VISION NYMPHMANIAC TWINTIP FLY ROD TEST
10'9 #2, #3 & #4 Compared
Among the standout new arrivals in the tight-line nymphing category at the beginning of the year 2025, the Vision Nymphmaniac Twintip rods hold a very prominent place. They complement the established Nymphmaniac range by introducing new action/length combinations as well as an innovative concept: as their name suggests, they are supplied with two tips of different powers, allowing you to adapt your tool more precisely to the weight of the nymphs being cast. We begin a series of tests with the three new 10'9 models in #2, #3 and #4.
CONTENTS:
1. MEASUREMENT ANALYSIS
The Common Cents System protocol was used to characterise the power and action of these three rods.
1.1. POWER
In terms of power, 27, 31 and 38 cents were required to bend these 10'9 rods over one third of their length. After conversion, this gives an ERN of 2.97 for the #2, the only rod in this test whose power is slightly underestimated; in reality, it is a #2/3. The power ratings of the other two rods are consistent with the announced line classes, namely #3 with an ERN of 3.57 and #4 with an ERN of 4.60.
1.2. ACTION
With an identical AA of 70°, all three rods feature a fast action, as their Action Angle is above 66°.
1.3. BUILD QUALITY
In terms of build, all the characteristics of modern tight-line nymphing rods are present: a down-locking reel seat, a stripping guide positioned close to the handle and perfectly placed at 26 cm, a fighting butt, and so on.
Each rod is supplied with two tips of different powers: the softer one is called “Sensi” and can be identified by a green wrap, while the other is called “Power”. Successive measurements taken with the two different tips did not show any change in the rod’s overall power, which also and above all depends on the three lower sections. Changing the tip therefore does not transform the rod’s dynamic characteristics; it is more a subtle adjustment of its casting behaviour.
Several specific details are worth mentioning on these Nymphmaniac rods:
First, regarding the guides, as usual in this series, there is a relatively high number of them: 16 guides on these 10'9 models. The penultimate guide is a snake guide, designed to reduce tangles around the tip section.
The handle, meanwhile, has rather original dimensions: it is slim, measuring 22 mm, and fairly long at 180 mm. This will prevent users of semi-automatic reels from keeping their ring finger on the trigger while fishing. To do so, they will need to get used to positioning their hand on the lower part of the handle or repositioning it to reach the trigger. It is worth noting that the handle material can be chosen at the time of purchase: EVA foam or cork.
In terms of finishing details, the rods feature a hook keeper, but no alignment dots on the sections. These Nymphmaniac rods are equipped with fish measuring marks at 20, 30, 40 and 50 cm.
1.4. FISHING COMFORT
Thanks to their long handle combined with a down-locking reel seat, the balance of these rods is excellent. For example:
- The PTE of the Nymphmaniac 10'9 #2 is identical to that of the Thomas & Thomas 10'9 #2 for a similar power.
- The PTE of the Nymphmaniac 10'9 #3 is around fifteen grams lower than that of the Thomas & Thomas 10'9 #3, even though the Vision is slightly more powerful.
- The PTE of the Nymphmaniac 10'9 #4 is identical to that of the Thomas & Thomas 10'9 #4, while the Vision is half a line class more powerful.
These Nymphmaniac rods will be optimally balanced with an empty reel weighing approximately 130 to 140 grams.
2. EDITORIAL VERDICT
The Vision Nymphmaniac rods have been praised many times, both for the rigour of their design and for their price-performance ratio.
For 2025, an intermediate length between the 10'6 and the 11' appears in the range. While some may consider length variations of around 5 cm more or less to be pure marketing, they do in fact give your rod-and-reel setup a different behaviour and therefore different potential uses.
In practice, the 10'9 length is interesting because it offers better drift control than a 10'6 of around 320 cm, a length mainly suited to smaller environments, while remaining more responsive and versatile than an 11' of around 336 cm. For example, it is entirely possible to cast a fly line effectively with this length of around 326 cm. In addition, this intermediate length is suited to a wide variety of waters. If you had to choose just one rod to fish medium-sized rivers around ten metres wide, while occasionally tackling tighter spots or, conversely, larger waters, it would be an excellent choice.
With these reminders out of the way, let us now move on to the interpretation of our measurements.
In line with the previous models, these new Nymphmaniac rods all share a fast action. Anglers already familiar with the range will therefore feel immediately at home. Choosing between the three available powers will mainly depend on the level of versatility you are looking for and the size of the trout you are targeting.
As usual, the #2/3 is the most clearly geared towards modern tight-line nymphing. It has the same action/power combination as the 11' #2 in the range, with only 9 cm separating the two. If your fishing consists mainly of tight-line nymphing for small to medium-sized fish, up to around forty centimetres, with a preference for nymph weights below 3.5 mm, this model will suit you very well. It competes directly with the Marryat Tactical Graphen 10'9 #2/3, with the main difference between these two references being their action.
The #3 is the versatile model. It will allow you to fish all nymph weights and to present a dry fly if the opportunity arises, ideally with a #3 line, or even a #4 line for short-distance fishing. It competes directly with the JMC Performer 10'9 #3/4, with which it shares the same length/action/power triad.
Finally, the #4, with its fast action, is the most authoritative of the three. It is intended for stronger fishing situations and for anglers who want a muscular rod with a powerful butt section. Heavy nymphing and large fish are its preferred domain.
3. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
| VISION NYMPHMANIAC TWINTIP | 10'9 #2 | 10'9 #3 | 10'9 #4 |
| Brand | Vision | Vision | Vision |
| Series | Nymphmaniac TwinTip | Nymphmaniac TwinTip | Nymphmaniac TwinTip |
| Length | 10'9 | 10'9 | 10'9 |
| Actual length | 327 cm | 327 cm | 327 cm |
| Line weight | #2 | #3 | #4 |
| Sections | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Actual weight | 84.00 g | 88.00 g | 93.00 g |
| Blank colour | Grey | Grey | Grey |
| Finish | Spiral | Spiral | Spiral |
| Guides | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Guide type | Single-leg | Single-leg | Single-leg |
| First guide position | 26 cm | 26 cm | 26 cm |
| Wraps | Grey | Grey | Grey |
| Grip | 22 x 180 mm | 22 x 180 mm | 22 x 180 mm |
| Grip shape | Half Wells | Half Wells | Half Wells |
| Reel seat | Black aluminium | Black aluminium | Black aluminium |
| Locking system | Downlocking | Downlocking | Downlocking |
| Spacer | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon |
| Fighting butt | EVA foam | EVA foam | EVA foam |
| Hook keeper | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Alignment dots | No | No | No |
| Packaging | Partitioned Cordura tube | Partitioned Cordura tube | Partitioned Cordura tube |
| ERN | 2.97 | 3.57 | 4.60 |
| AA | 70° | 70° | 70° |
NOTE: This gear test was first published in its French original version on www.truites-et-cie.fr
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