Review : Thomas & Thomas Contact 10' 3wt fly rod

Thomas & Thomas Contact 10' #3

The contact series from the American company Thomas & Thomas has a new 10’ #3 for the 2020 season. We wanted to check the versatility declared for this reference and here are the results : 

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Thomas & Thomas Contact 10' #3
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Static Test

This Contact series is built with a dark gray blank, the trims and wraps are brown olive, very pragmatic and change from the usual black. The weight of the rod is written by the joint between the two first sections which makes the set-up easier. Part from the aesthetical side, it is important to note that all the components of this Thomas & Thomas Contact 10’ #3 are high quality and tend to reduce the overall weight. They include a high-quality cork handle (extra flor), an aluminium built and anodised reel seat with a burled black ash spacer and a titanium-frame ceramic stripping guide followed by 11 single foot RECoil guides. Last but not least, the handle ends with a fighting butt which will bring you comfort and balance while hooked on serious fish. The Thomas & Thomas Contact 10’ #3 is a 4-piece rod shipped with a made in USA protective cover and an aluminium tube.

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Thomas & Thomas Contact 10' #3
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Thomas & Thomas Contact
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Thomas & Thomas Contact 10' #3
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Thomas & Thomas Contact 10' #3
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Thomas & Thomas Contact 10' #3
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Thomas & Thomas Contact 10' #3
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Thomas & Thomas Contact 10' #3
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Measurements

The Common Cents System protocol was used to characterize the action, the power and the reactivity of this rod :

Regarding the power, 30 cents were required to load the rod over a third of its total length, which gives after conversion an ERN of 3.42 and a real  #3 line power, exactly the expected power. With an AA of 65°, the action of the Thomas & Thomas Contact 10’ #3 is moderate fast (AA between 63 and 66°). The frequency was measured at 78cpm which attests of the versatility of this blank and demonstrates the real possibility of dry fly fishing as well as European nymphing. The comfort while fishing with the Thomas & Thomas Contact 10’ #3 is excellent. The rod only weights 3oz and has a perfect balance with a spooled reel weighting 5.5oz. Keep in mind that we tested this product with an up-locking reel seat. So, there is absolutely no doubt that those data are even better with a down-locking reel seat available in options. You can also add a moveable guide to clips to the first section of the rod ; it can be useful in Euro nymphing because of the long-distance (19.5in) between the rod handle and the first guide.

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Thomas & Thomas Contact 10' #3
Matériel

Thomas & Thomas Contact 10' #3

Manufacturer
Thomas & Thomas rods
Series
Contact
Length
10'
Actual length
120in
Line
#3
Pieces
4
Actual weight
3.00oz
Guides
12
Stripper guide
20in
Handle dimensions
0.98x6.5in
Reel seat type
Uplocking
Fighting butt
Yes
BRW
5.50oz
BTW
8.50oz
IP
30
ERN
3.42
AA
65°
CCF
78cpm
Comfort
7.1/10
Price
$795.00
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Joe Goodspeed
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The opinion of Joe Goodspeed, Thomas & Thomas rod designer : 

"The Contact 10’ 3wt is the most recent development in the Contact family.  The major difference between the 10’ 3wt and the longer Contact rods is the transition to advantageous new materials in the critical middle sections of the rod.  Our new material is extremely strong and fast dampening, which allows me to create more effective actions for the most demanding fishing situations. Although the longer (10’8”, 11’3”) 3wt Contact rods are designed as pure nymphing tools, the Contact 10’ 3wt is a more universal trout rod that will comfortably accommodate an AFTMA standard weight class 3 line. This is a perfect rod for the angler who has precise dry-dropper techniques, and needs a rod that can maximize the success with that approach without sacrificing accuracy and sensitivity fishing a technical European style leader."

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Thomas & Thomas Contact 10' #3
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Editor’s Review

This is third model of the Contact Series tested here after the 10’2 #2 and the 10’8 #3. We can only witness the consistency that is pervasive in the whole series full of very good and high-quality products. Beside the perfect conformity between the announced and measured power, it is mostly the action that distinguishes the rods of this series from their competitors on the market. The angles measured in the different models are very close and classifying those rods as moderate fast action, with all the advantages it involves in matter of holding a fish and using fine lines (finer than 7X). This Thomas & Thomas Contact 10’ #3 is without any doubt the most versatile of the whole series if you want to switch between Euro nymphing and dry fly fishing in any type of waters.

Contrarily to other modern rods focused on Euro nymphing that quickly show their limits as soon as it’s loaded with the line, this Contact 10’ #3 performed very well in all kind of situation. We really enjoyed its qualities of very good casting rod with a dry or a small unweighted nymph paired with a Scientific Angler VPT #3 line up to about 10 m without any efforts. Combined to a PTE reel weighting 242g, handling was absolutely perfect. For Euro nymphing, its power allows to efficiently cast 2.4 mm bead head nymphs. Globally, the Contact 10’ #3 is mostly used for trout averaging 10 to 20 inches but it wouldn’t have much trouble to handle bigger sized fish. The rod actually knocked down this superb 24 inches brown. If you’re looking for an all-rounder rod, the Thomas & Thomas Contact 10’ #3 is definitely for you. Cherry on the cake, with its own serial number, this rod has a lifetime warranty.

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Useful links :

Our fly rod protocol review

Choosing a euronymphing fly rod

Others Thomas & Thomas reviews :

Thomas & Thomas

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