[Tommy Behind the Deuce]

i know everyone has a different definition of what rods might be which, but without getting into those semantics, what rod action do you prefer? And does that change depending on line weight?

Not trying to bring weather into it bc obviously a faster rod helps with windy days when you have to drive the line into the wind. I am talking about if you could draw up your ideal day on the river.

I prefer slower actions, especially in 3 through 5 weights. Even a 6 weight I tend to prefer slower actions but can tolerate faster actions a little bit more. My favorite rods in 3-5 weights tend to be Sage LL's, and in 6 weight Winston IM6 (Loomis blank) or an SP if using a streamer.

 

[Kyle Smith]

I like medium-fast, all the way from a more medium medium-fast to a faster medium-fast. Rods like that let you decide your own tempo, rather than having to force a broomstick to load by making aggressive, exhausting casts, or with a slow rod - wait several seconds for that tailing loop to happen.

Rod series I currently love: Scott G, Scott Eclipse, Scott A4, Sage Pulse, Winston GVX, Burkheimer Classic, Hardy Jet, Loop Multi.

 

[Lugan]

I like what most people would call slow to medium slow for rods 8'0" and under in all line weights 3-7. I want short rods to load soon. These are all modern glass rods from Steffen, Wojnicki, Barclay, and Scott.

I like fast graphite rods around 9'0" in 5 weight and up because I want to fling stuff far, often heavy junk. I have a Scott Radian 905, and 3 Sage Ones in this category.

In between is an 8'9" 4wt Sage Circa that I rate medium action (it's only slow for graphite). Lovely dry fly rod.

So I like all actions, as long as the taper and other construction aspects are excellent.

 

[Stonefish]

Medium to medium fast which used to be considered fast with the rods I like to use.
Some sticks are so stiff and fast they have no soul in my opinion.....
SF

 

[meh.meh.meh.meh.meh.]

I have not cast enough different rods to make a full well rounded opinion. If anyone would like to donate rods of different actions for analysis, please let me know.

 

[Jeremy Floyd]

I like it when she starts fast, and then slows down the closer to the tip she gets..

 

[Pat Lat]

I like an extra medium

 

[David Dalan]

Slow for smaller sticks, used mostly on smaller streams, easier loading for all them roll casts.

Teo handers, good stiff butt with a softer "flicky" tip. I had a moderate 13' spey and I did not love it.

 

[Pat Lat]

I guess to clarify, my favorite rods are med-med/fast sage rods. The bend nice and deep but still snap forward.
Extra medium

 

[Cold]

For me, this is like asking whether I like food that is spicy or sweet. Both extremes and everywhere in between is good, depending on my mood and the situation...but just because something falls along the spectrum doesn't mean it's good.

Over the past two weeks, I've fished two rods: a 9' 6wt Sage One and a 7' 4wt Diamondback Diamondglass. Way different in terms of action, but I thoroughly enjoyed them both. That being said, I have a TFO TiCr X that's even faster than the One, and it just doesn't feel right, so I rarely ever use it.

Overall, I can do more with a fast rod, but the limitations of a slower rod don't keep me away from them at all.

 

[Shopkeeper]

Hope I'm not inventing categories, but I prefer medium-slow to slow. I fish mainly smaller creeks, so casts can be very short distances and fish can be small, so slow is the ticket.

For these, my favorite was an old Orvis Brook Trout (7'6 4wt), but my 7'6 4wt Winston IM6 has made a suitable replacement.

With a little more backbone, I can tackle about 90% of my fishing situations and still feel like I have a fly rod in my hand. My "medium-slow" is an 8'0 3wt T&T LPS I finished last spring. Can't believe how well it can do everything; I swear that rod is alive.

 

[River Is Polluted]

I am a trout fisherman usually on lakes or small to medium size streams/rivers. Accuracy and presentation are important to me. Distance - not so much. It is not worth the effort to try to control 80' line with all those micro-currents affecting it. I also want to protect the tippet which many of the new material rods do not IMHO.

Therefore, I prefer medium (moderate) action rods. Loomis IM6 rods (9' 5 or 6 weight) fit the bill. If I am casting large/weighted flies, I just over line the rod. If I am in the wind, I find spots where the wind helps me cast (or at least does not hinder me). On the Yakima if the wind is blowing too much I just go wine tasting instead.

 

[kmudgn]

I prefer my women fast and my rod slow. Being an FOG (last two words are old guy) I learned to fly fish using a bamboo rod so that action is what I know. In fact, I believe that fast rods are "cheating" as one can cast a fly a long way without skill.

 

[Tom House]

Relative to the average recovery speed of contemporary graphite rods, it would range from dead slow all the way up to a blindingly fast medium slow.

As for action I am all over the map.

TC

 

[Cold]

In fact, I believe that fast rods are "cheating" as one can cast a fly a long way without skill.

Do you also believe in Santa and the tooth fairy?

 

[Mems]

If we're in an elevator then it would have to be fast. If I am home or in a hotel I can take my time. Oh you mean rod action. Bamboo and trout nice and slow. Saltwater on the flats, nice and fast. Bluewater, just slap the water and work the popper. It all depends on the situation. Mems.

 

[McFly]

Slow-medium in 3-5 wt rods (6-8') rods. Medium fast to fast-ish for the bigger stuff.

 

[dead drifting into a th]

ssslllllooowwwww....

given my penchant for glass rods, by default, at least compared with most graphite, it's going to be slow as hell...Although, my 10wt Epic Bandit might qualify in the medium category...or not. I don't really care what my rods are classified as, I know that they perform very well for me and I love fishing them...to each their own, use what brings you the biggest smile.

 

[GAT]

When I first started flyfishing, I used a metal rod, then a fiberglass rod then graphite showed up. So I bought one. I liked the very first model of Sage and by today's standards, that thing was fast enough to cast a line through a tiger tank.

As I aged, I started using slower rods because I discovered there is no real flyfishing value with the ability to cast through a tiger tank.

So now, I prefer a slow rod... or at the most, a medium slow. The reason I bought a Butter Stick was for the slow action... but, sometimes it is too wimpy for some of my larger patterns in the wind so nowadays when I'm fishing stillwaters, I use a medium slow Sage rod.

I still have my original fast rods so if I anticipate the need to cast through a tiger tank (or prop up my garage door)... I still have the rods to do so.

 

[east coast]

I would have to say "glass slow" tried out an 8'6 5 wt echo. Faster than most glass from when I was a kid. Tiny indicator and little beadhead, kinda sucked. Lengthened the leader to about 12 feet and put on a dry, so so nice. One of the nicest rod I've cast with a dry fly and they're cheap.