If You Could Only Have One Fly Rod

[eric1978]

Okay, a few more questions:

I've noticed that many of the mid-grade rods are 2 piece, while most of the high-end rods are 4 piece. Is there some advantage having a 2/3/4 piece? I must be stupid to think a 2 piece would be better...could someone tell me why?

Also, I found a Loomis GL3, 9' 5 wt. 2 piece that's in my price range...its GLX counterpart is also a 2 piece, but it is fast action while the GL3 is med-fast. What are the pros/cons of med-fast to fast? I know what they are on BC and spinning rods, but I'm learning a new language here.

Both the GLX and the GL3 are med-stiff power. (There's no way I'd buy the GLX, just using it for comparison). I'm also looking at a lower-end Sage, which is also 9' 5wt 2 piece, but it doesn't say what the power or action is...??? The model is a 590 Flight.

Any opinions on handles? It looks like they're pretty universal according to the length and weight of the rod, but they are different on the GLX and the GL3, which are the same length and weight.

[ohmz138]

A good fast action 9ft 5wt will serve you well. TFO makes good rods, especially for the money. I would personally go with a St. Croix legend elite. It is very forgiving, and when loaded properly it's like a cannon. It will cost more than a TFO though.

[ColdWaterFshr]

I'm one of the few that prefer 2 pc rods, just seem a little lighter and fewer hinge-points to my thinking, but I don't think thats been proven. The only advantage of a multi-piece rod is for airline travel.

I'd steer clear of rods that are "fast" action. As a beginner, you will have a tough time learning how to cast one -- it will take lots of line out to load one properly and in general, I think most medium to medium-fast action rods are plenty fast enough. Fast action rods don't cast very well at short-medium ranges either, which is where most fly-fishing (for trout anyway) is done -- casts of around 40 ft or less.

Buddy of mine just bought a Sage Launch or it might've been a Flight I think. Nice rod, very similar in action to my Sage VPS, which I dearly love. My Sage FLi (7 wt) is a bit too fast. I'm not up on all the models -- they're constantly changing them and you have no reference point anymore. Its like buying a mattress and trying to comparison shop.

As suggested, make sure you go to a fly-shop and let them show you whats up. Don't fall for any marketing hype or catalog descriptions and get a mindset of okay, its either this rod or that one. Go cast them 1st, and THEN narrow your choices down. Go talk to Craig or Tommy up at Hargroves. They'll set you up.

One caution on the Loomis, and I don't know if this is true anymore or not -- the unconditional lifetime warranty. I don't think they have one. Say you roll up a window and snap a rod tip. Sage, St. Croix, and some of the others will replace it for a nominal charge regardless of how it was damaged. Orvis has this too, but its not for the lifetime, only 25 years. Last I checked, if you damage your Loomis rod by doing something stupid, you're SOL. I've sent a couple rods back for various bumbleheaded reasons, and its been nice to get the whole rod replaced (brand new) for only $20-25. Hargrove even gave me a loaner while I waited.

[ohmz138]

I'm one of the few that prefer 2 pc rods, just seem a little lighter and fewer hinge-points to my thinking, but I don't think thats been proven. The only advantage of a multi-piece rod is for airline travel.

I'd steer clear of rods that are "fast" action. As a beginner, you will have a tough time learning how to cast one -- it will take lots of line out to load one properly and in general, I think most medium to medium-fast action rods are plenty fast enough. Fast action rods don't cast very well at short-medium ranges either, which is where most fly-fishing (for trout anyway) is done -- casts of around 40 ft or less.

Buddy of mine just bought a Sage Launch I think. Nice rod, very similar in action to my Sage VPS, which I dearly love.

As suggested, make sure you go to a fly-shop and let them show you whats up. Don't fall for any marketing hype or catalog descriptions and get a mindset of okay, its either this rod or that one. Go cast them 1st, and THEN narrow your choices down. Go talk to Craig or Tommy up at Hargroves. They'll set you up.

