Fly Fishing Equipment - Fly Rod

There are several pieces of equipment used in fly fishing. This article will discuss one of its most fundamental equipments which is the fly rod. This is where the fly line is attached.

The fly rod comes in several sizes. Its length typically ranges from as short as 6 ft to as long as 13 ft.

Aside from the length, fly fishing rods are measured by their weight. As a rule of thumb, the smaller the value of the weight, the smaller the fish it can catch.

For example, a fly rod of 0wt (zero weight) is enough to catch a small trout. For bigger types of fish such as a salmon, a fly rod of a heavier weight is used.

A fly rod's weight is also important in determining the weight of the fly line that can be used with it. So a rod of 10wt requires a #10 line and could not use a line of a different size.

There are rods which can accommodate a variety of weights but they tend to compromise performance for flexibility.

Bamboo is the traditional material used as a fly rod. It is prized by fly fishing enthusiasts for its surprising strength in typical conditions.

It can be pricey though, which is why others choose rods made of alternative materials such as fiberglass and graphite. The two are chosen for their durability (they are not prone to rusting) and performance (they are lighter compared to other materials).
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Introduction to Fly Fishing

Fly Fishing is an angling method that aims to catch fish using artificial flies. Traditionally, salmon and trout are the types of fish caught using this method. But in recent times, a wide variety of fish have been added to the list like pike, carp and striped bass.

As an angling method, fly fishing differs from other methods in its technique for casting. Other methods rely on the weight of the lure to pull the line.

But in fly fishing, the line is cast rather than the lure since the lures used in this method are too light to be cast.

Casting in fly fishing can be compared to the way a whip unfurls when it is being cracked. It is said that a good angler can unfurl his/her line even before he/she does the return motion when casting.

This angling method has been around as early as 200 AD. It was first mentioned in a book entitled "Natural History", written by a Roman author named Aelian.

One chapter of his book mentioned in passing the Macedonians' way of catching their fish. It talked about how they tried to lure fish using imitation flies that they made themselves.

Based on Aelians description, the methods that they used are closely similar to the methods and purpose of the modern-day fly fisher in catching fish.

While it has been around for two millennia, fly fishing remains a relevant and exciting method of angling until this day and will remain so in generations to come. …Read more >>