Fly Rod Sizing - What does it mean

February 06, 2017

For many beginning fly anglers, or even experienced anglers, the nomenclature surrounding fly rods can be confusing. The commonly seen long strings of numbers and letters behind a new fly rod name can be confusing and it can make deciding on the right fly rod for you difficult.

We would like to help simplify this.

Fly rod weight:

Often times this is denoted by "weight", "wt", or simply "w". The fly rod weight refers to the overall strength or size of the fly rod. Generally, the smaller the number, the lighter the lighter and weaker the fly rod is. Conversely the larger the the weight the stroger and heavier the rod is. For example, a 3 weight is appropriate for smaller fish like small trout, bass, and panfish whereas a 8 weight rod works well for large trout, steelhead, salmon, and many inshore saltwater species.

Sizes of fly rods range from 2-14 weight. For getting started in fly fishing the 3 weight, 5 weight, and 8 weight are by far the most common sizes. A good starting point for most anglers is a 5 weight. This is the most versatile size and will work on small streams or even big water and can handle large trout and still be fun for smaller species.

Fly rod length:

Length is only important second to the weight. Lengths of fly rods vary from 7 feet to over 14 feet. Most rods are around 8.5 feet to 9 feet in length. The 9 foot length is the classic fly rod length offering a good combination of smooth casting without being too long. This works best for most situations. However if you are mostly fishing small streams with lots of brush then a shorter length will serve you best.

Fly rod number of sections:

Another number to pay attention to is the number of rod sections. There can be 2 piece rods all the way up to 5 piece rods. The number of sections or "pieces" dictates how long the rod is when broken down and stored and does somewhat affect the overall flex of the rod. 5 piece rods tend to be popular for airline travel as they brake down really small. 2 piece rods are less popular due to their relatively long storage length. The most common is a 4 piece rod which is a good compromise and manufacturers have focused their efforts on this type resulting in a really good overall flex.

How to read the manufacturers label:

Many manufacturers have a number series set up for their rods. For example if a is named "superfly" rod from company "awesome fly rods" that doesn't tell you much. Instead look for the number sequence. 9050 might mean that the rod is a 9 foot, 5 weight.

K&E Outfitters decided long ago to make our "Drift Series" rods easier to understand. We give you clear information on both fly rod weight and length taking the guesswork out of the rod selection process. We believe that purchasing a fly rod should be easy leaving you more time on the water rather than at the fly shop.

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