Fishing Frenzy

Any serious hobbyist or professional fly fisherman knows that their rod is a tool, selected to meet whatever challenges their environment and catch may send. Yet, for the casual hobbyist hoping to take the craft of fishing more seriously, the qualities that transform a plain rod into an extraordinary one aren't obvious. If you're hoping to purchase a quality rod for fly fishing but aren't sure where to begin, here are a few pointers to help.

First, know your catch. Familiarize yourself with the waters in which you plan to fish, and with the size of the catch you're likely to bring home. This knowledge will influence many of the qualities which you search for in a fly rod.

The size of the fish you are after will determine the weight of the rod you need to use. Light fish require a lightweight rod while the big fish need a heavy rod. However, fly fishing rods are not rated like traditional rods according to pounds test. Instead, they are rated by the weight of the line in the range from 1 to 14. The higher numbers are for bigger fish. The heavier lines are more difficult to master too, so beginners should stick with a level 5 rod.

Rod length is the next important consideration. Here, too, you should consider your environment. While rods average in at between 8 and 9 feet, tight conditions make larger rods unwieldy to carry and cast. Shorter rods are also better for children, or others for whom casting larger rods may be a challenge.

Another quality important to your purchase is the rod's material. Rods are often constructed of graphite, with fiberglass and more traditional materials such as bamboo. For your first semi-serious rod, graphite is an excellent choice that makes the decision slightly less complicated.

Over time, you will find that you develop your own fly fishing style. Once your know your style, you can select the type of rod that suits you best from among the fast action or slow action fly fishing rods. Each of these has their advantages and the difference lies in the way the rod bends. Fast action rods have the most bend towards the tip of the rod whereas slow action rods have a more evenly distributed bend over the entire length of the rod. Most fishermen do well with a fly fishing rod that has moderate action as this gives you more control over your cast.

Perhaps the best advice for your first somewhat serious purchase, however, is to not invest much until you are more sure of yourself. Nothing says that the next rod you purchase must be your last, or indeed your only, rod. It is one of several that you will own over the years as you hone your craft, discovering your preferences and style.

If you buy expensive fly fishing tackle when you are a beginner, you may feel obligated to stick with it even if it has disadvantages and does not work well with your style of fly fishing. You may even develop bad habits that will be difficult to break simply because you are forcing yourself to use the wrong rod. Do not spend a lot of money on a rod if it will make you feel trapped into getting your money's worth out of it. You can certainly learn fly fishing techniques with less expensive rods that are designed with beginners in mind.

The G.Loomis Xperience Fly Rod is an example of a great fly fishing rod for you to consider. This is a high-performance, high-value travel fly rods that is made with the same high-modulus graphite found in more expensive top shelf rods. This rod is prices at about $285.