If you’re wondering whether a switch rod is for you, I’d definitely go to your fly shop and ask to cast one, visit a casting clinic, or borrow one from a buddy.

Learning how to cast a fly rod farther will make you a better, more versatile angler.

Do fly rod grips make a BIG difference in your casting? No, but the little difference it does make can equal that extra few feet that puts you in the fishes strike zone.

Many anglers start with a softer more flexible fly rod, graduate to stiffer and easier-to-cast rods, and then eventually come full-circle to using a softer more flexible rod.

The First Cast, which Reyr bills as a medium-weight rod, comes with an aluminum reel attached and a line that’s internally-routed through its telescoping segments. Transitioning from packed and stowed ...