General description of the fly rod
The prototype of this fishing rod is an ordinary bamboo stick with a fishing line and a hook, which was used several decades ago. Now such “sticks” have replaced light, convenient telescopic or plug-in fly fishing rods, which often do not have guide rings and a reel for fishing line. Everything is as simple as possible, but that doesn’t mean it’s not effective.
The rod is usually made of composite material, but there are also models made of carbon fiber. It is not recommended to take a cheap Chinese fishing rod - there is no proper balancing, the rod is heavy and breaks even with a slight bend.
Let us highlight several advantages of fly rods over other types of “sticks”:
1. High sensitivity, the ability to use thin fishing line.
2. Light weight of the rod, and this allows for dynamic fishing.
3. Cheap and simple equipment.
There are also several disadvantages: for catching large fish, such a rod is only suitable if you additionally use a landing net. Technically, it is not possible to catch large prey using a fishing rod alone.
Equipment Features
The main features of the fly rod are the following:
- for fishing with fly tackle, a telescopic rod without rings is used;
- the length of the fishing line used is limited by the length of the rod itself;
- fishing with a fly rod takes place at a distance that is equal to the length of the rod and the fishing line attached to it;
- when fishing with “swing” rigs, small diameter fishing lines and light floats are used;
- Fishing with fly rigs involves catching not the largest fish.
The fly rod has an ancient history. Previously, cut tree rods, which had maximum lightness and elasticity, were used as fishing rods. They were replaced by bamboo fishing rods. With the advent of modern materials, fly fishing rods have become light and comfortable. But nowadays, for most anglers, a float rod is a rod with a spinning reel. It is easier to fish with such a fishing rod, and “swing” today has become the lot of fishermen who understand a lot about fishing.
Selection of tackle for a fly fishing rod
To rig a fly rod you will need the following:
— connector;
- fishing line;
- sinkers and float;
- hook and bait.
For fly fishing rods there is no provision for installing a reel, so the fishing line is wound on a special drum.
The connector is a simple device that is attached to the end of the form to secure the fishing line. Connectors vary in diameter; it must be selected according to the size of the tip. Installing the part is easy - you can glue it with superglue.
Most connectors are made of plastic, but there are also metal tips. The material of manufacture, in this case, does not play a special role.
The thickness of the fishing line is selected depending on the fishing technique, what kind of fish and in what conditions of the reservoir it is intended to hunt. In some cases, it is advisable to replace the fishing line with a braided cord.
Floats also vary in shape and weight. There are flat and convex, mast-shaped, spindle-shaped floats. This element of equipment must be selected based on fishing conditions. For example, for fishing on fast-flowing rivers, a flat float is used, since it works like a sailboat and is not carried away by water. A short float is suitable for fishing in reservoirs with a whirlpool.
To ensure that the fly rod rig is sensitive, sinkers are used - small-diameter lead balls calibrated by weight.
Selection of equipment elements
The general view of the equipment for the flywheel is shown in the photo.
The equipment includes the following elements.
Connector
The connector is used to attach the fishing line to the tip of the rod. For expensive fishing rods, the connector may be supplied with the rod. If the connector is purchased separately, you must first try it on to ensure it matches the diameter of the fishing rod tip. It is recommended to lightly sand the tip of the rod with fine sandpaper. The connector is then glued.
In essence, the connector is a plastic latch. Some fishermen prefer to make a connector with their own hands, although purchased connectors are still considered more reliable. To do this, a copper wire folded in half is tied with thread, which is glued and the resulting device is attached to the tip of the fishing rod. You can attach a carabiner clasp to the loop.
Expert opinion
Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich
Zoologist, hydrobiologist. I am interested in fishing at a professional level.
Attention! Some fishermen insert a shock absorber - feedergum - between the connector and the fishing line. It softens the jerks of resisting fish when playing.
fishing line
Swing fishing involves the use of monofilament fishing line. Typically the rig includes a main line and a leader. The base is thick. For swing fishing, a fishing line with a thickness of 0.15-0.2 mm is most often used, but if necessary, monofilament can be thinner or thicker. The fishing line must be the same length as the length of the fishing rod or exceed it by no more than 20 cm.
The lead line is always a few hundredths of a millimeter thinner than the main line. The leash and the base are connected to each other using a loop-to-loop method, but to make it easier to change the leash, you can tie a small fastener to the end of the main line. The length of the leash is determined by the fishing conditions. Sometimes fluorocarbon is used as a leader material.
Float
The choice of float is very important. It must detect the bite well, not interfere with casting and be noticeable. Most floats have a body, an antenna and a keel. But sometimes the antenna can be reduced to the size of a ball, and the keel can be completely absent - it all depends on the fishing conditions.
Elongated needle-shaped floats are considered the most sensitive, but they do not hold the wave well. A float with a body of medium thickness, slightly tapering downwards, an antenna with a diameter slightly larger than a match and a keel of medium length is considered universal.
Egg-shaped floats have low sensitivity, but they are indispensable when fishing in strong currents. There are also floats that better capture the “up” bite and those with which the “down” bite is clearly noticeable. Elongated floats work better “for rising”, and “for flooding” - all the others.
For swing fishing, floats with a small carrying capacity are used. So for a 5-meter fishing rod it is recommended to use 1.5-gram floats, and for a 9-meter fishing rod - 5-gram ones.
