Choosing The Right Fly Fishing Rod

Fly fishing is a time honored hobby that has been popular for centuries. It's a method used primarily for catching trout and other stream fish, but sportsmen today are challenging themselves by using flies to catch a wide variety of fish in lake and even ocean settings.

If you are just getting started with this type of angling, you'll need to make sure you get the right equipment. If a hunter's third arm is his gun, then a fisherman's is his rod. Here is a little information about the purposes of rods, and which type might be best for you.

A rod has performs three jobs: it needs to enable proper casting, it allows the fisherman to control his line once the fly is cast, it needs to be able to withstand the striking and landing of the fish itself.

Unlike traditional fishing with lures, fly fishing requires a little more finesse in casting technique. A fly simulates bait on the surface of the water, it does not sink. If the fly is not cast properly or in the right place, the chances of fish getting spooked increases markedly. The rod you choose, coupled with your learning and practicing good technique, will give you the power and accuracy you need to put the fly just where you want it.

Because the fly doesn't sink like a lure, it is subject to the stream currents and is constantly floating away. A good rod and the proper weight of its line will allow you to keep control of your line, adjusting and readjusting it in a way that will simulate natural bait movement and behavior.

Finally, your rod must be strong enough to withstand the demands placed on it once a fish strikes. The rod must be flexible also due to the pressures of stream currents and the movements of the fish. The last thing you want to happen when bringing in that beautiful rainbow trout is to have your rod break or otherwise fail.

Rods generally come in three materials: bamboo, fiberglass, and graphite. Fiberglass ones have diminished in popularity in recent years due to the advent of the lighter weight graphite. Lightness is a great asset to a rod for some very obvious reasons: a fisherman spends a lot of time casting and recasting, and when out in the middle of a stream cannot put his rod down! The main advantage of fiberglass is that it is cheap, but it is not considered desirable by those in the know.

Graphite is light as well as strong and flexible, but not all of these rods are high quality. Beware of the cheapest ones, which may have inferior quality parts. They are good for beginners because they are easier to cast and you are likely to get better distance with this type even if your technique is still rusty.

Bamboo rods are considered to be the top of the line in fly fishing, and are used by experts with years of experience. The material has the ideal combination of natural strength and flexibility. With this quality comes greater expense, but those who use them consider them well worth it. They are heavier than their cheaper counterparts, but with proper care will last a lifetime.

A new fly fisherman would do well to study all of his options and consult with more experienced, well seasoned men or with professionals. Getting the right equipment for the types of fishing conditions and fish sought will help make a beginner get off to a much better start.