Caña Shimano Biocraft XTC Fly Nymph

FUNCTIONS TO BE FULFILLED BY THE FLY FISHING ROD
The fly rod fulfills or should fulfill several functions, which are:

• To transfer to the line and to the fly the necessary energy to reach a certain distance
• To control the line in and on the water
• To allow manipulation of the fish (fish, when it is already out of the water) when we have managed to hook it

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HOW TO CHOOSE THE ROD
If you want to buy a fly fishing rod, consider the following factors:

• The species you want to fish for
• The environment or places where you are going to fish
• The rod material
• The length of the rod
• The weight
• Rod action
• Budget

Para if you are a beginner, a Number 5 or 6 intermediate rod is best , with a length of about 8.5 or 9 feet and an approximate weight of about 90 grams that will allow you to fish in most situations.
Regarding the material, the best rods are made of carbon fiber. It is a resistant, light and economical material, so there is a huge variety of rods. As for the handle, the material normally used and the most advisable is cork.

THE ACTION
It is advisable to acquire a medium action rod, rather than a slow one, as this will allow you to dominate more easily almost any type of fish.
Another important point is the number of sections in which the rod is divided, being possible to find rods of up to 6 sections; although the great majority is divided in 2 or 3 sections.
Regarding the action and although there is no standard definition or method to determine the "action" of a rod, in general terms, the action is defined by two variables:

• The speed at which a rod returns to its normal position
• How and where the rod bends under the weight of a fish

These variables, in turn, depend on two parameters

• The ratio of rod stiffness to rod weight (Modulus)
• The degree of thinning from the base to the tip

Thus, a reed with a high modulus, i.e. light and stiff, will bend less than one with a lower modulus. Under these conditions, a definition for the action will be:

• Fast action (Tip): 30% of the length of the rod is bent (the thinner part, of course). These are tip action rods
• Mid Action: 60% of the rod length is bent. They are known as semi-parabolic rods
• Slow action (Full): 90% of the length of the rod is bent. These are known as parabolic reeds

BALANCED ROD
The first step in obtaining a balanced rig is to make sure that the specific rod number matches the specific line and reel number. A rig consisting of a No. 8 reel loaded with a No. 3 line attached to a No. 12 rod will most likely not be balanced.
If this first point is correct, we will continue with the following steps

• Static balancing:
  1. Assemble the rod, placing the reel already loaded with line
  2. Stand up and hold the rod, by the handle, horizontally with the hand you usually use for casting
  3. Release the rod and hold it in balance with the middle part of your index (or middle) finger
  4. Slide your finger toward the tip or butt to locate the balance point
  5. The balance point should be inside the handle, over the last third of the handle
  6. Mark the balance point
• Static balance with load:
  This test attempts to determine the balance point of the line off the reel as if it were being cast.
  1. Assemble the rod, placing the reel already loaded with line
  2. Draw approximately 9 m. of line so that the nine-meter point is close to the reel
  3. Carefully reel in the line that is outside and place it on the rod tip
  4. As in the previous test, try to locate the balance point
  5. Mark this second balance point in such a way that it is not confused with the first mark
• Adjust to the balance point:
  If the first balance point is outside the last quarter of the handle and lies on the rod body, then the rig is too light.
  If you could not find this point inside the rod, it is because the rig is too heavy, so then the reel and line are NOT compatible. Similarly, the second balance point should be above the handle, at the tip of the handle or right at the junction of the handle and the rod body, you do not need to make adjustments.
  If the second point is at most 1 or 2 cm above the rod body (blank) you can still try to correct the balance by adding a little more backing line or putting some weight on the butt.
  Once you have a balanced rig, you are ready to start practicing.