One caution on the Loomis, and I don't know if this is true anymore or not -- the unconditional lifetime warranty. I don't think they have one. Say you roll up a window and snap a rod tip. Sage, St. Croix, and some of the others will replace it for a nominal charge regardless of how it was damaged. Orvis has this too, but its not for the lifetime, only 25 years. Last I checked, if you damage your Loomis rod by doing something stupid, you're SOL. I've sent a couple rods back for various bumbleheaded reasons, and its been nice to get the whole rod replaced (brand new) for only $20-25. Hargrove even gave me a loaner while I waited.

Even though I just said a fast action, I agree about beginners and fast action rods. Come to think of it, the one I said I would like is in fact a medium-fast. My mistake.

[jjtroutbum]

A two piece rod is not travel friendly compared to the four pieces. At four and a half feet might not fit in a cars trunk for instance.

[eric1978]

So from what I'm hearing so far, the only advantage of a 4 piece over a 2 piece is travel convenience?

And it sounds like a med-fast would be fine, and maybe more appropriate for a beginner...

[Al Agnew]

Yep, and a medium fast will probably be a rod that's not JUST for beginners--they work really well for most trout fishing.

All but one of my 6 good fly rods are four piece rods for just that one reason--they travel better. But two piece rods do have one major advantage--fewer attachment points to get loose and come apart or get damaged. They probably cast a bit better as well, but most people probably couldn't tell the difference.

[eric1978]

Yep, and a medium fast will probably be a rod that's not JUST for beginners--they work really well for most trout fishing.

All but one of my 6 good fly rods are four piece rods for just that one reason--they travel better. But two piece rods do have one major advantage--fewer attachment points to get loose and come apart or get damaged. They probably cast a bit better as well, but most people probably couldn't tell the difference.

Cool. Think I've narrowed down the search to a couple good options then. Just gotta go and play around with them a bit.

I have to say, I kind of like the idea of a two piece. I was messing around with a really nice Sage smallmouth fly rod at BPS the other day, which was a 4 piece, and I had a little trouble getting all the guides perfectly aligned.

I think if I found myself with the money to fly to Argentina, I'd have enough to get myself a 4 piece rod to travel with...I also have the feeling that if and when I'm traveling on a plane to go fly fishing, by then I'll have more than one rod.

Thanks for all the pointers, guys...many more questions to come...

[eric1978]

Well, I stopped by BPS today and found a rod I really liked. It's a Sage Launch 9' 5 wt, med-fast action 2 piece. I'm seeing them on ebay for less than $150 which is about half of what I expected to pay to begin with. It seems like a good beginner rod and I think I'll be going with it. There is also a 4 piece that's identical, but I really kind of like the 2 piece better...does someone want to talk me into the 4 piece?

I asked the guy about reels and he was really pushing the Lamson Konic 2 (5/6 wt), which I think was like $130. What do you guys think about that reel? Is that the right size or should I look for a little smaller one like a 4/5 wt? What other reels in that ballpark would you recommend?

He was also pushing the Rio Gold XS line. Any opinions on that? What are you guys' favorite lines? I definitely want something WF.

[Flysmallie]

Well, I stopped by BPS today and found a rod I really liked. It's a Sage Launch 9' 5 wt, med-fast action 2 piece. I'm seeing them on ebay for less than $150 which is about half of what I expected to pay to begin with. It seems like a good beginner rod and I think I'll be going with it. There is also a 4 piece that's identical, but I really kind of like the 2 piece better...does someone want to talk me into the 4 piece?

I asked the guy about reels and he was really pushing the Lamson Konic 2 (5/6 wt), which I think was like $130. What do you guys think about that reel? Is that the right size or should I look for a little smaller one like a 4/5 wt? What other reels in that ballpark would you recommend?

He was also pushing the Rio Gold XS line. Any opinions on that? What are you guys' favorite lines? I definitely want something WF.

The Launch is a good rod. It was what I was going to buy when I found the Scott A2 that I have. I'm not going to try to talk you into a 4 piece over a 2, but you will find that it doesn't really matter like you think it would.

Lamson Konic, great reel from what I hear. I don't own one but it will be the next reel that I purchase.

Can't go wrong with a Rio line, but I really like the Sharkskin that I have. I know a lot of guys don't like it, but just like everything else in the world, some like it and some don't. Some people like pigs feet and I do not.