Wit and Wisdom

If you are relatively new to fly fishing this article may not strike a chord with you, at least not yet. But if you stick with fly fishing long enough and really get into the sport you will eventually own more than one fly rod.

When I teach beginners about fly fishing one of the most frequently asked questions relates to rod weight. I usually recommend a rod in the 8 foot to 9 foot length in six weight for the types of fly fishing we do here. For other locations and types of fishing I might recommend a slightly different rod but the point for the novice is; a single rod of appropriate weight and you are good to go for a long time. Rarely am I asked about having more than one rod, even from experienced spinning and bait casting anglers venturing into fly fishing. And it is likely that these folks have a closet full of spinning and bait casting rods to meet a variety of conditions and lure types.

Over the course of time most fly anglers eventually find that a single rod just won't cut the mustard and this realization comes in stages Stage 1 in the acquisition of more than one rod is usually to accommodate a different type of fishing. The need for a new rod (and reel and line) is based on factors such as; the desire to pursue other species with larger or smaller flies, fish in different locations such as small streams vs. large rivers, etc. The selection and purchase of a new rod is for very practical and highly logical purposes. When I began fly fishing I had one six weight rod and used it for everything from bluegills to pike. It worked great but over time I decided that tossing large pike streamers and deer hair bugs for bass required a heavier rod so I bought a 9 weight. This decision was strictly related to improved function; it became easier to cast large flies. The recognition that this rod actually helped my casting, both distance and accuracy came slowly but I discovered it was more fun to fish with this rod than my 6 weight mainly because I was more successful in casting. To a great degree matching the equipment is important to developing a successful casting technique, which adds to the enjoyment.

Stage 1 proceeds with the acquisition of additional rods based on the same premise as the second rod. That is, you make a decision on buying a new rod for functional reasons. You need a 7 foot rod because you are going to visit a small mountain stream and your 9 footer is too long to use effectively. These types of functional purchases can and usually do occur over the course of years and can go on for many years.

But eventually you will reach Stage 2 of rod acquisition wherein you pick up rods for wholly different reasons. This stage often occurs long after you have a stack of rods purchased to meet varying functional requirements. A hallmark of this stage is acquisition of a new rod when you already have one of the same weight and length. This stage is also marked by the desire to try other brands, even if you have a favorite, and other models of the same brand. For people in this stage the goal seems to be to acquire as many rods as possible. Of course the other metric to judge whether you have reached Stage 2 is if your wife asks, “Don't you already have one of those?” Don't EVER answer in the affirmative if you hope to be a successful Stage 2er.

Stage 3 develops slowly and can emanate from Stage 1 or Stage 2. There isn't a precise linear progression but in my opinion it is the most enjoyable reason to purchase multiple rods. This is the stage I call the Favorite Rod Stage and, is another phase in the evolution of a serious fly angler. Logic, functionality, and practicality of other stages take a back seat to the sheer enjoyment associated with owning multiple rods.

But a few words of caution about this stage. Owning a large number of rods, especially favorite rods isn't a status symbol, it doesn't mean you “have arrived” in fly fishing, isn't meant to permit you to brag about your collection, and it doesn't mean you are more dedicated or serious than the next person. Don't think for one minute that if you haven't reached this particular stage you aren't a serious fly angler. Plenty of people who own only one rod are serious, dedicated and outstanding fly fishers. Owning multiple rods doesn't make you a fly angler any more than owning a bat makes you a major league batting champion. Maybe your favorite rod is the ONLY rod you own and that is exactly what the Favorite Rod Stage is all about. You decide what your favorite rod is and more importantly you decide when it is your favorite. And better yet, the designation of favorite can change with seasons, fish species, time of day, type of fly, and a whole host of endless possibilities.

Funny thing about favorite rods, you will probably end up having more than one and the choice depends on quite a few factors. I now own two 5 wt rods and regularly switch between them depending on wind conditions, how far I need to cast, and a host of unrelated factors; I might prefer the blue rod to the black rod for no real reason other than the color. One is a fast action rod while the other is a medium action rod and they cast very differently and some days I like one over the other. I have three rods I use for pike, two 9 wt rods and a 10 wt rod. At present, the 10 wt is my favorite pike rod and if you asked me specifically why I am not sure I could tell you. The point is that the favorite rod for me is a moving target. I currently own a dozen fly rods ranging from 3-10 wt and have no plans to quit buying more.

Some of you might now be saying to yourself, “This guy must have loads of money if he can afford to buy 12 fly rods and plans on more.” And the answer is, I don't; and you don't have to be Donald Trump to own multiple rods either. Unless your choice of rods happens to be high end, major brand graphite rods or hand made bamboo rods – then you had better have some bucks. But even if you have a desire to own a Sage, Orvis, Winston, Loomis, or whatever, you can get some excellent bargains when companies decide to change their models. For example, I have purchased rods that retail for over $400 for less than half that by watching for sales promotions from rod manufacturers. Another good source of quality rods at a fraction of the price is to check out fly shops via the internet. Many fly shops have demo rods that are used to allow customers to test cast and at the end of the season they discount these rods tremendously. There is absolutely nothing wrong with these rods and most come with the original factory warranty.

Yet another option in your quest for favorite rods is to check out some of the “other” rod manufacturers beside the big names. As an example, at the 2006 Midwest Fly Fishing Expo I was searching for a new rod. I cast all the big names, Sage, Loomis, Winston and finally got to the Temple Fork booth. I knew little about these rods other than the fact that Lefty Kreh was associated with them, which carries a great deal of weight given his reputation. But when I looked at the price of these rods I was skeptical. The highest priced rod was about $250 and even though Rick Pope, the President of Temple Fork , said he would stack this rods up against any other manufacturers rods in terms of quality and castability I was doubtful. That is until I cast a 10 wt., 8 wt and 7 wt in the Professional series and the same weight rods in the signature series.

Try out a variety of rods whenever you get the chance and make your choices based on what you like or don't like in a rod. One of the best places to do that is at MVFF outings as club members have a wide variety of rods from numerous manufacturers. You will find that one of the most enjoyable aspects of fly fishing is testing new rods and finding your own favorite rod.