Thanks to Wading Waters, I recently had the privilege of taking the new Douglas Sky and DXF fly rods to Ngombe Zambezi River Lodge to test them on some of Barotseland’s big tigerfish. I fished both rods in 9-foot, 9 weight configuration for 2 days each and fished short spells with my trusty G. Loomis GLX in between for comparison. The sky comes in a very high end and attractive aluminium rod tube paired with a cushioned mesh bag, that’s not just impressive but functional, you immediately know that this is a high-end rod. Everything on the sky screams high end fly rod!
The premium cork, aluminium reel seat coating, guides, wraps and epoxy work is faultless, and all done perfectly (better than on my G. Loomis). The look of the DXF is once again very standard, but pleasant on the eye, the reel seat had an O-ring that gave a bit of trouble, but I was able to fix it quite quickly and the reel seated very nice on the rod. I was very excited to fish with the SKY with its ultra-light weight construction. For the most part on a tigerfishing trip, I would always choose strength over light weight as the rods gets a bit of a beating on the boats and by the fish. This was however a pleasant break from my “normal” rod!
The rod feels much more like an 8 weight when fishing and the low swing weight was very noticeable. The rod loads great and at short distance is an absolute machine, it was really easy to put the fly into the smallest of little lies, even from a moving boat. It was incredibly easy to cast up to about 60 feet and I had pinpoint accuracy at these ranges (dare I say, better than my G. Loomis!). when casting further than 60 feet, the accuracy was not as great and further than 80 feet, one had to work hard to get the fly out that far, at these ranges I much preferred my old rod.
I think the rod would do well with some extra power at the longest distances, most fishing is not done at these distances though, so most people won’t be bothered much. Over the 2 days, the lower swing weight did make a difference and I was not nearly as tired from casting after a hard days fishing than I would normally be. The DXF was a big surprize, it fished extremely well at short distances and was very accurate and presented the flies perfectly. The feel was much more like a conventional fly rod and this felt like a true 9 weight. It was quite easy to make a 50-foot cast with minimal back casts, to get the fly into tight spots was a breeze. Further than this was more difficult, and the rod quickly ran out of energy on very long casts.
There was a huge difference between the G. Loomis and this rod above 60 feet and the G. Loomis was the hands down winner here, up to that range they were not that far apart though! African tigerfish is a formidable opponent on fly and for those not familiar with them, there are three characteristics that make them extra difficult to land on fly. The first of which is its ferocious strike paired with a bony mouth filled with sharp teeth. One needs a rod that can set the hook fast and with power, if you even want to hook one of these and penetrate that hard jaw! The second is its sheer speed and power, this poses obvious issues in trying to tame one of the larger specimens with a fly rod. They live in habitat with plenty of structure and the angler needs to be able to move the fish into safer water to stand a chance of landing it. The third issue is its fondness of fighting in the air. These fish jump and quite often jump close to the boat, you always need to keep the rod tip down and apply enough pressure. It’s not uncommon to lose fly lines or have 30-pound piano wire break mid fight!
Both the SKY and DXF did quite well in setting the hook, I was surprised with how well I managed to hook fish with the SKY, as I thought it would battle here. The DXF was great at this and performed extremely well, maybe due to the little bit less line out into the water due to slightly shorter casts at times. Mid fight, I would honestly have liked a bit more power at times and being used to the backbone of the G. Loomis, both rods was not quite on par with it in my “biased” opinion. They both did well however and I was pleased with both, all fishing is not for tigers and you need a rod that protects a tippet well with some other species.
The Douglas SKY is a true “high-end” fishing rod and up to 60 feet, a casting machine, the build quality is on par with its high-end rivals, if not better. The low swing weight is a joy and makes light work of long fishing days. It performs slightly lower on long casts but would still outperform most rods at ranges above 60 feet. I would recommend this rod to any angler that wants a great all-round high-end fishing machine that is a bit different from the normal line-up. The Douglas DXF was a great surprise for me as it offers a great rod for its price tag. The build quality is good and overall performance is very good! The rod fished great at close quarters and handled fish well. For me this is one of the top picks for its price and will outperform a lot of its competitors. For the price, this is an absolutely great fishing tool.
I would recommend it to anyone that needs a rod that performs well and might be on a stricter budget. This rod will also serve an angler well that has a high-end rod, but needs a backup (you might end up fishing this rod more than your regular rod though). I would give it a 7.5 out of 10, if I compared it to the SKY and GLX due to lack of performance at the longer casting range and the more standard build quality and looks.
Douglas Outdoors, founded by Jim Murphy, is a relatively new company. Located in upstate New York, Douglas is run by folks with years of rod-making experience and expertise. This expertise is combined with incredible state-of-the-art technology to produce affordable fly rods. One such rod is the Douglas DXF. The DXF is a new, mid-priced rod series from Douglas that exemplifies quality and affordability. The DXF combines a fast-action rod blank with classic Douglas componentry to provide a high-quality mid-priced rod. Trident Fly Fishing is a full-service fly shop. We spend a lot of time testing gear and writing reviews to give you all of the tools to make your next trip a success. We are not a blog or a review site.
