What is rod action?

The action of a rod is determined by where it bends with a given amount of weight. Fast-action rods bend nearer to the tip area, and medium-action rods bend down nearer to the middle of the rod. Slower-action rods bend all the way down into the butt section and look parabolic when bent with that same given amount of weight. All you really need to know is that faster action rods are stiff in the butt and flexible in the tip, because you will use a great range of weight when you cast varying distances or when using larger/heavier flies.

6 wt. Fly Rod Example

Per AFFTA, our industry organization’s standard for the first 30′ of a 6 weight fly line is 160 grains, or about 3/8 ounce. But if you are casting with half that much or 15′ of fly line (80 grains) – the AFFTA 30′ weight standard says 80 grains is a 2 weight! Or, let’s say you are a pretty good distance caster and you need your 6 weight to carry 70′ of line to shoot a presentation cast to 100′. We know that the first 30′ of our 6 weight line weighs 160 grains, but running line – at approximately 3 grains per foot – weighs another 120 grains (40′ x 3 grain/foot) for a total weight of 280 grains of fly line – AFFTA 30′ standards say 280 grains is a 10 weight! As Lefty says “All flyrods are a compromise.” The need from tip to butt in Medium Fast, Fast and Very Fast Actions….pick what suits your casting style, or if you are just learning, pick an action based on the distance you plan to cast.

Personally, we think the best advice is that it’s just fishing…. so pick a rod, get in the sport and go have some fun. We’ll be here to help if you have any questions.

Below is a list of all TFO fly rods and their corresponding action

• Medium action: Bug launchers, Deer Creek Spey Rods,  Finesse Trout, Finesse Trout Glass,  Drift Fly Rod
• Medium-Fast action: Blue Ribbon, Professional Series 2,  NXT Series, Axiom II Switch,  Professional II Two-Handed, Professional Series 3
• Fast action: LK legacy, Stealth, Axiom IIX, Axiom II,  BVK Spey, Esox, Impact, Bluewater SG
• Extra Fast Action: BC Big Fly