Bend Fly
October 26th, 2011
A Guide to Selecting a Fly Fishing Rod
Fly fishing rods today are manufactured from many different types of material. Fly rods also come in many different lengths, and have different degrees of flexibility, which make it confusing when selecting a fly fishing rod. One of the most important items of equipment that you will buy for fly fishing will be your fly fishing rod – selecting the correct fly rod is therefore imperative. The original, and the oldest fly fishing rod is the classic bamboo fly rod. Whilst a bamboo fly rod is a work of art, these rods are heavier and more expensive than the fly rods made today.
1. Rod Materials
Fly fishing rod are manufactured using the following materials:
- Fiberglass – Commonly used in the less expensive fly rods. These rods are generally used more by beginners, and fiberglass rods are normally more durable than graphite rods. You can use these fly rods for most types of fishing.
- Graphite – More expensive than fiberglass rods. Fly fishing rods made of graphite are lighter, which make them easier to cast more accurately. Graphite rods also have greater fighting power. These rods can be used by beginner and expert anglers.
2. Rod Action
Rod action is the amount of stiffness in the rod, and how much the rod will flex when you are casting or are fighting a fish. The action of a fly rod can categorized as:
- Slow-Action – These rods have the most bend or flexibility. These rods are difficult for beginners to control, but are the most accurate for short-range casting. Fishing for lightweight fish is the main use of these rods.
- Medium-Action -These rods bend in the middle of the rod and at the rod tip. Rods in this category are suitable for the novice angler. These fly fishing rods can be used for both short-range and long-range casting.
- Fast-Action – Beginners find these rods difficult to handle. These stiff rods only flex at the rod tip, and are good rods for long-range casting, and reeling in large fish. The casting accuracy of these rods do not match those of the slow-action rods.
3. Rod Weight
The weight of the fly fishing rod you choose should match the weight of the fly line you intend using. Rod weight tells you what fly line weight the rod have been designed to most effectively use – rod weight is not the actual physical weight of the rod. Fly line weights are categorized 1 to 15, and you choose your fly line weight according to the fish you intend catching:
- 1 to 3 Weight – Small trout and other small fish using small flies.
- 4 weight – Small to medium sized trout and other similar sized fish with small to medium flies.
- 5 or 6 Weight – Medium sized trout, small bass and other similar sized fish using small to large flies.
- 7 or 8 Weight – Large trout and bass. Large flies and streamers can be used.
- 9 Weight and Above – Steelhead, salmon, and saltwater fish with saltwater flies.
4. Rod Length
The length of a fly rod determines the action of the rod. Shorter rods are more suitable for fly fishing in tight, confined spaces such as narrow streams, but longer fly rods have a faster action than shorter fly fishing rods. Fly fishing rod length can be categorized as:
- Short (less than 8 feet) – Use in tight fishing situations where bush, trees or stream size restrict your movement.
- Medium (8 feet – 9 feet) – Recommended rod length for trout and bass fly fishing. They allow you to cast further and can handle more weight.
- Long (longer than 9 feet) – Ideal choice for longer casting and fishing for big-game fish.
Take a look at the beginner fly fishing rod guide for more information about fly rods, and how to choose a fly fishing rod.
For more information about the sport of fly fishing, take a look at the Fly Fishing Elite news feed at Feedraider.com.
Beaver’s Bend fly fishing (Lower Mountain Fork River)
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Ex Display Flextec XRD44 Fly Trout Fishing Rod 10ft 9/10 RRP £200 $39.52 |
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Fly Rod Ferrules $9.99 |
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Fish Creek Fly Rod / Reel Case $35.00 |
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Flextec Kinetic Fly Rod with an Airflo Ridge Fly Line 11′ # 7/8 RRP £295 $45.08 |
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Flextec Nomad Travel Fly Rod 7 Pc 9′ 6/7 RRP £129.99 $36.36 |
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Abu Garcia Cordura Rod Tube 31″ With Reel Case $15.79 |
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Sage Z-Axis Fly Rod Blank Double Hand 8wt 13ft 4in 4pc $398.00 |
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VINTAGE ANTIQUE FISHING REEL fly stubby rod reel pat’d oct. 4 1920 $20.50 |
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IM-6 Deep Blue Med/Fast Custom Graphite Fly Rod, 7’9″, 3 Wt., 4 Pc., Sock, NR $59.00 |
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Ex Display Flextec CDX66 Trout Fly Rod 10′ 5/6 Rrp £149.99 $36.36 |
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Vintage Bamboo Fly Fishing Rod Crafting Book 1843-1960 $28.99 |
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fly rod ferrules $9.99 |
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Sage TXL-F 7ft 10inch 0wt 4pc Fly Rod $625.00 |
