Fast Vs Medium Fast Fly Rod

Don t choose a slow action rod like a scott fibertouch or an ultra fast rod like a sage method for your all arounder.

Fast vs medium fast fly rod.

In the end the best action of a fly rod is still going to come down to an angler s personal preferences for the water they re fishing and how it feels in their hand when casting. When fly fisherman talk about rod s action they re referring to its flex pattern stiffness and ability to stop moving or recover at the end of a cast. It really is the most versatile action available and it serves every skill level well. There are three basic types of actions.

A fast action rod is stiffer than a slow action rod while at a very basic level this is usually the case it s kind of like describing the difference between a great dane. The medium fast action rating makes up the bulk of fly rods today. Just know that a fast action rod won t absorb big headshakes and last minute runs from a fish quite as well as a rod with a slower or more moderate action. In previous articles about choosing the right fly rod part 1 part 2 i discussed a few of the key points in determining the right fly rod for you in your course of learning the fly fishing basics and how to fly fish.

The orvis flex index is just one way to describe the way a fly rod performs. Each of these fly rod actions have basic advantages and disadvantages. Fast medium and slow. A fast action rod will bend in only the top third or less of the blank a medium or moderate action will bend in the top half or so and a slow action will bend starting in the lower third of the rod.

Those actions were fast medium progressive and slow. The rod is a little more forgiving to beginner casters than a fast action that requires precision control. More forgiving than a fast action rod a moderate action rod is somewhat flexible but also offers a good degree of stiffness. One of these key points was the fly rod action.

Fast action rods bend nearer to the tip area and medium action rods bend down nearer to the middle of the rod. During casting a moderate action rod will bend moderately for half of its length and the lower half will remain stiff. Not to stiff not too soft. Slower action rods bend all the way down into the butt section and look parabolic when bent with that same given amount of weight.

The best rod specifications for someone buying 1 rod reel combo is a medium power fast action rating. The action of a rod is determined by where it bends with a given amount of weight. Rods with medium medium fast or fast actions are toward the middle of the action spectrum. Fishing rod action and power can limit your abilities if you go to the far ends of the spectrum.

Sometimes slow action rods are termed parabolic meaning the bend of the rod is similar throughout the length. If the manufacturer does not break the power and action ratings up then this recommendation is likely advertised as medium action. A moderate or medium action rod is very versatile. Ask almost any fly fisherman to cite the differences between fast and slow action fly rods and you ll probably get some version of.