How To Choose the Best Fly Rod for Your Fly Fishing

Choosing the right fly rod can be an intimidating task for new anglers but with some knowledge about size, length, action, materials and construction, making an informed decision becomes much easier!
how to choose the best fly rod for fly fishing

Is a High End Fly Rod Worth it?

A fly angler who is experienced will appreciate the value of a quality fly fishing rod and can help improve his experience. Quality fly rods are built using quality material and components, they tend to be more durable, better built and less prone to breakages. Fly rods have undergone major improvements in material and design over the past century.

What You Need to Know About Choosing the Best Fly Rod for Fly Fishing

If you’re a new fly fisherman, you may be feeling overwhelmed by the number of options when it comes to selecting a fly rod. There are so many different types, sizes and lengths of rods on the market that it can be hard to know where to start. It is important to understand the differences between them and how they will affect your fishing experience. Let’s break down what you need to consider when choosing the best fly rod for your fly fishing needs.

fly rods come on many shapes and sizes, heres how to choose the best fly rod for your needs

6 points to consider when looking at the best fly rod for your needs

  1. Fly Rod Action

    The action of a fly rod is the amount of flex that the rod has. There are three different types of action: fast, medium, and slow. Fast action rods are good for making quick, powerful casts, while slow action rods are better for making delicate, accurate casts.

  2. Fly Rod Material

    Fly rods are typically made from either graphite or fiberglass. Graphite rods are lighter and more sensitive, while fiberglass fly rods are heavier and more durable.

  3. Length

    Fly rods come in a variety of lengths, from 6 feet to 9 feet. The length of the rod you need will depend on the type of fishing you plan on doing. For example, if you want to fish in small streams, a shorter rod will be easier to manoeuvre. If you want to fish in larger rivers, a longer rod will give you more power.

  4. Fly Rod Weight

    "Weight" is a confusing term when it comes to fly rods. the Term weights actually refers to the power of the fly rod. A 1 weight being very small and light, a 12 weight be very big and powerful. The actual weight or mass of a fly rod is measured in grams or ounces and corresponds to the size of the line that the rod can handle. For example, a 3-weight rod can handle a 3-weight line, which is smaller than a 4-weight line. The weight of the rod you need will depend on the type of fish you plan on catching. For example, if you want to catch small trout, you will need a lighter rod than if you want to catch large salmon.

  5. Price

    Fly rods range in price from around $100 to $1,000 or more. The price of the rod will depend on the quality of materials and construction, as well as the brand name. Generally speaking, higher quality rods will cost more money. However, there are also some very good quality fly rods available at lower price points

  6. Fly Rod Brand

    Finally, it is also worth considering the brand of fly rod you purchase. Some of the most popular brands include Epic, Orvis, Sage, and Scott fly rods

Size & Length of the Fly Rod

The size and length of the rod is one of the most important factors that goes into choosing a rod for fly fishing. The size refers to the weight of the line you’ll be using, while the length will determine how far away you can cast your line. Generally speaking, heavier lines require larger rods and longer rods are better suited for casting farther distances. Heavier lines also allow you to cast heavier lures and fight larger fish, so if this is something that appeals to you then opting for a bigger rod might make sense.

Action & Flexibility

The action of a rod will determine how flexible it is when casting and retrieving your line. A fast action rod is stiffer and more rigid than a slow action rod which has more flex throughout its entire length. Fast action rods are great for experienced anglers who need increased accuracy when casting their line, while slow action rods are better suited for beginners who don’t yet have full control over their casting techniques.

Materials & Construction

The materials used in constructing your fly rod can also affect its performance in various ways. Some materials like graphite are lightweight but have less power than other materials such as fiberglass or bamboo. Graphite is also very sensitive and can detect even small vibrations from passing fish which makes it ideal for detecting strikes quickly while still providing plenty of power when fighting larger fish. Fiberglass or bamboo rods provide extra strength which makes them great choices if you plan on targeting large gamefish like salmon or steelhead trout.

