Find the Right Fly Rod Weight - Freshwater

Find the Right Fly Rod Weight - Freshwater

Determining what rod weights an angler should have in their quiver can be a daunting task. Similar to your golf bag, you ultimately want to have multiple rod weights for different situations and species, typically with applications based on the size of the fly, the size of the fish, and the size of the water being fished. Fishing an accurate weight will result in correct performance optimizing your fishing experience.

4 Weight Fly Rod

A 4wt rod to some can be considered unnecessary until you stumble upon “that one creek” or the perfect weather day. Adding a 4wt rod to your quiver will increase your ability to fish multiple fly setups, and can increase the fun factor on smaller water or smaller fish. Walking to your favorite river with 2 rods fully rigged, a 5wt with a standard heavy nymph rig, and a 4wt ready to go with a dry fly or dry dropper, means you spend less time changing flies, and more time catching fish!

Favorite 4 Weight Rods for Freshwater:

5 Weight Fly Rod

When talking about Trout fishing set-ups, a 5wt rod is considered the “bread & butter.” A go-to for fishing large nymph rigs, picking apart a bank with smaller hoppers, and delicately placing a dry fly to rising fish. We've found that a 5wt is the most versatile setup for just about any Trout or smaller fish species applications.

Favorite 5 Weight Rods for Freshwater:

6 Weight Fly Rod

If you're looking for a rod that can be a go-to for both warm and cold freshwater fishing situations, look no further than a 6wt fly rod. The perfect rod for big western rivers like the Smith or the Colorado where wind and big flies can humble even the most accomplished anglers. At the same time, the 6wt is right at home casting wind-resistant poppers and bait fish to our large-mouthed friends here in Texas rivers, ponds and lakes. Don't sleep on the 6wt as a light-duty carp stick, the flies are generally small and these fish can put a serious bend in your rod.

Favorite 6 Weight Rods for Freshwater:

7 Weight Fly Rod

When the fish you're targeting or the flies you're throwing are bigger than average, it's time to grab a 7 weight rod. The workhouse rod to chase mondo Rainbow Trout in Alaska, throw gigantic streamers on sinking lines for browns on the White River, or target all varieties of bass in our local North Texas waters, a 7 weight has its time and place (and it's more common than you think!). Bonus...a 7 weight is also a blast on those "light wind" days chasing saltwater species such as Redfish or Bonefish.

Favorite 7 Weight Rods for Freshwater:

8 Weight Fly Rod

Strong winds, big flies, long casts…all the things that come to mind when you think of saltwater fishing. If you have ever fished for bass in Texas, thrown streamers in Arkansas, or moused in Alaska, you know that those conditions can happen in freshwater also.

Our local fishing is centered around largemouth bass and stripers making the 8 weight rod matched to a lightweight ree the ultimate workhorse. This combo allows anglers to cast a variety of flies, from deer hair poppers to heavy streamers, regardless of winds or distance. The extra backbone of 8 also is a plus when trying to keep a fish out of heavy cover.

The 8 is also a great choice for casting heavy sinking lines and big streamers, the perfect winter time rod in Arkansas as well as for Steelhead, Silver Salmon, and Pike in Alaska.

Adding an 8 weight rod to your freshwater arsenal ensures you’ll be prepared for anything.