| Choosing A Rod - Line Weight (One Size Doesn't Fit All!) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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What was standard for trout just ten years ago would seem ridiculously heavy in today's world. Manufacturers now offer rods in a much wider range of sizes than ever before. Available from 0-weight to 15-weight, there are fly rods out there to match any situation. Based on our personal experience and supported by industry statistics, the 5-weight and 8-weight are the two most popular weights. In regard to trout, a 5-weight rod is the absolute most versatile (light enough for dries and heavy enough for most streamers). As such, if an angler were to own only one rod, a 5-weight is our recommendation. As for a second rod, we recommend a 4-weight for the dry fly enthusiast and a 6-weight for the angler who fishes a lot of wet lines. Rods below 4-weight and above 6-weight however are specialty rods and should only be purchased as such. While the perfect tool for micro-hatches such as fall BWO's, rods below 4-weight are tough to cast into the wind or handle flies much larger than #16. In addition, these rods are purely dry fly rods and of little use in regard to streamers, etc. As for rods above 6-weight, while a 7-weight may be a good niche rod for those casting unusually large streamers, anything bigger is way to heavy for trout. In regard to saltwater, an 8-weight rod is the most versatile. Light enough for bonefish and heavy enough for stripers, an 8-weight is strong enough to punch a popper into the wind or handle a 300 Grain sinking line with a Clouser minnow. For those looking for bigger game such as a Tarpon, rods of 9-weight and up are recommended. While rods below 8-weights can be effective in certain circumstances (bonefish, etc.), they are not for general saltwater use. As
for Atlantic salmon and Great Lakes steelhead, an 8-weight is the
ideal rod. While a 9-weight will work for large Atlantic salmon
and northwest steelhead, it is too heavy to protect the light tippets
now used for Great Lakes steelhead. Even though rods below 8-weight
are being used for grilse, they are not recommended for general
salmon use. For larger salmon such as kings, a 9-weight or heavier
is your best bet.
FLY
RODS
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