If general purpose flyfishing is your goal, something in a 5 to 7 weight line might be a good choice. Bass, pike and salmon fishermen will probably be looking for a rod in the 8 to 10 weight range. And, if you re going to be searching the big waters for monsters like king salmon, tarpon or sharks, you will need to purchase a rod blank in the 11 to 15 weight range. Answer the line weight question before you take another mental step. N ow that you ve answered the line weight question, you need to think about long a rod you want to create.
Short rods are fun to cast, and they have a definite advantage in thick overhead cover.
If you fish brushy streams a lot, a long rod has a lot of advantages. It can reach out past the brush to allow sideways roll casts that a short rod can t make. For river and lake fishing, longer rods in the 8 to 9 foot range are the best choice. They produce greater range and allow the nymph and dry fly fisherman to follow his or her fly with the rod tip. Again, answer this question before you proceed any further.