Fly Rod Weight Chart and Rod Specs A to Z
Updated 2026-09-26 · Researched, not tested in person
Fly rod weight is the line weight the rod is built to cast, not the mass of the rod. Use a 3 or 4 weight for small streams and panfish, a 5 weight for general trout fishing, a 6 for big trout and streamers, 7 to 8 for bass, carp and steelhead, 8 for bonefish and redfish, and 10 to 12 for tarpon. Most fly rods are 9 feet long; go 7 to 7.5 feet for brushy creeks and 10 to 11 feet for euro nymphing.
Published specifications for 40 fly rods across 13 makers. Line weight, length, pieces, action, grip, warranty and a street price band on every one. An uncertain specification is left out rather than guessed at, so some tables are shorter than others and every figure printed is one you can check against the maker's own sheet.
If you know your water, start with line weight. If you know your budget, start with the price bands. If you already own a rod you like, start with the brand list and read across the range. If you know none of the three, read the beginner rod roundup first, then come back.
Fly rod weight chart by species
| Fish | Line weight | Most common |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill and other panfish | 2 to 4 | 4 |
| Brook trout, small stream | 3 to 4 | 3 |
| Trout, general river work | 5 | 5 |
| Trout, spring creek and flat water | 4 | 4 |
| Big trout, streamers, wind | 6 | 6 |
| Common carp | 6 to 8 | 7 |
| Smallmouth bass | 6 to 8 | 7 |
| Largemouth bass | 7 to 9 | 8 |
| Northern pike and musky | 8 to 10 | 9 |
| Steelhead, single hand | 7 to 8 | 8 |
| Bonefish | 8 | 8 |
| Redfish | 8 | 8 |
| Permit | 9 | 9 |
| Atlantic salmon, single hand | 9 | 9 |
| Striped bass, inshore | 9 to 10 | 9 |
| Baby tarpon and juveniles | 10 | 10 |
| Adult tarpon | 11 to 12 | 11 |
Fly rod length chart by water
| Situation | Length | Line weight |
|---|---|---|
| Brushy small stream, casts under 25 feet | 6'6" to 7'6" | 2 to 4 |
| General river trout fishing | 8'6" to 9'0" | 4 to 6 |
| Tight line and euro nymphing | 10'0" to 11'0" | 2 to 4 |
| Stillwater from a bank or float tube | 9'6" to 10'0" | 5 to 7 |
| Saltwater flats | 9'0" | 8 to 10 |
| Big flies from a boat | 8'6" to 9'0" | 9 to 12 |
The reasoning behind every row, plus grain weights for each line class, is on the fly rod weight by species chart. To size a rod for your own water, use the rod length calculator or the line weight calculator.
Browse by line weight
Line weight is the specification that decides what you can fish, and it refers to the mass of line the rod is built to carry rather than to the weight of the rod itself. A 5 weight covers roughly 80 percent of freshwater fly fishing in North America. Full breakdown on the rod weight by species chart.
3 weight
| Rod | Length | Pieces | Action | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orvis Blackout 1034-4 | 10'0" | 4 | medium-fast | Under $1,000 |
| Echo Shadow X 3100-4 | 10'0" | 4 | medium-fast | Under $500 |
| Thomas & Thomas Contact II 1103-4 | 11'0" | 4 | medium-fast | Under $1,000 |
| SF Shadow Walker 3100-4 | 10'0" | 4 | medium-fast | Under $100 |
| Douglas Upstream 763-4 | 7'6" | 4 | moderate | Under $500 |
4 weight
| Rod | Length | Pieces | Action | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redington Classic Trout 486-4 | 8'6" | 4 | moderate | Under $250 |
| Sage Trout LL 490-4 | 9'0" | 4 | moderate | Under $1,000 |
| Redington Butter Stick 476-3 | 7'6" | 3 | slow | Under $500 |
5 weight
| Rod | Length | Pieces | Action | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orvis Clearwater 905-4 | 9'0" | 4 | medium-fast | Under $500 |
| Orvis Recon 905-4 | 9'0" | 4 | fast | Under $1,000 |
| Orvis Helios 905-4 | 9'0" | 4 | fast | $1,000+ |
| Orvis Encounter 905-4 | 9'0" | 4 | medium-fast | Under $250 |
| Sage Foundation 590-4 | 9'0" | 4 | fast | Under $500 |
| Sage R8 Core 590-4 | 9'0" | 4 | fast | $1,000+ |
| Redington Crosswater 590-4 | 9'0" | 4 | medium-fast | Under $250 |
| Redington Path 590-4 | 9'0" | 4 | medium-fast | Under $250 |