The fit and finish of the DXF are classic and regal. The rod has a double uplocking reel seat that promotes functionality and quality. The reel seat leads into a burled wood insert. The handle of the DXF is made with high-quality cork and features a reversed half wells grip. The rod's fast action teal/green rod blank adds style to the DXF. Similarly, the hard chrome stripping guides, hard chrome snake guides, and alignment dots add functionality. The fit and finish of the DXF promote a 5wt trout rod style we all know and love. The DXF is light for a 5wt rod, weighing in at around 3 ounces. As a result, this decreased weight adds to the rod's castability and versatility. The DXF's swing weight is respectable, too, at 65.6 gm2. This rod isn't a distance champion. While the fast-action blank and progressive taper give this rod some power and strength at longer distances, the rod loses a bit of accuracy beyond 60 feet. That's not to say an angler won't be able to make a hero cast or two over the course of a day on the water. However, if you plan on casting 60+ feet all day long, this may not be the rod for you. The accuracy of the DXF is impressive at 45 feet. As expected when casting fast-action rods, the DXF isn't the MOST accurate rod at 30 feet, but it's not the least accurate, either. The rod carries its moderate accuracy to the 60-foot distance. This certainly isn't the most accurate rod we've ever cast, but we don't expect a mid-priced rod to win casting competitions.
The DXF is built as a high-performance, fast-action rod. As a result, a soft tip and more progressive rod action mean the DXF does alright at 30 feet. Because the rod is designed as a fast-action rod, we don't see a ton of feedback at close distances. What the DXF lacks at close distances, it makes up for at 45 feet. At 45 feet, the rod's line speed is apparent and its performance is top-notch. Move the rod back to 60 feet, and it maintains its feedback and feel, although lacks some of the power we're used to in higher-priced rods. Scientific Anglers Mastery MPX. The DXF is a solid rod, especially at its price point. Douglas created the DXF to do a lot of things well, and they were successful in that mission. Intuitively, the DXF does not perform as well as many higher-end rods, like the Hardy Zenith or the Hardy Zephrus. That being said, the progressive taper, quality componentry, and mid-range accuracy of the DXF make it a viable option for a wide spectrum of anglers. Want to upgrade to a more expensive, higher-performance rod from Douglas? Check out the Douglas Sky. Written by Chandler Crans, a fly fishing expert and former guide in Alaska. He notes that the Gen2 is a legitimately upgraded rod with increased dampening, improved accuracy, and strong presentation of dry flies, especially in close. The Gen2 9′ 5-weight DXF is priced at $499 and represents a strong value in the mid-priced segment. The DXF Gen2 is not a wind king, but it delivers do-it-all versatility for trout and light nymph work with a soft tip and adequate backbone.
- Design and Build: Premium components, double uplocking reel seat, burled wood insert, and a fast-action blank define the DXF’s look and feel.
- Action and Casting: Fast-action with strong line speed; top performance at 45 feet, diminishing slightly beyond 60 feet.
- Performance on Tigerfish: Sky excels at short to mid-range, with high accuracy and very low swing weight; DXF offers great value and solid performance at mid-range distances.
- Value and Positioning: Sky targets high-end enthusiasts; DXF Gen2 aims for affordability without sacrificing core Douglas quality.
Spencer Durrant, a fly fishing writer, emphasizes that the DXF Gen2 is a legitimate upgrade over the previous DXF, with dampening improvements, better dry-fly presentation, and a strong do-it-all character for a sub-$500 rod. The Gen2 is praised for its accuracy at mid-range, light weight, and overall versatility, though wind performance can be a marginal weakness. The Sky, on the other hand, stands out as a premium offering with exceptional fit and finish and superb swing weight, making it a preferred choice for anglers seeking a standout high-end rod that remains highly capable across most fishing scenarios.
For those choosing between the two, consider your typical fishing distances, target species, and budget. If long-distance precision and a true high-end feel are your priorities, the Sky is the go-to. If you want a high-performance tool at a more approachable price point with strong short-to-mid-range casting and a do-it-all trout-focused versatility, the DXF Gen2 is an outstanding value. Douglas Outdoors’ combination of traditional componentry with modern materials creates rods that are both attractive and functional, and they sit confidently in the mid-to-high end of the market.
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Douglas Outdoors, founded by Jim Murphy, remains a relatively young company that leverages years of rod-making experience and cutting-edge technology to produce affordable, high-quality fly rods. The DXF Gen2’s redesign includes a new blank and improved dampening, which contributes to straighter line travel and better close-range presentation. The DXF Gen2’s weight and balance, combined with its 65.6 gm2 swing weight, make it a comfortable all-day rod that still delivers enough backbone for larger fish when needed. For trout and similar sized quarry, the 9′ 5-weight DXF Gen2 remains a standout option at a compelling price point of $499, and it’s arguably one of the best values in the mid-priced segment today.
In summary, the Sky is the pinnacle for Douglas’ current lineup, delivering elite-level build quality, light swing weight, and excellent short-to-mid-range performance. The DXF Gen2 provides exceptional value, strong overall performance across many scenarios, and a refined upgrade over the original DXF, making it a top pick for budget-conscious anglers who still demand performance and durability.