The following can be used as a general reference for size and use selection:

#2 Weight Fly Rods

~ Considered to be ultra, ultra light

~ Highly specialized for fishing tiny flies and very light tippets

~ Great for spooky fish where delicate presentation is the most important factor

~ Makes little fish seem bigger

~ Works best at short to medium ranges with flies under size #16

#3 Weight Fly Rods

~ Considered ultra light

~ Generally fits all the specifications of #2 weight rods for delicate presentation but the larger line mass is easier to time while casting and allows longer casts

~ Comfortable with flies up to size #14

#4 Weight Fly Rods

~ Considered light

~ Very popular size for spring creeks and mountain streams

~ Works well with 2 - 6 pound tippets, and fly sizes #12 to #20

~ Casts comfortably to ranges of 45 feet

#5 Weight Fly Rods

~ Considered medium light

~ One of the most popular sizes for general trout fishing

~ Fishes tippets down to 2 pound test

~ Works well with tippets of 3 to 10 pound test

~ Works well with bushy dries up to size #6 or tiny emergers down to size #20

~ Casts comfortably to ranges of 60 feet with a size #12 fly

~ Feels good with mountain cutthroats or Alaska rainbows (9" to 5 lb.)

#6 Weight Fly Rods

~ Considered medium weight

~ The most versatile size

~ Works well with tippets of 3 to 10 pound test

~ Casts bushy #4 dries to 50 feet easily and is delicate enough to fish flies down to size #18 effectively

~ Will throw #4 cork poppers or deer hair mice

~ Has enough line mass to deliver large weighted nymphs to 60 feet and #10 unweighted flies to 90 feet

#7 Weight Fly Rods

~ Considered medium heavy

~ Useful where windy conditions prevail

~ Useful where exceptionally large flies are used

~ Useful where trout over five pounds are normal

~ Works poorly with tippets under 5 pound test

~ Works best with tippets of 6 to 12 pound test

~ Works best with flies #2 to #14

~ Has enough line mass to deliver #6 fly to the length of the fly line

#8 Weight Fly Rods

~ Considered heavy

~ Very useful where trout average 6 to 15 pounds

~ Will cast the largest trout flies

~ Compatible with the heaviest trout tippets

~ The best choice for very windy conditions

~ Will cast to the longest ranges

Nymph Rods

~ Long rods are best for line control

~ Light weight rods are best for sensitivity

~ 10' - #4 to #6 weight (our choice)

Dry Fly Rods

~ Casting accuracy prime factor

~ Smooth fast action

~ Delicate presentation

 

You can learn even more about hundreds of models of - Fly Rods.

Well made, machined fly reels can be fine examples of craftsmanship.   Some are functional art work.  The best are functional jewelry.  Check out our selection of the worlds finest Fly Reels.

Check out our Fly Line Section.

If you would like to learn about different brands of leaders, go to - Fly Leaders.

If you would like to build your own leaders or have a better understanding of tapered leader design, check out - About Fly Leaders.

Midges hatch year round and are most important to the trout fisherman during periods when hatches of other aquatic insects are light, such as late fall, winter and early spring. Midges can be active during all parts of the day, but by and large they like the warmer periods of the day during the cold months and the cooler parts of the day during the warm months.

Trout also feed on midges as they are hatching and after they have hatched into winged adults.  Alkaline rivers such a s the lower Deschutes have huge populations of midges.  If you look along the edges of the river you will see a stringy yellow green substance ringing many rocks in the splash zone.  To the inexperienced observer this substance could look like a form of aquatic pants or algae.  Actually it is the egg strings from millions of midges.  Watch the rivers edge during mid morning and you will see a multitude of midges laying their eggs.

Floating Midge Pupa
Hook: TMC 100, #12 - #20 
Thread: same color as body
Tail: white Antron
Body: tying thread - black, tan, red, brown or olive
Rib: pearl Krystal Flash
Thorax: peacock herl
Emerging wings: white Antron
Floatation: white sealed cell foam

A large trout with a tiny "Floating Midge Pupa" stuck in its upper lip.

Proven On Bluewater
"We took our Ross BG #8s to Mexico and let sailfish rip hundreds of yards of backing from them.  No problem.  Isn't that how everyone tests their reels?"  Our (2) 
Big Game #8 reels are still like new.

Proven In Coldwater Wading Deep
However we have also tested Big Game reels in an even harsher environment: wading deep for steelhead on our home waters.  
Our reels are under water a lot.
Many brands of reels fade or fall apart from repeated dunkings.
Many reels won't pass the steelhead test. 
Ross Big Game Reels do.