A Guide to Selecting a Fly Fishing Rod
As fly fishing rods today are made of many different types of material, and come in varying degrees of stiffness and in various rod lengths, choosing a fly fishing rod today can get quite confusing for the novice. The fly fishing rod is one of the most important items of fly fishing equipment, so buying the correct rod is essential. The fly fishing rod that is the oldest is the traditional bamboo fly rod. Whilst a bamboo fly rod is a work of art, these rods are heavier and more expensive than the fly rods made today.
1. Rod Materials
Fly fishing rod are manufactured using the following materials:
- Fiberglass – Commonly used in the less expensive fly rods. Fly rods made of fiberglass are generally more durable than rods made of graphite. Beginners normally use fiberglass rods. These rods can be used in most fly fishing situations.
- Graphite – More expensive than fiberglass rods. Fly fishing rods made of graphite are lighter, which make them easier to cast more accurately. Graphite rods also have greater fighting power. Beginner and expert anglers can use these fly fishing rods.
2. Rod Action
Rod action is the amount of stiffness in the rod, and how much the rod will flex when you are casting or are fighting a fish. The action of a fly rod can categorized as:
- Slow-Action – These rods have the most bend or flexibility. These fly rods can be difficult for beginner anglers to learn to control, but these rods have more accuracy when it comes to short-range casting. Use these fly fishing rods to catch light fish.
- Medium-Action -These rods bend in the middle of the rod and at the rod tip. These fly fishing rods are ideal rods for beginner anglers, and can be used for both long-range and short-range casting.
- Fast-Action – Beginners find these rods difficult to handle. These stiff rods only flex at the rod tip, and are good rods for long-range casting, and reeling in large fish. Slow-action fly rods have better casting accuracy than these rods.
3. Rod Weight
The weight of the fly fishing rod you choose should match the weight of the fly line you intend using. The rod weight is not an indication on how much the rod itself weighs – this rod weight tells you what fly line weight the rod has been designed to use. Fly line weights are categorized 1 to 15, and you choose your fly line weight according to the fish you intend catching:
- 1 to 3 Weight – Small trout and other small fish using small flies.
- 4 weight – Small to medium sized trout and other similar sized fish with small to medium flies.
- 5 or 6 Weight – Medium sized trout, small bass and other similar sized fish using small to large flies.
- 7 or 8 Weight – Large trout and bass. Streamers and larger flies are suitable.
- 9 Weight and Above – Steelhead, salmon, and saltwater fish with saltwater flies.
4. Rod Length
The length of a fly rod determines the action of the rod. Longer fly rods generally have a faster action than shorter fly rods, but shorter rods are more suited to fishing in tight situations such as narrow streams. Fly fishing rod length can be categorized as:
- Short (less than 8 feet) – Use in tight fishing situations where bush, trees or stream size restrict your movement.
- Medium (8 feet – 9 feet) – Recommended rod length for trout and bass fly fishing. They allow you to cast further and can handle more weight.
- Long (longer than 9 feet) – Ideal choice for longer casting and fishing for big-game fish.
Take a look at the fly fishing rod guide for novices for more information about fly rods, and how to choose a fly fishing rod.
For more information about the sport of fly fishing, take a look at the Fly Fishing Elite news feed at Feedraider.com.
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