Hook
The size of the hook directly depends on the type of bait used and the size of the expected catch. The length of the forend also depends on this. Sometimes the color of the hook matters: dark, white or red.
Sinkers
Shots and olives are used as sinkers on the fly rig . Loading is important. So, in a current it is better to use an olive, and in standing water a chain of pellets. The order in which the pellets are placed determines the immersion speed of the equipment and the sensitivity of the entire equipment. In addition to the main load, one small shot is often used - a sub-shot, installed on a leash, usually 10-15 cm from the hook. The weight of the sub-grass is 0.1-0.2 grams.
Baits and baits
The choice of bait is dictated by the type of prey to be harvested and the fishing conditions, which mean water temperature, the presence or absence of a current, and the activity of the fish. The most common attachments are:
- worm - earth and dung;
- maggot – white and dyed;
- large bloodworm;
- sandwich - a combination of maggot with a worm or bloodworm;
- dough;
- semolina mash;
- steamed barley grains;
- canned food - corn.
Selecting a shock absorber and installing a connector
The rubber in the rig plays a key role; when biting a large specimen, it is the only thing that separates the fisherman from catching it. You can assemble the tackle with your own hands; to do this, one end of the shock absorber is attached to the connector sleeve, and the other is passed through the rod from the inside and removed from the hole in the whip. The free segment is tied with a loop to the second part, which is installed in its place.
The diameter of the elastic is the main criterion. When catching small fish weighing no more than a kilogram, use a shock absorber up to 1.2 mm thick. Large individuals require an increase in this parameter. The length of the shock absorber directly affects the quality of the development of mining jerks - the shorter the element, the stiffer it is and the less it stretches. That is why you should install longer tires, which will have a reserve reserve when fishing. The thinnest models are built into the first two legs of the rod, and the thickest ones, such as carp ones, are built into three or four segments. Difficult choice of tires causes beginners to make mistakes, so at the initial stage you should consult with more experienced comrades, and also look for information on your own.
To learn more:
How to tie 2 hooks on a float rod?
How to choose the right fly rod
Many anglers, both beginners and experienced, have their own point of view on choosing a fly rod. Some prefer to use long forms, while others argue that the best option is medium-length forms. Despite this, it is still necessary to take into account the fishing conditions: often even an average rod length is not enough to cast the bait to the fishing point.
Flying rods, like any other, differ in technical characteristics, such as:
- Length of the form.
- Test.
- Material of manufacture.
- We are building.
It makes sense to familiarize yourself with these parameters in more detail.
Rod length
The manufacturer offers its potential clients forms of fly rods ranging from 3 to 11 meters in length. At the same time, experts divide such a wide range into several categories. For example:
- Rods, length from 3 to 5 meters. Such rods are most suitable for catching small fish and at short distances, as well as when fishing from a boat.
- Rods, length from 5 to 7 meters. It is considered the most common category of fishing rods. With their help you can catch fish weighing up to 2.5 kg, both in still water and in the current.
- Rods, length from 7 to 9 meters. Such forms are not in wide demand among fishermen, since fishing with such equipment requires certain skills. In most cases, experienced sports fishermen are interested in such rods.
- Rods longer than 9 meters are, as a rule, used quite rarely and only by professional fishermen.
It is believed that it is undesirable to use fly rods longer than 7 meters, especially if you do not have the skills to use them. In any case, it is necessary to realistically assess the fishing conditions in order to determine the length of the rod.
Test
The rod test indicates the permissible weight of all equipment, which cannot negatively affect the characteristics of the rod. In this case, the test is indicated on the rod form in the form of numbers that reflect the lower and upper limits of the test. For example, numbers 5-15 indicate that this form is designed for equipment weighing from 5 to 15 grams.
There is also an unwritten rule. According to fishermen and experts, the length of the rod should be taken as a basis. If the rod has a length of 5 meters, then you should use equipment weighing up to 5 grams, with a length of 7, equipment weighing up to 7 grams, etc.
Material of manufacture
As a rule, the weight of the rod depends on the material of manufacture. Naturally, the lighter the rod, the better. Nowadays, for the manufacture of all types of fishing rods the following are used:
- Fiberglass.
- Carbon fiber.
Both are composite materials, but one of them is lighter, more durable, but more expensive.
Fishing rods made of fiberglass (fiberglass), although durable, are heavier, and they are cheaper and considered budget. This category of rods is available for any category of fishermen, including beginners who are just beginning to hone their skills.
Carbon fiber rods are more expensive, but they are much lighter and stronger than fiberglass rods. Unfortunately, rods with such good characteristics are not available to some categories of anglers. At the same time, such forms require careful care and do not like shock loads.
Build
For catching small fish, a blank with a fast or medium-fast action is more suitable, when only a third of the rod bends under load, counting from its tip.
If you plan to catch larger specimens, then it is better to give preference to medium action rods. They begin to bend, starting from the top of the rod and almost halfway up. It is believed that such rods are more universal, so they can be used in most cases.
Slow action rods that bend almost the entire length are designed for catching trophy specimens. It is better not to use it for catching small fish, as hooking is ineffective.
When choosing a fishing rod, you should pay attention to the number of sections. The number of sections, firstly, indicates the length of the rod when folded, which is important when transporting, but the number of sections has a negative side: the more sections, the less reliable the rod.
It is important to know! The number and size of the elbows indicates the quality of the product: the more elbows, the shorter they are, the lower the quality of the product.
