Tips For Buying Fly Fishing Rods

By Bob Ives

When it comes to fly fishing rods, you’re likely to get nearly as many opinions as there are fly fishermen. That’s because fly fisherman are all built differently, and they all have their own needs, like a golfer. But, there’s also a bit of pride in making the choice. Discovering the latest and greatest rod before your fly fishing buddies brings some anglers the satisfaction of one-upmanship. Plus, experienced fly fishermen are choosy about their rods.

If you are planning on using your fly fishing rod for trout fishing, you will find some of these tips handy when choosing your first or new rod.

Fly Rod Length

If you will be fishing small streams or around a lot of brush, try a shorter rod like a 7’ or even shorter. You won’t have much room to work the fly in tighter areas, so this will help. On the other hand, most fly fisherman are going with a rod length of 9’ because you can cast it long distances without tiring, it gives you more control of the drift, and it keeps the fly off the water on the back cast.

Fly Rod Sizes

Different sized fly fishing rods have different numbers; the larger the number, the larger the rod. So, a fly rod sized #3 would be very light and good for trout fishing in small streams. If you are looking for a good all-purpose fly rod to handle all types of trout fishing, you would want to go with a number 5 or 6.

Fly Rod Action

Fly fishing rod action is usually listed in 3 categories: slow, moderate (or medium) and fast. This is a rating of the bending action of the rod when casting.

Some slow rods can bend all the way to the grip. They don’t give a lot of casting distance, but they’re good for fishing streams and creeks. With these, your tippet doesn’t get as stressed because they absorb the shock. This keeps the fly from getting snapped off.

The most popular fly rod action being used is medium. They don’t bend as far down the rod as slow action rods do. These are great for newbies and pros as well. They don’t cast as far as the fast action fly rod, but they are more accurate. If you only plan on owning one fly fishing rod, this would be it.

In contrast to the other fly rods, only the tip bends on a fast action rod. These offer the greatest wind control, casting distances, and ability for specialized casts. Beginners should avoid them because of the high learning curve.

Fly Rod Grips:

One of the most important things to think about when choosing a fly fishing rod is the grip. This is how you will hold the rod and it will be in your hand all the time you are using the rod, so it must be comfortable. Normally these are made of cork. Hold it in your hand and move your hand around into different positions to ensure comfort. There are large and small grips to accommodate different sized hands.