Buying right the first time will save money and frustration
Buying a fly rod can be easy. Doing it right takes some doing. Here are seven rules of buying right the first time.
1) There is no “all condition rod,” just as there is no “one size fits all.” When selecting a rod, buy one that will serve the purpose you will mostly likely and most often use it for. If you will fish small streams most of the time, and only fish lakes occasionally, opt for a small stream rod. You will get the most satisfaction out of it the majority of the time.
2) Choose one that fits your needs, not someone else’s. Regardless of who says what about a rod, select one for you, not one some celebrity, friend or salesman thinks you should have. If it doesn’t suit you, it will be nothing but trouble and you will be unhappy with it.
3) Buy only rods that have long or lifetime warrantees. Unwarranted rods will cost more in the long run because you will have to buy new when you eventually break it. Additionally—why trust a rod maker that won’t stand behind its product?
4) Buy the best you can afford. The price difference between a good rod and a not-so-good rod is usually small. If you can’t afford a good rod—wait until you can.
5) Trust name brands. Well-known manufacturers put their name on their equipment and will generally avoid causing themselves harm by producing cheap products.
6) Buy the blank, not the fittings. The blank is what makes the rod what it is, the fittings just add to it. While nice fittings are, well—nice, they don’t truly contribute anything to the action and life of a rod. Don’t be confused by shiny objects.
7) Cost does not equal value. There are plenty of affordable rods on the market that will suit the average angler’s needs.
In a nutshell: Opt for a name brand, warranted rod that suits most your needs and you can’t go wrong.
