Ina Nektar Fly Fishing

Flies Steelhead

What Is The Best Fly Rod For The Money

There is not any one "fly rod" that is the "best for the money."   Fly rods come in all different sizes that are made for a specific type and size of any particular fish, and/or a certain style that is to be used.  We must also mention price, which varies considerably depending on quality, and quality has gone up a lot in the past 20 years. This discussion is aimed at helping you find the best fly rod for the money, because it is only the best if it is the right size and style for that targeted fish, and of course if you can afford it.

 

Size

First of all, let's talk about size.  The person that tells you that size doesn't matter is definitely the person that you shouldn't be listening to.  Size is the number one factor that will determine every rod choice that you purchase throughout your life, and, if this is you first fly rod purchase, there are sure to be many more in the future.  It really is that fun, one fish will ultimately lead to another.

There is a size of rod that is made for each fish species and/or targeted size.  The fly rod size is measured by weight (wt), but not the weight you get from a scale.  It is just the term used to signify the size, where a 2wt is considered light gear, and a 12 or 14wt is considered heavy gear.  A 2wt would be a good choice for small trout in a small stream; where as a 14 weight would be used for a Marlin.  Then of course there are all the rods and fish in between.  You will want a rod that is sized for the fish you are after.  If the road is oversized, the fight you experience will not be what it could be.  Worse off, if the rod is undersized, you will struggle for control and risk damage to your gear.  Plus, the faster you can get the fish in, off your hook and back in the water, the better chance it will have at surviving unharmed; also so you can get your fly back in the water after another one.

Here is a list of rod sizes and the fish they are designed for:

                2wt        small trout, pan fish

4wt        trout, pan fish

6wt        bass, trout,

8wt        steelhead, bass, saltwater

10wt      salmon, steelhead, tuna, saltwater

12wt      saltwater, dorado, sail fish

14wt      saltwater, sail fish, marlin, shark

Style

Just like gear fishing, there are different styles that can be used to catch a particular fish.  Traditional style is what most people will enter into the fly fishing world with. There are also methods within this style that will be better suited with very specific rods used to fish a particular type of water.  For the most part though, we will stick with the more general focused rods for this discussion.  There are also Spey Fly Rods.  These require two hands and more advanced casting styles and are usually used for bigger fish such as Salmon and Steelhead in big rivers.  Therefore you will probably be after a traditional rod unless you are specifically targeting a spey rod. 

Price

Over the past couple decades, fly fishing rods have increased in quality and price has followed suit.  Prices range from a cheap trout rod purchased at the store for $50.00, to a specialty bamboo rod with a price tag of more than $2000.00.  Most fish sizes will have a rod to choose from in just about any price range.  Obviously you will get what you pay for, so be sure to keep that in mind.  Most midrange rods offer the best value and will have the quality to stand up to any reasonable request, but you may lack some comfortability when compared to the more expensive rods.  A typical price spread for a midrange rod is $200-$400 depending on size.  High end rods will be in the $500 to $800 range and will offer superb feel and sensitivity.  Most midrange rods and, if not all high end rods will come with a lifetime, no questions asked warranty.  It is hard not to take advantage of this by purchasing a low end rod, as sooner or later we all break rods whether it be on fish or your truck door.

 

Now that you know the size and style of the fly rod you need, the next step is narrowing the results down to a particular rod, which, if you navigate to www.flyfishinggeararsenal.com, they will help you do so.  This site is loaded with useful information and will point you in the right direction to the best fly rod for the money, as well as other gear recommendations that we fly fisherman depend on so much.