Conclusion:

Choosing the right fly rod can be an intimidating task for new anglers but with some knowledge about size, length, action, materials and construction, making an informed decision becomes much easier!

Different conditions require different kinds of rods so research all your options before settling on one particular model that fits your needs best! Knowing what kind of fish you want to target, budget constraints and type of water body will help narrow down your choices significantly so take all these factors into consideration before deciding on the best fly rod for your next trip

What is a 4 weight fly rod good for?

Overall 4 Wt fly fishing rods are more finesse rods - better suited to small fish with delicate presentation and pleasant climates. In dry fly fishing most fishers use 4-6Wt rods, which are more capable of delicately landing a fly in front of rising fish — especially flies.

CUSTOMER FAVOURITES

GUIDES CHOICE

Epic Gift Card - Gifts For Fly Anglers
Epic Gift Card - Gifts For Fly Anglers from $50.00
Give the Gift of Choice No Delays, No Shipping. The Perfect Fly Fishing Gift On Time Every Time - Instant Delivery! Looking for the perfect gift for the Fly Angler in your life? Give them the gift of choice with a gift card. Gift cards are delivered by email from you directly from our website and contain instructions to redeem them at checkout. Gift cards are charged and redeemed on our stores base currency - $US For customers outside of the USA you can still shop and check-out in your native currency, our store does the conversion for you. Shopping for someone else (or yourself) but not sure exactly what to choose?Not sure what to get? Length, color or size?  It's very easy with an Epic Gift Card. You give - they choose! Schedule a Time to Send!You can even prescheduled  time / day / date that you would like your Gift Card delivered What is this?Gift Cards are delivered to you the purchaser by email and contain simple instructions to redeem them at checkout for products in our store. Each gift card features a unique code. Your gift card can also be printed out and gifted to the recipient, or it can be emailed to them immediately. Need Help? - drop us a line and we'll help you or your gift card recipient choose. How does it Work? Simple, you purchase the gift card you would like to give and check out just like you would for any online purchase. Our system will send you an email the recipient your gift card with your custom message. (That gift card has a unique voucher code on it) The recipient uses the voucher code to redeem against the purchase of their choice. Questions: Gift Cards work just like cash Any unspent balance can be used later Purchases can be topped up with cash, credit card or Paypal for larger purchases Customers can check their balance by visiting the unique gift card link sent via email Gift Cards have no additional processing fees. Purchase in your native currency to be redeemed at any time.Any questions or problems, just email us
Special
Double Fly Rod & Reel Vault Bag Epic Backcountry Double Fly Rod & Reel Vault Bag
Backcountry Double Fly Rod & Reel Vault $83.99 $119.95
Backcountry Double Fly Rod & Reel Vault Fish faster and smarter with the Backcountry Double Fly Rod Vault! This powerhouse of a storage solution is designed to carry two 9ft fly rods and reels, rigged up and ready to roll. Durably crafted from tough, water-resistant 600D Cordura material and reinforced by 210D Ripstop Polyester inner, you can rest assured your valuable fly rods and reels will be safe in all conditions. Waterproof YKK zippers keep moisture and dust out while the thickly padded interior protects your precious fly reels from being scratched. A hardshell outer helps look after your fly rods no matter what terrain awaits you. This is an unbeatable way to transport two complete setups. Save time and be ready to fish at a moment's notice!
Special
Best fly reel for fly fishing as voted by field and stream best of the best Best fly reel waterproof fly reel
Backcountry Fly Reel $295.99 $399.95
