What to Look for in a Fly Rod

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Friday, June 6th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

There are three different materials used to make a fly rod, the nearly extinct fiberglass, the majestic bamboo cane and the ubiquitous graphite. Fiberglass was once hailed as the poor man’s cane rod. To cast one today I can understand why it was thought so. It has the soft feel of a cane rod during false casts but it lacks the backbone during the power stroke that a good cane rod has.

A cane rod is a thing of beauty and a joy forever. It is nearly impossible to slap the water during presentation. As opposed to the graphite rod, you feel the line so much better. My father left me his Leonard and I never do anything but smile when I use it. You false cast once, look to where you want to present the fly and bring the rod forward. The line plays out in one silent curl on the water, ending in the fly lightly appearing in the water tension just irresistible to the waiting trout. The action of my cane rod would be medium-slow. Fly fishing with a cane rod is a leisurely pursuit. Today a custom cane rod costs around $2,000.00 and many of the great makers have closed their waiting lists. But a judicious buyer might be able to pick up a good cane rod for $400 to $500 dollars on e-bay or an estate sale, but it requires some homework on which are the good makers.

The graphite rod dominates the market today. In the early days of graphite there were limited graphite rod blank makers so quality was more a value-added concept. Today there are many rod blank makers, and quality is more varied. Price is generally a good indicator on mass-market rods as to quality. On custom rods there is a wide variance of rod blanks that don’t necessarily warrant the price being asked. In other words, there are some who are putting lipstick on a pig. One way to tell a good rod is to hold the rod by the handle out in front of you. Snap the handle up and down once and watch the tip of the rod. The quicker it comes to a rest the better the rod. In very good rods you will see a visible dampening effect. A graphite’s action is generally medium-fast to fast. The faster rods are so prevalent that we see a new stance being used in casting with shoulders more open and a stiffer wrist.

A Sage or top of the line Orvis will run from $400 to $600, which might seem a lot. But in the top-level rods you are buying a lifetime investment. Where a warranty on a fly rod can be legendary and the quality increases the time you have your line in the water, an extra $200 or so for a excellent rod, can be cheap.

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