7 Best Fly Fishing Rods To Pick From

Whether you are someone who is starting out at fly fishing or an expert fly fisherman who is looking to upgrade his collection, choosing a fly rod can be overwhelming for anyone with the number of options available on the market.

Moreover, when it comes to fly fishing most anglers try to get their hands on fly fishing gear that is of top quality so it lasts for years to come.

But with so many fly rod brands in the market, it can be difficult to choose the right option.

Apart from the brands, you will also need to find the right combination of weight, action, and balance so the rod can be utilized to its full potential.

In this article we are going to help you choose the right option, therefore we have compiled a list of the best fly fishing rods that are currently available in the market.

At A Glance

Top 7 Fly Fishing Rods of 2022

The Classic Trout Rod by Redington is a great offering for fishing in small to medium-sized rivers and streams.

This fly rod is best for anglers who want a lightweight rod and has excellent casting distance without compromising on precision.

Although Redington has a variety of fishing rods available in the market the Classic Trout Rod offers an experience that is unmatched.

This trout fly rod is a four-piece rod that comes in a variety of different lengths and weights.

You can choose between line weights from 2wt to 6wt and rod length that ranges from 7’6” up to 9’.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Versatile
• Amazing Casting Accuracy
• Value For Money

Cons

• In Strong Winds, The Rod Does Not Cast Well
• Not For Long Casts

The Redington Fly Fishing Classic Trout Rod is on our list of best fly rods because of its attractive price point and excellent performance.

This trout fly rod is a moderate-fast action and has a lot of flexibility.

The quick loading feature makes it perfect for trout fishing.

These features give the rod an easy, smooth cast.

However, this fly rod is not a good choice for anglers that want longer casting.

This fly rod is best for casting between 30-40ft.

The medium-fast action offers you the right amount of sensitivity, therefore when a fish is hooked the rod bends at the tip and allows you to feel it.

This increased sensitivity and flexibility give you a heightened sense of how your catch is behaving under the water.

You will be able to feel each and every twitch and tug that takes place on your hook, allowing you to take action appropriately.

The rod has a classic touch to it, it comes in a brown blank, silver detailing, and a rosewood reel seat.

If you want to have a fly rod that has a vintage feel while being equipped with all the modern bells and whistles this should be your go-to choice.

This rod has a robust construction that gives it impressive flexibility, accuracy, and smooth casting.

According to the Redington Classic Trout Specs, this trout rod is made from intermediate modulus graphite that gives it the right amount of strength and flex.

Moreover, it has titanium oxide stripping guides that are extremely durable.

The cork handle is also made from comfortable and high-quality material, so your hands will not get tired while holding it all day long.

These fly rods have a progressive taper that makes them more thick and stiff at the butt and thinner and more flexible at the tip.

This design feature aids in casting for shorter distances and gives more power when casting longer distances.

Fly anglers also recommend this rod for dry fishing because of the way it presents your dry lure on top of the water.

When casting with a dry lure you will be able to land your fly gently making it look natural and therefore making it easier to catch fish.

The natural presentation makes them look convincing and guarantees a bite from the fish.

However, this is not the only lure you can use, you can also try smaller streamers and nymphs to spice things up.

In short, the Classic Trout Fly Rod is a great option and one of the best budget fly rods.

The Moonshine Rod Co’s Revival Series Fly Fishing Rod is a fiberglass fly rod that is extremely lightweight, with the right amount of nimbleness and flex.

The Revival Series is a high-performance option, it has a premium feel in it and at a mere glance you can figure out the top-notch build quality of this trout fly rod.

Most fly rod brands manufacture their rods with a graphite composite but Moonshine Rod Co has used fiberglass.

Fiberglass fly rods flex and bend to a higher degree, so you cannot get blazing line speeds out of them.

With slower line speeds you will be able to cast your lures lightly without spooking the fish.

Therefore increasing your chances of catching them.

Pros

• Excellent Build Quality
• A strong and Durable Rod That Will Last For Years
• Looks stylish

Cons

• Expensive option

The Moonshine Rod Co. The Revival Series Fly Fishing Rod is on our list of best fly rods because of its slow action and deeper bend.

The rod allows slower anglers to correct their technique if something goes wrong.

It is a really good option for anglers who want to enjoy their fishing experience with a rod that will last for years to come.

The rod has a 3 piece construction that benefits its performance in the water.

It is offered in a vintage orange color that gives it a classic and aesthetic look.

Moreover, the hand-turned burl on this fly rod has been dyed to reveal the exquisite graining in the wood.

The Moonshine Rod Co. The Revival Series Fly Fishing Rod also features copper anodized hardware from the rail seat to the tip-top.

