D-Flex is a small tackle brand that has spent the past few years designing and developing fly-rods with a unique twist. At first glance, you might not notice anything unusual, other than the fact that the rods feel remarkably light in the hand. However, look a little closer and you'll see that the blank is not round, but triangular – a Reuleaux Triangle, to be precise. We are told that this design not only enhances the blank’s strength and directional stability, but also requires less material to manufacture, making the rod lighter than comparable round blanks. The latter claim is immediately apparent: you could easily mistake our 9ft, five-weight test rod, weighing just 76g, for a four-weight of the same length.
The other claims are harder to verify, but after fishing with the rod throughout last spring and summer, we can confirm that it has a progressive action that delivers tight loops and pinpoint accuracy – ideal for dry-fly fishing, where its lightness also adds a delicate touch. Yet, as its 5/6wt rating suggests, it still possesses enough power to cast a six-weight line when needed, and to confidently handle trout weighing over 4lb. This makes it a highly versatile tool, equally suited to rivers and stillwaters.