Types of Fly Fishing & Fly Fishing Rods

Fly-fishing is a sport enjoyed all over the world, wherever there is a stream, river, lake or ocean. The type of rod used is determined by where you are fishing and what kind of fish you hope to catch.

  1. Types of Rods

    • Fly rods can be made of bamboo, fiberglass or graphite. Each type of rod comes in various lengths and line weights. Bamboo fly rods have become collector's items and these rods are rarely used today. Fiberglass fly rods are heavier and thicker than graphite rods and are less expensive. Graphite rods, though not as strong as fiberglass, are lighter, more powerful and more accurate than fiberglass rods. Most fly rods today are made of graphite.

    Fly Rod Lengths

    • Most fly rods are 6 to 9 feet long and come in two-, three- and four-piece sections. Rod actions can be slow, medium or fast and will handle all types of flies, dry or wet.

    Fly Lines

    • All fly lines are 90 feet long and come in floating, sinking or sinking tip lines. Floating fly lines are used primarily for dry fly fishing while sinking and sinking tip lines are used for wet fly, nymph and streamer fishing.

    Fresh Water Streams and Rivers

    • Perhaps the most popular form of fly-fishing is fishing for trout on a stream or river. Fly rods are made of fiberglass or graphite in lengths 6 to 9 feet. Most common fly lines for trout are 5 and 6 weight.

    Salmon and Steelhead Fishing

    • Fishing for salmon and steelhead trout on large rivers requires fly rods that are stronger and heavier than rods used for trout. These rods can handle both sinking and sinking tip fly lines in weights from 7 to 10. The intricately tied and colorful salmon flies are usually fished as a wet fly.

    Bass Fishing

    • Fly rods for bass fishing on a lake or pond are usually 7 to 9 feet in length, and capable of handling floating fly lines from 6 to 8 weight. These rod and line combinations can cast large bass bugs and streamers with relative ease.

    Saltwater Fishing

    • Fly rods for saltwater require hardware that is resistant to corrosion. They are powerful rods designed for bonefish, tarpon and stripper fishing. Saltwater fly rods are almost all graphite and at least 9 feet long. These heavy-action rods are capable of casting large flies and lures into a wind. Saltwater rods are able to cast a floating or underwater line as heavy as 12 weight.