Large Arbor Backcountry Fly Reel II The best looking fly reel on the river. Our Backcountry fly reel features a smooth, sealed ceramic drag mechanism that boasts 3kg of drag and is easily swapped from left to right-hand wind. Super smooth sealed drag, lightweight large arbor, stealthy satin finish. Suitable for both fresh and saltwater use. CNC machined from cold-forged tempered 6061-T6 aluminum, High capacity large arbor spool Waterproof sealed stacked ceramic drag Type III military spec hard anodised finish Suitable for both fresh & saltwater use Large Arbor Spool The large arbor spool features a curved U shaped design that adds strength and assists in line levelling upon retrieval. The exposed reel edge makes for easy palming. A no-nonsense, tough, waterproof and lightweight fly reel. Epic in every way. Finished in a stealthy low sheen type III hard anodised satin finish available in any color as long as it's black.  Backcountry 3/4 Backcountry 5/6 Backcountry 7/8 Weight: 115g (4oz) Weight: 131g (4.6oz) Weight: 139g (4.9oz) Capacity: line + 50m  Capacity: line + 100m  Capacity: line + 150m  Dia:  84mm Dia: 94mm Dia: 104mm Got questions? - Drop us a line, we'd love to hear from you.
Special
Fly Tying Tool Kit by Epic Fly Tying Tool Kit by Epic
Backcountry Fly Tying Kit $138.99 $199.00
Backcountry Fly Tying Kit Equally at home on a trip or on your fly tying bench, our Backcountry Fly Tying kit features the very best Italian made tools by Stonfo and a pair of remarkable hand crafted fly tying scissors by Renomed of Poland. There are no finer fly tying tools made. We've taken the best of the best and presented them in a thoughtful waxed cotton canvas tool roll featuring genuine leather trim and straps fastened with classic brass catches. The hand stitched waterproof tool roll houses & protects these high quality tools and features two additional pouches to tuck away fly tying materials and hooks. The Renomed "Fly Tier" scissors feature a 'super cut' finely serrated blade that makes cutting deer hair and fur a breeze, and the larger scissor handles afford comfort and extraordinary durability and functionality. Tool Collection  Renomed Fly Tier Super Cut scissors (retail US$45) Stonfo Dubbing Twister Stonfo Hackle pliers Stonfo Elite Bodkin (Stainless Steel) Stonfo Dubbing Brush Stonfo Bobtec1  Adjustable Bobbin With Ceramic Insert (Stainless Steel) Stonfo Elite Bodkin (Stainless steel) Stonfo Elite Whip Finisher (Stainless Steel)
Special
Stainless steel Hip Flask Hip Flask
Good Libations Stainless Hip Flask $23.99 $34.95
The Good Libations Stainless Steel Hip Flask  Carry your favourite adult beverage in style with our Good Libations Stainless Steel Hip flask. About the size of a small fly box it's the perfect addition to your fly vest or bag. Smooth rounded corners make for quick extraction in times of celebration. Stainless steel and about as tough as they come, at a hearty 9oz ( 28 ml) there's plenty to share! Stainless Steel Silicon cap retainer Easy sippin' ergo design Bigger than most Cheers! Capacity: 9oz ( 266 ml) Dimensions: 127mm x 83mm x 29ml Material: Stainless Steel Positive Mood Adjustment
Stroft Tippet carry system Stroft Cutter and Carry System - 3 spool Set
Stroft Cutter and Carry System - 3 spool Set $27.95
3 Spool Stroft tippet system Three high quality German made Stroft Cutter & retaining rings - made to fit over standard Stroft tippet Spools. Spool Holder Stroft short strap - Vest strap & Carabiner The ideal system to hold, dispense and trim Stroft tippet A retainer rings and high quality cutter ring. Cutter is razor sharp, and coated in some magical stuff that is corrosion resistant. (We couldn't even spell the alloy) Fits all Stroft spools from 25m to 50m (ABR, GTM, FC!, FC2, Fluer) Includes colour coded easy peel labels  This is an incredibly well made tippet system! *does not include spools of tippet material - Stroft Tippet Spools available for purchase separately  Got questions? - Drop us a line, we'd love to hear from you.

The Epic Fly Rod Chooser

Find your perfect fly rod with our 10 second quiz

TAKE THE TEST
Lifetime Warranty
Lifetime Warranty

Love It or Return It

100% total satisfaction guarantee

5 Star Support

Industry leading support and service

Easy Returns

Hassle free returns

World Wide Shipping

Shipping worldwide daily
Experience the Epic® difference.