Best Fly Fishing Rods in 2022

Last update: December 13, 2022

Are cheap fly rods worth it?

The simple answer is no, cheap fly rods are not worth it. You get what you pay for with fly rods, and the cheaper models are usually lower quality. They may be fine for a beginner, but you'll quickly outgrow them and want to upgrade to a better rod.

Does an expensive fly rod make a difference?

If you're new to fly fishing, you may be wondering if an expensive fly rod makes a difference. The answer is yes and no. A more expensive fly rod will usually be made of higher quality materials and have better craftsmanship, which can make a difference in performance. However, the biggest factor in fly fishing success is the angler, not the equipment. So, if you're just starting out, don't feel like you need to spend a lot of money on a fly rod. As you gain experience, you can upgrade to a more expensive rod if you feel it will help

Does the color of fly line matter?

No, the color of fly line does not matter.

How big of a fish can a 6 wt fly rod handle?

A 6 wt fly rod can handle fish up to about 10-12 pounds.


Tailwater Outfitters Toccoa Fly Rod: High Performance 4 Piece, Fast Action IM8 Graphite with Rod Tube. Review:


I used the Piscifun reel and weight-forward floating line with this. I've been having a joy with this, and despite my lack of skill, I feel like I'm getting about 3/4 the cast distance as my friend, who uses a rod and reel set that costs more than $600. I used to own a cheap Walmart combo that was comparable in price to this setup, but it well outweighs the value. Although I can't speak for how well the rod will keep up over time, it appears solidly made and has a really good balance with the piscifun reel. In the first two weeks of trout season, I've already had more success with this than I had in the previous two seasons combined. https://www.amazon.com/Piscifun-Fishing-CNC-machined-Aluminum-Gunmetal/dp/B017H38HPC/ref=pd bxgy 200 img 2/134-2216663-0538967? encoding=UTF8



Redington Classic Trout Review:


I purchased the 4 wt model mostly for my yearly trip to the breathtaking mountains of Utah where I want to go trout fishing. However, I currently reside close to Houston, Texas, and have been using this rod on the surrounding bass ponds for the past 4 months or so since I was eager to give it a try.LOVE THIS ROD, MAN! I've been fly-fishing for about 24 years, since I was 16 years old, and this rod is a dream to cast and really accurate. I enjoy the mild action, and every cast causes the rod to load. Although it is only a 4 wt, I have tied size 8 topwater bass flies and weighted wooly buggers, and this rod handles all of them perfectly. It has also caught some beautiful bass, up to approximately 3 lbs (which is a blast on this light weight rod). Every time I've thrown these flies out, I've been able to deliver them precisely to a distance of at least 40–50 feet. I would say that for what it's built for, this moderate action rod is fantastic! However, beyond that, accuracy starts to degrade a touch and the rod appears a little over-extended. The moderate action, light weight, and 9' length of this rod make it ideal for teaching young children to cast, so I've been using it to teach my 11-year-old daughter to cast as well. Since she has been performing well and catching some lovely tiny panfish with it, she now insists on using this fly rod whenever we go fishing. Now that I want to use it too, it appears I will have to buy her her own.Strongly advised trout rod!



Echo Base Fly Rod Review:


I bought the 7'6" "In March of this year, after reading so many favourable reviews both here and elsewhere, I purchased the 3-wt edition of this rod. Since then, I've largely used it as a panfish rod on nearby ponds, but I wanted to wait to write a review until I had a chance to put it through its paces. This past week, five days of stream and lake fishing in Colorado provided that opportunity. The rod worked nicely with the Echo Base reel and SA GPX WF3 line, despite the reel's shortcomings. It worked best in small spaces but could also lay out a remarkable quantity of line for a rod shorter than eight feet. Although wind was a problem on open water, as it is with all light fly rods, I cannot fault the rod for performing poorly in a niche for which it was not designed.Regarding setup, this rod worked well with single dry and double dry fly rigs, hopper-dropper (and hopper-double dropper) rigs, and smaller weighted streamers. A size 20 CDC dry could be laid down on it without damaging it. However, in a pinch, strong enough to flip a size 10 hopper with a beadhead nymph trailing 24 inches "behind. It had plenty of backbone to tackle the "bigger" 12–14” cutts and browns I came across, but it also had enough play to keep the numerous 4–8” brook trout interesting.In conclusion, I heartily endorse this fly rod. Additionally, if you discover a better rod for less money, kindly let me know.



