Choosing the right fly rod can be tricky, especially if this is your first time. There are so many options to choose from, and it often feels like there is no perfect answer. But that’s not true! Finding your ideal match just takes a little research and knowledge of how different rods work best for certain fishing styles.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a fly rod, and it’s important to know what they are before you purchase one. This guide will help you avoid mistakes by teaching you how to choose a fly rod properly.
How to Choose a Fly Rod
How Much Money Are You Willing to Spend on a Fly Rod?
The first thing you need to do before buying a fly rod is decided how much money you can afford to spend. There are many different types of rods at all price points, but it’s important not to overpay for the wrong rod type because that could lead to bad casting and reduce your enjoyment.
That being said, if you have more than one budget in mind, try looking into some options from both budgets so that you’re sure there won’t be any regrets when choosing which ones suit your needs better.
Most people don’t want to invest too much upfront in their fishing gear or hobby as they might prefer spending time outdoors rather than online shopping for expensive equipment. If this sounds like you, plenty of nice rods available for $200-$500 will get the job done.
Fly rods typically range from $30 to $600, and a fly rod’s price usually depends on its weight.
Lightweight fly rods are more expensive because they require much less energy to cast than heavy ones, which can tire you out quickly. If you’re looking for inexpensive gear that won’t slow down your casting progress, consider buying lighter models like Scott Fly Fishing Rods’ Ultralite Series or RIO’s Clearwater Fly Rod series.
On the other hand, if you’re an intermediate-level caster who wants to spend a little bit more money to improve their technique without sacrificing power and control over your casts, we recommend investing in higher-end brands such as Winston Select IIx or G Loomis CrossCurrent.
If you’re looking for something affordable and easy to use that will work in all fishing situations, consider purchasing a spinning rod because they offer versatility in bait selection.
Length of rod – how much distance do you want to cast
Length is an important factor when choosing a fly rod. If you are fishing for trout or smallmouth bass, shorter rods will work better than longer ones. But if you plan on going after larger fish like striped bass or tuna, the length of the rod might be more significant as it helps in casting distance and power that can be used to help land these large fish.
If you are looking for accuracy rather than how much power your cast has, choose a smaller, lighter-weight fly rod instead of something heavier with a lot of backbone (like those designed to go out into deeper water).
When using this type of rod in shallow water where there may not be any obstacles such as trees, buildings, etc., they are easier to cast, and a lot less weight is required than when using something heavy.
If you are going after smaller fish, such as trout or smallmouth bass, shorter rods will work better because they have the power needed in close quarters.
Whereas if you plan on going after larger fish like striped bass or tuna, the length of your rod might be more significant since it helps with casting distance and has power for landing these large fish.
A lighter fly rod can provide accuracy but may not have much power behind it, so it would be better used in shallow waters without obstacles where there’s no need for heavier equipment that could make fishing difficult by catching onto trees, buildings, etc.
Weight of the rod – heavier rods are better for larger fish, and lighter rods are better for smaller fish
A fly rod is heavier and stiffer than a traditional fishing outfit. The weight of the fly rod affects how much line can be cast at any given time, which in turn dictates how big an area you can cover with your swinging arc.
Lighter rods are better for smaller fish that require more delicate casting or if you have minimal control over distances due to personal constraints such as physical disability.
Heavier rods excel when large fish need catching, but they do not provide finesse while fighting them because it requires heavy hands to keep these monsters on the reel by pulling back hard each time they try breaking free from the hook that has snagged them so securely.
To achieve this power, most experienced anglers use extension handles known as clamps attached either at the butt-end of their rod or on the reel to increase torque.
What type of action do you prefer: slow, med/fast, or fast?
There are three general types of rod action: fast action (which means they are more sensitive), medium action, and slow action (which means they have less sensitivity). Rod action is often used to describe how flexible or stiff the rod feels during use.
The stiffness of a fly fishing rod ranges from extra-stiff, which provides maximum control and power when casting weighty flies at long distances, to very flexible, which allows for delicate presentations with lighter lures by imparting more natural movement on the lure than a stiffer rod would provide.
Since each type of fish has its preferred method of being caught (i.e., salmon prefer to bait while trout usually take streamers), tackle stores offer rods designed to handle specific techniques.
Slow actions will be easier for beginners who are just learning how to cast while still being able to handle light flies; mid-length rods work well with this kind of an action because they allow long casts but can also handle lighter weights when fishing for trout.
Medium weight is good if you have some experience already, as it’s not too heavy and not too light, so there won’t be any arm fatigue after hours out in the water casting with your chosen rod.
Fast actions are for the experienced fly rodder with a lot of arm strength, as this action is best when fishing for fish that fight back – bass, pike, etc.
Rod material – Graphite vs. Fiberglass vs Bamboo
A rod is the most important piece of equipment in fly fishing. It is one part object and a few parts of artistry within that object.
Graphite is lightweight but can be brittle and break easily; Fiberglass is more durable but heavier than graphite; Bamboo is lightweight but not as sensitive as other materials.
The best way to choose your first rod for this sport depends on how you plan to fish (do you want trout or saltwater?) and what materials you are comfortable with.
