Which Fly Rod Is Best? That's Asking the Wrong Question
The dirty secret about fly rods, there is no best rod
August 2024
I took an old favorite rod out to the river this past week, a rod I hadn't used in years. The rod used to be my absolute favorite, I loved how it felt and cast, especially with dry flies, but now something was different. I hated it. My first set of casts felt awkward, I couldn't sync up with the rod like I used to and frankly, I wanted to leave it on the side of the road. Funny though, because this rod was once considered a stand out, and I bought it after reading that it won accolades in the long-running Yellowstone Anglers 5 weight shootout from years ago. I want to say 2016, but all the old links appear dead.
How can this be? How can a highly regarded rod sink to such lows? And don't tell me that new technology makes new rods that much better, blah, blah. It’s just a piece of graphite. Fancy "tech" or not, we talk about fly rods all wrong. There is no better or worse, there are only anglers who are able to adapt to rods, and those that aren't flexible or willing to adjust. Hear me out...
I realized that my old favorite was a much slower rod than my current preference, meaning the rod flexed deeper into the handle and I needed to change my casting stroke to allow the rod to load and carry line. I've become too used to newer super fast action rods that I was struggling to slow down my casting stroke to match the laid back attitude of this old favorite. By slowing down, feeling the difference and responding dynamically (not like a mechanical 10-2 robot) I re-acquainted myself with the old rod and my casting stroke improved. Conclusion? The rod isn't worse, it's just different. I needed to change.
There is no best fly rod. I think that we've (collectively) gone astray into the nether-regions of Gear Acquisition Syndrome (G.A.S.) A rod just for streamers? Gotta have it. Swinging flies, add another rod. I know cause I fall for it too. Plus it’s something I'm also familiar with as a guitarist. To keep with the musical metaphor, if you ask a trumpet player how to improve they'll tell you to practice, if you ask a guitarist, some might say they need a better amp, new guitar, etc... Give my guitar to Eddie Van Halen and it will still sound like him, but if I take his guitar, I don't suddenly get his skills. So back to fly fishing, spending time and practicing with any rod will make it great. Beyond that, we’re at the mercy of marketing and our own biases.
As informative as fly rod shootouts are, we focus on the wrong conclusions. Sure some rods are built better, some are priced better, but how often do we ask ourselves what we need to do to adjust to a rod to help it perform better? That goes against the very intention of a fly rod shootout. Plus, differences in weights of fly lines factor in too, and I’m not even digging into that. But as the main element that gets flung back and forth, line choice might radically shift the performance of a rod.
Do we anglers want to be handicapped by one supreme rod, that when broken the magic seeps out and we're suddenly incapable of fishing anymore? I'd rather be the one that can cast with anything and make it work.
Curious about casting tips? Check out this article
Due West Anglers