One-Year Review Of The Fitzgerald Aqua Dream Fishing Rod Series
- By: Matthew Lanier
- on
After 12 months of on-the-water use, here’s the Fitzgerald Aqua Dream Rod ONE-YEAR REVIEW!
If you’ve seen my videos in the past, I always have my EIGHT rods with me in the back of the kayak.
I frequently rotate these rods in and out but this Fitzgerald Aqua Dream rod is here to stay!
Here’s why!!!
Fitzgerald Aqua Dream Rod One-Year Review [VIDEO]
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Get a Fitzgerald Aqua Dream Series Fishing Rod
The different rods I take out on my kayak often depend on what I’m going to throw along with the conditions.
I prefer to pair my presentations according to the rod/reel outfit.
Each setup behind me has its own intended use.
The Fitzgerald Aqua Dream Series is a high-quality blank specialized for inshore saltwater fishing.
You may have heard of Fitzgerald Fishing in the freshwater realm.
But they now have saltwater rods tailored to fulfill the needs of an inshore angler.
Aqua Dream Series
The Aqua Dream Series is specifically designed to withstand the elements of saltwater fishing.
The butt section of this rod includes a foam handle attached to the exposed blank.
That exposed blank section provides an additional feel.
On the reel seat where your hand rests is a cork handle.
Moreover, the hook keeper for this rod is actually facing out toward the side of the rod.
This is a small detail but when you’re changing rods or you’re done for the day, it makes it easier to attach your lure to the hook keeper.
Additionally, the Aqua Dream Series Rods incorporate a MicroWave Guide System including Dura-Lite guide inserts.
That greatly reduces friction on the braid when you’re casting.
Not only does that protect your line, but it also increases castability.
That is not to say it will increase your casting distance, but it will help you cast with better accuracy.
The blank of the rod itself is a lightweight, composite blank.
Also, the action in this rod has more of a parabolic deflection which is fancy for Moderate-Fast Action.
The bend in this fishing rod is a bit lower than that of a Fast-Action.
That means it is easier to reel in a heavier load on light lures.
Furthermore, the Aqua Dream Series is incredibly balanced.
I paired mine up with a Daiwa Ballistic MQ 3000.
All of this attention to detail amounts to a high-quality product at an ideal price point (under $200!)
What Sets This Rod Apart?
The high-quality components in conjunction with the moderately-fast action blank set this rod apart from the rest.
When this rod is under a load, the bend will be a bit further down than in other blanks.
This allows you to have better, more accurate casts when fishing with super light lures.
You’re able to feel all the action and sub-surface lure behavior.
Some stiffer fishing rods make it difficult to have a sustained connection to your lure in the water.
So how does this help you catch more fish?
If you mostly throw lightweight presentations, then this is a great fit for you.
These rods absolutely shine when it comes to throwing suspended twitchbaits and lightweight subsurface plugs.
All in all, this rod series would fit right into your inshore saltwater fishing arsenal and are built to last.
Oh, and if you are a Salt Strong Insider Member, if you buy any reel in our tackle shop, we’re going to give you FREE braided line AND we’ll spool it up for you on top of FREE SHIPPING!
All you have to do is pair it up with a fishing rod, tie on a leader, and hit the water!!
If you have any further questions or comments, please leave them down below!
Get a Fitzgerald Aqua Dream Series Fishing Rod
Finding The Fish Help
In order to help make sure that you are targeting the right areas based on the latest feeding trends and upcoming weather forecasts, make sure to use the following 3 resources because they will save you a ton of time.
1. Weekend Game Plans (updated weekly)
These regional game plans will show you exactly what types of spots to target in under 10 minutes… just click the video to start, and you’ll be informed on what to do on your next trip.
2. Smart Fishing Spots Platform (updated every 15 minutes)
This exclusive software literally shows you where the most fish are likely to be feeding based on exactly when you’ll be fishing. It factors in the tides, wind, and weather to help you quickly see which areas to target throughout the day.
3. Community Reports (live feed)
The Insider Community platform is what you can use to see what is biting near you, and you can get to know other members who fish in your area. Plus, you can use it to keep a log of your catches so you can use past trips to help predict future catches.
