Taking it slow

Good advice for fishing and fly rods

Todd Tanner recently wrote an article, Fly rods for beginner and intermediate anglers, for Hatch magazine. I will not summarize the article here; I couldn’t do it justice. I will say his analogy to skis and skiing hit home for me and is instructive. It’s worth your time to read the entire article.

What got my attention was Tanner’s advocacy for slower action rods. He makes a strong case for slower rods, a case I wholeheartedly support.

“For decades, rod manufacturers have claimed that faster (or stiffer) rods are better rods. While that may be true in certain specific situations, and for certain casters, it’s not an accurate claim overall. Fast rods don’t flex easily, and they require far more effort to cast. One of the finest casters I know — and a great angler as well — once summed things up in a Montana fly shop. He picked up a stiff rod, flexed it, shook his head in disappointment and declared, ‘No thanks. I like rods that bend.’”

I couldn’t agree more, and here’s why. As noted above, fast rods don’t flex easily and take more effort. For a beginner or intermediate caster, that just makes it tougher for them to learn. It’s harder for them to develop a feel for the rod, line and casting stroke. Good casting skills are hard to come by, especially if they have the wrong tool. As a guide and instructor, I’m working to give clients and students a rewarding experience. I don’t need the tool working against me.

For folks starting out or learning on their own, it can be tough to sort through the options and hype.

“Yet new anglers, or folks who’ve been fishing for a while but have never really developed their casting skills, aren’t going to have the requisite knowledge to make an educated choice. A fly fishing savant I know once noted: ‘Most people don’t cast well enough to judge the quality of a fly rod.’ He was right, of course. Which points toward a pretty serious conundrum. If anglers lack the skills to differentiate between various rods, how do they know which one to buy?”

Great question, and Tanner offers some solid advice; you should read it. Seriously, read it now.

Here’s a point that bears reinforcing, “If you’re a novice or a less-than-stellar caster, and if you’re in the market for a new trout rod, you should set a budget, decide exactly what you want from your new rod, and then do as much research as possible.”

Here’s what I think

When it comes to research, keep these points in mind:

• There are things you shouldn’t buy online and fly rods top my list. You need to cast a rod before you buy it. If you can’t cast it then you have zero chance of knowing if you will like it when you do.¹

• Your goal is to find a pleasant-feeling rod. What’s “pleasant-feeling” you ask? It’s that feeling you get from comfortable clothes, they feel right and you look forward to putting them on. A fly rod should feel like that. You look forward to casting it.

• Know what rods cost and what you are willing to spend. When folks start looking at rods or outfits, they often have no idea what they cost. Good tools aren’t cheap and should be seen as investment. The return on the investment is long term use and enjoyment of the tool. The enjoyment being the key part of the equation. If you take the time to find a rod that you enjoy casting, you will use it for years. Now you are really getting your money’s worth.

• Your research should lead you to your favorite fly shop. At Mossy Creek Fly Fishing, for example, there are more than a dozen of us guiding and teaching. We are guides and instructors because we love to share our knowledge and experience with people. Sure, we have our favorites, but that comes from spending lots of time fishing with the gear. We also talk among ourselves and learn from each other.

Buying a fly rod should be like fishing, a fun and gratifying experience. Slow down, take your time, look around and enjoy yourself.

By the way, if you are an accomplished angler and wondering what to do with your fast action rods, Tanner has a suggestion for you. My article about Rio’s Creek line might also be useful…

1. I realize not everyone lives near a fly shop. The exception to this rule is if a fly shop will let you buy the rod, test it and return it if you don’t like it.