RodSelection

Just getting started or upgrading to a better or another fly rod? What to do?, what to do?

If you are just getting started, several issues need to be dealt with before purchasing your first fly rod. If you are already a fly fisherman and just want to upgrade from your existing fly rod, most of these issues have been considered in the decision making process. The following information is given as a guide and not gospel chisled in stone.

The suggestions here will deal only with graphite fly rods although bamboo is still the ultimate choice for those desiring to maintain the traditional aspects of fly fishing. Fiberglass is still an option in some models with at least one major manufacturer offering a small selection of models. The feel and casting actions of these fiberglass rods are similar to the actions of bamboo, but somewhat lighter in weight.

First determine the species of fish you intend to catch. Fly rods for trout and for tarpon would definitely be worlds apart in design and functionality. One rod could be as small as 5½ feet and one as long as 9 feet to properly handle each situation.

Will you be fishing in small creeks, slow moving rivers, saltwater flats with heavy winds or large wide western steelhead rivers with big flies? Will you want just a two piece rod or a multi-piece rod designed for travel? You might even have a desire for more than one rod or will you be looking for just that one and only rod?

The standard offering from manufacturers is 2-3-4 piece rods with a few offering 5 piece designs. One manufacturer that I have used the blanks from offers a 6 piece rod that fits very well in the luggage compartment of airplanes. Thanks to modern manufacturing techniques and designs, once assembled, these multi-piece rods have casting qualities that rival the two-piece models. The majority of fly rods sold today are 9 feet in length and cover about all of the line weights commonly manufactured.

As a beginner, you probably have not yet developed a "style" of fishing but do have some idea on how you wish to initially go about it. Will you start with trout fishing and then someday end up in the Florida Keys chasing bonefish? Or will you start with saltwater species and then migrate back to fresh water species? Catching each species of game fish requires a certain style and technique to be successful. These must be developed through time and practice. So, with that in mind, it will be important to determine exactly what you want the fly rod to do for you.

There are many different rod actions from which to choose and it can be overwhelming and no one rod can handle all of the fishing situations you may encounter. Pick up any rod catalog and page after page displays many options for fly fishing. There are long fast rods, short slow rods and hundreds in between. The three main actions are slow, medium and fast. Slow rods flex almost to the grip while medium rods flex to approximately the middle of the blank and fast tip are designed to flex in the top one-third.

Freshwater species are what the majority of people have access to so we can start there. Eastern waters for trout are mainly smaller in size where you use smaller flies and wind on most occasions would not be a major factor. Out west it's a whole different picture with the bigger rivers, bigger fish, bigger wind and those big 'ole flies!

For smaller trout streams and creeks where small dry fly presentations are critical, shorter rods and light lines are suggested. Fly rods in the "ultra-light" class from 6' up to 7½' are commonly used in these situations. These rods would have line ratings in the 2-3-4 weight class. Longer rods such as 8½' and 9' in these light line weight classes could surely be used here as well as they can allow for easier line mending and can have that extra reach that might be needed on some occasions. But usually stream conditions such as overhanging grasses and low lying trees dictate the length of rod that would be most efficient. These rods are usually designed with a "slow" action where delicate presentations are needed. Slow to medium actions are best suited for beginners as they are more forgiving while you are learning to cast efficiently. Some manufacturers offer ultra-light rods in the "00" and "1" line weight class for those discriminating anglers who enjoy the ultimate in delicate presentations. Landing large fish on these rods would be demanding, but fun, to say the least!

For medium sized rivers, lakes and the wide open spaces, 9' rods in the 5-6-7 line weight classes are good with streamers, popping bugs, large dry flies and bead flies. Match the heavier line weights with longer rods, and you can cover more water, mend line better and be able to cast against the wind with better accuracy and less effort. The rods in this weight range can be designed with "fast", "medium" or "slow" tips depending on the use of the rod. Delicate presentation of some dry flies with a fast tip becomes more of a challenge though, but with the proper leaders and casting techniques, success can still be within reach. As a beginner, having a fly rod in this range with a length of 8' designed for a 5 wt. and a slow action can possibly take care of all your trout fishing needs.

Long rods, fast tips and heavy lines in the 8-9-10 line weight classes are useful in taking larger fish in fresh and saltwater. These can be designated as heavy freshwater or light saltwater. These rods can be used for bass, salmon and steelhead fishing and even some species in the saltwater class such as barracuda, jacks, cobia as well as redfish, snook, and speckled trout. These rods are usually designed with "fast" tips to allow the caster to maintain a tight loop as might be needed for long distance casting or casting into heavy winds with large flies.

Rods in the line weight class above 10 are usually classified "blue water rods" that are used for tarpon, permit, tuna and sailfish. As a guide, for fish over 150# one should consider at least a 13 weight fly rod in a length no longer than 8 or 8½ feet. These short, heavier rods offer more leverage for the fisherman when fighting large fish.

Ultimately, the best method to properly select a fly rod would be to visit a rod shop and cast various models to feel the qualities of each so you can have the best information to determine which one best fits your needs. With the rod shop option, you would also have a resident expert or guide to answer any questions you may have as you were test casting the rod.

Most of your monetary investment should be in the rod itself. Choose the best you can afford as long as it fits your needs. An expensive rod does not always mean the best rod. If the feel is right, the length and line weight fits the area and species you intend to target, and the rod casts well at your experience level, then this is the one you need. Similar to shooting a shotgun, no matter how expensive the gun is, if it doesn't fit the user, it probably won't be very efficient.

Another important consideration is getting the proper line and reel to match the rod you decide to purchase. The choices for fly lines and reels are just as varied as the selections for the rods. The rod is the first consideration for quality with the line a close second and last but not least comes the reel. Since this is a suggestion article for fly rods, fly lines and reels won't be discussed here due to the vast selection that is available to the customer in catalogs and on the internet.

If you can't get to a specialized fly fishing shop on "main street", you always have the Internet! In a matter of minutes you can be in shops from the east coast to the west coast where the locations seem to be endless.

Web based businesses such as mine can still be of great service because of the selection available to the customer. Each and every rod can be unique to the purchaser and therefore why we call them "custom fly rods." An e-mail or a phone call can accomplish a great deal and the customer can do this from the convenience of the home or office. Even though we are not a business that's just down the street, a trusting business relationship can be developed in a short period of time and both the customer and business owner become satisfied and feel safe with the transaction.

Give us a call and we will be more than happy to assist you with the selection of your new fly rod.