How to Purchase Fly Rods

Rod Types

 In fly fishing, you have three choices when it comes to your fly rod:  Graphite, Fiberglass, and Bamboo.

Graphite rods are the most common, use the latest technology, and are the lightest.  Most rods sold today are graphite rods, and for good reason.  Keep in mind, not all graphite rods are the same though.  Although the manufacturing process, similar to fiberglass, bakes the rods under controlled temperatures, this does not mean all graphite rods are the same.  Graphite is a composite. The graphite in fly rods uses either boron or carbon so there are distinct differences in graphite and rods.  A general rule of thumb is the lighter the rod, the more expensive it is.  Top of the line rods are going to set you back $500 - $1000.  With today’s technology though, there are some nice entry level rods that aren’t too heavy, with decent hardware, in the $100-$150 range. 

Fiberglass rods are very strong, but they are much heavier than graphite.  They are also much cheaper… if you can find them.  I doubt you can walk into a fly shop today and find one (Big game salt rods often still use fiberglass.  It really is tough as nails.).  This was the budget rod of the 20^th century.  You may find one in a big department store, but unless you’re gonna chuck bait with it, I’d spend my money on graphite.

Bamboo Rods are for the fly fishing purist and the collector.  Once upon a time, before there was Ebay, before there was an Internet, before there was television, before, there were telephones, before there were cars to get you to a river, there were fly fisherman… and they fished with wooden rods.  These were roughly 15 feet long and heavy.  Often a lighter tip section would be spliced with a heavier wood in the butt section.  It wasn’t until after the American Civil War that rod builders started using bamboo “cane” or “split cane” rods.  

The 20^th Century saw a switch from Calcutta bamboo to Tonkin Bamboo from a small province in China.  Quality Bamboo rods are still made from this type of bamboo.  It has more spacing between nodes, straighter stalks and stronger fibers.  A well made and cared for bamboo rod can fetch up to $3,000.  You will find that these rods are substantially heavier than graphite, but they are generally much slower.  Be very careful if you are considering purchasing a used bamboo rod.  Unlike the current technology used in crafting new bamboo rods, the older ones require loving care and preventative maintenance.  With a used one, you need to be able to inspect it to insure it has been stored and cared for properly.  An older, unloved bamboo rod can warp over time, rot and lose its structural integrity.

Don't forget to add a fly reel to that rod.  Without one you will just have an expensive stick.

I would like to discourage you from purchasing the cheapest rod you can find.  A quality rod will last a long time, if not a lifetime.  Most of the top manufacturers have lifetime warranties and great customer service keeping your rod in your hand and fish on its line for many years.  A cheap rod may get you through a couple of seasons, but if it breaks or the guides pop out or any of a number of accidents occur, you are going to have to start all over and get a new rod.  In the long run, the initial cost of the rod will be offset by years if use if you base your purchase on quality.

Remember to check out Riverbum and Leland's excellent selection of rods.

One final thought based on personal experience.  Fly rods and car doors don’t mix.  I lost one rod to a car door.  It was an inexpensive rod and I had to buy another.  My buddy did the same to his Sage rod and they replaced it.  You do the math.

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites