Fly Fishing Rods, Getting The Right Action

03/14/2008 - Recreation Choosing the correct fishing tackle rod depends on the type of fishing you intend doing, and is the first step in enjoying fly fishing. Fly fishing rods come in many different lengths and line weights and are matched to the environment you will be fishing in.

Here are a few questions you'll need to ask yourself when choosing fly fishing rods.

1. Will I be spending most of my time fishing for fresh water fish such as trout and bass, or will I be fishing saltwater species like salmon, steelhead or larger ocean fish.

2. Do I intend fishing small streams, Rivers, Lakes or open ocean water? As a general rule, use shorter rods for smaller rivers and streams, longer rods for bigger rivers, lakes and saltwater use. The weight of the rod also depends on the location being fished.

Small trout fly rods can start with a line weight rod of 3 up to 6, for larger rivers and lake fishing, anglers generally use trout fishing rod weight 6 to 9, and for open water and sea fishing go for 9 weight and upwards.

3. What type of rod action do you prefer? The action of the rod will determine the line speed and the size of the line loop during casting, the faster the action the tighter the loop will be. As a guide beginners are best to use a slow to medium action rod.

More on Fly Fishing Rod Action.

The action or bend of is a key factor. How far does the rod bend when using consistent effort?

Remember, the action of a fly rod is a measure of how flexible the rod is.

Fast Action Fly Rods

The lack of bend and the stiffness of fly fishing rods allow the angler to generate plenty of line speed in the cast. This allows very accurate distance casting than a slower action fly rod. A fast action fly trout rod is also good for using in windy conditions due to the line speed.

Fast action rods are more suited to experienced anglers who have excellent timing and casting ability, the size of the loop will cause all sorts of problems to the inexperienced, especially if weighted flies are being used. Many novice anglers have bought fast action rods only to have unhappy results when using them due to lack of experience.

Medium Action Fly Rods

Medium Action fly rods are the most popular of the fly rod. Medium action fly rods offer good flexibility and are the most versatile of fly rods. Medium action rods are great all rounder, and can be used in smaller streams, rivers and lakes. These rods are certainly capable of a long cast and require less perfection in motion and timing. Ideal all rounder.

Slow Action Fly Fishing Rods

Slow action fly rods; don’t generate high line speeds due to their flexibility. These rods are designed to make shorter accurate and delicate casts. Ideal for fishing small rivers and creeks. Slow action fly fishing rods are an excellent fly rod for beginners. Slow line speed and more flexibility gives a beginner more control over the fly line, allowing better accuracy in casting.

To summarize, slower action rods are for beginners to fly fishing, although experienced anglers also enjoy using them with very light gear for those hard to catch bass or trout. Medium action fly rods are the most versatile, and are adaptable enough to fish in most conditions. These rods ore for those who are into the fishing and being ‘out there’ experience rather than wanting total mastery of the art that is usually required with faster action fly fishing rods.