How to Choose the Best Fly Rod for Small Streams

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Wild Brook Trout in the Northeast, native Cutthroat out West, blue lining, ditch poking, backpacking - can you find the common thread? Small stream fishing is a phenomenal way to get away from the crowds, find wild fish, and enjoy solitude in the wilderness. Your hair should be standing up if you're an adventurer who calls a fly rod your partner in crime.

For me, spending two summers exploring Yellowstone National Park opened my eyes to the value of small stream fishing, a value that I've since carried back with me to the often overlooked small streams of Maine. While Southwest Montana is aptly referred to as 'the fly fishing capital of the world', you don't have to live near a well-known national park to explore the woods in search of small brooks and native fish.

Small stream fishing is, in some ways, a rejection of contemporary fly fishing's trajectory toward fast action rods, distance casting, and trophy fish. Native fish take the angler on a journey that's as much about the landscape and the adventure as it is about the fishing. Choosing the right fly rod will help you make the most of your time on smaller streams. Hint: the best options aren't lightning fast or known for their 100+ foot casting range.

Rod Action

Rod action is a necessary consideration when choosing the perfect fly rod for small stream applications. Delicacy at short distances, a trait that rod manufacturers often compromise for performance at longer distances, is the name of the game. Long distance casting is generally unnecessary when fishing small water.

Therefore, most rods that are designed for small streams are made with a moderate action blank and a full flex (or close to full flex) rod profile. A medium-action design and full flex profile allow anglers to optimize delicacy, tippet protection, and accuracy at short distances.

Rod Length

Another readily accepted norm in contemporary fly fishing is that a 9' rod is best for trout fishing. This isn't the case when fishing small streams. Longer rods are optimized for increased line mending capabilities and the ability to pick up line off the water to recast flies at distance. Again, all traits that are overkill on small streams.

A shorter rod between 7' 6" and 8' 6" helps maximize short distance performance and fine dry fly presentation. These shorter rods are also easier to fish in tight cover or brushy environments. If you're backpacking, for example, a shorter rod packs down to fit nicely in a backpack. You'll lose some line mending capabilities, sure, but decreased rod length will maximize performance where it counts.

Blank Material

Graphite fly rods have dominated the market for the last several decades, contributing rods that are lighter and quicker than the fiberglass and bamboo rods of yesteryear. While graphite certainly allows anglers to cast farther, it comes at the expense of feel and delicacy. On smaller water where close-range presentations are the norm, bamboo and fiberglass rods are extremely practical options.

Bamboo and fiberglass rods can both offer improved feel and delicacy compared to graphite rods. Sure, they may be a little heavier, but one must consider that you're not casting far, and generally small streams offer bankside vegetation that shields an angler from the wind (we can only hope).

Ok, I know what I'm looking for. Now, which rod should I go with?

The Classic Reimagined	Scott G Series
Spring Creek Favorite	Winston Pure
Most 'Soulful' Graphite	Douglas Upstream
Best Pack Rod	Redington Trailblazer
Best Value Fiberglass Rod	Redington Butterstick
Highest Performing Glass Rod	Thomas & Thomas Lotic
Fastest Creek Rod	Sage Dart
Classic Glass Performance	Orvis Superfine Glass

Still can't decide?

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