The cork bark handles that come on this rod make it easy to grip

These Moonshine Fly Rods come with two tips, in case you need to replace the one being used at any point.

The Revival series Fly Fishing Rods are offered in 2 sizes, 7ft, and 8ft, with high-performance blanks and slow action fiberglass build.

The weight of the rod can vary between 3.9oz and 4.8oz depending on the model you purchase, the 7ft or 8ft.

Although some anglers have reported that the rod is too stiff for a fiberglass construction, most of the anglers have rated the Moonshine Rod Co. very highly.

The canvas rod case is an excellent accessory that comes with the rod because fly fishing equipment can be extremely delicate and as an angler, you will not want them to lie around.

The rod looks incredible and performs consistently with fantastic precision.

This rod is recommended by us because of its amazing build quality and materials.

It offers great value for money and provides high-end performance that will never leave you disappointed on your fishing trip.

The slow action of this Moonshine Rod Co. The Revival Series Fly Fishing Rod is second to none, especially when you consider its fiberglass build.

This sleek, aesthetically pleasing flying rod might have a bulky price tag but that is justified because of its high-end performance offered by it.

In short, anglers who want a slow-action fiberglass rod that is packed with a punch should go for the Moonshine Revival Fly Fishing Rod.

The Echo Trip 8 Piece is an amazing travel fly rod offered by Echo.

Like all other outstanding fly rods offered by Echo Fly Fishing, this rod is no different, it comes in 3 different fly line weights, 5,6, or 8.

The length of the rod is 9 feet and comes in a dark green color.

The grip of the rod is made from cork and is a traditional Western style seen in many fly rods in smaller weights.

The rod has a lightweight snake and low friction stripper guides as well.

Echo Trip Fly Rods have a company that claimed medium-fast action but as compared to other single-handed fly rods they have a slower action.

The Rod comes with a rode tube and rod sock for keeping it safe and secure.

The rod tube is made from plastic with a nylon cover and zipper to open and close, you can also adjust the size of the side strap attached to the tube.

Pros

• Cool glossy design
• 8 Piece design for Compactness
• Fits in your backpack
• Great performance
• Lifetime warranty included

Cons

• Unsatisfactory performance with large fly patterns
• Just one uplocking ring

The Echo Trip 8 Piece Travel Fly Rod is on our list of best fly rods because of its great utility and compact design.

Although these fly rods are primarily for people who travel a lot but over time they have proven to be great all-rounders.

It is a great choice for people who fish in lakes, ponds, rivers, and even those who do fly fishing instruction.

Marked as a medium-fast action fly rod, you can expect it to give you a performance of medium action.

These fly rods load smoothly when cast and the lower section provides the power.

Also, these rods are incredibly easy to cast and have a large sweet spot that makes them effortless. The fly rod is best for intermediate fly fishing as well as professional fly fishing.

It is common for beginner anglers to struggle while casting fly rods because of the flex but this particular fly rod is great even in the hands of new fly fishermen.

The rod offers great portability and you can pack it into your backpack hassle-free and carry it anywhere.

The fly rod has small dots to help you line up all of its pieces when assembling it.

The rod offers more than enough power to catch larger fishes thanks to its lower section.

The 5 weight option of these fly rods are a great choice for people who want a trout fly rod.

It can easily cast indicator rigs, small streamers, and dry flies.

As far as the aesthetics of this rod go, it is a pretty well-designed rod.

The cork handle is built well and looks amazing with a black reel seat that pairs nicely with it.

The chrome snake guides look sharp and match nicely with the dark stripping guides.

The only thing that might bother you about this rod is that with so many pieces to secure you will always be worried about checking the ferrules so none of the pieces gets loose.

Moreover, this rod allows you to cast your line smoothly and lay it down without any disturbances.

The long taper allows the rod to cast dry flies and small nymphs.

In short, if you want a portable fly rod that has excellent versatility and overall performance we will recommend you the Echo Trip 8 Piece.
The Echo Trip pairs nicely with the 5 weight Airflo Bandit line so you should try to get your hands on this rod and reel combo.

The Pulse Rod is a great fly rod option by the Sage Fly rod brand.

This rod is the epitome of supreme craftsmanship, high-quality components, and amazing performance that is second to none.

You can use this versatile workhorse rod for your daily fishing adventure without any worries.

Constructed from Graphite IIIe Technology, the rod offers an excellent feel and power while fishing.

It’s easy to cast, and you can cast heavy or light lines on any river, lake, or creek.

For a fly rod at this price point, it is great value for money and can easily compete with other higher-end rods.

