fish on the reel, is quick to find, even blindly, and meant to help anglers fight fish from their perspective, rather than allowing big or small fish to dictate the terms of a battle. This is important for the angler who likes to bring fish in quickly, keep them safe and wet, and release them for the next encounter.
The Shift reels come in sizes 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, and 9/10, and offer 20 individual drag settings. They’re sealed, so inshore saltwater use isn’t out of the question. Shift reels come in black, bronze, platinum. The Shift LT reels are a bit more advanced on the tech end, and feature 40 individual drag settings. Like the Shift, the LT version comes in sizes 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, and 9/10. The Shift. LT comes in silver pine, stealth, and squall (three shades of gunmetal gray, really).
Photo: Far Bank Enterprises.
Redington Big Game fly rod
Freshwater anglers that chase big fish or throw big flies have another option to consider in Redington’s new Big Game series. The all-new product line features fast-action, nano resin infused graphite rods that come in weights 6 through 12 – the 11- and 12-weight rods are designed for musky anglers, and these models feature the “figure 8” handle that’s unique to musky and pike angling.
The new deep-loading Big Game rods feature chrome-plated stainless steel guides and ceramic insert stripping guides. The reel seats sport Redington’s hidden (and super handy) hook keeper, and the rods all included alignment dots for spot-on assembly. Perhaps the best feature? A lifetime warranty.
Photo: Orvis Fly Fishing.
Orvis Ratio fly reel
Billed as the “most rugged and durable big-game reel Orvis has ever designed,” the all-new Ratio is truly made for larger fish — think tuna, billfish, GTs, in addition to oft-pursued flats fish like tarpon, permit, and bigger bonefish — and the larger, heavier rods used to catch them. Orvis says the new premium Ratio sports some serious stopping power at the high end of the drag ratio, and notes that the reel is fully sealed. It’s lighter than its Mirage USA cousins and, depending on the size, can offer between 12 and 20 pounds of maximum drag. The drag knob is oversized, which makes it easier to blindly find during mid-fight if the battle isn’t going as expected, and easier to make small adjustments on the fly.
Photo: G. Loomis.
G. Loomis Asquith
Are you ready for a fly that retails north of $1,600? G. Loomis is betting that you are with the release of the newly redesigned Asquith. As noted in an earlier report, the new rod comes in both salt and freshwater versions and is billed by its manufacturer as “the most technologically advanced rod series ever produced.” Bold words, of course, but G. Loomis has a sterling reputation for rod-making ingenuity, and if any company could back up that claim, it might just be Loomis.
Of course, all premium fly rods hitting the market of late are products of significant research and development (hence the price, marketing VPs will apologetically tell you), and just about every premium rod-maker touts the new tech that’s going into their products as the best there is. But Loomis is the first one to shoulder through the $1,600 barrier for a premium fly rod, presumably opening the door for others to do the same.
“Asquith is engineered for anglers who approach fly fishing with ambition and intention,” said Kade Gewanter, freshwater marketing manager for Shimano North America Fishing, G. Loomis’ parent company. “Every component and every contour is designed to deliver power without sacrificing finesse. Whether you’re making precise casts into the wind or battling strong fish in heavy current, Asquith gives anglers the responsiveness and control needed to excel in all conditions.”
Will the angling community take to the Asquith? That remains to be seen. Of course, if the rod itself is as pioneering as its price point, there will certainly be takers, particularly among the Loomis loyalists, of which there are many.
Photo: Mayfly Outdoors.
Ross Coors Light Cimarron LT fly reel
For trout anglers who also pay attention to fisheries health, Ross and Coors have teamed up once more for a product launch. While the new Ross Coors Light Cimarron LT fly reel might feel a little gimmicky, it’s a gimmick most of us should be able to get on board with. Coors Light, a popular river-grade beer, made waves years ago thanks to its color-changing aluminum can that let consumers know when the beer was perfectly cold. Well, apply the same idea to Ross’ new Cimarron Coors Light fly reel — the aluminum reel turns a nice, icy blue when river or stream water temperatures are below 70 degrees — the absolute cut-off point for anyone dipping a hand in the water and asking, “Is it too warm to fish today?”
(Hint: 70 degrees is most definitely too warm — 68 is probably a better cutoff point for most trout)
Better yet, sales from the innovative joint project will help fund Trout Unlimited’s Embrace-a-Stream program which operates from a significant pool of money raised by the organization, and awards grants to site-specific, on-the-ground projects designed to improve habitat and, presumably, the fishing. The Cimarron itself is a lightweight composite-drag fly reel — a dependable fly reel for trout. But the color-shifting aluminum is the kicker — if nothing else, it brings fisheries health to the forefront for any angler willing to put the Silver Bullet label on their gear.
RIO Powerflex Strong tippet
Billed as “the most supple, highest knot-strength nylon trout tippet ever made,” the new RIO Powerflex Strong tippet features a high strength-to-diameter ratio, and comes in diameters ranging from 2.5-pound 7x to 16.2-pound 0x, including three half-sizes: 4.5, 5.5 and 6.5. Each tippet comes in 30-yard spools.
Photo: Orvis Fly Fishing.