Piscifun Sword Graphite Fly Fishing Rod 4 Piece 9ft - IM7 Carbon Fiber Blank - Accurate Placement - Ingenious Design - Chromed Guide and Durable Rod Tube (Size: 4/5/6/7/9wt) Review:


Prior to buying my first Fly rig, I had been looking for approximately a year. I was concerned that if I made the wrong purchases, my setup would be unbalanced, which experts agree is a major problem. The 3/4 weight Piscifun Sword reel, 4 weight 8'6" Piscifun Sword rod, and WF-4 Weight Piscifun Sword flyline were the items I ultimately purchased.I'm telling you, this gear is incredibly well balanced. I made a sequence of accurate casts from 15 to 20 yards during my second practice casting session. A complete setup costing $163.00 included a MaxCatch travel case, a leader line, and backing. After doing some study on the area entomology, I went to my neighborhood fly shop, where they assisted me in choosing my first box of flies. Even better, it wasn't one of those boring how-to books where you would be better off learning from YouTube, but an outstanding how-to book from first cast to first fish. Actually, reading it is entertaining and interesting. Sincerely, making this choice was among the best ones I've ever made, and the journey thus far has been incredible. If it's your first purchase, receive the whole Sword setup.



M MAXIMUMCATCH Maxcatch Extreme Graphite Fly Fishing Rod 4-Piece 9 Feet IM6 Carbon Blank, Hard Chromed Guides(3/4/5/6/7/8/10wt) Review:


Fly fishing is something I've done for almost 20 years. When I initially started, a subpar rod and reel could hardly be found for less than $150. I've always had a somewhat limited budget, and since I don't work in the industry, I can't get pro deals on any of my hard goods. Because of this, I've always fished Cabela's rods and have been pleased with how well they function. My L-Tech 8 weight broke when I was paddling a river in Michigan due to a slip in judgment, leaving me without anything larger than a 6.6ft 4 weight for a trip planned for smallmouth. I came to the realization that I had no choice except to overnight my old, clumsy backup 8wt from California or buy something inexpensive to tide me over for the remainder of the journey. Maxcatch reels and lines have generally worked well for me, so I chose to take a risk and try one of their rods with the idea of returning it if it didn't meet my expectations. The only thing I ever desired was different about the L-TECH, I then discovered, is that this rod offers a 10ft option. This rod has been used to fish for a few days, but it hasn't been brought back. Are they Sages? In no way. Possibly the L-TECH Not at all; it's much heavier and less refined. However, this item is a knockout at this pricing point for a rod that isn't used much. Although it is strong and easily slices through the wind with SA Titan line, it is not so strong that a struggle cannot be had. Given that it feels more like a 9wt to me, I believe it might be a touch underrated. The finish is straightforward but impeccable. The cork grip smelled a little like gasoline when it initially emerged from the plastic, but it seems far higher quality than the price tag would imply.I could pick fault with this rod and find issues, but since it costs $51 for a (albeit) high-quality 10 foot 8 weight rod, I won't, with the exception of mentioning how heavy it is. It is by no means a light rod, especially after an L-Tech, which for a while was one of the lightest rods in the game.The bottom line is that this is a killer value if you need a backup or won't fish it frequently.