About the Author

Chris Jackson lives in the Northwest with his wife and young daughter.  He enjoys most outdoor activities including fly fishing, hiking, archery, and quaility family and freind time in the great outdoors

Anglers Book Supply Co 1571884009 Steelhead Flies $55.19 Concise text 100s of sharp color photos including stepbystep artistic individual fly plates. Covers: materials for steelhead flies; basic tying techniques; hairwing featherwing flies; Spey Dee styles; Practitioners shrimp prawn patterns; dry flies much more. A musthave for all steelhead flyfishermen. Full color; 9x12 inches 216 pgs. Author John Shewey Steelhead flies represent the highest echelon of artistic flydressing. They enjoy a rich tradition as both a functionally designed lure for tempting the muchrevered steelhead but also as a creative expression of the aesthetic appeal of fly angling. John Shewey author of the acclaimed Spey Flies Dee Flies has produced another wellwritten and researched book rich in technique method and innovation. Through concise text and hundreds of sharp color photographsincluding stepbystep and artistic individual fly platesShewey covers: materials for steelhead flies; basic tying techniques; hairwing and featherwing flies; Spey and Dee styles; Practitioners shrimp and prawn patterns; dry flies and much more. This book is a musthave for all steelhead flyfishermen. SpiralHardcover

Anglers Book Supply Co 0Rk10 Tube Flies For Steelhead $47.18 Kustich explains the tactical advantages to utilizing this style of fly for steelhead while demonstrating how to tie steelhead tube flies that have proven to be effective on both West Coast Great Lakes rivers. 60 min. The concept of flies tied on tubes is rapidly gaining in popularity. There are many tactical advantages to utilizing this style of fly for steelhead. In Tube Flies for Steelhead veteran steelhead angler and fly tier Rick Kustich will explain these benefits while demonstrating how to tie steelhead tube flies that have proven to be effective on both West coast and Great Lakes rivers. DVD

Seasons of the Steelhead (Hardcover) $58.75 Stoecklein Publishing celebrates the sport and tradition of fly fishing for steelhead in the pristine rivers of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Often a solitary, cold, and damp pursuit, steelhead fishing attracts individuals who embrace the mystery and challenge of searching for these elusive fish throughout the year, patiently waiting for that surge of adrenaline when a steelhead grabs the line. David Stoecklein`s son, Drew, conveys a passion for these majestic, beautiful fish with eye-catching photographs of gorgeous waters, sparkling fish, and the colorful flies and tireless fishermen who hunt for them. Stoecklein`s photographs are accompanied by riveting essays and journal entries written by legendary fly fisherman and guide, Will Godfrey, whose enthusiasm for the quest is captivating and contagious.

The Complete Illustrated Directory of Salmon & Steelhead Flies (Hardcover) $80.28 Description not available.

Anglers Book Supply Co 0Cmw001550 Spey Fishing For Steelhead With John Hazel $49.88 Practical detailed lesson on spey fishing steelhead: casting line control fly presentations mending hooking playing landing. Presenting a variety of patterns to a number of different water types is at the heart of this spey production. Hazel also details lines leaders flies reading steelhead water. 2 hours. SUBJECTS: Presentations Skaters Sub surface Wet Flies Reading Water Working the run Steelhead habits Fly selections. DVD

Anglers Book Supply Co 0966517245 Steelhead Guide Fly Fishing Techniques And Strategies For Lake Erie Steelhead 4Th Edition $60.68 Revised expanded 4th edition has a color insert + 119 new and innovative steelhead fly patterns contributed by guides tyers and fisherman from all over the region. More text maps drawings photos steelhead tips including new coverage tributary streams. Also includes revised road stream maps updated guide tackle shop lists current smolt stocking lists web sites. Color insert 80 B/w photos illus 7 maps; 6x9 inches 320 pgs. John Nagy s Steelhead Guide has long been considered the bible for steelheader s chasing chrome on Lake Erie s tributary streams as well as very useful to steelhead fisherman in other areas of the Great Lakes.Expanded from 257 to 320 pages (including color insert) a major addition to the new 4th edition is 119 new and innovative steelhead fly patterns (replacing all previous 3rd edition patterns) contributed by guides fly tyers and steelhead fly fisherman from all over the Lake Erie region (44 tyers total). In addition to steelhead egg patterns nymphs soft hackles streamers wooly buggers sculpins leeches and spey flies 28 hot tube flies (both conventional and Scandinavian tube designs) are also included.It also includes a new Deadly Dozen list additional Steelheader s Tips and a humorous Steelheader s Quiz . An exciting new and detailed chapter on tube flies for Great Lakes steelhead discussing their history benefits construction and use has been added as well as tube tying material sources updated steelhead equipment recommendations and the latest Lake Erie region fishery news.It also includes updated guide tackle shop lodging and dining lists steelhead related web sites as well as current smolt stocking lists and recent fishery data and reports. New photos have been added to Steelhead Guide including an expanded color insert section of the new steelhead fly patterns as well as steelhead photography taken in the Lake Erie region. Some of the previous 3rd Edition text (carried over into the new 4th Edit