| Redington Vice 590-4 | 9'0" | 4 | fast | Under $500 |
| Temple Fork Outfitters NXT Black Label 590-4 | 9'0" | 4 | moderate | Under $250 |
| Temple Fork Outfitters Pro III 905-4 | 9'0" | 4 | fast | Under $500 |
| Echo Base 590-4 | 9'0" | 4 | medium-fast | Under $250 |
| Echo Carbon XL 590-4 | 9'0" | 4 | medium-fast | Under $250 |
| Echo River Glass | 8'0" | 4 | slow | Under $500 |
| R.L. Winston Air 2 590-4 | 9'0" | 4 | medium-fast | $1,000+ |
| R.L. Winston Pure 590-4 | 9'0" | 4 | moderate | Under $1,000 |
| Scott Centric 905-4 | 9'0" | 4 | fast | $1,000+ |
| Scott Session 905-4 | 9'0" | 4 | medium-fast | Under $1,000 |
| G. Loomis NRX+ 590-4 | 9'0" | 4 | fast | $1,000+ |
| G. Loomis IMX-Pro 590-4 | 9'0" | 4 | fast | Under $1,000 |
| Douglas Sky G 590-4 | 9'0" | 4 | fast | Under $1,000 |
| Douglas DXF 590-4 | 9'0" | 4 | medium-fast | Under $500 |
| Hardy Ultralite X 905-4 | 9'0" | 4 | medium-fast | Under $1,000 |
| Maxcatch Extreme 590-4 | 9'0" | 4 | medium-fast | Under $100 |
| Sage Sonic 590-4 | 9'0" | 4 | fast | Under $1,000 |
| Temple Fork Outfitters BVK 590-4 | 9'0" | 4 | fast | Under $500 |
| Echo Boost Fresh 590-4 | 9'0" | 4 | fast | Under $500 |
| G. Loomis Asquith 590-4 | 9'0" | 4 | fast | $1,000+ |
6 weight
| Rod | Length | Pieces | Action | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sage Payload 690-4 | 9'0" | 4 | medium-fast | Under $1,000 |
8 weight
| Rod | Length | Pieces | Action | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redington Predator 890-4 | 9'0" | 4 | fast | Under $500 |
| Temple Fork Outfitters Axiom II-X 890-4 | 9'0" | 4 | fast | Under $500 |
| Scott Sector 890-4 | 9'0" | 4 | fast | $1,000+ |
Browse by price band
Under $300
The band where a rod stops holding a caster back. Every first rod worth owning lives here.
| Rod | Weight | Length | Action | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF Shadow Walker 3100-4 | 3 | 10'0" | medium-fast | Under $100 |
| Maxcatch Extreme 590-4 | 5 | 9'0" | medium-fast | Under $100 |
| Redington Path 590-4 | 5 | 9'0" | medium-fast | Under $250 |
| Echo Base 590-4 | 5 | 9'0" | medium-fast | Under $250 |
| Temple Fork Outfitters NXT Black Label 590-4 | 5 | 9'0" | moderate | Under $250 |
| Redington Crosswater 590-4 | 5 | 9'0" | medium-fast | Under $250 |
| Orvis Encounter 905-4 | 5 | 9'0" | medium-fast | Under $250 |
| Redington Classic Trout 486-4 | 4 | 8'6" | moderate | Under $250 |
| Echo Carbon XL 590-4 | 5 | 9'0" | medium-fast | Under $250 |
| Redington Butter Stick 476-3 | 4 | 7'6" | slow | Under $500 |
| Orvis Clearwater 905-4 | 5 | 9'0" | medium-fast | Under $500 |
| Redington Vice 590-4 | 5 | 9'0" | fast | Under $500 |
| Temple Fork Outfitters Pro III 905-4 | 5 | 9'0" | fast | Under $500 |
| Temple Fork Outfitters BVK 590-4 | 5 | 9'0" | fast | Under $500 |
| Echo Boost Fresh 590-4 | 5 | 9'0" | fast | Under $500 |
$300 to $800
Real blank quality plus better hardware. Most people who fish regularly end up here and stop.
| Rod | Weight | Length | Action | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redington Predator 890-4 | 8 | 9'0" | fast | Under $500 |
| Echo River Glass | 5 | 8'0" | slow | Under $500 |
| Echo Shadow X 3100-4 | 3 | 10'0" | medium-fast | Under $500 |
| Douglas DXF 590-4 | 5 | 9'0" | medium-fast | Under $500 |
| Douglas Upstream 763-4 | 3 | 7'6" | moderate | Under $500 |
| Sage Foundation 590-4 | 5 | 9'0" | fast | Under $500 |
| Temple Fork Outfitters Axiom II-X 890-4 | 8 | 9'0" | fast | Under $500 |
| Orvis Blackout 1034-4 | 3 | 10'0" | medium-fast | Under $1,000 |
| Orvis Recon 905-4 | 5 | 9'0" | fast | Under $1,000 |
| Hardy Ultralite X 905-4 | 5 | 9'0" | medium-fast | Under $1,000 |
| Sage Sonic 590-4 | 5 | 9'0" | fast | Under $1,000 |
| G. Loomis IMX-Pro 590-4 | 5 | 9'0" | fast | Under $1,000 |
| Scott Session 905-4 | 5 | 9'0" | medium-fast | Under $1,000 |
| Sage Payload 690-4 | 6 | 9'0" | medium-fast | Under $1,000 |
$800 and up
Weight savings, feedback and warranty service. Nothing here catches more fish than the band above.
