Fly Fishing Rods
Fly Fishing Rods come in as many shapes, sizes, colors, and applications as you think of. There are literally thousands of fly fishing rods to choose from. Knowing some of the basics in weight, action, size, and price will help you make the right choice when acquiring your new fly fishing rod.
Casting
In fly fishing, the ability to use weighted line to load and flex a fly rod for proper casting is critical. Because of this, matching your casting stroke to the rod and line weight is critical to you becoming a happy and successful fly fisherman. If you are a relative newcomer to the sport of fly fishing, it will behoove you to consult with someone that will help you develop your casting skills before laying out a lot of money for good fly fishing gear.
Weight
The weight of your fly fishing rod should be matched to the location and type of fishing you will be doing with it. Creek fishing, surf fishing, and alpine lake fishing will all require different weights, due to the differing fishing conditions. The weight of the rod is an matched to the line weight that will properly load and flex the rod for proper casting. This number will range from 00 for ultra light, to 12+ for heavy fishing.
| Weight | Casting Distance | Fly Size | Rod Length | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00-3 | to 40' | 24-14 | 6 - 7.5' | small streams/heavy cover |
| 4-6 | to 70' | Up to 6 | 8 - 9.5' | mid sized rivers/streams |
| 7-8 | to 100' | Larger/Heavier | 9-10' | large rivers/beaches |
| 9-12 | to 120+' | Huge | to 14'+ | large game |
Action
There are three general categories of action on fly fishing rods. Slow Action Rods are intended for fishermen who have a wide, slow, open casting stroke. This type of rod is good for smaller creeks and rivers, using small flies, and fishing for smaller fish. The rods are soft and flexible, usually allowing you to flex the tip almost all the way to the cork handle. Medium action rods are a bit stiffer and less flexible. These are the most common type of fly fishing rod and are an excellent all around choice to fit most fishing situations. Fast action fly rods are much stiffer and are intended for casting with tighter loops that increase line speed and distance.
Number of pieces
Two piece, four piece, or even five piece rods are all available, with the most common being four piece. In general, the fewer pieces a rod has, the cheaper the rod. Four piece fly rods are a good choice because they are easy to store and travel with. The individual pieces of a four piece rod are about 2.5 feet in length, which is good for storing in luggage or tighter spaces in your car.
