Which Fly Fishing Rod Should You Choose

September 13th, 2008 Posted in Fishing

Obviously, there is no more important instrument for fly fishing than a fly fishing rod. The rod assists you with line casting, controlling the line, and striking and landing of the fish you catch. Fishing rods need to bend and flex properly,so it is important that you get a rod that comfortably fits your hand.

First off, determine what you want to catch. Will you be looking for trout? Would you rather the big freshwater bass? And what about fishing in saltwater? These different selections create unique demands on the fly fishing rod. For each environment you would probably choose a different weight rod. A 6 wt makes a pretty good versatile rod. A 4 or 5 wt will yield the best results if you want to catch brown or rainbow trout. A 6 to 8 wt should be sufficient for any smallmouth bass, and an 8 to 9 wt will need to be used with largemouth bass. In addition, the rest of your tackle will be affected by your choices.

Once you’ve established what tyoe of fish you want to try for, you need to examine the action that each rod you’re considering posesses. The rod’s action refers to its flexibility. All flyrods, regardless of make or model, have one of the following attributes: fast action, medium action or slow action. Additional casting distance can be obtained with less exertion with a fast action rod. On windy days these are great. The power in fast action fishing rods means they are more of a challenge for people just learning to angle fish. Also, making accurate short casts is not their strong suit.

The most versatile are medium action rods. These are simpler for a novice to experiment with than the rods with faster action, yet aren’t quite as precise or silent as the slower types. The easiest way to learn is with slow action rods. These are ideal for the smaller streams where you’ll have to be stealthy to sneak up on the fish.

In order to find the casting method that works best for you, try a number of brands. It may be discouraging attempting to fish with a rod that isn’t suitable to you. A fly shop would be a great place to check out the many rods and reels at many different price ranges that are available. If your looking for a fly rod that fits your budget, ask a casting instructor on staff to help give you pointers, if there is one available.

After you have picked out the right rod, make sure that you also pick out an appropriate reel as well. Choose the best line, so that you can start collecting all you need for catching your favorite fish.

Not surprisingly, there is a great deal of quality fly fishing equipment being offered online. To browse through some of these listings to find that right fly rod, fly reel or other piece of fly fishing gear, there are many online resources available.