The fly-fishing industry is a conglomerate of niches. To its admirable credit, it works hard to satisfy the desires of its customers. From the saltwater double-haulers and their broom-handle-stiff, double-digit graph-o-licious rocket launchers to the creek-freakers who crawl through the brush and parkour their way up mountain streams, 0-weight rods in hand, those who fish have their passions, and they want fly rods to match their favorite set of circumstances.
And then there are glass anglers. These are the old-schoolers of the crowd, even if they’re not necessarily old. This is the crew that likes to slow things down. They like to feel things, from the cast to the take, and, especially, the fight. Fiberglass fly rods, once the state of the art, are still evolving to meet the needs of this special brand of angler, and, unless you give these rods a test drive now and then, it’s easy to forget where the sport has been and, thanks to today’s stellar tech, where glass is today in the grand scheme of things.
I love a good fiberglass fly rod, particularly a light-weight version crafted for small-stream trout. My good, old Redington Butterstick has more miles on it than most of my graphite creek rods, and my Scott F-Series 2-weight is a coveted stick on any backcountry cutthroat trip. But rarely do I go big and go glass at the same time. So when I got my hands on a Moonlit Lunar S2 glass 8-weight fly rod earlier this year with the sole intent of taking it to Cuba and putting it to work on the flats, I was pretty excited.
And, then, as luck would have it, after a night of cigars and rum in Camaguey, the little tickle in the back of my throat turned into a full-on bout with the flu. What fishing I did do on the trip was hardly memorable, and I honestly can’t recall if I put the Moonlit offering through its paces, or if I was just casting whatever the guide handed to me as I went through the motions.
So I made a point to take this handsome, emerald-green fly rod with me on a couple of summer trips — one, north to Manitoba and then to an Amazon jungle river in Brazil. I’m happy to report, fiberglass is still a credible niche in the fly-fishing world, and, just like it has for years, it requires the angler to adjust and meet the rod on its terms. Specifically, it pays to slow down and feel the cast. Simple as that. What was true then, is still true now. But, with the Lunar S2, there are nuances. Read on.
What works
The weight and the recovery
The first thing I noticed about the Lunar S2 was its weight. Think back some 40 years when graphite rods started to outpace the then-standard glass offerings, and remember the marketing machismo. Graphite rods, we were told, were lighter. They were stronger. They cast fly lines farther, and they were in possession of more backbone for fighting fish. Of course, much of that was bluster, as we’ve seen over the years. Certainly graphite is a lighter and stiffer material, which makes for faster fly rods. But, I’ve had graphite rods blow up on me that probably shouldn’t have. And I’ve managed to catch the occasionally surprising oversized trout on light-weight glass rods that I probably shouldn’t have, too.
But, in recent years, fiberglass rod manufacturers both here in the U.S. and abroad, have incorporated, at least in spirit, the same technological wizardry that’s making fast-action, graphite and graphene fly rods all the rage. The Lunar S2 is no different. Marketed as a lighter glass rod that recovers faster, I can attest to both. It is, indeed, quite light for a fiberglass implement, at just 5.6 ounces. And, yes, whatever sorcery that goes into the S2 fiberglass used to craft the rod does, indeed, help it recover after casting.
And the casting is good – the 8-weight lifts and loads like a champ, which is ideal for saltwater fishing, and for keeping poppers and Gurglers on the water when chasing pike, peacock bass and rangy wolf fish.
If you're more tuned into faster rods, it will take some adjustment on your part. Slow your roll, and you'll find the rhythm. Once I dialed in my timing, the Lunar S2 was a joy to cast and fish.
It’s a well-built rod
I’m often cautious when I fish rods from lesser-knoen manufacturers like Moonlit (although the company, anecdotally, at least, is increasing its market footprint, judging by its presence at shows and expos in recent years). We’ve all seen these companies come and go, particularly outfits that offer “discount” gear at prices well under the often-breathtaking retail offerings from larger legacy brands. But, let’s be clear, here. The Moonlit Lunar S2 is a handsome fly rod and it’s put together well. The 8-weight version of the rod features exacting thread wraps, sturdy hardware, a full metal reel seat, and a gorgeous cork handle and fighting butt.
Visible and accurate alignment dots
This is a pet peeve of mine, and I’m pleased that Moonlit is on the alignment-dot bandwagon. I’m even more pleased that the dots are spot-on, and, when you assemble the rod in preparation for fishing, the guides all line up, just like they’re supposed to.
The pricetag
The Lunar S2 is Moonlit’s mid-range glass offering, and it is proof that good gear can be acquired without having to sweat it out at the cash register. At $149, it’s a solid buy for glass geeks that want light-weight performance in a fiberglass fly rod.
What doesn’t
Loose ferules
As with a lot of fiberglass fly rods, extensive casting can cause the ferules to come loose, particularly when anglers are throwing bigger flies at bigger fish, like I was when I was casting to beefy northern pike in northern Manitoba and to will-bending peacock bass and wolf fish in the Brazilian jungle. It’s always a bit unnerving when, on the forward cast, the rod tip ends up 20 feet in front of you, having come loose on the umpteenth cast tight to cover. Thankfully, I never had to fight a fish with a loose ferule, but after casting my tip a couple of times, I made a mental note to frequently check the connections and tighten them. This, of course, isn’t ideal.
It’s glass. It’s not for everyone
Over the course of my trips with the Lunar S2 8-weight, I was eager to put it in as many hands as I could. I especially wanted to have a novice angler try it, and I was surprised at how challenging the rod was for her to cast. Not necessarily new to fly fishing, but not used to the longer casts and double-hauling needed to throw long lines, the angler I asked to cast the Moonlit rod just couldn’t capture the timing, no matter how many times I cautioned her to slow down. I suppose it’s possible that, having learned on graphite, that glass is just a simple conundrum. But, more likely, it’s a testament to the fact that fiberglass fly rods just aren’t for everyone, and that the slower cast and more deliberate action needed to put a good glass rod to work isn’t an innate trait possessed by all fly fishers.
Final word
The Moonlit Lunar S2 is a solid fiberglass offering that will appeal to just about any glass aficionado, as it possesses the traits they love in the medium. Couple that slow, smooth action in a lighter-than-expected package, and the Lunar S2 is a solid option for semi-big-game angling. I’d feel good about saltwater fishing with this rod, and I have no qualms about casting it for pike or bass. It’s a good, all-around fly rod, and at its impressive price point, it’s also a good value.
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