7 Best Bass Fly Fishing Rods
Carla Arbuckle
For anglers, largemouth and smallmouth bass are one of the most popular game fish in the country. Since bass tends to fight rather aggressively and can be challenging to catch, it is vital to have the right equipment to ensure the safety of your catch and handle the volatile movements.
When choosing a bass fly fishing rod it is important to know what to look for in each rod. The main key factors of a fly fishing rod for bass is the weight, fly rod action, and material.
The weight will determine the weight of the line that can be used for that specific rod. Typically the minimum line weight should be a rating of eight. Knowing where you will fish will also determine your desired rod length. Small rods around size to eight feet are optimally used in small bodies of water like creeks. Having a larger rod, such as from eight to ten feet, is optimal for open bodies of water.
For rod actions, they determine the overall stiffness of the rod. Medium action rods bend at the halfway mark, which reduces power but easy to use for beginners. Small action bends all the way to the handle and is used for small bodies of water. And fast action rods are the most powerful and best for catching big game fish.
In this article, we’ll go over the best bass fly fishing rods in the market, so you can ensure you have the best chance of catching all types of bass.
7 Best Bass Fly Fishing Rods
1. Eagle Claw Featherlight 3/4 Line Weight Fly Rod
2. Moonshine Rod Co. The Drifter Series Fly Fishing Rod
3. NetAngler Fly Fishing Rod
4. Wild Water Fly Fishing
5. PLUSINNO Fly Fishing Rod and Reel Combo
6. M MAXIMUMCATCH Maxcatch Extreme Graphite Fly Fishing Rod
7. Piscifun Sword Graphite Fly Fishing Rod
Eagle Claw Featherlight 3/4 Line Weight Fly Rod
The Eagle Claw featherlight ¾ line weight fly rod comes in four different variations: the 6 feet 6-inch rod, pack of 2, pack of 3, and pack of 4. The product comes with one hook per pack, a fiberglass two-piece rod, stainless steel guides, cork handle, and a one year warranty. The item weight is 3.52 ounces, and the product dimensions are 39x3.1x3.1 inches. The eagle claw is made from the USA and works for both fresh and saltwater fishing. The shipping weight is 1.8 pounds.
Pros
- Very aesthetic
- Affordable pricing
- Vintage old school profile
- Very accurate casts
Cons
- Not as long as you’d like
- Casting length could be better
Our Take
Overall, we feel that his Eagle Claw featherlight ¾ line weight fly rod is an excellent worthwhile bargain with great moderate action. This rod is unique because it keeps loaded with a fly at all times. It’s very convenient to set up the line and has a moderate action that helps with reeling fish in.
Furthermore, the eyelets are durable, and the seat screw is machined with aluminum and not plastic. This means this rod will last you for a long time. Also, the rod insert at the joint has a rubber bushing to keep both rod sections firmly secured. Eagle Claw hit their mark when they designed and implemented this fishing rod. For how inexpensive they are, it should already be in your shopping cart!
Moonshine Rod Co. The Drifter Series Fly Fishing Rod
The Moonshine Rod Co. fly fishing rod comes in seven variations: the 3WT 7'6", 4WT 8' 6, 5 WT 10', 5WT 9', 6WT 9', 7 WT 10', and the 7WT 10'. All of the variations are designed with a matte vintage brown color and include 4 pieces each. The rod is made from high-performance medium action graphite. There is a four-piece rod with a hard canvas case and an extra tip section. The cork grips have a nice burled end with spalted burl reel seats. The cork grips are made with high-grade AAA for durability. The hardware is made from copper anodized from the reel seat to the top. And lastly, there is a lifetime warranty to the product. The shipping weight is 1.1 pounds. The differences in variations are mainly to do with the length between 7.6 inches to a total of 10 inches.
Pros
- The handle is comfortable and easy to grip
- Well made and high quality
- Smooth casting
- Cast accurately
- Excellent price
Cons
- A little heavy
- Rod is a bit stiff
- Guides are a little small
Our Take
If you’re looking for an easy to use a beginner-friendly rod that is well made, the Moonshine Rod Co. Drifter Series is the rod you need. The craftsmanship and quality are fantastic, and it casts like a dream. I was able to present my fly as I wanted, and casting is a breeze. I caught six brown trout within 30 minutes that I think I would have scared away without a delicate presentation. The two tip sections are slightly different; one is stiffer than the other ones with more of a fast-action response, while the other one is a medium-fast action. The rod casts beautifully and can shoot a line similar to other expensive brands. The cork is very high-quality, the reel seat looks great, and the rod balances nicely with a 7/8 large arbor reel. In fighting larger fish, there is plenty of backbone sudden onset sensitivity at the tip section to detect light strikes. All in all, I would highly recommend this rod for the beginner or the season to angler like myself.
