So You Want to Fly Fish - Part I: Proper Rod Selection

This can get confusing

Enjoy solitude?  Ever wonder what lies in remote stretches of water?  Up for a challenge?  Then prepare yourself to practice until you are perfect, fight through tangled brush and get knee deep in water because fly fishing is the just sport for you.

We've all seen, at some time or another, a photo or video of someone effortlessly whipping a fly rod and line above their head, making a perfect cast to the perfect spot.  A smile then appears on the angler's face as a fat hungry trout rises to take the dry fly they precisely landed over it.  It is images like this that inspire many to try their hand at fly fishing, even if they have no idea where to start.  Because of this, we've decided to help clear up the "water" and put together some information into a 3 part series, designed to head you in the right direction.  The intended result?  To make you that angler with the smile on their face.

First and foremost, you need to decide on the type of fishing you'll be doing as this impacts everything when it comes to your equipment.  Will you be fishing the saltwater flats around Key West for tarpon and bonefish? Are you going to target golden trout in the wide open streams of Montana?  Are remote, high mountain streams in the Southeast and their native "brookies" your goal?  Or do you want to up the challenge in your bass fishing and go after largemouths in June using top-water poppers?  All of these choices lead to many different fly rod combinations of varying lengths and weights.  For example, a longer rod will allow you to cast further.  While using a 9' rod might be good for those saltwater flats or big Western streams, you'll never be able to effectively fish the twisting, tree lined waters of the Appalachians; it will simply be too long.  On the other hand, you'll be able to more accurately get your fly to a tight pocket of water using a shorter rod (say a 7'6" one for example).  Length is not the only factor in this decision, though.  If you follow the link above, you'll see that the weight of the rod is equally important.  A 5# will not cut it when targeting bass, salmon or tarpon and a 9# will be too much for those small, 6" Brook trout you'll find in the Southern Apps.  Of course there are other things to consider as well:  budget, rod action and casting style (dictated largely by the water you fish) to name a few.  Confused yet?  Don't worry, it is a lot to take in at once.  In order to keep you from being overwhelmed, check out Murray's Fly Shop's suggestions, as well as this online guide on fly rod length selection, to help guide you in the right direction.

-Inside Out Team