A Wide Selection of Fly Rods
at the Lowest Price on the Net
Helpful Tips for Buying the Right Fly Rod
Before you run out and buy a fly rod, there are a few things you need to consider. These are some major factors in fly fishing. The first one is the kind of fish you will be fishing for. The rule of thumb is the heavier the fish, the heavier the equipment needed.
Anglers who have been fishing for years will usually have several different fly rods. Each rod is designed for a specific purpose. A number notes the size of the different rods. The larger the number the larger the rod. It also goes hand in hand with line to be cast. A 3-weight rod is able to cast a 3-weight line, and so on.
You will want to remember that the rod is only a continuation of your arm. It is the line that gets cast not the rod. You will also need to keep in mind the weight of the fly. If the fly is too heavy the fly line will sag and will not cast well.
Another feature to consider when purchasing a rod, is the flexibility or the action of the fly rod. With a fast action rod only about 30 percent of the rod will bend. Where as, with a slow action rod about 90 percent of the rod will bend. A medium action rod is in the middle. The fly rod will bend about 60 percent. The fast action rod will cast farther than a slow action rod. The slow action rod will bend much easier than a fast action rod.
The fly rods have made huge transitions over the years. They started out made out of wood, progressed to split bamboo, to steel, to fiberglass wrapped hallow wooden rods, to the graphite rods of today. With the making of the graphite rods, came the faster action rods. The fast action rods are lightweight and use more of the tip to project the fly line. If the line is cast correctly, the rod does all the work for you. It is one of the main advantages of the fast action rod; the person casting does less work.
As a fly-fishing angler you will soon realize, your fly rod is the second most important pieces of equipment. The first most important piece of the puzzle is the gaining and storing of knowledge in the art of fly-fishing of course. Selecting the right fly rod can be puzzling. I hope this article will give you some direction into which fly rod is right for you.
Fly rods come in various shapes and sizes, and which one you choose depends mainly on the type of fishing you plan on doing.
Fly fishing rods come rated in terms of the net weight they can handle (designated by nwt or just wt). This means that if you are fishing waters for fish up to eight pounds, you should use an eight nwt rod. Therefore, the higher the number, the bigger fish the rod is capable of handling. The nwt ratings of fly rods range from the nwt 1 to a high of nwt 15
Some rods are multi-rated like 8-10 nwt. multi-rated rods are good because they can handle a variety of situations. Trout angler usually use fly rod in the 3 nwt to the 7 nwt range. While the steelhead and salmon angler will typically use a fly rod in the 9 nwt to 10 nwt range.
Fly Rods are made of three different materials: fiberglass, graphite, and bamboo. Each type of material will give the fly rod certain handling characteristics and benefits.
The length of your fly rod makes a difference as well depending on the type of fishing conditions you are fishing. Fly rods less than 8 feet long are good for tight, narrow places and areas with overhanging trees. Eight to nine foot rods are ideal for trout and bass fishing in open areas. These longer rods will provide you with better casting distance. Anything nine feet and over is for wide-open waters and those long distance casts. The nine feet and above rods, work well for fishing from a float tube or drift boat.
Last, but not least you will need to consider the action of the rod. Fly fishing rods are made to flex; each different from the other. They can range from slow to fast. In fly fishing it is important to get the feel of the rod. For a beginner probably a rod somewhere in the medium range would be the best starter.
