A Beginner's Guide to Choosing a Fly Fishing Rod
There are many components involved in successful flyfishing - some you can buy, some you must learn. Choosing the bits you can buy can be confusing and expensive if you don't arm yourself with information on the options you'll be faced with. The rod is a very important component of your fly fishing arsenal and it's important to take care in choosing one.
The simplest part to decide is the material. There's only one real choice for a modern fly fisherman. While fly rods were once made of bamboo painstakingly cut and laminated, those rods are collector's items today - and not cheap! You should avoid fiberglass fly rods as they tend to be poorly made, heavy, and slow. The material of choice is graphite - it's light, strong, and casts well. Be careful, though; some fiberglass rods are wrapped in graphite and labelled as graphite rods. Most shops will have many variations on fiberglass and graphite, and you don't have to spend a fortune. It's enough to know that a rod that is primarily graphite will be much thinner and lighter than one that's a fiberglass/carbon fiber laminate.
If you're going to be fishing, say, with woods to your back, you'll want to look at shorter rods for close quarters. If you're going to be in the open with lots of room, a longer rod will give you better casts. A long rod gives you higher line speeds and help you keep the fly in the air on the backcast. Make sure you know what kind of conditions you'll be fishing in before you finalize your decision.
You should flex your prospective rods and make sure the curve is smooth all the way from grip to tip; long flat areas or sharp bends can indicate weaknesses in the rod's structure. You'll want a "medium action" to start with until you discover your preferences and the 'feel' of the rod. "Fast" actions are stiffer, and this can cause line breaks if you don't have a very soft touch at the grip.
Try out the various grips. They vary in shape and size, and you're looking for one that feels comfortable and controllable. Find a material that feels good in your hand, and that won't slip when damp. Practice casting and make sure you don't feel any chafing or binding as you don't want blisters after an afternoon of fishing.
Know what kind of fish you're going to be going after, and pick a weight of rod that's appropriate. A rod that's labelled "905" above the grip is probably nine feet long and designed to case five weight line best. So if you're going after a fish that's best (or usually) caught on six weight line, you're going to want a rod designed for that weight line. Again, practice casting with the rod and make sure it feels "live" in your hands; the better it feels the more pleasant your fly fishing experience will be!
Paying attention to these details is important, and they will help you to select the right rod for your application. Prices can range from $50 to "How much do you have?", but you don't have to break the bank to have fun. Just make sure you check these details and you'll be on the right path to fly fishing fun!