| Rod | Weight | Length | Action | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas Sky G 590-4 | 5 | 9'0" | fast | Under $1,000 |
| Thomas & Thomas Contact II 1103-4 | 3 | 11'0" | medium-fast | Under $1,000 |
| R.L. Winston Pure 590-4 | 5 | 9'0" | moderate | Under $1,000 |
| Sage Trout LL 490-4 | 4 | 9'0" | moderate | Under $1,000 |
| Scott Centric 905-4 | 5 | 9'0" | fast | $1,000+ |
| G. Loomis NRX+ 590-4 | 5 | 9'0" | fast | $1,000+ |
| Orvis Helios 905-4 | 5 | 9'0" | fast | $1,000+ |
| Sage R8 Core 590-4 | 5 | 9'0" | fast | $1,000+ |
| R.L. Winston Air 2 590-4 | 5 | 9'0" | medium-fast | $1,000+ |
| Scott Sector 890-4 | 8 | 9'0" | fast | $1,000+ |
| G. Loomis Asquith 590-4 | 5 | 9'0" | fast | $1,000+ |
Browse by brand
Douglas
- Sky G 590-4 5wt, 9'0"
- DXF 590-4 5wt, 9'0"
- Upstream 763-4 3wt, 7'6"
Echo
- Base 590-4 5wt, 9'0"
- Carbon XL 590-4 5wt, 9'0"
- River Glass 5wt, 8'0"
- Shadow X 3100-4 3wt, 10'0"
- Boost Fresh 590-4 5wt, 9'0"
G. Loomis
- NRX+ 590-4 5wt, 9'0"
- IMX-Pro 590-4 5wt, 9'0"
- Asquith 590-4 5wt, 9'0"
Hardy
- Ultralite X 905-4 5wt, 9'0"
Maxcatch
- Extreme 590-4 5wt, 9'0"
Orvis
- Clearwater 905-4 5wt, 9'0"
- Recon 905-4 5wt, 9'0"
- Helios 905-4 5wt, 9'0"
- Encounter 905-4 5wt, 9'0"
- Blackout 1034-4 3wt, 10'0"
R.L. Winston
- Air 2 590-4 5wt, 9'0"
- Pure 590-4 5wt, 9'0"
Redington
- Crosswater 590-4 5wt, 9'0"
- Path 590-4 5wt, 9'0"
- Classic Trout 486-4 4wt, 8'6"
- Vice 590-4 5wt, 9'0"
- Predator 890-4 8wt, 9'0"
- Butter Stick 476-3 4wt, 7'6"
Sage
- Foundation 590-4 5wt, 9'0"
- R8 Core 590-4 5wt, 9'0"
- Payload 690-4 6wt, 9'0"
- Sonic 590-4 5wt, 9'0"
- Trout LL 490-4 4wt, 9'0"
Scott
- Centric 905-4 5wt, 9'0"
- Session 905-4 5wt, 9'0"
- Sector 890-4 8wt, 9'0"
SF
- Shadow Walker 3100-4 3wt, 10'0"
Temple Fork Outfitters
- NXT Black Label 590-4 5wt, 9'0"
- Pro III 905-4 5wt, 9'0"
- Axiom II-X 890-4 8wt, 9'0"
- BVK 590-4 5wt, 9'0"
Thomas & Thomas
- Contact II 1103-4 3wt, 11'0"
What the action words mean here
Action vocabulary is used consistently across the whole index, because makers use it inconsistently. Action describes where the blank bends under load, not how stiff it feels in your hand in a shop.
| Action | Where it bends | What it suits | Rods here |
|---|---|---|---|
| slow | Into the grip | Glass and light cane feel, very short range, maximum tippet protection | 2 |
| moderate | Through the middle third | Forgiving timing, dry fly presentation, small to medium water | 5 |
| medium-fast | Upper third, brisk recovery | The all-round default and the right first rod | 16 |
| fast | Tip dominant | Line speed, wind, weighted rigs, experienced casters | 17 |
Why some rows are missing
Blank weights, swing weights and manufacturing origin move between model years and are not published consistently, so those entries carry a null in the data file and the row is dropped from the page entirely. Nothing here is estimated. A price band rather than a single price is the same principle: fly rod street prices move with dealer promotions and model-year changeovers, so a single figure would be wrong within weeks while the band stays true.
Most premium blanks are dealer-controlled and are not sold on Amazon under the real model name, so those pages link to a scoped search on both networks rather than to a fabricated product page. Where a model genuinely is listed, the page carries the verified card.
Next steps
- Line weight calculator, to match line to whatever rod you own.
- Rod length calculator, to work out what length your water actually wants.
- Complete setups, if you need the whole kit rather than one rod.
- 5 weight versus 6 weight, the single most common question here.
- Wading safety guide, which matters more than any rod on this page.