Some find it difficult to pick which material suits them over another because they all have their own advantages and disadvantages, while others know intuitively what feels right without question. These people usually stick by those feelings when choosing objects like handles, pens, and shoes.
How do you know which is the best rod for you?
There are a few ways to go about this; some may work better than others, depending on what materials interest you most.
The simplest one is trial and error: first, try out each material, see if it’s comfortable with your casting style, then find out how well they perform in windy conditions (see our blog post “How We Test Fly Rods” for more information).
This method takes time but can be rewarding as there will be no surprises when buying your fly fishing gear after knowing everything about all three materials beforehand – so long as that particular store carries rods made from those same materials. They’ll just have different weights to account for their different densities.
Another option is to take a class first: many fly fishing instructors cover rod selection and how different materials perform in various conditions, so you can find out for yourself if one material or another would be best for your needs before spending any money on it!
You’ll also have the opportunity to try casting with all three types of rods during the lesson and ask questions about them afterward.
Many shops offer these classes online, but they may require an additional fee – especially depending on where you’re located – while some will provide this information free of charge. There’s no right answer that way either; just follow your heart and see what feels good!
The third method requires more research beforehand: reviews from professional fly fishing magazines, fly fishing organizations and forums, or even videos on YouTube.
These can be great resources when looking for more information about a specific rod, but they will require you to do some digging before making your purchase – that’s why it might not be the best option if you’re in a hurry!
Fly reel capacity (number of yards)
Choosing the right fly reel depends on how many yards you need to cast. For most freshwater fishing, a 200-yard capacity is more than sufficient, but 300-400 yards are needed for saltwater and ocean casts.
The type of line you use also plays into this decision: lighter/thinner lines require less capacity because they have less mass that needs to be reeled to get back your rod’s swing speed.
Heavier lines would want a larger capacity to absorb all that weight while reeling in with enough power to keep up the momentum and fight fish when necessary.
If I’m using heavy line (like what we recommend), my goal is typically a 400-500 yard range—and even higher for stronger fish like salmon.
Line weight rating (determines what type of line you should use)
When choosing a fly rod, you should look at the first line weight rating. Different line weights are suited for different fishing situations and fish species.
The most common ratings are: – Light, Medium, and Heavy, although there can be finer distinctions between these three categories, such as ‘light-medium or ‘heavy-very heavy.’
Lighter lines typically cast better in windy conditions, but heavier lines have more backbone to handle larger fish from deeper water. As well as picking up smaller bites in rougher waters where light tackle isn’t ideal.
Light Line Rods: These rods excel with dry flies and nymphs, which imitate insects that live near the surface of streams (nymphs) or on the water’s surface (dry fly). These rods also work well with small- to medium-sized fish.
Medium Line Rods: Medium line rods are best for fishing larger insects such as caddis flies, mayflies, and terrestrials found on the banks of streams or in trees near lakes. They can be used for bass, trout, and panfish when a more sensitive rod is needed.
Heavy Line Rods: Heavy lines are designed primarily for braid casting large streamers that mimic baitfish, but they’re also great at handling big fish – whether an aggressive brown trout or muskie lying deep under the sun waiting to ambush their prey from below!
Line Guides
You’ll want a fly rod with more than one line guide, the small metal ring located near the top of your reel. The number varies, but usually, you will find three or four on most rods. This helps keep your fly line from tangling with each other when you’re not actively fishing.
Reel Seats
The reel seat holds the spool where all those wonderful fish are waiting to be caught, and it’s always found at the very end of any fly rod. If this part is too loose, your backing can come out easily, and if it’s too tight, casting won’t go as smoothly.
Grips
There are two types of grips: cork or foam. The majority of anglers prefer the feel of a sturdy, reliable grip in their hand when they’re fishing, so it’s best to go with one made from cork unless you don’t mind having something softer.- Rod Length You’ll need to pick out a rod that is proportional for your height but if you plan on going fly fishing in different locations then try getting one that can be adjusted.
The best fly rod for beginners is a medium-weight, slow-action rod with cork grips. They’re not too expensive and great for learning how to fish. If you don’t want the least expensive one, then go for an intermediate-level model between $50-$150 that has a fast or med/fast action because they will be more sensitive (so if your hands shake, it won’t affect the outcome) but still slow enough to give you control over the experience.
A mid-length fly rod would also work well since this will allow you long casts while being able to cast lighter flies – which is good for catching trout. Finally, ensure your line matches up in size and what type of fish you plan on catching.
What kind of reel system does it have: fixed or spinning?
Fixed systems stay put while reeling, which makes them easier to use, but they only last about four years before needing replacement because all of the wear and tear from casting eventually breaks down the exposed gear teeth.
Spinning reels will allow more line at once by simply rotating the handle as you reel in, but that’s because they use up more gear teeth and will need to be replaced sooner.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we recommend buying a mid-priced rod depending on where/what fish you’re looking at catching (i.e., bass vs. trout). Braided lines work well with ultralight setups, while fly fishing rods seem best suited for bigger trout-like rainbows that fight back against the fisherman when hooked.
