It can be difficult figuring out what the best fly rod for Brook Trout fishing is. Especially if you’re going to be fishing in those narrow mountain streams.
A rod too long could mean a day spent picking your flies out of the mountain laurel or low-hanging branches. A rod that is too short makes casting mid to long distances range more difficult.
What size Rod Should you Use?
This all depends on the size of the water you’re fishing as well as your comfort level. In really tight spots a 6′ rod is going to be your best bet. This minimizes the chances of hanging your fly up in a tree or a bush. The issue with a 6′ rod is that mending and longer casts become more difficult.
If the river is more open and you can get away with using a 9′ then have at it. Most of the time this will not be the case though. If all you have is a 9′ then be prepared to use a lot of bow and arrow and roll casts as that extra rod length can make backcasting difficult.
The ideal length is going to fall somewhere between a 6′ and 9′ rod. Luckily, many different rod companies make 7′ 6″, or 8′ rods in lower weights. It’s these rods that make for some of the best fly rods for Brook Trout fishing.
What Weight is going to be Best?
Fishing for Brook Trout in the South is more about quantity over quality. That doesn’t mean you won’t catch big fish, but chances are you’re mostly going to be netting fish in the 6-8″ range. Although beautiful and wild they probably aren’t going to spool you.
So, the best weight is going to be something that can handle throwing smaller flies and will make those 8″ fish feel like you’ve hooked into a Red Fish on the flats.
Nothing larger than a 3wt should be used. That’s small enough to work a size 18 Adams and will also allow you to feel how strong these little fish can be.
Feel free to go smaller if you’d like. Lighter rods are great fun if you want a good fight, and they’re wonderful at delicately throwing small flies. A 10″ or larger Brook Trout caught on a 0-1wt is too much fun.
What Action do you Need?
If you’re going to be fishing in tight mountain streams then a slow action is going to be the best fly rod for Brook Trout. These slow-action rods are perfect for casting to these skittish fish.
The reason you would prefer a slow to fast action is that you’re able to cast more accurately and can land flies more delicately on the water. Splashing down a nymph or dry fly is a sure-fire way to spook a good Brook trout run.
The slow action is also much more forgiving and gives you better control of your line. The downside is that they’re not very powerful. So, if you wind up hooking into a larger fish than expected then be prepared for a battle.
Fiberglass, Graphite, Bamboo
In the beginning, rods were made out of fiberglass. These were heavy and slower to cast. Overall though, they got the job done and many anglers caught fish on them.
Graphite was then introduced and that made rods lighter, easier to cast, and load easier than fiberglass. For a long time, graphite was easily the most popular material.
Recently though the fiberglass have begun to make a comeback. New manufacturers were able to create fiber glass rods that were just as light as graphite. In situations where you wont be asting very far you’ll find that fiberglass has the egd over graphite. Once you get into the 15-20 foot range grpahite becomes more reliable.
Bamboo or cane rods are similar to fiberglass. Theyve come a. long way and are great for casting short distances. Making them perfect for skinny water.
In the end the best fly rod material for Brook Trout all depends on what type of fishing you’re going to be doing with it. If you want a versatile rod that can be also be used on a larger river for Rainbow or Brown Trout then a graphite is best. However, if all you want to do is fish skinny water then take a good look at fiberglass, or bamboo.
Final Thoughts
Chasing Brook Trout can be a lot of fun and it helps when you have the right tools. With the information above go out and find the right rod for you. If you already have a favorite rod then comment below and let me know which one you prefer.