Anglers Book Supply Co 0Fgs10 Searching For Steelhead $59.4 An exciting new steelhead fishing dvd that anglers will want to own. Contains many hints tricks that could be used by the avid angler as well as the beginner. Equip positioning reading the water much more are covered in this production. Searching for Steelhead is an exciting new steelhead fishing dvd that many anglers will want to own. Several days of filming were used to create this video. The contents of the production take you through the ins and outs of swinging flies for steelhead. The information is detailed and is basic enough for those new to steelhead fishing. It also contains many hints and tricks that could be used by the avid angler as well. Equipment positioning reading the water and much more are covered in this production. Kevin Feenstra takes you through several of his favorite fly patterns explaining how to tie and why they work. We would like to thank Jeff Hubbard of Outfitters North Guide Service for his help in the small stream section of this DVD. This film is filmed and edited by Erik Rambo of Snap T Productions. DVD

Fishing Flies (Paperback) $39.81 Anyone who has taken a class from a decent teacher will be able to make flies from the descriptions given here.-- BooklistA mind-boggling array of flies.... The volume brims with hard-won advice and entertaining anecdotes.-- Waterloo RecordFishing Flies is a complete guide that describes every conceivable type of freshwater and saltwater fly. It examines the entire range of fishing flies--more than 1,300 in all--many by some of the world`s most famous fly-tiers. These flies have been selected not only for their worth as lures but for their contribution to the progress of fly-tying. This smaller paperback edition is more portable than the hardcover, making it easy for fly fishers to take it along on fishing trips.Every fly in the book can be tied using readily-obtained material. Specially taken color photographs show hundreds of fly styles and variations with as many as six flies per page. The author describes their history, including literary references and fishing folklore, points out special features and gives detailed tying instructions where needed. He recommends the most favorable conditions in which to use the fly and provides important information on how the flies correspond with the fishes` reproductive cycles.Fishing Flies covers:Introduction and the earliest flies Trout and grayling fliesStreamers and bucktailsFlies for salmon, sea trout and steelheadFlies for freshwater predatorsSaltwater flies. Useful tips, time-tested fishing advice, recommendations for environmental conditions and fishing style, historical images, entertaining anecdotes and an extensive bibliography round out this fascinating and complete resource.

The Complete Illustrated Directory of Salmon Steelhead Flies By Mann, Chris $59.32 Author: Mann, Chris Publication Date: 2008/09/10 Number of Pages: 468 Binding Type: Hardcover Language: English Depth: 1.75 Width: 8.50 Height: 11.00

