Redington Predator Review

Sometimes the best things surprise you when you least expect them. I recently went fishing in Charleston, SC for the first time. And instead of bringing my rig, I decided to use what the guide had in the boat. And I was pleasantly surprised by what he handed me. So today we’ll take a deeper dive as I present this Redington Predator Review.

Predator Fly Rod Features

5. Aluminum oxide stripping guides with ceramic inserts

6. Anodized machined aluminum reel seat

7. Epoxy coated section tips

Redington Predator Models

Redington Predator

7100-4

7wt 10′

Redington Predator

1090-4

10 wt 9′ Pike

Redington Predator

1281-4

12 wt 8’1″

Redington Predator Fly Rod Review – Our Take

Who Is This Built For?

The Redington Predator is definitely the working man’s saltwater and streamer rod. There’s probably a good reason my guide handed me that rod when we set out on a Redfish trip.

Professional guides need gear that performs well, can take a beating, and come at a price tag that won’t break the bank if a client breaks the rod. While a lot can be said for pricey high end rods, I’ve always held a special place in my heart for a rod that can deliver the goods without emptying my wallet.

Redington Predator Review – First Impression

For this review I spent a whole day casting intermediate line and heavy flies on the 9’ 9 weight model. Given the size of the rig, I was fairly impressed with how light it seemed.

I was even more impressed with the ability to cast at long distances and properly turn over the fly. This power is crucial especially when fishing saltwater where powering through high winds is more often the rule and not the exception. 

Composition

The rod is made from a graphite blank manufactured in Korea, which honestly is more common for rods at this price point. I wouldn’t let that scare you away though. This sturdy rod has the power and strength to cast heavier flies and to play larger fish, but with a lightweight and strong graphite to handle the fight.

The heavy fighting butt handle is an absolute necessity when hunting these larger fish. Although I should also mention the grade of the cork handle is definitely a lower grade with more blemishes, and not very smooth. 

The rod features an anodized machined aluminum reel seat, and is ready to handle both freshwater and saltwater. The stripping guide features a ceramic insert which protects the fly line from wear and tear. And the anodized aluminum snake guides ensure a smooth flow of line.

While it’s advertised as a rod for freshwater and saltwater, every part of this rod is ready for the salt. In fact, Redington is now featuring models with a special Sea Spray finish, which is designed to blend in with a saltwater environment to eliminate rod flash. The finish is unique for every rod, which won’t help you catch fish, but is pretty cool to know that your rod is unique.

There are others like it, but this one is mine. 

Performance

Where this rod truly shines is cashing those heavy lines and heavy flies at long distance. The lightweight design still deliver the power you need to push your flies through heavy winds and deliver an accurate cast in front of a feeding fish.

I did feel that the taper of the rod definitely lent itself towards those longer distances and less so for the shorter distances. The casting felt a bit awkward towards the beginning of the cast, but then seems to get into a groove as more line was let out. It felt like the rod wasn’t fully loading until the mass from the fly and a lot of line was pulling before it hit its stride. 

And this is another reason why I would definitely recommend this rod for saltwater fishing. If you’re throwing dry flies and nymphs in a small stream or tailwater, it’s very possible to get within 10-15 feet of fish. But anybody who has spent time fishing saltwater knows that you really need to double hall and be able to make accurate casts around 50-60 feet to be successful. 

Value

The Predator comes in 17 different models ranging from 5 weight “ultra light” to special 8 weight Musky and Pike model, to Spey, all the way to a 16 weight bluewater model. While this rod is definitely meant for heavier streamer and larger fish, there’s a lot of choices when it comes to what you need.

All of them list in the $350 range right now, which I consider a great deal when considering the features you’re getting. This rod is a workhorse that performs at the outer limits. There are definitely a few deficiencies when compared to higher end rods, but most of that has to do with the feel of the handle because of the lower grade cork, and the all around performance of the rod at all distances. From a value perspective though, this rod ranks very high.

So at the end of this Redington Predator review, we have found that it is a great working man’s rod for someone who need a lot of performance in a saltwater environment for not a lot of money. 

Redington Predator Review Pros and Cons

Cons

! Low grade cork handle

! Lower performer at shorter distance with lighter rigs

Overall Ranking

8 / 10

Redington Predator Deals

Accessories: Reel and Fly Line

Rio Elite Flats Pro Stealth Tip Saltwater Fly Line

Redington Predator Fly Rod Starter Pack

If you’ve decided to pick up the Redington Predator, or found another fly rod that suits your needs, there are some bare essentials you’re going to need to get read yot hit the water. Check out some of our suggestions below:

• • Reel – You’ll need a reel that complements the rod. For this we suggest the Redington Behemoth
  • Fly Line – For fly line we suggest Rio Elite Flats Pro Stealth Tip Saltwater Fly Line
  • Leader – When it comes to leaders, we really like Rio Redfish/Seatrout Tapered Saltwater Leader.
  • Clothing – For those days on the saltwater flats we recommend some sort of shirt with UV protection like the BALEAF Men’s Long Sleeve Hoodie Shirts UPF 50+ Sun Protection Lightweight Fishing Running Thumbholes Shirt SPF
  • Flies – Check out these saltwater flies from RiverBum Redfish Flies Assortment Kit with Fly Box

Redington Predator Accessories

Fly Fishing Tools Kit and Accessories Combo Kits, Fishing Quick Nail Knot Tying Tool, Hook Remover Forceps and Pliers, Stainless Steel Salmon and Trout Multiple Fishing Set Gear Tool Assortment