F l y F i s h i n g T r i c k s . c o m

Types of Fly Fishing Rods

COMBINATION WOOD RODS

Early American fly rods were often made up of different woods, as described by Dr. Bethune and Wells expresses a preference for this type of wood rod. They are still thus made, and sold for very low prices in England, but American makers do not catalog them. This is regrettable since a rod with butt of second growth white ash and middle joint and tip of lance or greenheart can be made and sold for a few dollars and is ideal for the beginner who can afford to invest only a very small amount in a fly rod.

At present the most favored fly rod materials are steel, solid woods and split bamboo.

STEEL RODS

A present-day steel rod of the better class is wonderfully well made, being of a high class of material imported especially for the purpose. The steel rod is an excellent tool for certain kinds of fishing but the steel fly rod is very heavy and has a listless action compared with a rod of wood or bamboo, although considerable improvement has been made in them of late years. Compared with the old style steel rod the extra light weight model handles a line fairly well and when wrapped solidly with silk it is enormously strong. A friend who fishes for the heavy bass in Florida uses a rod of this kind and speaks highly of it. The regular steel rod of 9 feet weighs 81/4 ounces; the extra light weight style about 5 3/4 ounces.

All Wood Rods

Wells in his " Fly Rods and Fly Tackle " lists and describes more than 20 kinds of wood suitable for rod making but modern makers have settled upon lancewood, dagama, greenheart and bethabarra as being the most satisfactory. Practically every angling writer and rod maker advises the purchase of a good wood rod if the angler cannot afford a hand-made one of split bamboo. In another work I have disagreed with this advice as regards the short bait casting rod, but as an unusual amount of skill and very good material are required to make a first class bamboo fly rod perhaps a well-made wood rod is the proper tool for the angler wishing to invest only a small amount, or for the beginner who, later on, may acquire more positive opinions as to what constitutes a good fly rod. Later, I will discuss the cheap bamboo rod.

In considering the purchase of a wood rod the angler must bear in mind that the merits of the sticks used in making a rod have much to do with the excellence of the finished product.

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