The Upstream PLUS takes the Upstream's progressive feel and adds enough backbone for full-size rivers. Slightly faster, slightly more powerful, and — the important part — built with a solid uplocking reel seat instead of the sliding-ring seat on the standard Upstream. That is the upgrade that makes it a real big-fish rod.
We stock all three models. That is the entire PLUS lineup.
| Model | Line | Length | Pieces | Weight | Best at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4904 | 4 wt | 9' 0" | 4 | 2.60 oz | Medium to large rivers — technical dries, nymph rigs |
| 5904 | 5 wt | 9' 0" | 4 | 2.60 oz | All-around trout for rivers, streams and lakes |
| 6904 | 6 wt | 9' 0" | 4 | 2.80 oz | Big water and wind — streamers, bass, light steelhead |
Current pricing is on the selector above.
Upstream or Upstream PLUS?
Genuinely different jobs despite the shared name and finish.
- Upstream — 6'6" to 8'8", 1.1 to 1.7 oz, sliding-ring cork seat. Built for small water and light tippet. Wonderful under thirty feet.
- Upstream PLUS — all 9-foot, 2.6 to 2.8 oz, solid uplocking seat. Built for rivers where you need to reach, mend, and land something that pulls back.
If your water is a creek, buy the Upstream. If it is a river, buy the PLUS. If you want one rod for both, the PLUS is the more versatile of the two.
Picking one
- 5 weight if you want one rod — same weight as the 4, more range.
- 4 weight for technical dry fly water where presentation matters more than power.
- 6 weight if you throw streamers, fish wind, or want something that will handle a steelhead.
Components
- Blank: modern nano-resin, natural Tonkin bamboo color, matte finish, clear wraps
- Ferrules: spigot
- Reel seat: solid uplocking — the key difference from the standard Upstream
- Grip: premium cork, modified full-wells
- Included: compact aluminum tube and rod sock
Warranty: Douglas limited lifetime to the original owner. Like the Upstream, repairs require the entire rod be returned rather than a single section.
Ed's Fly Shop, 432 E Main St, downtown Montrose, Colorado.