Fly Line Weight

0 – 2 weight: For the ultra-light freaks.  Designed to handle the smallest flies in the smallest waters and making the most delicate of presentations.  A short 1 wt rod and a 1 wt floating line will make that 6-incher feel like a whale.  Casting range = 30 feet.

3 – 4 weight: Also for fishing small flies and making delicate presentations.  These are very common for stream fishermen and also very effective.  Not overkill for small stream trout, able to handle larger trout and ideal for some of the smaller warm-water species.  Casting range = 30 – 60 feet.

5 – 6 weight: The most common and practical weight.  Will easily handle most trout and pan fish flies up to size 6.  This is the rod most popular with Western fly fishermen and can be used in just about any trout fishing situation.  Considered by many to be the one rod weight to have if you were to only have one rod.  Casting range = 50 – 80 feet.

7 – 8 weight: Ideal for larger streamer patterns, heavily weighted flies, bass bugs, and in-shore salt water fishing.  Lets you cast larger flies with ease and cast greater distances.  Very effective for windy conditions.  Casting range = 80 – 110 feet.

9 – 10 weight: Used by many pike, salmon, and saltwater fly fishermen and can carry larger flies with ease.  Casting range = 80 – 120 feet.

12 weight and up: Rods in this weight are designed more as fighting tools than casting tools.  Especially suited for the larger saltwater game species.

Remember this general rule of thumb when purchasing your first fly rod………Small flies can be cast with a larger line weight, but larger flies cannot be cast with a small fly line.  When you purchase your first fly rod, match it to the largest fly you expect to cast.