NetAngler Fly Fishing Rod
The Net Angler Fly fishing four-piece rod and reel combo is an excellent full starter kit. The kit includes one fly fishing rod with a free rod tip, one fishing reel with a preinstalled fishing line, one free backing, four fly fishing tools, 16 fishing flies in a tackle box, 12 pieces of vivid color flys and one carrying case. The fly rod includes four sections and one free tip that's made from high-quality carbon fiber and is super lightweight. The guide ring is made from chromed stainless steel, which protects the fishing line and reduces friction. The line weight is ⅚; the net weight is 5.2 ounces, the gear ratio is 1:1, and the ball bearing is 2+1 BB. There are 100 feet of fly line and 9 feet of leader. The reel is preinstalled with an aluminum 5/6WT fly reel. The rod bag is great to hold everything with a zippered storage pouch on the side to keep flies and accessories. The length is 8,' and the breakdown length is 27".
Pros
- A wide assortment of flies and great starter kit
- Affordable pricing
- Convenient bag
- Great for beginners and new anglers
Cons
- Could be more flexible, a bit stiff
- Could be a stronger rod
Our Take
This comprehensive set has everything an angler would need. This kit allows anglers to fly fish without breaking the bank. The rod can hold up to a lot of wear and tear in whatever water conditions. The flies could have been higher quality with more variety, but something is better than nothing. The rod case and sleeve allow me to keep it in my vehicle, so I'm always ready to fish. You can easily disassemble the rod and reel and put it all in a self-contained case for safe transport and storage. For those looking to learn and practice fly fishing, this is the rod to go with.
Wild Water Fly Fishing
The Wild Water Fly Fishing Rod is a ⅚ weight and a 9’ four-piece slow action rod made of IM8 graphite. The rod features three stainless steel stripper guides with silicone carbide rings. Each section is 28” long, and the rod weighs 4.4 ounces. The handle is carefully crafted with a western-style cork handle and compressed cork accent rings. The rod has an aluminum reel seat with double ring locks. It also comes with a 32” hard tube rod case with a reel pouch and side storage pouch with zipper. It’s able to hold your rod, reel, fly box, and accessories. There’s also a custom-designed fly box with standard flies. Included is a Wild Water tapered monofilament 5x9’ leader. And along with that is a Wild Water fly fishing accessories, such as the retractable reel and line nipper with a nail knot tying tool and hook eye cleaner.
Pros
- Excellent variety
- Fantastic pricing
- Durable able to handle the abuse of fish and water
- Excellent customer service
- Beginner-friendly starter kit
Cons
- Cast could be a little smoother
- Rod tip may fall off
Our Take
The wild water fly fishing rod is by far the best starter set for any beginner fly fisherman. I would recommend buying a spool of tippet to go with this kit, as you will shorten the tapered leader very quickly if you fish often. Also, buy yourself a fly kit, as the midge flies that come with this kit are very tiny and really only good if you only plan to fish for trout. Speaking of fishing, nothing is more relaxing than casting a fly rod, while you've never been more exhilarated until you've caught a big fish on a fly rod. The feeling that translates through the rod is unattainable with traditional rod and reels. Once you start fly fishing, you won't want to use a regular old fishing reel again. We also like how the reel can be used with both hands. The reel comes set up to retrieve with your left hand but can be switched to retrieve with your right hand.
PLUSINNO Fly Fishing Rod and Reel Combo
nsThe Plusinno Fly Fishing Rod combo is a complete starter package with a carrier bag. This product comes in two variations, including the 5 WT - 8’ Fly Rod and ⅚ Reel or the 5 Wt - 9’ Fly Rod, ⅚ Reel. The fly rods kit has a 4-piece fly rod, a large arbor reel, a preinstalled line, a fly box, and a lightweight rod case with a zippered storage pouch. The fly pole is a mid flex IM8 graphite fly that comes with a stainless steel stripe guide to reduce heat and friction and won’t damage any fish. The fly reel and spool are made of aluminum and has a gear ratio of 1:1. The reel weight is ⅚, with a net weight of 5.2 ounces, and preloaded 20 lbs and 98 feet of the lining. The ball bearings are 2+1BB. The package has a fly flies box and carrier bag. There are 20 flies included, and the sturdy rod case is waterproof with a zippered pouch to hold accessories.