Anglers Book Supply Co 0Mir55 Lani Wallers Steelhead Legacy $78.89 This 2DVD set follows Lani Waller through 25 years of chasing wild steelhead on some of the best fishing rivers in the world. The first DVD is comprised of Lani s video series from early 1980 s the all time bestseller for steelhead for 20+ years. In the second DVD Lani revisits waters highlighting all the major changes in steelhead fishing during the last two decades. Lani updates casting techniques equipment and strategies that in years past were not even imagined. Includes maps and advice on where when and how to fish the Great Lakes region. 4 hrs. DISC 1In the early 1980 s Scientific Anglers 3M undertook an ambitious and trend setting project to chronicle the field sports of hunting and fishing in a series of howto videos. At lease five of these 3M titles became outdoor classics that set a new standard for this kind of film making. Of these five films a series of three tapes on steelhead fly fishing with Lani Waller became one of the alltime bestsellers and they had a popular run for over twenty years. The three titles were Fly Fishing for Pacific Steelhead Advanced Fly Fishing for Pacific Steelhead and Trophy Steelhead some of the best and most unusual footage ever done on steelhead. The Lani Waller Steelhead Tapes as they were popularly called became favorites and in the words of one major reviewer they taught an entire generation how to fish for these magical searun rainbow trout. The footage included never before filmed sequences of wild steelhead taking dry flies from the surface of a river and other kinds of angling strategies in spectacularly beautiful landscapes of central Oregon and northern British Columbia.The Waller steelhead tapes went out of production and distribution in 2003. In 2005 Lani secured permission to use the three original films as part of a four film package which would include the three original films uncut and a fourth film showing all the major changes in this kind of fis

Anglers Book Supply Co 0Pt10 Raising The Ghost Dry Fly Steelhead Fishing Like Never Seeen Before $56.63 Fly Boys pushed the envelope of steelhead flyfishing in this film as they catch steelhead with dead drift dry flies. The adventure is interwoven with steelhead education conservation a historical perspective educates the viewer about the current state of wild steelhead. 69 min. Fly Boys pushed the envelope of steelhead flyfishing in this film and catches steelhead as few others have with dead drift dry flies. The adventure is interwoven with steelhead education conservation and a historical perspective seem though the eyes of such legends as: Bob Clay Denise Maxwell Russell Chatham Tom Morgan Jerry Kitsch Steve Pettit Keith Stonebraker Rusty Vorous Lee Spencer and Bill Flick. The film educates the viewer about the current state of wild steelhead and helps garner film support for their preservation by reigniting a passion for catching these fish on a fly.Raising a ghost to a Dry FlyArticle Review by Brett French of the Gazette StaffIt shouldn t have happened. There were just too many ways that things could go wrong and they did. Plus it was just a wild idea.But despite a series of setbacks and some long odds seven Bozeman men managed to helicopter in to a remote British Columbia river and catch steelhead on dry flies while making a documentary film of the unusual adventure. We got really really really lucky said Jesse Atkins 29 one of five Bozeman anglers featured in the film.The main fishing concept alone was sketchy catching steelhead on dry flies. Steelhead are searunning rainbow trout that are known to be finicky where fish caught are measured in hours spent angling not in numbers hauled in.And the idea that the wild fish would rise to eat hatching bugs although documented in angling literature is seldom seen and may never have been captured on film. This kind of thing is not supposed to happen said Paul Tarantino 37 the owner of a Bozeman restaurant and the prod

Anglers Book Supply Co 0Ja10 Best Of The Bear Steelhead $49.88 Bear ties his favorite flies for steelhead with tips on steelhead fishing. These proven patterns have become the favorites of guides flyfishermen all over the Great Lakes Region. Bear tells the stories behind these flies gives tips tricks on how to easily tie these unique effective patterns. 60 min. Patterns: Crystal Egg PM Caddis Dusty s Fuzzbuster Bear s Hex Ben s Stone.ABOUT THE BEAR :Michigan native Jeff Bear Andrews has been fly fishing and tying flies for 38 years. He was the recipient of the Buz Buszek Memorial Fly Tying Award the highest honor bestowed upon a fly tyer by the Federation of Fly Fishers. He was only the second tyer from the Midwest to ever win the award. From 19771982 he ran Bear s Fly Shop in Grand Ledge Michigan. He has tied commercially for 20 years producing as many as 2000 dozen (24 000) flies a year. Bear travels throughout the United States and Europe sharing his tying skills through demonstrations and classes. he has taught thousands of people to tie flies. For the past eight years Bear has been doing Fly Tying Marathons to raise money for the Federation of Fly Fishers conservation projects. To date he has raised over 60 000 for conservation. Bears flies are sought after by both collectors and fly fishers. His flies have appeared in numerous books and magazines as well as limited edition artwork. He has set two IGFA World Records for Brook Trout. He is currently the Flyfishing Editor for Michigan OutofDoors magazine and writes the Michigan Fly Box article each month. Many of Bear s. DVD

