How to Select the Right Fly Fishing Rod
Don’t you just love to fish? Sure you do. It’s an opportunity to get away from the pressures of life, to enjoy nature and to spend time with friends and/or family. People have enjoyed fishing for centuries, but one type has recently become very popular: fly fishing.
If you don’t know anything about this sport, you’re going to need to do some research, because this sport isn’t like regular fishing. It requires a certain set of skills and a lot of practice. In fact, many anglers insist fly fishing isn’t just a sport; it’s an art, and they aren’t wrong.
To be successful at fly fishing you’ll need skills, practice and the right gear. The first step is finding the right fly fishing rod. There are a lot of makes and models available, manufactured in several different materials. Selecting the right rod will require some research. You’ll need to understand which rod does what, and which rod fits with your personal fishing style. A good place to begin is with the rod’s construction. You’ll have a choice of three materials: bamboo, fiberglass and graphite, which are described below.
Back to Basic Bamboo
Bamboo has been used to make both regular and fly fishing rods for centuries. As technology advanced, other materials became available, but there are a lot of fishermen who swear that nothing made by modern made can touch the action, speed and accuracy of a bamboo rod. This is a topic often debated, but these rods are still around because they make good fly fishing rods. Bamboo is lightweight, flexible and sturdy enough to withstand the battle of man against fish. In addition, the slow action of bamboo makes it perfect for a relaxed, refined style of fishing.
Unfortunately, you can’t get a good bamboo rod just anywhere. These pieces of art require a long, detailed manufacturing process that can take up to 100 hours per rod. As you may imagine, they aren’t cheap, either.
Moving On to Fiberglass
When modern man began to develop new materials, fiberglass emerged as a viable option for fly rods. Both fly fishermen and those engaged in regular fishing like fiberglass rods. This material is incredibly flexible, amazing in its ability to handle the twists and turns of a fish with a lot of fight. Fiberglass is also strong and durable.
If you compare fiberglass to the other two materials, you’ll notice it’s a tad heavier. Since fly fishing requires a lot of forward and backward movement with the arms, an angler using a fiberglass rod may tire quickly and end the fishing trip with achy arm muscles. That aside, fiberglass is a good choice, because it can take a lot of punishment.
Graphite: The Latest and Greatest
Technology has given the fishing world carbon fiber composites, commonly known as graphite. Fly fishing rods made from this material are incredibly durable and amazingly lightweight. That means an angler using one of these rods won’t tire as quickly. Add that to the strength of the material and you’ll understand why graphite fly fishing rods are so popular.
