I love my lightweight bamboo fly rods. I truly enjoy fishing with my older, wispy fiberglass fly rods. And one of my favorite graphite fly rods is a decidedly  slow action 2-weight. This lines up with a common approach to fly fishing small steams. Since the water is small and the fish are small, many opt for the lightest and lithest rod possible. Thin, flexible three, two, and one-weights that can virtually double-over on even the tiniest trout are indeed fun to fish.

However, I have come to a strong conviction for serious small stream fly fishing. The optimal fly rod to use is one with a medium-fast action.

This hardly flips anything sacred on its head. Nor does it exclude the use of truly functional and enjoyable tackle. It is simply a specific approach with some legitimate rationales that can benefit those looking to be a bit more efficient and effective as they take to the mountains and valleys in search of trout.

Remember: the best rod for you to use is the rod you enjoy using. Often times, this is the rod that you own and are comfortable casting. Irrespective of the material, the flex profile, and certainly the price tag, the rod that works is the rod that works. Confidence and contentment cannot be understated. With that said, take everything else in this article with those disclaimers in mind.

First, i is important to define what is meant by medium-fast. The build of a fly rod is defined by length, weight (corresponding to a fly line designation), and action. Simply put, the action  is determined by the taper of the materials used to build the rod. In the case of graphite, the quantity and/or density of carbon fiber  will make a rod flex easier or be more rigid as the appropriate line pulls against the rod during the cast. A fast rod flexes quickly and a slow rod responds  at a  more moderate pace. There is much, much more to the art and science of this topic. But these generalities are helpful as you pick up and cast a rod.

The primary reason why you ought to consider a rod with a quicker action for small stream fishing is line control. Irrespective of how far one has to cast, casting is still the irreducible core of fly fishing. Casting includes the forward cast – the presentation of the fly. For that terminal action to be on target, there has to be a good back cast. When fishing mountain streams or creeks with dense foliage, the back cast requires just as much precision as the presentation. To a certain degree, it could be more complicated. As anglers often position themselves so that angles for presentation are optimized, the corridor for a good back cast might be tighter.

A quicker rod, such as a medium-fast action fly rod, allows you to control your back cast with a quick precision.  Accustomed to that particular rod, the angler can aerialize the  right amount of line and generate sufficient line speed. This can also be done into the tight spaces of thick vegetation. Tight loops and limited false casts mean more flies in the water and less flies in the trees. A medium-fast rod is the ideal tool for this job.

This idea is often met with one objection more than any others. Small stream anglers don’t want a broomstick that horses little trout out of the water, and they don’t want a rod that is not going to let them feel the fish they’re catching. True, there may be some three-weights out there that are stiff and unyielding. Modern fly rod components and design have produced quicker rods that are light in hand, able to lay down tiny flies with finesse, and will still allow anglers to feel the tug of diminutive brookies and cutthroats.

Once more, fish the rods you own and the rods you enjoy casting. But as you consider potentially adding a suitable rod for the task of covering small streams, consider making a medium-fast rod your primary tool.