The Steelhead Trout $59.99 H.h. Leonard The Steelhead Trout - Wall Decal

Steelhead Trout $14.99 Teri Renee Blehm Steelhead Trout - Art Print

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Anglers Book Supply Co 1890373028 Best Flies For Idaho $43.13 Result of exhaustive surveys of fly tyers fly shops throughout Idaho compendium of all the flies you will ever need to fly fish Idaho. Covers trout steelhead salmon a variety of warmwater species flies.119 fly recipes. 8 pgs color plates B/w photos; 6x9 inches 150 pgs. Softcover

Anglers Book Supply Co 1878175203 Flies The Best One Thousand $49.88 A beautiful allcolor pattern and dressing guide of best 1 000 flies for trout salmon steelhead bass and saltwater species. Each fly is shown lifesize or larger with a pattern recipe and tying tips. An excellent book with remarkable photos. 8x11 inches 128 pgs. Marvel at the tiers and photographer s art as you use this guide over and over researching flies to tie or when preparing for a trip. Stetzer is an expert fly tier as well as guide. Softcover

Anglers Book Supply Co 0Qf0000100 Tying Spey Flies Dvd $49.88 Learn to tie traditional style spey flies for salmon steelhead. Learn: the key features of a spey fly; hackling ribbing techniques; construct a sparse tight body; mount traditional style mallard wings; more. DVD; 61 min. In this DVD Gerald demonstrates his style of tying with tips and techniques for dressing traditional style spey flies. You will see close up stepbystep details of how to tie three spey patterns from start to finish. You will learn: The key features of a spey fly Hackling and ribbing techniques How to construct a sparse tight body How to mount traditional style mallard wings Other tips that you will pick up by watching the detailed closeups of each pattern.Gerald s talent for tying elegant and durable spey flies is recognized by anglers around the world. This DVD shows you exactly how he ties them so get this DVD today and enjoy the satisfaction of tying your own spey flies for your next steelhead or salmon trip. DVD

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Anglers Book Supply Co 0811735834 Great Lakes Steelhead#44; Salmon#44; Trout Essential Techniques For Fly Fishing The Tributaries $56.63 A thorough compendium of info tips techniques for any angler chasing the elusive salmon trout steelhead of the Great Lakes. Includes recipes for 86 flies photo sequences of five casting fishing techniques. 20 BW illus 220 color images; 7x9 inches 192 pgs. Essential food and flies for Great Lakes species. Detailed information on the major fisheries and their tributaries. Tackle and techniques for guaranteed yearround successSteelhead is the most soughtafter Great Lakes species attracting fly fishers from around the country. Guide extraordinaire Karl Weixlmann provides a thorough compendium of information tips and techniques for any angler chasing the elusive salmon trout and steelhead of the Great Lakes. Includes recipes for 86 flies and photo sequences of five casting and fishing techniques.WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE SAYING: The fly patterns are state of the art in Great Lakes fly fishing featuring the best fly tiers and innovators in the business. Matt SupinskiABOUT THE AUTHOR:Karl Weixlmann is a contributing writer for the Erie Times News and has published articles in Fly Fisherman Pennsylvania Angler and Outdoor Territory magazines. He is a fulltime flyfishing guide on the south shore of Lake Erie and lives in Erie Pennsylvania. Softcover