Is this $30 Walmart fly rod as good as a $200+ rod?

On a recent trip to Colorado, I picked up a $30 Walmart fly rod to pair with my Orvis fly reel. I intended to fly fish for 5 days on a road trip back to my home in Oregon. I had left my fly rods at home, and I intended to pick up an inexpensive used rod from Craigslist. The used rods were too expensive, so I took a chance with the inexpensive Walmart rod.
I fished headwater streams, rivers, and alpine lakes. How does this rod compare to my $200 Fenwick or my $400 Sage rods? Watch this video and I will compare the rods.

[@asystole361]

Why does everyone who does YT videos and purchases stuff from Walmart, think that just because they bought it at Walmart it's a Walmart brand (ie...Outdoor Products, Cortland, etc). Cortland is a respected name.

[@davidthomas9267]

skill usually out weighs price!

[@wingandhog]

Did you say Cortland? Sold at Walmart…. ? If so, that’s a steal. I own a Sage and two old Cortland’s I bought in the 80’s that still do the job. I believe I paid around $200 each at that time.

[@raywhitehead730]

My go to rod is a Cortland I bought in about 1983. I only have three rods and never saw a reason to buy another. I do have a collectable, (as it has increased in value) Powell boron 4 piece, I bought in 1981.

[@Dinoxt12]

Had this happen to me...youngster comes in to fish with a well used bait casters & some kind of lure & in no time he hooks a Rainbow Trout, I'd say 4 to 5 lbs. go figure,. Myself 0 Trout with quite a bit of what I call now...fly fishing attack Gear...lol.

[@Settlingintoalaskaliving]

Thanks for taking the time to show my wife and I how floss for reds in the Kenia river last weekend, really appreciate you taking time out to do that.

[@boodgiek8146]

I bought a cheap fly rod,kind of heavy,not balanced,after I handled some 80 to 100 dollar fly rods they seemed to kind of float in my hand mine was 50 dollars and not balanced.

[@PapaDougsAdventures01]

Do you have a rod that breaks down to a small enough size to take on your T7 camping?

[@MySeniorMoments]

I can take this 4 piece on my T7. I sometimes carry a 5 piece spinning rod too. Very compact.

[@oDIRECTORo]

You have no idea how BASED this video is... equipment cost waaaay tooooooo muuuuuuch.... that $30 rod and or reel for less than a $100 will work just as good as any $5,000 setup... people are delusional when it comes to equipment.

[@chrissavage9349]

Umm no I agree that you don't need the most expensive and vest but I can assure you a 30 dollar vs even 250 dollar will be much diffeent

[@MrRourk]

Daiwa has some affordable fly rods and reels

[@freddefelice1419]

Great review Sir, and all the reasons you like it make so much sense. When I vacation in Cape Cod visiting family there are many lakes and ponds that hold trout and with my suitcase and a box of flies the Walmart rod would be just fine. Great video and thank you. It’s still a deal a year after you posted this video, even at Walmart.