$2,000.00
The all new artisan collection of Maven Mission fly rods.
New Zealand fly rods of the proudest heritage that redefine quality and luxury with their sleek minimalist design and the very finest components.
The Mission fly rod collection features our signature Maven New Zealand aesthetic, available in two colour options (Natural or Vintage Blue) with unique cream painted under-guide.
The gorgeous retro-styled 4 piece Maven Mission has at its foundation a hand-rolled CTS blank, which has been carefully adorned with the highest quality components. Mission is a high performance carbon fibre rod with exceptional recovery, that excels at creating tight loops and quick casts.
Read the Mission 12wt review by Field & Stream Magazine (Best Saltwater – Tarpon Rods of 2023).
Build Specifications
Ⓒ MAVEN 2023
Ryan Chelius (store manager) –
If there was an award for best aesthetics, the Maven Mission would win by a landslide. The vintage blue paired with the off-white wraps and orange accents made for the nicest-looking rod of the test. And its performance isn’t far behind. You just need to make sure you’re targeting the right size fish.
Let’s get this out of the way: The Maven Mission 12-weight is a beefy rod. To be fair, it was designed that way. This 12-weight will handle the biggest tarpon you can find, and I’m talking 150-plus pounders. Is it a bit bulky? Yes. Though, I have no problem with that because this rod throws long, accurate casts and has the power to fight giants.
On the lawn, I hit the 95-foot mark without issue. And while it’s easy to say this rod feels beefy, I expected that from a 12-weight. It is balanced and loads line surprisingly well. The extended wells are a nice bonus for comfort and essential when you come tight with a giant fish.
The Mission comes in almost every line weight, and I think most anglers would be thrilled with the 11-weight for average-size tarpon. But if you’re looking to target monsters, get the 12-weight. It is also the most expensive rod we tested, but the craftsmanship matches the price. When I pulled the Mission out of its tube, I said, “This is the nicest-looking fly rod I’ve ever seen.” It is truly a work of art. — Ryan Chelius