Berkley Fenwick World Class Fly Rod Review:


I impulsively purchased the 9' 5wt 6-piece, not because I needed a rod but more because of the absurdly low price and some brand nostalgia. I own quite a few rods, most of them were custom-made. This rod holds up rather well. Although it is described as having "rapid" action, I believe most people will find it to be more of a medium-quick taper. I can't say I observed any differences in ability between a 6-piece and more conventional 2 or 4's during its performance because it was extremely good. They were claimed to be brittle in a few reviews that I've seen elsewhere besides on Amazon, but this doesn't seem to be the case. Most malfunctions are caused by user mistake, but Fenwick has thankfully had one of the best warranties for years (yeah yeah not a normal "Fly" brand, but the warranty fee is a whole lot cheaper than the big names). This rod would be a great investment at $200, a steal at $100, but it has been circling at $60 lately.



St Croix Triumph Spinning Rods Review:


St. Croix is regarded as a leading producer of fishing rods. I've used St. Croix rods before, but I enjoy this one for its motion and sensitivity. The workmanship is top-notch as always, and despite the fact that it is an ultra-light and is often used to catch panfish, I have had the good fortune to land some beautiful walleyes. After I registered the rod, the business provided me some helpful information and a St. Croix sticker for my tackle box or car. They had advised me to do so.The rod has worked nicely, and I am aware that it was made in Mexico. It seems to work well with the Shimano ultra-light reel I'm using with it.



M MAXIMUMCATCH Maxcatch Ultra-lite Fly Rod for Streams Panfish/Trout Fishing 1/2/3 Weight Review:


If you want an unbiased evaluation of these rods, continue reading as I wasn't compensated for writing it:In order to provide my family with lighter tackle for usage on smaller streams, particularly those in New Mexico and Oklahoma, during the summer of 2016, I needed a quick, low-cost answer. I bought three rods: two 7' 3WT rods and one 7'6" 3WT rod. I utilized the rods in a variety of settings, some of which called for various casting approaches, such as rocky, brushy situations. Lower Red River, Rio Costilla, Upper Red River, Coyote Creek, Latir Creek, and Lower Mountain Fork were the rivers (OK). I have experience fly fishing and use both Orvis and TFO equipment.I bought every MaxCatch, rod, reel, and fly box I could find. The rods are packaged with a tube and a cotton rod pouch that may be tied to fit within its host tube. The guides on the rods are lined up using dots, which I found to work well and resulted in nicely aligned guides. If, like me, you find the price point so alluring that you buy three, each section is labelled with WT and Size so you can distinguish each one. Additionally, I appreciated that I could buy everything on Amazon and stay away from the crowded Cabellas and expensive Orvis stores.The action on these rods is quite nice, if not superior to and comparable to rods costing hundreds more. comparable to my TFO Lefty Kreh or Orvis Clearwater. In my experience, the line flowed through the guides with ease, and the rods' movement gave me a nice feeling for both backcasts and forwardcasts. In fact, I discovered that occasionally I was able to generate as much energy as the aforementioned rods. The setup offered me just the appropriate finesse and strength I needed to throw flies in every pool, run, or hole, which was important given the undergrowth on the banks and the constricting spaces of smaller streams.Customer service: In a previous review, I discussed a problem with customer service. An accident involving a motorized window, a careless driver who rolled the windows up without noticing, and myself resulted in the "crack" of three shattered rod tips in my three rods. Considering that we had only fished one of the four streams we had intended to, this came as a bit of a gut punch. After a fast patch in the field involving glue and rod tips, which resulted in some action and feel loss, I went to work with MaxCatch customer support. Through Amazon, they responded quickly. Unfortunately, I think some of my explanations were lost in translation since I was using my phone to communicate. I held off on writing my initial assessment for a few months. Almost immediately after that review, they got in touch with me. We discovered that my beloved iPhone had not transmitted images of the parts they need, which would have helped us communicate the parts I needed to replace.MaxCatch permitted me to buy new pieces at $14 each once they realized I needed new tip-top portions. Again, this was an amazing DEAL! Replacement parts for certain "lifetime guarantee" rods can cost between $30 and $50. Given that these were special orders, I received the additional components approximately a week after making the original purchase. The pieces were delivered in a stylish tube that was foam-reinforced, with each tip hung in its own segment of foam. The parts were further protected by the tube's own wrapping in foam tape. I was able to swap out the tip-top pieces and now have the entire MC gear setup for small stream fishing. Please refer to my reviews of their fly box, fly line, and reels.