The Sage Pulse Fly Rod comes in sizes from 3wt to 8 wt and lengths of 7’6 to 10’.

Therefore there is an option for everyone out there.

Moreover, you can choose between freshwater and saltwater fly rods offered in this particular series.

Pros

• Great Action
• Great Accuracy
• Works For Amateurs As Well

Cons

• A little heavier than other similar option

The Sage Fly Fishing – Pulse Fly Rod has made it to our list of rods because of its mid-range price point and overall performance.

The build quality of the Sage Pulse Fly rod is the best fly rod in terms of build quality.

All sage fly rods have a standardized built quality and components that are robust.

The rod has a weight of around 3.25 oz, although it is a little heavier than the top rods, it is not a deal-breaker.

You can easily swing it and cast it around without any difficulty but long-term use can tire you.

This fly rod is not the fastest among its competitors and you might feel that it is too flexible.

This means that your casts will not be very distant and you might struggle with them.

But Sage Pulse Fly rod is a lot more precise and accurate if we compare it to the previous generations.

For example, if you cast it at a distance of 30 feet you will find it to be soft enough to cast accurately but it will do better at mid-to-longer distances, which means that it will be best for 45’ and 60’ casting.

Another plus point of this rod is that it has a soft tip that progresses to a firm butt section.

The company claims it to be a fast action rod but let’s be honest it is somewhat a medium-fast action rod.

Most anglers will find it to be too forgiving and let them enjoy it while providing a lot of sensitivity and feedback.

In short, it is a great rod for all kinds of water conditions.

The rod comes with a lifetime warranty and you will be able to have a great experience with it while fishing.

If we compare it to other similarly priced mid-range options, the Sage Pulse has far better action and although it does not have the more premium bells and whistles it is still able to please a lot of anglers.

The Sage Pulse fly rod is an excellent option for anglers that want to spend a little more and enter the mid-range market.

These rods are best for anglers that want a more indulging experience while they are still perfecting their fishing techniques.

The rod offers great feedback while being forgiving of your mistakes and deficiencies.

The Fenwick AETOS Fly Rod is a lightweight rod that comes in a variety of variations and models.

Although the rod weight of this particular offering can be on the heavier side for beginners, it offers optimal performance in all kinds of water conditions.

Therefore this option can also be classified as a saltwater fly rod.

You can take this fly rod to all kinds of fishing adventures of yours and expect it to perform very well.

The rod comes in a 4-piece set, each piece is constructed from durable material that will last for years to come.

The high-quality build coupled with an extended handle and durable components with a price tag of under $200 makes this one of the best fly rods out there.

Pros

• Disc Drag System
• Interchangeable Handle
• Lifetime warranty
• Limited lifetime warranty

Cons

• Not recommended for beginners.

The Fenwick Aetos is the best fly rod because of its versatility and optimal performance in all kinds of conditions.

The rod comes with a custom hard rod tube that protects it from harsh water conditions and you can also set the tube of the rod according to your suitability.

The butt at the lower section of the rod provides the angler with the necessary power to control and lure large fishes when they are trying to get off the hook.

The customizable hook keeper on Fenwick AETOS is an additional feature that is uncommon on other similarly priced options.

Burled double lock rings are used to hold the line and keep the line stable when the fish is exerting force on the line

The fiberglass composition also adds to the strength of the rod and makes it lightweight.

At 3.44 oz the Fenwick AETOS can be a bit heavy for a beginner but you can choose a lighter wt option as well.

With the forward line of Fenwick AETOS kept heavy, there is little chance that its line will get snapped.

You can load this fly rod with a large amount of line giving you the ability in both freshwater and saltwater.

As it is a fast-action rod, it also has a faster-retrieving line that helps to lure the fish at a faster rate and also helps in hitting the target area with more accuracy.

To balance the weight of the rod Fenwick has provided a single half well cork.

These corks are AAA graded that provide tight hold and protection to the hand of the fishermen.

The disc drag system on these fly rods provides a smooth flow and seamless casting of the line.

The nickel reel seat provides adaptability to the rod to perform well in both freshwater and saltwater.

Hooks are surrounded by rubber and plastic coverings to protect them from saltwater conditions.

These fly rods can be cast to a minimum distance of about 16ft and a maximum distance of 55ft.

Therefore the goldilocks zone for these rods is the medium caste distance.

Without a doubt, the Fenwick AETOS has the most flexible tip among fast-action fly rods.

This makes it a great option for a fly fisherman that wants a perfect casting loop out of his rod.

Equipped with all the latest features and qualities, Fenwick Aetos proves its excellence in any ocean, lake, water, and river.

