| Knee deep I stand contorting my neck as I stare | | | | ACTIONRod action refers to the flex and feel of |
| into the rosy red light desperately trying to | | | | a rod. Most rods can be classified as slow, |
| differentiate my fly from the foam bubbles and | | | | medium or fast action. |
| the late afternoon Caddis hatch that litter the | | | | |
| water's surface. No matter how hard I squint, I | | | | Slow Action RodsThese rods are typically quite |
| just can't figure out which fly I should be focused | | | | soft and can flex almost all the way to the cork |
| on."Maybe if I adjust my position or take these | | | | handle. They are best suited for anglers who have |
| sunglasses off?""That didn't work.""Put those back | | | | a wider, slower, more open casting stroke. Slow |
| on, how about another cast?"I accelerate the fly | | | | action rods tend to be a good choice in the small |
| line to halt in the calm air behind me, and once | | | | weight range. They work well at casing short |
| again focus on the line, then the fly, as it passes | | | | distances and chasing small fish.Medium Action |
| by in a rush to land softly on the water's surface. | | | | RodsMedium action rods often flex in the upper |
| My eyes are locked on the fly as it lazily drifts | | | | third of the rod and are most common for the |
| down the eddy line. I'm so excited that I almost | | | | beginning angler or those looking for medium |
| forget to raise the rod tip as my fly is engulfed in | | | | length cast. These rods are an excellent all around |
| a froth of white."Set the hook you dummy!"There | | | | choice to fit most fishing situations.Fast Action |
| are literally thousands of fly rods to choose from | | | | RodsFast action rods allow anglers to cast tighter |
| but which one will help you in creating memories? | | | | loops (back cast and forward cast) that increase |
| The following is intended to give you some of the | | | | line speed and distance. The higher line speed also |
| basics in, weight, action, size, and price that | | | | makes these rods very capable of casting in |
| hopefully will put you on the right track to fly rod | | | | heavy winds. |
| ownership.CASTINGBefore going into the details | | | | |
| of rod construction let's cover the basic premise | | | | PIECE SIZEBy now you probably have some |
| of fly-casting. Unlike gear fishing where the line | | | | ideas about which weight and action rod fits your |
| weighs nearly nothing and lead weight or a steal | | | | needs. Now let's cover 2-piece rods verses |
| spoon provides the weight to load the rod, the | | | | 4-piece.2-piece, 4-piece or even 5-piece rods are |
| art of fly casting is in the ability to use weighted | | | | all available in today's market. Most often, the |
| line to load or evenly flex a rod on the back cast, | | | | fewer pieces a rod is the cheaper the rod. This is |
| then unload and propel the line and fly on the | | | | justified by the amount of engineering it takes to |
| forward cast. Therefore, picking a fly rod is all | | | | provide a reliable, even flex as you add joints to |
| about matching your casting stroke with the right | | | | the system. I prefer to go with 4-piece rods |
| rod and line weight | | | | because they are easy to store and travel with. |
| combination.WEIGHTDetermining where you will be | | | | These typically break down to be around 2 1/2 |
| using this rod the majority of the time will help | | | | feet in length and fit in many different style travel |
| you decide on the appropriate weight. Will it be | | | | bags.PRICEPrice might not be such an issue with |
| that small creek not far from home, standing on | | | | rods if all you had to buy was the rod, but that's |
| a local beach strewn with cobbles as the waves | | | | often not the case. You need a reel, fly line and |
| lap the shores, or maybe on your next | | | | backing. If this is your first rod you are also likely |
| backpacking trip to your favorite alpine lake?Fly | | | | to be buy a whole lot of other fly fishing garb |
| rods are given a weight, which has nothing to do | | | | such as, tippit, fly boxes, vests, flies, etc. So |
| with the actual weight of the rod. It's the number | | | | where should you spend the bulk of your hard |
| that best describes a fly line that will properly load | | | | earned cash? The rod, hands down. The rod is |
| the rod on both the forward and back cast. Fly | | | | the most critical piece to the puzzle. Besides skill |
| line manufactures alter the diameter and density | | | | (which you learn through practice and instruction) |
| of line producing a variety of lines given numbers | | | | the rod has more to do with your ability to make |
| from 00 through 12+ that are then matched to | | | | quality presentations to eager fish than any other |
| the rod weight that best suits your fishing | | | | piece in the system. Not to say a cheap rod isn't |
| environment and desired casting length.In general, | | | | capable of making quality casts, but often they |
| a rod with a small weight number will cast a | | | | aren't as consistent and can be much harder to |
| shorter distance and require lighter flies. If this is | | | | learn or improve your casting ability on. So with |
| going to be your only rod, I would recommend | | | | that said, I spend most of my money on the rod, |
| picking a rod weight that represents the largest, | | | | buy the best line I can afford, then whatever |
| heaviest fly you plan to fish. Here are some | | | | money I have left would go to the reel.Cast |
| generalizations that describe fly rods by weight: | | | | ItWhen buying a rod make sure you take some |
| | | | time to cast it before you buy it. I've picked up |
| 00-3 weight rods are designed to cast up to 40 | | | | some amazingly expensive rods, cast them and |
| feet or so and are best suited to small dry flies in | | | | known right from the start I liked its cheaper |
| the 24-14 size range. They are most commonly | | | | counterpart better. Have a knowledgeable sales |
| 6-7 1/2 feet in length and are best suited to small | | | | person work with you to find the rod that fits. In |
| streams or areas with heavy cover behind the | | | | fact rod manufactures like Sage are now |
| caster. 4-6 weight rods are designed to cast up | | | | outfitting some of there retailers with a casting |
| to approximately 70 feet and are capable of | | | | analysis tool that break your cast down into |
| casting most dry flies and nymphs up to size 6. | | | | section give you tips to improve on and help you |
| They are typically 8-9 1/2 feet in length and are | | | | choose the right rod for your casting stroke.Ask |
| the workhorse trout rods used on most mid-sized | | | | QuestionsAsk some question about what comes |
| rivers and streams. 7-8 weight rods are capable | | | | with the rod. Is there an unconditional replacement |
| of casting up to 100 feet with heavier and larger | | | | / repair warranty? How about a rod tube and |
| flies. They are typically 9-10 feet in length and are | | | | sleeve? Details like these have a way of leveling |
| best suited to fishing larger rivers or saltwater | | | | the playing field when it comes to price. My |
| beaches for large fish like Salmon or Steelhead. | | | | experience is that many of the cheaper rods |
| 9-12 weight rods are designed to cast "your | | | | don't come with these items, which are all things |
| kitchen sink" (well, not really) but they can throw | | | | that I've found to be really useful in the long-term |
| some huge flies up and over 120 feet. They can | | | | ownership of a fly rod.You should now have the |
| reach lengths of over 14 feet and are typically | | | | basics of choosing a fly rod. Find a good instructor |
| used for large game and are designed more for | | | | to help you with your casting stroke and you're |
| landing fish than casting. | | | | on your way to years of great memories. |
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