Fenwicks Aetos Fly Rod - 4-Piece Review:


Before finally buying this aetos, I performed a lot of research. It was mentioned frequently in web evaluations, compared to some of the greatest. I was unsure between other brand-name rods and my curiosity. I purchased this to pursue larger fish in both salt and fresh water, such as steelhead, striped bass, and others. I have a few other rods that cost three to four times as much as the Aetos in Orvis and St. Croix. I purchased an Aetos 9'6" 8 wt flyrod. I took it fishing for steelhead in the river for the first time today. Function comes first, and it feels quite impressive. has a quick action and a gentle tip. a strong backbone. Casting by roll and above was extremely accurate. It was a true delight to cast. When I had larger fish on, I loved the strength and backbone. felt like a reliable rod in which I can have more faith and a nice complement to my quiver. It's quite difficult to pass up a rod at this price that performs as well as the Aetos. My dislikes are limited to cork, which looks to be of poorer quality. Guides work fine. Aesthetics are acceptable. Only go fishing.



St Croix Triumph Travel Spinning Rods Review:


I travel frequently because I am in the military. I was aware that there were a couple decent ponds on base and that I would be traveling to Savanna, Georgia. On the first day, as I came outside, I noticed that the ponds' banks were incredibly overgrown and that a tiny 3' alligator was swimming around. I put the hook on my first cast, and the pole immediately bowed sharply. I think, "Great, there's a dink on the line and this thing is ready to shatter in half." The fish is a good 4 lber when you get it near to the bank, and a small gator is chasing after it. The gator never emerges from the water as I race up the bank pulling my fish behind me. With the torture I just gave this pole, I'm sure I had to trash it. I removed the fish, put it back in the water, and started looking at the pole. ZERO DAMAGE It was still in excellent condition. I used it to catch a LOT of fish over the course of the following four to five days of fishing, pulling them through the underbrush to get them out of the water. I am quite pleased with how well the pole has held up.


How big of a fish can a 7 wt fly rod handle?

The 7 wt fly rod is designed for larger fish, and can handle fish up to and over 10 lbs. With the proper technique, a 7 wt rod can land fish much larger than 10 lbs.

How do I know what size fly rod I need?

There are a few things to consider when choosing a fly rod. One is the weight of the rod, which is determined by the line size. The other is the length of the rod, which is determined by the fish you are targeting. The weight of the rod is important because it needs to match the weight of the line. If the rod is too light, the line will sag and you won't be able to cast as far. If the rod is too heavy, the line will bounce and you'll have a hard time controlling it. The length of the rod

How do I pick my first fly rod?

Choosing your first fly rod can be a daunting task, especially with all of the different options on the market. But, luckily, there are a few key things you can keep in mind to help make the process a little easier. First, consider what kind of fish you want to target. Different fish require different types of rods, so it's important to have an idea of what you're after before making a purchase. Next, take into account your budget. Fly rods can range in price from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, so it's important to

How much should I spend on my first fly rod?

There's no definitive answer to this question - ultimately, it depends on your budget and what you're looking for in a fly rod. However, as a general guideline, you can expect to spend anywhere from $100 to $1,000 on a quality fly rod. If you're just starting out, we recommend opting for something on the lower end of that price range so you can get a feel for the sport without breaking the bank.

Is a 5wt fly rod good for trout?

A 5wt fly rod is a great choice for trout fishing. It is versatile and can be used for a variety of trout fishing scenarios. If you are just starting out, a 5wt fly rod is a great option. It is also a good choice for experienced anglers who want a versatile rod that can be used for a variety of trout fishing situations.

What is a 10ft fly rod good for?