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Outstanding review and presentation, Matt. Would the rod be a good choice for beach fishing with spoons, soft and hardbodied luresfor parallel and angled presentations. New to saltwater, but have a 50 year freshwater flyfishing background and prefer rods with moderate fast actions.
Great presentation!!! I use this same rod with a Shimano reel and love it. Really like the precision eyelet system. Also have a few other Fitzgerald casting rods with same satisfaction. I too had a broken tip and Fitzgerald was great to work with. Great price for quality across Fitzgerald arsenal of rods.
Excellent presentation, Matt. Enjoyed the education aspects of the Aqua Dream series rod. Thank you. And Tight Lines.
So glad to hear that you found it helpful, Robert! We appreciate you watching!
Thanks Matt would you use this rod for running the power prawn or slam shady or would you suggest something different for that
Hey Rod! Good question!
If you are gonna be casting those lures on a lightweight hook or a lightweight jighead this would be a great option to use! I have had a lot of success with those lightweight presentations paired with this rod because you can get some really good load up from the rod when casting to get the lure out a good distance.
If you are planning on using a 1/16th, 1/10th (Ned rig), or 1/8th oz presentation with the Power Prawn JR or Slam Shady… This would pair really well.
But if you want a rod that will work great for everything all around, I would go with the Slot Machine.
We appreciate you watching!
Hey Matt I own several tfo rods, I’m waiting for the slot machine rods to come back in to get one of those, would you recommend this rod or any other rod y’all have over the slot machine?
Recommending something over the Slot-Machine is gonna be tough to do as that is an amazing rod!
But when it comes to casting those really light lures on really light hooks, this AquaDream rod is a great option to have ready in your lineup!
Thank you Matt excellent video. And for those of you who care, and all of us should!!!!!!
This high quality Rod is made in the United States of America. Thank you Matt for recommending products made in USA.
Rick Z – Siesta Key
Great point Rick! Gotta love it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a nice comment, buddy!
Definitely very good presentation on the aqua rod and the bait’s utilized and the various techniques and opportunities how to and when to use …. I use all the baits he mentioned and I have various lengths and weight classes in my inshore rods …. I have used G-Loomis Rods for many years and the inshore series is truly awesome … My question is for y’all; how does this rod stack up to the inshore rods that I already use…. ! I love the feel and action of each and every G-Loomis in my arsenal… !
Hey Thomas!
I think that this rod would be right up your alley! If you are a fan of the sensitivity of that G Loomis, this one will feel right at home in your hands! Lots of sensitivity and can cast lightweight presentations a long way when those stiffer rods can’t really load up those lightweight lures for a good cast.
One of the big perks is this rod will be a bit cheaper than some of those G Loomis models as well.
We appreciate you watching! Thanks for taking the time to leave a nice comment!
Matt- Thanks for another informative video! Love your enthusiasm. Curious if you had a recommendation for a rod to use with the Daiwa BG MQ2500D-H. I have a couple of the TFO rods that I love. Picked this reel up on the last promotion Salt Strong had and haven’t seen a lot of in stock rods. Is the reel heavy enough for casual beach fishing? Still new to the sport and like hearing advice and tips from you guys. Thanks and keep the videos coming.
We appreciate you watching, Gwendolyn!
To answer your question, the BG will work for casual beach fishing for your pompano or whiting or even trout and redfish. Just be sure to pair it with a rod that will match the type of fishing you are doing.
Be sure to ask any questions you may have in the community! You can always get helpful answers there!
Did you have a recommendation on a rod for this reel?
I would say the rod would depend on your preferred application. If you are wanting to use it exclusively for surf/beach fishing, I would suggest a surf rod that would work well, like the Bummy Stick.
But if planning to use it mostly inshore, I would say that the Slot Machine would be a great pairing!
It’s hard to find a rod that will cross over well from inshore to surf fishing as you normally want a more powerful rod as well as a longer rod (9 foot or better) when fishing the surf.
I really think if using it inshore, you would be happy with the Slot Machine!
Thanks!!