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Irideus ZEN SPEY Casting Switch Fly Fishing Rod Shooting Head Fly Fishing Line $19.84 |
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Flextec Speycaster Salmon Double Handed Fly Rod 13ft 8/9 RRP £349.99 $58.49 |
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Sage TXL-F 7ft 10inch 2wt 4pc Fly Rod $625.00 |
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Irideus Fly Box TWO RISE Flip Page Fly Fishing Boxes Extra Page for trout Flies $33.33 |
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Sage TXL-F 7ft 10inch 3wt 4pc Fly Rod $625.00 |
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Vintage D Slater Newark on Trent England 4 piece greenheart fly fishing rod $129.99 |
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FLY FISHING ROD 3 PC SPLIT BAMBOO WORK IN PROCESS $27.77 |
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fly rod bamboo $70.00 |
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Simms G3 Waders XXL Extra Extra Large (12-13 Foot) Free Shipping Worldwide $429.00 |
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FLY FISHING ROD 4 PC SPLIT BAMBOO WORK IN PROCESS $19.99 |
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Flextec StreamTec Fly Rod For Stream River Fishing RRP £249.99 – 10′ #6 $48.99 |
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Simms G3 Waders XLK Extra Large King (12-13 Foot) Free Shipping Worldwide $429.00 |
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Simms G3 Waders XLL Extra Large Long (12-13 Foot) Free Shipping Worldwide $429.00 |
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Orvis Helios Ion 7′ 9″ | 5wt. | 4pc. | Mid-flex 7.0 $750.00 |
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Orvis Helios Ion 7′ 6″ | 3wt. | 4pc. | Mid-flex 7.0 $750.00 |
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Orvis ZG Helios Fly Rod 8′ 4″ | 3wt. | 4pc. | Mid-flex $775.00 |
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Orvis Helios Ion 7′ | 4wt. | 4pc. | Mid-flex 7.0 $750.00 |
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Orvis ZG Helios Fly Rod 8′ 6″ | 5wt. | 4pc. | Mid-flex $775.00 |
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Orvis ZG Helios Fly Rod 8′ 6″ | 4wt. | 4pc. | Mid-flex $775.00 |
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SCOTT G2843/4 8′ 4″ 3 wt NEW 4 pc fly fishing rod G2 843/4–FREE WORLD SHIPPING $725.00 |
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Simms G3 Guide Pant ML Medium Long Free Ship Worldwide $399.00 |
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Cortland Fly Rod Big Sky Series 9ft 4 Piece #4 Line NEW $260.00 |
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Critchfield Para 15 Bamboo Fly Rod 8ft 2 piece 2 tip 5/6wt lines $600.00 |
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Fiberglass 4 pc Fly Fishing Rod, Gold Trophy, BP-15, carbonology, 7′ 7″, ref#023 $26.25 |
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Montague 2 pc Clear Lake fiberglass Fly Rod, 8’6″, ref# 006 $9.95 |
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SP VENTED FISHING SHIRT for fly fishing or rod angler $49.27 |
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L.L. BEAN ‘STREAMLIGHT’ Fly Fishing Rod 2-Piece 9ft, w/aluminum tube NEVER USED $99.95 |
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G.Loomis Pro 4X 1085-4 FR Fly Rod $350.00 |
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Custom made AC Hamer split bamboo 3 pc fly rod, one agate lined guide, ref# 008 $26.00 |
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PERMIT FLY BOX for fly fishing rod reel & line rrp$69 $42.37 |
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BAMBOO ROD SECTIONS FOR REPAIR OR PARTS $9.99 |
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ODYSSEY XT (2.7m) 9ft 8W FLY ROD + CORDURA TRAVEL ROD TUBE $64.79 |
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2 (Two) Vintage Bamboo Fly Fishing Rod Pole 12′ 7″ and 13′ 7″ $29.99 |
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Beautiful Vintage Hardy Brothers Bamboo Fly Rod 8’6″ – #6 $208.50 |
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Fly Logic Fishing 6/ 7 Wt Rod Reel Case Tube Line Kit Combo New Tactics Book US $229.99 |
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Wright & McGill Granger 2 pc STEELIE vintage fishing rod, 8-1/2′, ref # 041 $9.95 |
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SCOTT G2844/4 8′ 4″ 4 wt NEW 4 pc fly fishing rod G2 844/4–FREE WORLD SHIPPING $725.00 |
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Ex Display Flextec XRD44 Fly Trout Fishing Rod 10ft 9/10 RRP £200 $39.52 |
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Fly Rod Ferrules $9.99 |
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Fish Creek Fly Rod / Reel Case $35.00 |
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Flextec Kinetic Fly Rod with an Airflo Ridge Fly Line 11′ # 7/8 RRP £295 $45.08 |
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Flextec Nomad Travel Fly Rod 7 Pc 9′ 6/7 RRP £129.99 $36.36 |
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Abu Garcia Cordura Rod Tube 31″ With Reel Case $15.79 |
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Sage Z-Axis Fly Rod Blank Double Hand 8wt 13ft 4in 4pc $398.00 |
