Greys Lance Fly Rod

How well is it built?

The build is where the Lance scores highest. The AAA cork handle sits above an all-alloy anodised reel seat with dual locking nuts and a nylon cushion ring, so the reel shouldn't work loose, and the slide band has an alignment mark to line the reel up quickly.

Those are details you'd usually expect on a dearer rod, and dual locking nuts are a real step up from the single ring on many cheaper seats.

Single-foot snake guides help knots pass through smoothly, and lined stripper guides sit at the butt end. Alignment dots on each section make the four pieces quick to line up.

The 3, 4 and 5 weight rods have Half Wells handles, while the 6, 7 and 8 weight models get Full Wells handles with an extension for extra leverage.

Every rod comes in a sectioned tube, which stops the four pieces rubbing together in transport, and I think the whole package earns its 8.5.

How well does it cast and feel?

What does an intermediate modulus blank mean for casting? It's a little softer and more forgiving than a high-modulus rod, so it should bend further into the cast and give you more time to feel the rod load.

That's a real help when you're still learning to time your back cast, and it makes short and medium casts easy to control.

Distance is the compromise. A medium-fast action on this kind of blank isn't designed to throw a whole fly line into a headwind, and long roll casts will take more effort than on a stiffer, dearer rod.

To be fair, most trout on a typical UK river are caught well inside that range. The lightest model weighs 71g, so the small-stream rods should feel light in the hand through a day of casting.

Put simply, it's accurate and easy at the ranges where most river fishing happens, which is why I think 8.0 is fair.

How does it perform when playing fish?

A forgiving blank pays off when a trout is on, because it absorbs lunges and head shakes rather than passing them straight to the tippet. On the 3, 4 and 5 weight rods, that should mean fewer breaks on fine nylon when a wild fish dives for weed.

The slim Half Wells grip on those lighter rods also suits the gentle pressure you need with small flies.

The 7 and 8 weight models have the power for bigger stillwater rainbows, and the Full Wells handle and extension give you something to push against when a fish runs.

It isn't a specialist big-fish rod, though, and the intermediate modulus blank won't have the reserve of a stiffer reservoir rod.

For most river and small stillwater fish, it's well matched to the job, with enough give for small flies and enough power for a stocked rainbow, so 8.0 is about right.

Is it good value for money?

Does the Lance justify its price? I think so. You get AAA cork, an all-alloy reel seat with dual locking nuts, lined strippers and a sectioned tube on a rod that sits in the lower middle of the market, and the range covers every line weight from #3 to #8.

That spread lets you choose the right size for your water instead of compromising.

Confident casters chasing distance will be happier with a stiffer high-modulus rod. I'd recommend the Lance to newer fly anglers who want a rod they can grow with, and to river anglers after a dependable 9ft #5.

Small-stream anglers should look at the 7ft 6in #3, while stillwater anglers can step up to the heavier Full Wells models, which give the same feel with more power.