The best fly rods for beginners

3 Things Beginners Should Think About to Choose the Best Fly Rod:

If you are just getting started in fly fishing, the most important thing about it and having success is being able to cast well. Your fly rod and fly line choice are the 2 most important items in your gear because they will help you cast better. Folks are often a bit shocked at some fly rod prices. Don't feel that if you can't afford the top line rods you won't be able to do this. There are some very nice casting rods that have attractive prices. We recommend buying the best rod you can afford. We can help you make the best choice for your price range.

Fly Rod Action - Fly rods can be broken down to 3 different actions: fast, medium and slow. Fast action rods feel stiffer and the rod when loaded as happens on the backcast will want to return to straight faster than a medium or slow action rod. Faster action rods take a little more practice to learn with but offer many advantages over the other actions. They will be more accurate, will fight the wind better and can throw longer casts easier. While the medium and slow action rods are more forgiving to learn on, they will have limitations as you progress as to accuracy and cast length along with dealing with the wind. Our biases are probably evident here towards faster rods but if you like slower actions better that's cool. That's why different action rods are made.

Fly Rod Weight - The choice of fly rod weight is dependent on what type of fly fishing you are looking to do. An arbitrary number system is used to designate fly rod weight. Basically, fly rods are designated a number between 2 and 12. These numbers have nothing to do with actual weight. This number allows you to take the guesswork out of and to easily choose a matching fly line with your rod. This means a 4 weight line matches up with a 4 weight rod and an 8 weight line matches with an 8 weight rod.

Keep in mind that 4 to 6 weight rods are the usual choices for trout and panfish. 2 and 3 weights are very light trout rods. 7 through 9 weight rods are the all-purpose heavier rods for freshwater gamefish like bass, pike, steelhead and salmon as well as light saltwater species like bonefish and redfish. 10 through 12 weights are common sizes chosen for larger saltwater species like tarpon, jacks and large muskies and pike. Please call for help in choosing the correct fly rod weight for your fishing.

Fly Rod Length - A fly rod is nothing more than a lever to help move and cast your line. That's why they are typically longer than conventional fishing rods. Beginners are best served choosing a 9-foot long fly rod. 9 feet is the standard length. They offer the best blend of length giving you more casting leverage while not being too long to adversely affect accuracy. Shorter rods are more accurate and may be a good choice for fishing really small, tight waters but are very limiting in getting distance and for roll casting. Feel free to call for help with this.

All of this information can be overwhelming and make it sound like fly fishing is a difficult and challenging task but in actuality, fly fishing is relatively easy with the right tools and the will to learn and practice. Anxious to get out on the water? Here are some great beginner fly rods:

1. Echo Carbon XL Fly Rod

   

   Price: $149.99
   Line weights: 2wt, 4wt, 5wt, 6wt

   This rod is great entry-point into fly fishing. Echo Carbon XL’s medium-fast action makes it more forgiving for new casters. We offer this rod in a range of weights and lengths to better fit your needs.

   Its user-friendly design makes putting it together fast with easy alignment dots, leaving you more time to learn on the water.

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2. Echo Ion XL Fly Rod

   

   Price: $169.99
   Line weights: 6wt, 7wt, 8wt, 9wt, 10wt

   A great option for new saltwater anglers. This rod offers heavier line options of 6-10 weight, crucial to cut through the wind and handle bigger flies. This also makes it great if you’re just getting started fishing for bigger freshwater fish, including muskie and pike.

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3. Sage Foundation Fly Rod

   

   Price: $325.00
   Line weights: 4wt, 5wt, 6wt, 7wt, 8wt

   Bringing you great performance and durability, Sage delivers a knockout option at an affordable price. Versatile on both freshwater and saltwater, this rod offers power and control for casters of any skill level. Available in 4-8 weight, you can choose a lighter line great for close casts for trout fishing or a heavier line to push out bigger flies for bigger fish.

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4. Redington Vice Fly Rod

   

   Price: $199.99
   Line weights: 3wt, 4wt, 5wt, 6wt, 7wt, 8wt, 9wt

   This fly rod allows for easier casting - which is helpful when you’re just starting out. The multi-modulus carbon fiber construction means faster recovery and increased control. A great fly rod to hook a variety of fishes including steelhead, bluegill, flats and more, it performs well in a variety of conditions.

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These rods offer a great entry-point for any new angler, so get started today!

Shop all fly rods available for sale from The Fly Fishers fly shop.