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Choosing your first fly fishing setup can feel overwhelming with endless options for rods, reels, backing, and line weight combinations. The Redington Crosswater Fly Fishing Outfit eliminates the guesswork by providing a complete, ready-to-fish package built around an approachable medium-fast action graphite rod. Designed for both beginning anglers and casual weekend fly fishers, this combo balances user-friendly casting mechanics with portable 4-piece convenience. This hands-on breakdown examines its build quality, real-world water performance, and practical limitations to help you decide if it belongs in your gear bag.
Quick Verdict
Rating: 8.5/10 (Highly Recommended Starter Combo)
Best For: Beginners and casual anglers seeking a forgiving, high-value 5-weight fly fishing setup for trout, panfish, and small bass.
Bottom Line: Redington paired a smooth-casting graphite rod with premium pre-spooled RIO fly line, delivering impressive casting accuracy out of the box. While the composite reel is lightweight, heavy-handed users should take care around rough terrain.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand | Redington |
| Model | Crosswater Fly Fishing Outfit |
| Rod Material | Lightweight Graphite |
| Rod Action | Medium-Fast Action |
| Configuration | 4-Piece Breakdown |
| Reel Included | Redington Crosswater Composite Reel |
| Drag System | Carbon Fiber Disc Drag |
| Fly Line | RIO Mainstream WF5F (Pre-spooled) |
| Case Included | Zippered Cordura Rod & Reel Travel Tube |
| Target Species | Trout, Panfish, Small Bass, Light Freshwater |
What Is the Redington Crosswater Fly Fishing Outfit?
The Redington Crosswater Fly Fishing Outfit is a fully assembled fly fishing combo designed to minimize technical barriers for new anglers. Rather than requiring you to purchase a rod, select a compatible reel, match backing line, and spool fly line separately, this kit arrives ready for water attachment. The core of the system relies on a 4-piece graphite rod engineered for effortless casting timing.
Complementing the blank is a pre-spooled Crosswater reel lined with RIO Mainstream weight-forward floating line. The entire package fits securely into an included zippered travel case that protects both the rod sections and mounted reel during transit, making it convenient for trunk storage, hiking, or vacation trips.
Who Should Buy It?
Best For
- Beginner anglers learning casting mechanics and timing.
- Casual fishers needing a reliable backup setup for trout and panfish.
- Travelers who want a compact 4-piece outfit with a protective case.
Skip If
- You need an ultra-durable, all-aluminum CNC machined reel frame.
- You regularly target heavy saltwater or large predatory species.
- You prefer ultra-fast action rods for extreme wind conditions.
Key Features & Detailed Breakdown
1. Medium-Fast Action Graphite Rod
The rod blank uses lightweight graphite construction with a medium-fast taper. For beginners, rod action dictates how forgiving the casting stroke feels. Ultra-fast rods require exact timing, whereas slow rods can feel mushy. A medium-fast taper provides a responsive flex profile, letting you feel the rod load during backcasts while maintaining sufficient backbone to turn over flies in light breezes.
2. Pre-Spooled Crosswater Composite Reel
The included Crosswater reel features a lightweight polymer composite frame and spool. Inside, a carbon fiber disc drag mechanism delivers smooth, adjustable resistance when playing fish. The reel arrives pre-spooled with Dacron backing and floating line, saving you the hassle of knotting backing onto an empty spool.
3. Quality RIO Mainstream Fly Line
Fly line quality heavily influences casting distance and presentation accuracy. Instead of bundling cheap, unbranded line, Redington equips this outfit with RIO Mainstream WF5F line. The weight-forward taper loads the rod blank efficiently at short-to-medium distances, helping novice casters feel line weight early in the stroke.
4. Travel-Friendly Case & Alignment Dots
The 4-piece blank breaks down into compact sections that fit inside a zippered Cordura rod tube with an integrated reel pouch. Alignment dots at each ferrule joint ensure quick, accurate alignment during assembly without sightline guesswork.
Before You Buy: The reel housing relies on composite plastic rather than machined aluminum. While resilient against minor bumps, dropping the reel onto sharp boulders or stepping on the spool can cause cracking or binding.