Pros
- Includes everything a beginner would need
- Lots of flies
- Affordable pricing
- Rod is well made
- Carrier bag is quality material
Cons
- The rod tip may be fragile
- Might not be the most optimal for big fish
- Line wires could be stronger
Our Take
This fly fishing rod package provides every component that a fly rod can offer, including a rod, a pre-spooled reel, flies, forceps, line nipper with a retractor. The rod is a four-piece rod with an extra tip and very slim. I do like the woven of the rod, and the shining guide rings. The variety of hand-tied flies makes your fishing easier. The carrier bag is made of quality material, and the contents inside aren't bad either. The rod itself is your standard 4-part fly rod and goes together nicely -- lightweight and durable. The reel on the one we received is set up for left-handed people, so double-check that as you order. The fly's are in good condition; hooks are sharp. And the extra parts such as the clippers, pulley, and line were a nice bonus. I would recommend this portable and charming fly rod to all anglers, whether you're an experienced vet or a young up and coming angler.
M MAXIMUMCATCH Maxcatch Extreme Graphite Fly Fishing Rod
The Maxcatch extreme graphite fly fishing rod can be purchased as an ala carte or as an entire package. There are 13 different size variations from 8’4 3 weight/4sec to 10 ft, 8 weight/4 sec. There are also three different handle and reel selections from a 5wt-9’ half handle rod with ⅚ reel to an 8wt- 9’, full handle rod with a ⅞ reel. The rod is made from pure IM7 24T plus 30 T carbon fiber mixed five layers of carbon, including reinforced muscle carbon layer, to increase strength by 20%. The rod is made from a pure cork handle that is pure A contoured for comfortability and gripping to help the user with casting accuracy. The grip also handles the saltwater environment, so it isn’t easily damaged. The rod is a fast action rod designed to be smooth, powerful, and high-efficiency loading for long-distance casting.
Pros
- One of the best value rods
- Great for catching trout and panfish
- Beginner-friendly rod and reel
Cons
- Hard to tighten the rings to secure reel foot
- A little too heavy
Our Take
I've caught everything from 6oz Rio Grande cichlids to 5-6lb bass, loads of sunfish, bluegill, and even catfish and carp with this rod. It feels good in the hand, not too heavy for its weight. However, the tip can be fragile, especially if it gets caught between weeds or rocks. This is light, crisp, and a joy to cast! The cork is excellent for this price point, and it's all put together and presented quite nicely. Dollar for dollar, this is a great affordable fly rod. Gorgeous matt forest green, decent reel seat, casts well, moderate action rod. This rod is ideal for catching trout and panfish for beginners. Overall we like how it is flexible and easy to assemble. The case is quite sturdy and comes in a five-section for better storage in your backpack for travel.
Piscifun Sword Graphite Fly Fishing Rod
The Piscifun Sword Graphite fly fishing rod offers a variety of sizes, including 8’6 4wt, 9’5wt, 9’6wt, 9’7wt, 9’9wt (this is dependent on the type and size of fish you aim to catch. The smaller 4wt 8’6 is a slow action for sunfish, small trout, and small streams. The 5wt/6wt-9’ is a medium action for general trout, larger streams, and rivers. The 7wt-9’ is a medium action for bass, carp, light steelhead, salmon, and saltwater fishing. The 9wt-9’ is fast action for winter steelhead, salmon, and saltwater fishing. It is made from IM7 graphite for accuracy, performance, and durability. It has an aluminum reel seat with double lock rings for sturdy reel attachment. It's a four-piece design; hence, it is easy to carry with a durable PVC rod tube for portability and protection.
Pros
- Casting is smooth and action is great
- Customer service is good
- Great price
- Great beginners rod
Cons
- Tip could be prone to breaking but easily replaceable
- A little stiff
Our Take
Overall, the quality of this rod is what separates it from other brands. It has an incredibly sturdy IM7 7 graphite for durability along with a machined aluminum reel set with double lock rings to keep everything secure. You can take this along with you and travel comfortably. The fast action makes it easy to catch your favorite trout, panfish, and bass. This rod can cast very accurately for 90-100 feet, which is much better than its other competitors. The drag on this rod also allows you to catch much bigger fish for its size.
