I am often asked about fly fishing rods, especially by beginners who are just starting fly fishing and have money burning a hole in their pocket. The questions often asked are - what make of rod should I buy? or is brand X better than brand Y? My answer to these type of questions is often not what is expected - Buy the cheapest rod that you are comfortable with because it doesn't matter.
If like most of us, you have limited resources to spend on your fishing each year, you need to prioritise where to invest your money to get the most return and enjoyment. Have a think about it - twenty or thirty years ago a rod today that costs £25 would have been beyond the wildest imaginations of the most advanced tackle makers of the time. The carbon fibre composites of what are now "cheap rods" would have been space age even in theory but people still caught lots of fish. Some of the most famous and respected voices in fly fishing came from an era where rods were made of wood, lines of silk and leaders of gut.
It's a cliche but it's true - the fish don't know how much your rod costs.
While a rod is essential (you can't fly fish without one!) a good caster can present a fly well on a cheap rod as well as an expensive one so invest some time in learning how to cast and present a fly well. The difference in how a £60 rod performs compared to a £600 rod is small and a lot of the time manufacturer's have to resort to numbers from Laboratory test on recovery time and other measures to show why their new expensive fly fishing rod is better than the competition. Why do you think they are having to resort to laboratory tests? Because the beginner or intermediate fly fishing man or women in the street can't notice any difference! Yes, the cheaper rod will not have fancy fittings, posh piece of wood on the handle and the finishing will not be as good but it will do the job.
A fishing rod, at the end of the day is just a tool to do a job.
I was speaking to the director of a large tackle shop the other day who was cursing a well known tackle manufacturer who's fly rods sell for around £25 to £30. He was complaining that because the price of these rods is so cheap there is little mark up on them and in his words "they are too bloody good".
So don't fall for the hype - spending more money on a rod will not make you a better fly angler, there are far more important areas to invest your limited resources in order to get the most from your fly fishing.
Here are my top 5.
1) Somewhere to fish!
Sounds obvious but invest all you can in to a club or syndicate that can offer some decent fly fishing. If you don't want to join a club then set aside a budget for day tickets. There are some fantastic waters available at very little cost but they tend to be in remote areas so you may need to budget for bed and breakfasts and petrol costs.
2) Books & DVD's
You need to read read read! There is so much to learn so buy as many decent fly fishing books and DVD's as you can. If you can dedicate a bit of time each day to reading about water craft, fly casting and fly fishing for beginners you will soon pick up some knots, fly casting techniques and basic water craft. If you fall in to bad habits or need help then think about getting some fly fishing tuition.
3) Practise - costs nothing!
Dedicate 15 minutes a day in your garden or local park to practising your fly casting. Like any sport you will only get better by practicing. You will be amazed how much better you will become at the different fly fishing casts with a small daily practise session. It can be frustrating when you are a beginner at fly fishing but stick with your practise, it will pay off.
4) Good fly line
This is one area not to skimp on. Buy a good quality fly line, it will help with your presentation and fly casting and limit any unnecessary tangles.
5) Clothing
Invest in some warm, breathable clothing for the Autumn and Winter months and some lightweight breathable waterproofs for milder wet days. You have invested all that money in buying some decent fishing - don't let the weather spoil it! Also purchase some good waders for getting into the tight spot on the river - you will be rewarded!
Enjoy your fishing...
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