It feels like only yesterday that fly rod companies were advertising every new offering as FAST. Rods for trout, striper, and everything in between touted quicker action that produced longer casts with greater accuracy. Of course, there are always trade-offs. For many models, this meant reduced sensitivity and feel. Still, some builders produced some quick-action fly rods that serve a very useful purpose.

So, why should you consider a fast fly rod?

Aren’t they just stiff graphite sticks meant for pumping out 80-foot casts? Again, sometimes yes. Most traditional trout anglers won’t find much use for them. Furthermore, minimalist or beginner fly fishers could do better. But there are some people who fish in some situations that would truly benefit from a fast fly rod.

Here are three scenarios in which a fast fly rod excels, and three questions you should ask yourself before you consider purchasing one:

Topwater Flies

A fast fly rod is the best tool for setting the hook on a popper, slider, or frog that you’re actively working across the surface of the water. Fishing these flies well necessitates the introduction of slack into the line. It might only be a few feet, but it is enough to force a really strong hook set. A stiffer rod up into the tip will cut down on the force and distance needed in your hook set, resulting in connecting with more fish. Especially if they’re farther away…

Distance Presentations

Like a topwater fly, any baitfish pattern fished with a jerking or pausing retrieve at a 50-foot-plus distance is going to cause some slack. Those moments of suspension in the retrieve elicit strikes. Setting the hook, you’re fighting against the resistance of the water plus whatever length of line you need to pick up to go taut. If your rod happens to be in your armpit for the retrieve? That adds even more time/distance that a fast rod will help remedy.

Open Water

While the first two beneficial aspect of fishing a faster fly rod pertain to setting the hook, the most common reason that anglers go for quicker is for line speed. Line speed, of course, translates directly to distance.* One of the greatest hindrances to generating line speed is wind. Again, at distance, everything is magnified. Long casts with air-resistant flies become difficult on the ocean, in a wide valley, or on a lake. A fast rod shortens the time between forward and backward strokes, therefore reducing the chance for conditions to negatively effect your cast.

Maybe one or all of those uses fits your fly fishing. Or, perhaps you have another good reason to use a fast-action fly rod. Great. But first, ask yourself these three questions:

How’s your cast?

*Of course, there is a lot more to a long and accurate cast than just holding a fast action fly rod. If you can’t cast well, a fast fly rod will just make your cast worse. You won’t have opportunities to feel and correct the  imperfections in your form or technique. Everyone’s casting stroke is different, but I’m confident in saying that a stiff and quick rod won’t fix flawed fundamentals. A medium or medium-fast rod used by a good caster are much better than a fast rod used by a bad caster.

How’s the rod tip?

I’ve tried to qualify that fast and stiff are related but not identical. A stiff rod is  a fast rod without nuance. A well-built fast rod with quality components will still have sensitivity and a tip section that will provide some leader protection. In the world of fast-action fly rods, some stinkers are out there. All you can do is lean on casting the rod for yourself and reading reviews with a discerning eye.

How’s your wallet?

Do you have the budget and space for another  fly rod? You can usually work around the three scenarios mentioned above with experience, skill, and a medium or medium-fast rod. If you can only have one rod, or you are just getting into something like smallmouth or surf fishing, a really stiff rod probably isn’t the place to start. A powerful rod with a quick tip has a place in a quiver or rods; you have to determine if you’re a “quiver of rods” kind of angler.

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Do you have a favorite fast action fly rod? Let everyone know the model and what you use it for in the comments below.