The variety of models and competition between rod manufacturers has made it somehow confusing to choose a proper fly rod. However, after understanding the principles, that becomes a much easier task and maybe you can guide others to buy their own fly rod as well.

Fly rods have a sequence of tasks to do: Casting, presentation, line control, setting the hook, and finally playing and landing the fish. These tasks are all critical factors that are like a chain and any broken ring in this chain may cause fish loss.

• Casting, the first ring of the chain: The least disturbance possible in the surface in addition to accuracy is the main aim of a good cast. Good fly rod will help you better your cast while your casting skill is the other factor.
• Presentation and line control:  As mentioned in fly line buying guide, fly lines have more weight than other lines. Therefore, you can have much more control on them using a proper fly rod. For instance in mending the line, or fly presentation, rod plays an important role.
• Setting the hook: A rod that sets the hook easily is an ideal rod. After strike, your reaction is important and the rod helps you set the hook easier. This is an exciting stage of fly fishing. 
• Playing and Landing fish: After you set the hook, the fight begins. This is another stage that rod plays an important role. You need a rod that bends well and does not break under the fight pressure.

Fly Rod Action

Fly rod action is how the rod bends. In other word, action represents the flexibility of fly rod and categorizes fly rod by flexibility. Fly rods are found in three different actions; Fast action, medium action, and slow action.

 Fast Action Fly Rod

Fast action fly rods are the stiffest fly rods available. The length of fast action rod is stiff and the flexibility is just in the small part near the tip of the rod. When you are going to cast with fast action rod, just that part near the tip bends and the other parts remain stiff. That’s why fast action fly rods are also called tip-flex fly rod. So, when casting using a fast action fly rod, you will have two benefits than using other type of fly rods. One is the long casting possibility and the other is more speed that your line has and is good for the windy days. Moreover, fast action fly rods are designed to help you land bigger fish as the bend is less than other rods during the fight. This is great benefit for landing trophies. In Addition, the stiffness of fast action fly rod let you have a quick cast.

Although fast action fly rods have the mentioned benefits, they are not the best for all situations. For beginners it is not recommended at all to use this kind of rods as casting with fast action rods is not that easy. Furthermore, the stiffness is a disadvantage in the fight because the pressure will be more on the tippet. So, you ought to use a heavier tippet to make sure it will not break.  Fast action fly rods are also not good for the places such as small streams that you need short cast.

  Medium Action Fly Rod

This is the most versatile and the most popular fly rod in the fly fishing world. The flexibility is distributed more evenly in the rod length. But still there is stiffness in a medium action fly rod. The flexibility begins from the middle of the rod length and bends upward toward the rod tip. Thus, medium action fly rods are also called mid-flex.  So, the half of the rod length is flexible and the others remain stiff. Medium action fly rod covers a large variety of fly fishing situations from short to long range casting and this made medium action fly rods as the most popular fly rod around. So, if you plan to have just one single fly rod, do not doubt in having a medium action fly rod. Especially for the beginners which can be a proper rod to begin with.

 Slow Action Fly Rod

Slow action fly rods are the other type of fly rods. Slow action rods are the most flexible fly rods. These rods are completely different from fast actions as all rod length bends. The casting distance and line speed lower in these rods. So, you can not use the slow action fly rod in a windy situation.

Slow action fly lines are designed for delicate presentation and short casts. You can use lighter tippet when using a slow action rod, as the pressure distribution is more on the rod than the tippet. These rods are also great for beginners to begin with.

 Fly Rod Weight

Weight of the rod is another factor to be considered for buying a fly rod. As mentioned in fly line buying guide article, there are weight standards called as AFTMA that numbers the line according to the weight. So, the line weight that is suggested for the rod should match the weight (AFTMA) of the fly line as well as reel. Fly rod manufacturers made this task easy by putting a print of rod specification on the rod. Sometimes, it is also possible to use more than one line weight for a rod for example 5-6 which means fly line #5 or # 6 can be both used for this fly rod. Each fly rod weight has a particular purpose. However, #5 and #6 are the most versatile ones. The following table helps you choose the best fly rod weight for the particular fly fishing situation.