For most fly anglers, the most exciting piece of gear to shop for and purchase is the rod. Any conscientious buyer will understandably go through a relatively rigorous process of determining what to trust with his money and his prospective fish.
In my years writing Casting Across, teaching casting, guiding, and selling rods, questions about selecting rods have made up over half of the inquiries I’ve answered. I’m continuing this series of articles by looking at five more fly rod questions I’ve handled quite a few times in the past few decades.
You can check out the list of previous questions/answers, and check out the latest batch below:
Does fly rod color matter to the fish?
Absolutely not. Think about this: What does anything as thin as a fly rod look like when seen above the surface through refracted water? A black line. Fish will get freaked out by motion long before they see the white label above the cork or the neon yellow blank of your rod.
How much do I need to spend for a good rod?
Not a lot. While there are some spectacular rods for close to $1,000, you don’t need all of that to cast well and catch fish. These days, there are plenty of great rods for around $200. There are also perfectly serviceable rod, reel, and line combos for under $200. Even the most inexpensive rod from a reputable company will suit your purposes.
Isn’t 7 feet or shorter too short for a good fly cast?
If you have a basic grasp of casting mechanics, you will be able to cast well with a short fly rod. Short rods are still designed to cast fly line. Many small stream anglers learn to cast (and only cast) with short rods, too. In fact, distance records have been set with relatively short rods.
Can I use a nymphing rod for other kinds of fly fishing?
You can… but it won’t be very fun. “Euro rods” are really only meant for flipping over nymph rigs and following the drift. While you can cast a dry fly or a streamer with this gear, it isn’t ideal. The taper and weight of the rods themselves aren’t engineered for traditional casts with normal fly line. Consequently, it will be cumbersome enough to warrant using a second rod.
Does the warranty matter?
Warranties are great. Controversial, but great. They matter inasmuch as they offer some sort of safety net. The controversy comes in with the asterisks detailing terms, costs, etc. Not to mention the real possibility of price inflation to compensate for the program. All that to say, it is worth double checking how a company’s warranty program works before getting too excited about a “rod for life.”
Want more Fly Rod FAQs? Head to the full page here.
Have a question that you think others would benefit from? Or, simply want to ask something yourself? Let me know at matthew[at]castingacross.com or below. And be sure to subscribe below that so you’ll never miss an update to the FAQ page. It is a once a week email that is 95% guaranteed to not be obnoxious.