The Redington Fly Fishing Classic Fly Rod for Trout offers tremendous value and is loved by all.

This fly rod for trout is a favorite of fly fish authors and casting instructors.

It gives you a heightened sense of feel when loaded and precise casting.

The only drawback with this particular option is that it struggles under strong winds and long distances.

However, most people will be using it for small rivers, streams, and ponds so they will be getting the most out of it.

As far as the blanks on this rod go it competes with rods that are from the $300 to $400 range.

This trout fly rod is a four-piece rod that comes in a variety of different lengths and weights.

You can choose between line weights from 2wt to 6wt and rod length that ranges from 7’6” up to 9’.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Budget-Friendly
• Amazing Casting Precision

Cons

• Struggles in Strong Winds
• Long Distance Casting Difficult

We consider this Redington fly rod for trout to be one of the best fly rods because of its budget-friendliness and top-notch performance.

It has moderate to fast action and offers extra flexibility.

The rod has a smooth and seamless cast that is best for medium distances.

However, you will find it to struggle in strong winds and longer distances so it is not the best option for anglers that are looking for longer cast distances.

The optimal range of casting this rod is between 30-and 45ft.

Moreover, the medium-fast action provides the right amount of sensitivity and whenever a fish is hooked you will be able to feel it.

This will allow you to learn more about fly fishing and its techniques.

Most fly fishing anglers start their fly fish journey with this rod because it gives them a more immersive experience.

They can feel each and every twitch and tug that takes place on their hook, allowing them to take action appropriately.

The rod has a classic touch to it, it comes in a brown blank, silver detailing, and a rosewood reel seat.

If you want to have a fly rod that has a vintage feel while being equipped with all the modern bells and whistles this should be your go-to choice.

This versatile rod has a robust construction that gives it impressive flexibility, accuracy, and smooth casting.

Moreover, it has titanium oxide stripping guides that are extremely durable.

The cork handle is also made from comfortable and high-quality material, so your hands will not get tired while holding it all day long.

This fly rod is made from intermediate modulus graphite that gives it the right amount of strength and flex.

When casting with a dry lure you will be able to land your fly gently making it look natural with this rod and, therefore, you will be able to catch fish more easily.

In short, the Classic Trout Fly Rod is a great budget fly rods option and one of the best beginner fly rods.

The Douglas DXF fly rod is a mid-range option that does not disappoint and has become a common choice among fly fish anglers.

It is built with premium quality components and coupled with a taper/action that is tailored to perform in all kinds of water.

This trout fly rod delivers a seamless and soft presentation in tight, short spaces and distances.

However, with a heavy swing weight, you might feel that the Douglas DXF is a bit sluggish after hours of casting.

But has a great power that can turn over those bigger flies and we can definitely expect the manufacturer to correct this design flaw in future builds.

And it is also important to remember that this rod costs only $395 and outperforms most rods that cost much more.

This fly rod can easily battle strong headwinds with its robust backbone and make long accurate casts.

Therefore, it is a great fly rod that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Pros

• Price point
• Accuracy and performance in the middle distance ranges

Cons

• Lacks feel at closer distances struggles with long distances

The Douglas DXF Fly Rod is one of the best fly fishing rods because of the amount of attention to detail in it, especially at this price point.

We would recommend the 9ft 5 weight option because it offers great versatility and utility.

You can expect crisp action from it when throwing nymphs, dries and streamers.

The soft tip helps in not breaking off on a thin tippet while fighting fish in a field stream.

It offers fast enough line speeds while being forgiving towards novice anglers who are still learning to throw their rods.

The matte green blanks on these rods are made using XMatrix carbon technology that delivers increased sensitivity to the tiniest nibbles and movements.

The rod has a double uplocking reel seat that promotes functionality and quality and gives the rod a great balance when loaded with the reel and fly line.

The dark green colored thread wraps the stripper guides and snake eye guides. This makes for a great protective quality during saltwater outings.

The guides are not of the best quality but they are more than enough at this price.

Moreover, they have also added two standard SiC stripping guides followed by extra-large chrome snake guides on the blank.

If you are someone who is looking to upgrade to a mid-range flying rod or someone who is out there to get their first rod you should definitely get a Douglas DXF Fly Rod.

The rod offers precise delivery of casts over short to medium distances which makes it ideal for most people.

Although it is marketed as a medium to fast action rod it is more of a medium action rod therefore you can cast everything from a dry fly to a streamer with it.

With a price of $395 it offers bang for the buck and performs well in all kinds of conditions.

It is a great option for people who want the most out of their fly fishing experience with a budget of $400.

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