Like many things in fly fishing, a person’s “action” preference is highly subjective, if not highly debated. Some people rely on their fast action rod and others, especially beginners, prefer a slower action rod. With something so personal, it can be helpful to identify your casting style and preferences and match them accordingly. But I must admit that I am biased towards fast-acting fly rods, so a lot of my advice will lean in that direction.
Although there are much more in-depth and complicated explanations, the simple version is that the “action” of a fly rod refers to the flexibility of the rod. The less flexible the fly rod, the faster the action. The degree of flexibility or stiffness of a rod has a great impact on how the rod will be thrown.
The stiffness of a fast-acting fly rod will increase the speed and distance of the line while casting. As a result, newbies may need a little practice to get the timing right, but it’s worth the effort. In fact, once they learn it, many anglers find it easier and more accurate to cast with a snap-action rod.
Also, as the speed of the line increases, windy days become less of a headache. In fact, you can make your line go wherever you are. The smaller loops that result from a fast-acting rod create less wind resistance, allowing the line to pass through the wind.
An added benefit of the line’s increased speed and distance is that some of the larger flies are easier to cast which can often be difficult to present without much work.
Another inherent quality of the stiffer rod is its strength to bring in bigger fish. The power transfer at the bottom of the rod makes fighting that big fish a little easier. This can be especially useful when you have a fish on the line with a lot of fighting.
The rise in popularity of faster action bars could be attributed to these factors. The ability to cast in different weather conditions, coupled with increased distance and speed, has increased the demand for fast-acting rods. Some companies have even designed ultra-fast action rods that are used primarily for tournaments. All things considered, the efficiency, precision, and convenience of snap-action rods have placed them at the top of my book’s list.
