In my opinion there are few better ways to spend an early weekend morning than hitting the nearest trout stream with a fly fishing rod. The sound of a babbling brook or creek, the tentative songs from morning birds, and the sound of battle when a trout hits that wet or dry fly – that’s the right way to start a great weekend!
Having the best fishing rod for the job is going to make a huge difference when it comes to not only how successful you are with your outing but also how much you enjoy it.
The weight of a fly rod matters a lot and will change your experience fly fishing for trout.
The best overall fly fishing rod weight for trout is a 5-weight because of the versatility of the rod as well as the combination of strength and touch. Depending on whether you are fishing for big trout or prefer heavier action, a 4-weight or 6-weight rod can also be an excellent choice to suit your preferences.
If there are only small trout in the area the 4-weight might be a better option.
If the opposite is true and you may find yourself wrestling with some big ones the 6-weight rod and its extra bit of sturdiness might be the better option.
Although those are the ideal weights for a fly rod when you’re going trout fishing, there are several other things you’ll want to consider, which we’ll dive into further down the article.
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One of the major benefits of going with a 5 weight fly fishing rod (or a 4 weight or 6 weight, for that matter) is that they are sturdy enough to hold up to most average fishing conditions while being easy for beginners to use.
These are not specialty fly rods that take a lot of experience to use effectively. They are beginner friendly for the relatively new fly anglers while also being solid enough to handle the needs of veteran trout anglers.
The 9 foot long 5 lb fly rod is considered by many to be the standard for trout fishing. Some experienced anglers will go a bit heavier when cutthroat trout are making their local run. There are also those of us who love an exhausting fight to the point of sadism, and are willing to risk some broken 4 lb weight gear to get it.
There are a lot of preferences at play here. But even trout fishermen who tend to prefer the 4 lb or 6 lb rod options will not speak bad of the classic versatile 5 lb.
Picking the Right Fishing Line
A MAJOR part of having the best setup is making sure your fishing line is perfectly in tune with the weight of fly rod you use. After all, the recommendations are based on the fact that fly fishing rods are designed with very specific fishing line in mind.
If you’re used to fishing for large game fish like largemouth bass or northern pike with non-fly fishing rods then you probably have a lot of 8, 10, or even 12 lb fishing line around your place. These are NOT ideal for fly fishing.
Make sure the fishing line you use always matches with the fly rod. This will give you maximum performance in addition to making sure you have the line you need for those perfect casts and exciting battles when reeling in even more trout.
When you properly match the right fishing line with the fly rod designed around using that weight class of fishing line you’re going to have a lot more success fly fishing for trout.
Fly Fishing Rod Shopping Considerations
There are a few things to consider to customize your fly fishing rod pick to one that really works well for you. While many of these will simply be details that are included with many of the top brands, it’s worth taking a look at these details to make absolutely sure you’re getting what you want and what you pay for.
Rod Length, Action, & Material Design
There isn’t just one rod length for every weight. While there tend to only be 2-3 variations, some anglers like their rod a little bit shorter. Others like a little bit extra length. This can sometimes affect casting style and comfort so it’s something worth experimenting with.
If you’re not sure which one you like best start with the standard lengths for each weight and go from there.
How Many Pieces?
There are one piece rods, there are four piece fly rods, and there is everything in between. Want to start a fight? Declare one the best over all others in a room full of fly fishermen.
Some anglers don’t have much of a preference or only pick the style they have used their entire life. Nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s a good way to keep yourself with a trout fly fishing rod that you’ll be comfortable using.
I like one and two piece options but that is a personal preference.
Trusted Fly Fishing Brands Include
- St. Croix
- Sage
- Orvis
- Winston
- G. Loomis
So remember: don’t go cheap on a fly rod. Look for a trusted brand. Then enjoy your time out on the water knowing you bought equipment that was up for the challenge.
My personal favorite is the St. Croix Mojo Trout Fly Fishing Rod (in the classic 9 feet length and 5 lb line combo), which Jon introduced me to after spending a lot of time looking for the perfect St. Croix fishing rod.
General Line Weight Guide
Going over all the “rules” for what weight fly fishing rod to use for trout, this section is sort of a rule of thumb bringing you through some basic rules of thumb for specific special circumstances or setups when fishing for trout.
3 Weight Fly Rods
These are best at 8 ft. 9 inches in length and for trout that you are going to find in spring creeks. These are trout that are used to seeing anglers, understand fishing, and thus are even pickier than your already cautious average trout.
7 Ft. 6 in. 4 Weight Fly Rods
Great for fishing smaller streams and creeks where you may use a variety of different wet and dry flies. These are good choices when you’re starting on rivers because of the combination of solid reach and remarkable accuracy.
You should go one foot higher to the eight foot long models if you are fishing with normal sized dry flies and are looking for a fly fishing rod that specializes in using dry flys.
5 Weight Fly Rod
As we discussed before this is sort of the standard fly fishing rod for trout fly fishing and for good reason. This is an incredibly versatile rod that is the best non-specialized option.
Even fly anglers who prefer a custom or specialized fly fishing rod will have at least one 5 weight in their collection to go after trout.
6 Weight Fly Rod
These tend to be for streamers. When you like to use those big over-sized flies, then you may want to move from a 5 weight to a 6 weight.
Final Thoughts
Preference can play some degree of influence when it comes to picking out the best fly fishing rod for trout. However, there are some situations that may call for a slightly stiffer rod or one with higher action. Using a 5 weight fly fishing rod as a base and moving from there will help you find the perfect sized rod for your next fly fishing expedition.
