With so many options on the market choosing the correct fly rod can seem quite confusing at first. There are three main variables to consider when choosing a fly rod which are rod length, rod weight and rod action. Below is a guide to help choose the right rod for you.
Rod length
When choosing a rod length it is important to consider the venues that you are going to be fishing as different applications will require different rod lengths.
Rivers
River rods are usually short and generally range from 6 – 9 feet in length, the shortest models are often used on tiny streams where’s for chalk stream and dry fly fishing 8’0” to 9’0” are more popular.
For specialist river techniques such as French Nymphing, longer rods of 10’0” – 11’0”are used.
Stillwater
Most rods used for stillwater fishing range in length from 9 – 10 foot, rods in these lengths provide good line control and are ideal for beginners.
For bank fishing on a small stillwater the most popular length of rod is 9’0” to 9’6”.
For reservoir fishing rods of 9’6” to 10’0” long are commonly used, the former is a popular size for bank angler while the latter is the best length for boat fishing.
Predators and Saltwater
Most rods designed for predator and saltwater fly fishing are typically 9’0” in length, this length can be used for both boat and shore fishing. Shorter rods are sometimes used for boat fishing but 9’0” is a good all-rounder.
Rod Weights
Rod casting weights are rated using numbers and are used to match with a fly line with the same weigh rating, for example a #5 weight rod should be used with a #5 weight line. The higher the number, the heavier the line is and the heavier the applications are that the rod is used for.
Rivers
For ultra-light specialist fishing on small streams rods from #0 - #3 are often used.
For most river fishing scenarios #3 - #5 rods are ideal.
Stillwaters
For most stillwater work rods rated from #6 - #8 are used. For small stillwaters a #6 is a very popular option where’s for fishing large reservoirs more powerful #7 and #8 weight rods are normally used. For delicate presentations such as short-range dry fly fishing, rods as light as #5 are preferred by some anglers.
Predators and Saltwater
For most predator and saltwater flyfishing scenarios rods between #8 - #10 are used. These heavier rods help turn over large flies and are capable of landing large fish found in these environments. For saltwater flyfishing for smaller species such as mullet, which require a delicate presentation, lighter rods like those used for Stillwater trout are better to use. Rods of #12 - #14 or even heavier are used for targeting blue water and exotic species such as sharks, tarpon and even billfish.
Rod Action
There are three main types of rod action in fly fishing and the rod action that you choose normally comes down to personal choice, below the main rod actions are explained in more detail.
Slow Action
Slow action rods have a through action where the rod blank bends fully from the butt section to the tip. This action is good for short distance casting, protecting light leaders and the ability to load the rod easily during the cast. The slower casting action of these rods can help aid beginners as it allows them to perfect their timing better, but they do lack the power of medium and fast action rods meaning that casting distance will be limited.
Middle to Tip Action
Middle to tip action fly rods are probably the most commonly used rods by fly anglers. These rods bend from the tip to the mid section of the rod and are suitable for most anglers casting styles. The advantage of a middle to tip action rod is that you can feel the rod load up the line on the back cast making it easier to perfect your timing. The forgiving action and excellent feel of these rods make them the perfect choice for beginners.
Fast Action
Fast action rods house all of their action from the top quarter to the tip of the rod. These have the most powerful rod action on the market. Fast action rods are often used for distance casting and fishing in windy conditions. This action is highly favoured by competition anglers as it allows fish to be played harder and landed quicker. While fast action rods are incredibly popular with experienced anglers for their casting abilities, they are most unforgiving rod action available needing perfect timing to get them working and because of this they are not recommended for beginners.
The guide above should help in making choosing your first rod easier. In part 2 of our Fly Fishing 101 series we will look at choosing a fly reel.
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