How It Performs in Real Use
Stream and River Trout Fishing
On small to mid-sized trout streams, the 5-weight Crosswater outfit performs admirably. The RIO floating line lays down dry flies with a delicate touch while holding enough energy to throw double-nymph rigs or small woolly buggers into eddy lines. Line pickup off the water feels crisp, and rolling casts are straightforward to execute.
Pond Bass and Panfish
When targeting farm pond bluegill and small largemouth bass, the rod blank has plenty of lifting power to handle panfish poppers and light terrestrial patterns. The disc drag adjusts smoothly to prevent light leader tippet snapping when stronger fish run toward weed beds.
Backpacking and Hiking Trips
At just over 4 pieces, the packed length fits along side-pockets on hiking backpacks or beneath car trunk storage. The hard tube construction ensures that packed camping gear won’t crush rod guides during transit.
Pro Tip: Apply a light dab of ferrule wax to each rod joint during assembly. This prevents ferrules from twisting loose during casting and stops friction binding when breaking the rod down after a long day on the water.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Forgiving medium-fast action aids casting development.
- Includes high-quality RIO Mainstream floating line pre-spooled.
- 4-piece design and sturdy travel case offer high portability.
- Carbon fiber disc drag provides reliable fish-stopping power.
- Alignment dots speed up rod assembly on the bank.
Cons
- Composite plastic reel body is less rugged than aluminum.
- Not intended for heavy saltwater or trophy big-game species.
- Ferrule seating requires careful checking during long casting sessions.
Is It Worth the Price?
For anglers entering fly fishing on a budget, the Redington Crosswater Outfit represents exceptional value. Buying a comparable graphite rod, reel, backing, quality fly line, leader, and travel tube individually typically costs substantially more. Redington kept costs low by using a composite reel housing while prioritizing blank performance and line quality where it impacts casting feel most.
If you plan to fish a dozen weekends a year on local creeks or lakes, this setup offers years of practical service without requiring immediate upgrades.
How It Compares to Alternatives
Compared to the Orvis Encounter Outfit, the Crosswater provides a slightly stiffer butt section, which helps when casting in windy conditions. Wild Water starter kits offer more accessories like flies and boxes, but the Crosswater paired with RIO fly line offers superior casting smoothness and blank responsiveness. If you want a setup that focuses on core casting mechanics rather than trinkets, the Crosswater remains the stronger fishing tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Redington Crosswater outfit ready to fish right out of the box?
Yes. The reel comes pre-spooled with backing, RIO Mainstream floating fly line, and a tapered leader. You only need to tie on your fly of choice before heading to the water.
What species can I target with the 5-weight version?
The 5-weight (5WT) configuration serves as the most versatile freshwater setup. It handles brook, brown, and rainbow trout, bluegill, crappie, and small bass in rivers, streams, and ponds.
Can I switch the reel from left-hand to right-hand retrieve?
Yes. The Crosswater reel features an easily convertible drag bearing, allowing you to switch between left-hand and right-hand retrieve in a few simple steps without special tools.
Is this outfit suitable for saltwater fly fishing?
The Crosswater is designed primarily for freshwater environments. While lighter weights can handle brackish water if thoroughly rinsed with fresh water after use, dedicated saltwater setups require anodized aluminum reels and heavier line weights.
What warranty covers the Redington Crosswater outfit?
Redington provides a 1-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for the Crosswater series, offering peace of mind for new fly fishers.
Can I upgrade to an aluminum reel later using the same rod?
Absolutely. The graphite rod blank features a standard reel seat that accepts any matching weight fly reel if you decide to upgrade to an aluminum model down the road.
How easy is it to assemble using the alignment dots?
The alignment dots on each of the 4 rod sections allow you to line up the rod guides accurately in seconds, ensuring straight line flow without sightline adjustments.
The Bottom Line
The Redington Crosswater Fly Fishing Outfit strikes an effective balance between performance, convenience, and affordability. Its medium-fast graphite rod makes casting intuitive for casters of all skill levels, while the pre-spooled RIO line delivers clean presentations right away. While the composite reel requires reasonable care around hard rocks, the overall package offers one of the smartest entry points into fly fishing available today.
Ready to Start Fishing?
Check current pricing and available line weights on Amazon before your next outing.
