So you need to find the best fly rods? There are a few basic things to consider; length, weight and type of action. For the beginner fly fisherman I have tried to explain these factors below.
Why is weight important when looking for the best fly rods.
When looking at the weight of rods you will quickly notice that these are not actual weights, they are a scale to which the appropriate weight is applied. The system ranges from one to fourteen. A one weighted rod will be used for fishing smaller fish such as pan fish or brim. As the fish you are catching get bigger, so too does the number weighting for your rod. The best fly rods for large salmon or tarpon would be in the upper range of ten to fourteen.
Finding the perfect length to ensure you have the best fly rods
The longest length for rods is nine foot. The shortest is seven foot. Unsurprisingly the most common middle length is eight foot. If you are fishing on a bank where there are plenty of obstructions such as trees then you will be looking at using a shorter rod. Fishing on rivers banks and creek banks will often use the shorter rods. If you are fishing at a lake with perfect clear shores then you will probably be using a longer rods as there is little chance of it getting tangled in anything. So, finding the best fly rods lengths is dependent on where you will be fishing.
Best fly rods and their associated speed.
Once again these fall into three categories, slow, medium and fast. Unfortunately this is not relevant to the speed at which you will get your first bite. If you will be casting in a confined are with obstructions you will probably need a very flexible rod, which would be a slow rod. However, this would not be suitable if you were looking to catch large fish or if you were going to be in an exposed and windy area.
As you have probably worked out, a fast rod would be much more rigid and is perfect for large fish from open, wind swept lakes.
Finally there is the medium speed rods. These are the best fly rods for beginners as they do have some flexibility, but most importantly they are much more versatile than the other options.
Hopefully with this guide you will be able to find your best fly rod and get results quickly. If you are unsure of which is the best fly rod, never be embarrassed to ask, most experienced anglers love to pass on their knowledge and to help novices.
