wayneb wrote:So, is a match rod a fly rod? Or is it more like a dappling rod/cane pole/Tenkara type rod?
Wayneb
The term "match rod" is used to describe a typical rod once customarily used for competition fishing, a "fishing match". These rods can be used for various things, either float fishing or legering, and usually have an action which makes them sensitive but still powerful enough to handle large fish. They are used with either free running centrepin, (not common now),or fixed spool reels, for things like long trotting, light float,( bobber), fishing, and light legering. Basically designed as "general purpose" coarse fishing rods.
They are not "designed" as fly rods, but while looking for rods which would suit me for various fly-fishing methods, I found that some match rods had an almost ideal action for a number of things. I was unable to find the blanks I wanted for this, ( although some are sometimes available) but was able to find plenty of "ready made " match rods which used suitable blanks in the length and action I wanted. The sliding reel seats, or grips, or rings, are advantageous because one may position the reel wherever one wishes to obtain the best "balance" and/or hand positioning. many modern match rods no longer have sliding fittings, the reel seat is fixed. The rings on match rods are invariably "stand-off" rings, also referred to as "high-bridge" rings, designed to keep the line well away from the rod and prevent it "sticking" and/or tangling when wet etc. Which is a severe hindrance when casting light terminal tackle. These rings often have very small diameters and a fly line may not pass through them. When fly fishing with such a rod "stand-off" rings are not required, because the line does not pass through the rings when casting, and larger diameter rings may be required anyway simply in order to be able to thread the line through.
There are match rods with varying actions and weights, but most "light" match rods will be excellent for wet fly fishing because of their design. I prefer rods with a "crisp" action, and what would be called a "fast" or "tip action" in a fly rod. You need to at least handle a rod to get an idea of whether it will be suitable for your purposes.
One secondary advantage of these rods is that they may be obtained very cheaply.
If you don't want to go to the trouble, then a ten foot purpose built fly rod, ( Like the Greys 10 Ft #3 which Aaron reviewed most excellently), is probably your best bet if you like the action. There were a number of 11 ft and 11 ft 3" rods produced at one time purportedly specifically for this type of fishing, but I did not like the weight or the action on any of them, and they have more or less disappeared now anyway.
Obtaining "fly rod" blanks in the weight and action required in these lengths is often difficult or impossible. You wont find a fourteen foot #3 rated blank anywhere, and in the final analysis it doesn't matter what the blank may have been designed for as long as it suits the purpose for which one wishes to use it. Because of the rod and method used, the concept of "line weight" is not relevant. These rods are used with a casting line of about one and half times the rod length, ( or less at first, just one rod length), and no more. I have weighed some of the lines I use and they approximate to the weight of similar lengths of #3 #4 or # 5 AFTM lines. The main target though is to use a line which can be cast easily and precisely merely with a flick of the rod, which allows the leader ( cast of flies) to land very gently, and causes no disturbance at all.
Using these rods one is able to actually follow the advice given in many books over the years, and "keep your line off the water" ( the casting line is meant here of course), this is simply impossible with a "short" rod and a modern heavy plastic fly line. It is however essential to success with many techniques.
This is actually shown using a nine foot rod in the clip I posted for upstream spider fishing. This works of course, as shown, but it works even better with a longer rod. here is the clip again;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-hQAD1A2FI
A lot of the time, because these rods are light and easy to handle despite their length, I will fish "single handed". With the rods of this length, ( and more, up to eighteen feet was not unusual,) once in common use this was not possible as the rods weighed several pounds, and single handed use was simply not practicable.
Using these rods allows you to use methods and flies which simply wont work well, if at all, on short rods and modern plastic lines used in what is now the "conventional" manner. You can still use all the other techniques as well if you wish.
TL
MC
(I have a thing for early model "translucent" brown blanks...anything with an A, B, or C serial model will be outstanding.)
