Fishing Equipment: Fly Fishing For Bass, Choosing the Best Fly Rod For Bass

Bass are one of, if not the most popular fish in the Americas. Not only are they incredible fighters, but at least one species of bass can be found in almost any body of water from Canada, throughout the U.S. and into South America. Although not near as popular as bait casting and spin fishing, one of the best thrills in fishing is catching bass on a fly rod. Before you can do this though, you will need a Bass Fly Fishing setup. Here we will discuss the aspects that should be taken into account when choosing the best fly rod for bass, which is not as straight forward as it sounds! Bass come in many different sizes, strengths and species, and require different techniques for different situations. Let's take a look at these aspects and then you can go through the link at the end to my website where we will talk more about brands and models of fly rods for bass.

Size: what weight fly rod will be best for Bass?

Bass come in all different sizes that vary widely with respect to species. The species not only determines size, but also strength. For instance, a Small Mouth Bass has the ability to put up as much fight as some fish twice its size. This needs to be taken in to account when choosing the best fly rod for Bass. All bass start out small, but can grow to large sizes. Therefore it is suggested that you go with a bass fly rod that is designed for the larger end of the spectrum. You will not want to be weak in back bone when you need it. Here is a generic list of species and the weights that are recommended for each.

• Small Mouth Bass (0-8 lbs): 6-7wt

• Large Mouth Bass (0-10 lbs): 7-8wt

• Striper Bass, freshwater (5-15 lbs): 8-10wt

• Stripers Bass, Saltwater (10-30 lbs): 10wt

• Peacock Bass (3-20 lbs): 8-10wt

• Rainbow Bass (1-8 lbs): 8wt

Rod Action: determines how a rod casts.

When fly fishing for Bass, typically you will be using heavy flies that will take some back bone to get out of the water and to get any distance. A stiff, fast action fly rod will be able to best cast weighted flies, sink tips and wind catching poppers. If you go with a rod that is too soft, you will be struggling to get the fly out of the water.

Fly Lines for Bass:

Bass can be fished with many different methods. Different types of line will be needed to cover all tactics. For instance, when using top water poppers, a floating line will be needed. When using bait fish imitations, a sinking line will be the best to get the fly to the fish. For this reason it is best to use a line that can be used for multiple situations, which is a line that has interchangeable tips: floating with multiple sink tips for different sink rates. For more information on lines, follow the link at the end of this article.

Rod Quality:

Rod quality ranges widely. With increases in quality, obviously price will increase. There is a wide range in prices from the cheap Wal-Mart combo setup at $40 to a high end $700 dollar rod.

There are two criteria I suggest everyone stick with for any rod for any fish.
Number 1: buy the highest quality rod you can afford.
Number 2: Make sure any rod you purchase comes with a lifetime warranty. To get a rod with a lifetime warranty, you will need to spend at least $200. It may sound like a lot, but it is worth it when you figure you will be making an investment to last a lifetime.

You have probably broken a rod or several in the past, and most likely it will happen again whether it be on a fish or your car door. When choosing the best fly rod for bass, remember that you will be using hard to cast flies, so you the better the rod, the easier time you will have. Those spendier rods do work hard and are worth it if you can fit one into your budget.

Conclusion:

Several rod makers build rods that are designed for bass of all species. There are many different sizes to choose from, and they do get expensive, so you will want to make sure you go with the right Bass fly rod the first time. To narrow your search down to specific brands and models click here: www.OnlineFlyFishingGuide.com and then click on rods. Then click on the rod size that will best fit your situation. Click here to go to The Online Fly Fishing Guide.

Fishing Equipment: How to Buy a Fly Fishing Rod

Fly fishing is a tricky way of catching fish. Before you visit a store to buy a fly rod, take these things into consideration. These are very important factors in fly fishing, so read carefully. The first thing to keep in mind is the kind of fish you will be catching. In general, the heavier the fish, the heavier the equipment will be needed.

The second factor you need to think about is the body of water you plan to fish. For example, is it going to be a babbling brook, and a roaring river? The motion of the water is not the only thing to pay attention to. You also need to consider the clearness of the water, the wind and the distance you will need to cast to catch your fish.

Finally, you must take into account the action of the fly fishing rods. They are made to flex; and they do it in different ways. They can be slow or fast. It is crucial to get the feel of the rod. If you are a beginner, a rod somewhere in the medium range would be the best option.

Experienced anglers, who have been enjoying fishing for many years, typically have quite a few different fly rods. Each rod is designed to do a particular job. The size of the different rods is represented by a number. The larger the number the larger the rod. It also represents the line to be cast. For instance, a 3-weight rod can cast a 3-weight line.

Always keep in mind that the rod is just a continuation of your arm. It is the line that gets cast not the rod. You also need to take into account the weight of the fly. If the fly is too heavy the line will sag and will not cast as desired.

An additional feature to care about when buying a rod is the flexibility or the action of the rod. If you get a fast action rod, expect that only about 30% of the rod will bend. On the other hand, a slow action rod will bend about 90%. A medium action will bend about 60%. The slow action rod bends much easier than a fast action rod. However, the fast action rod casts farther than a slow action rod.

Today's best fly rods are made of the graphite. The introduction of the graphite enables the production of the faster action rods. These rods are not heavy and use more of the tip to project the fly line. The rod will do all the work for you if the line is cast properly. It is one of the biggest benefits of the fast action rod - the fisherman casting does less work.

In the end. Never buy a rod that you have not cast first.

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Fishing Equipment : How to Look After Your Fishing Rod

Fishing Equipment

Whether you're new to fishing or an experienced angler, you'll want to make sure that you take care of your fishing tackle, so that it works properly and lasts longer. A properly maintained fishing rod tackle won't let you down whilst you are fishing.

Here's how you can make sure that you keep your rod in good working order:

1. Never use any sort of tools to twist or hold the rod while you're cleaning it or working on it, as this can damage the rod.
2. Never bend the rod at extreme angles as you're likely to stress and crack the rod. Remember to keep the rod straight when you're threading the line through.
3. Try and avoid sharp pulls on the line when it is snagged. Instead, find out why it is snagged, and untangle it.
4. Don't over stress the rod. This could be by trying to catch fish that the rod isn't designed to catch, or to try and get it into a small space without taking it apart.
5. The rod can break if it subjected to rolling around the car, or if things are stored on top of it. Be careful when transporting it, and make sure that it is stored properly when you're not using it.
6. Rubbing candle wax into the joints will help when fitting and separating the rod. Don't use any products that aren't recommended by the manufacturer as they could do more harm than good.
7. Rinse the rod in fresh water if you've used it in salt water, especially if you don't use it very often. Salt is corrosive and can damage your rod. If it is stored in a cupboard for weeks or months at a time, you might not know the extent of the damage until you come to use it again.
8. Make sure that you clean and dry the rod use time you use it, especially the rod rings. This will ensure that your fishing rod is kept in good condition, and that if that if there are any issues with it, you will know about them at home, rather than whilst on the riverbank, or in the river itself.
9. Keep the reel working properly, by making sure that it's free from dirt. You don't want it to stick, or become unreliable.
10. Store your fishing rod in a safe dry place, in a storage tube, when you're not using it. It won't do it any good to be left in the boot of the car, or in the porch where it might get knocked over, or stood on.

Now you know more about how to look after your fishing rod, isn't it time you gave it a clean, and made sure that everything works properly before your next fishing trip?

If you're a keen angler, make sure you look after your Fishing Rod and Fishing Tackle, or treat yourself to new fishing equipment if yours needs replacing. Broken Fishing Tackle will never help you catch that fish!

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