The number on the line class determines the fly line’s weight, in other words, how powerful the fly rod you’re using is. That’s why the intended rod’s line class determines which line class you should choose for the rest of your gear, like the fly reel and line. A fly rod in line class 3 (#3) is a lighter rod for smaller waters and smaller fish. A fly rod in class 9 (#9) is a heavier rod designed to handle larger flies and bigger fish. When matching fly fishing gear, ensure the line, reel, and rod are of the same class. The best-selling fly fishing gear in Sweden is a 9-foot rod in class 5 with a class 5 floating line (WF) and a matching reel.
Line class (fly fishing)
Rod length grouped in feet + cm.
Are you a beginner and need guidance?
For regular fishing with a casting rod, you can easily group the lengths like this:
5-6 feet - Children/juniors 6-7 feet - Easy to handle - Perfect for boats. 7-9 feet - Most popular, especially for fishing from shore. 9+ feet - Coastal fishing and river fishing, etc.
Rod length
Refers to how many centimeters long the disassembled rod is. This can be good to know if you’re traveling or packing it into a motorcycle bag.
Rod length when transported
Refers to the rod’s length in feet and inches. 1 foot (') = 30.48 centimeters. One inch (') = 2.54 centimeters
Rod length in feet/inches
Refers to the rod’s length in centimeters (cm).
Rod length in cm
Refers to the material the rod’s handle is made of. Cork and EVA (foam) are the most common types.
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Handle type
Are you a beginner looking for a new rod? Check out the rods in the Medium and Medium-Fast categories. These rods bend a bit more than the so-called 'fast' rods, which simplifies both casting and fighting ability if a fish bites.
More about rod actions Action is a term for how the blank bends when pressure is applied to the tip and is described in English as follows:
Extra Fast (Ultra Fast): means the tip bends much more easily than the rest of the blank, which is relatively stiff.
Fast: bends just over a third of the blank.
Medium-Fast: bends about half of the blank.
Medium (Moderate): bends about 3/4 of the blank.
Slow: describes a parabolic bend of almost the entire blank.
Common simplified Swedish terms to describe action are tip-, half-, and full-action.
Different actions suit different fishing. 'Extra Fast' and 'Fast' provide more feel to the lure and faster hooksets, but the stiff blank reduces fighting ability and doesn’t offer the same 'slingshot effect' on casts as 'Medium' and 'Slow' actions.
Rod action
Refers to how many parts the rod consists of. The more parts, the easier the rod is to transport.
Number of sections
Refers to which line is primarily suited to the product. The most common types of lines are braided lines and monofilament lines.
Suitable line
Here, we’ve categorized the products based on which fish you want to hook. We’ve relied on what manufacturers specify, but also on experience of what usually works. The list could almost be endless, and many things work for more species than we’ve listed, so don’t be afraid to experiment.