Orvis Recon fly rod
Orvis is pollinating its venerable fly rod collection with its celebrated Helios tech, and the Recon is the newest fruit from that tree. Billed as the “strongest mid-priced rods Orvis has ever made,” the new Recon is crafted in the company’s Vermont-based operation, and is reportedly 25 percent stronger than its previous generation. For the record, “mid-priced” is almost $700.
The new Recons, as noted, are Helios-inspired and built for the crowd that’s into “tools not jewels.” Billed as the “workhorses” of the Orvis line, these fast-action fresh and saltwater rods are a bit more approachable than their Helios siblings when it comes to the price point, and the brand has built a following among guides and lodges, where it’s often the rod that’s handed to fly-fishing clients for a day on the water. Previous iterations of the Recon are excellent, all-purpose fly rods. There’s no reason to think this version will be any different.
Photo: Far Bank Enterprises.
Redington Classic Trout Kit
Farbank’s value brand has for years offered anglers some serious gear for prices a bit more in line with mainstream budgets, and the company’s latest kit offering should be no different. The Classic Trout Kit features Redington’s moderate-action Classic Trout fly rod paired with its Classic Trout click-and-pawl fly reel. The latter comes loaded with backing and a spool of RIO Gold XP fly line. The kit comes in two weights – 3 and 5. The 3-weight comes in four pieces, and measures 7 feet, 6 inches long. The 5-weight is a classic 9-foot, 4-piece. Both rods are clay brown and feature handsome rose-wood reel seat inserts, custom-machined reel seats, and titanium oxide stripping guides.
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RIO Elite MDC VersiTip fly line
RIO is launching an innovative new fly lines for single-handed anglers that feature interchangeable sink tips for “present flies from top to bottom.” The new lines come in weights 5 through 9, and give one-handers some two-handed flexibility by allowing them to change out 12-foot sink tips of varying weight in order to help them meet the fish wherever they are in the water column.
Photo: Sitka.
Sitka FISH
Longtime hunting gear outfitter Sitka is diving into fishing apparel with several “purpose-built systems designed to perform across all waters.” The Bozeman, Montana-based company’s brass noted that, with almost 58 million anglers in America, the time was right for the reputable hunting brand to turn its attention to the water. Already, 70 percent of Sitka’s customer base identifies as anglers, so brand loyalty among those customers could mean a ready-made audience is waiting.
Sitka’s new fish-focused apparel starts with its Crosscurrent Wading System, which includes zip and non-zip four-layer Gore-Tex PRO waders (retailing between $800 and $1,000), and wading boots with either rubber or felt soles ($249 to $299. Sitka also launched its new CAT-5 jacket and bib system that features stretchy Gore-Tex and guaranteed waterproof performance. Finally, the longtime hunting outfitter announced its new Guard sun hoody ($99) and Guard long-sleeved shirt ($129), both designed with UPF 50+ sun protection and insect shield protection.
“Fishing is more than a hobby focus for our customers,” said Matt Carara, product line manager at Sitka Gear.”It’s part of how they live.” The company has a solid reputation among the hunting crowd, so it’ll be interesting to see how anglers — particularly finicky and brand-loyal fly fishers — take to the new gear. It does help, too, that, in addition to launching a new fishy product line, the company is partnering with several conservation interests working to improve fish habitat and access, like Captains for Clean Water, Keep Fish Wet, and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.
Photo: Far Bank Enterprises.
Sage Arrow fly rod
Sage’s new Arrow is an interesting addition to the company’s rod quiver. A “responsive fast-action rod” built to handle a wide range of fly-fishing disciplines, from dry-fly accuracy to streamer backbone, the Arrow kind of slides in under the hardcore (no pun intended) R8 Core line that tops out Sage’s rod lineup, but above its more approachable (from a retail perspective) Foundation series. The Arrow comes in weights 4 through 8, with fighting butts available on the 6-weight and included on the 7s and 8s.
Sage bills the rod as ideal for anglers who always have their favorite rod strung up and ready to go, and for serious fly fishers, it could absolutely fall into the “daily driver” category, depending on the preferred discipline. For trout anglers, the fast action offers application diversity; for bass and even inshore anglers, the fast action is a nice addition. It’s definitely worth a look for anglers looking to invest in a solid rod at what’s become the cost range for “reasonably” priced rods.
Each Arrow incorporates Sage’s Kinetic HD tech that reportedly helps with accuracy and tighter loops, all in a generally lighter package. The rods are beautiful, and all built on a flint-colored rod, wrapped with an olive base thread with gunsmoke accents, and they all feature hard-chrome snake guides and tip-top, with a ceramic stripping guide insert.
Photo: Skwala Fishing.
Skwala RS Bibs
For anglers and guides who put in their share of foul-weather days on boats, Skwala is offering a solid solution in its new RS bib waterproof outerwear. The bibs are fully breathable, waterproof, stretchy — the idea was to construct a rain bib that acted more like a good pair of durable hiking pants.
The bibs feature dual, waterproof side zips rather than the usual center-located zipped compartment, which makes it easier to warm cold-numb fingers and hands after an hour or non-stop rowing. The bibs also sport extended size zips from the ankle to the hip, which helps the bibs adapt to boots ranging from wading boots to Xtratufs, and allows the wearer to easily reach into pants pockets. Finally, the bibs have removable knee pads and internal sleeves for a more comfortable, non-shell feel for those donning these impressive-at-first-look outerwear.