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VINTAGE ANTIQUE FISHING REEL fly stubby rod reel pat’d oct. 4 1920 $20.50 |
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IM-6 Deep Blue Med/Fast Custom Graphite Fly Rod, 7’9″, 3 Wt., 4 Pc., Sock, NR $59.00 |
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Ex Display Flextec CDX66 Trout Fly Rod 10′ 5/6 Rrp £149.99 $36.36 |
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Vintage Bamboo Fly Fishing Rod Crafting Book 1843-1960 $28.99 |
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fly rod ferrules $9.99 |
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Sage TXL-F 7ft 10inch 0wt 4pc Fly Rod $625.00 |
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Irideus ZEN SPEY Casting Switch Fly Fishing Rod Shooting Head Fly Fishing Line $19.84 |
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Flextec Speycaster Salmon Double Handed Fly Rod 13ft 8/9 RRP £349.99 $58.49 |
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Sage TXL-F 7ft 10inch 2wt 4pc Fly Rod $625.00 |
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Irideus Fly Box TWO RISE Flip Page Fly Fishing Boxes Extra Page for trout Flies $33.33 |
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Sage TXL-F 7ft 10inch 3wt 4pc Fly Rod $625.00 |
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Vintage D Slater Newark on Trent England 4 piece greenheart fly fishing rod $129.99 |
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FLY FISHING ROD 3 PC SPLIT BAMBOO WORK IN PROCESS $27.77 |
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fly rod bamboo $70.00 |
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Simms G3 Waders XXL Extra Extra Large (12-13 Foot) Free Shipping Worldwide $429.00 |
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FLY FISHING ROD 4 PC SPLIT BAMBOO WORK IN PROCESS $19.99 |
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Flextec StreamTec Fly Rod For Stream River Fishing RRP £249.99 – 10′ #6 $48.99 |
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Simms G3 Waders XLK Extra Large King (12-13 Foot) Free Shipping Worldwide $429.00 |
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Simms G3 Waders XLL Extra Large Long (12-13 Foot) Free Shipping Worldwide $429.00 |
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Orvis Helios Ion 7′ 9″ | 5wt. | 4pc. | Mid-flex 7.0 $750.00 |
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Orvis Helios Ion 7′ 6″ | 3wt. | 4pc. | Mid-flex 7.0 $750.00 |
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Orvis ZG Helios Fly Rod 8′ 4″ | 3wt. | 4pc. | Mid-flex $775.00 |
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Orvis Helios Ion 7′ | 4wt. | 4pc. | Mid-flex 7.0 $750.00 |
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Orvis ZG Helios Fly Rod 8′ 6″ | 5wt. | 4pc. | Mid-flex $775.00 |
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Orvis ZG Helios Fly Rod 8′ 6″ | 4wt. | 4pc. | Mid-flex $775.00 |
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SCOTT G2843/4 8′ 4″ 3 wt NEW 4 pc fly fishing rod G2 843/4–FREE WORLD SHIPPING $725.00 |
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Simms G3 Guide Pant ML Medium Long Free Ship Worldwide $399.00 |
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Cortland Fly Rod Big Sky Series 9ft 4 Piece #4 Line NEW $260.00 |
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Critchfield Para 15 Bamboo Fly Rod 8ft 2 piece 2 tip 5/6wt lines $600.00 |
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Fiberglass 4 pc Fly Fishing Rod, Gold Trophy, BP-15, carbonology, 7′ 7″, ref#023 $26.25 |
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Montague 2 pc Clear Lake fiberglass Fly Rod, 8’6″, ref# 006 $9.95 |
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SP VENTED FISHING SHIRT for fly fishing or rod angler $49.27 |
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L.L. BEAN ‘STREAMLIGHT’ Fly Fishing Rod 2-Piece 9ft, w/aluminum tube NEVER USED $99.95 |
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G.Loomis Pro 4X 1085-4 FR Fly Rod $350.00 |
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Custom made AC Hamer split bamboo 3 pc fly rod, one agate lined guide, ref# 008 $26.00 |
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PERMIT FLY BOX for fly fishing rod reel & line rrp$69 $42.37 |
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BAMBOO ROD SECTIONS FOR REPAIR OR PARTS $9.99 |
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ODYSSEY XT (2.7m) 9ft 8W FLY ROD + CORDURA TRAVEL ROD TUBE $64.79 |
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2 (Two) Vintage Bamboo Fly Fishing Rod Pole 12′ 7″ and 13′ 7″ $29.99 |
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Beautiful Vintage Hardy Brothers Bamboo Fly Rod 8’6″ – #6 $208.50 |
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Fly Logic Fishing 6/ 7 Wt Rod Reel Case Tube Line Kit Combo New Tactics Book US $229.99 |
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Wright & McGill Granger 2 pc STEELIE vintage fishing rod, 8-1/2′, ref # 041 $9.95 |
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SCOTT G2844/4 8′ 4″ 4 wt NEW 4 pc fly fishing rod G2 844/4–FREE WORLD SHIPPING $725.00 |