Things You'll Need:
- Backing/fly-fishing
- Fly-fishing Flies
- Fly-fishing Leaders
- Fly-fishing Lines
- Fly-fishing Reels
- Fly-fishing Rods
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Step 1
Buy a graphite rod. It will be light and pliable, and though it's a higher-end material and can be more expensive than some of the other options, it's more durable and will provide a smooth cast. Rods can start under $100, and go up from there.
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Step 2
Determine the action (bending resistance) of the rod. They come in fast, medium and slow actions. Beginners might want to start with medium-action rods. Fast-action rods break a lot of fish off when they strike because the tip is too stiff.
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Step 3
Check that the bend of the rod is smooth and even, whatever its action. Excessive bend might be a sign of a flaw - you want to avoid soft spots.
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Step 4
Review the different lengths of rods, which can vary from 4 to 18 feet. Anticipate what sort of weather and water conditions you're going to encounter. For tight spaces, consider shorter rods that won't get hung up when you cast.
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Step 5
Try out different grip shapes and sizes to see which is most comfortable and which allows you to feel more in control of the rod.
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Step 6
Practice casting them and see what feels good to you. The line should extend straight from the tip and end without bouncing back. There shouldn't be any waves in the line.
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Step 7
Check your fly shop for beginner's packages, which include rod, reel and line. Often you can get the basic tools more cheaply as a set without compromising quality.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 3/20/2006 When you're in the store and have the rod assembled, hold it like you've got your line in the water. And give it a good back and forth shake. The tip will go nuts, good quality rods will return to stable much quicker than cheap rods.