• Fly fishing can be more enjoyable if you know your equipment and how to use it.Fly Fishing image by marilyn barbone from Fotolia.com
  
  As fly fishing increases in popularity, so does custom fly rod shops and do-it-yourself instructions for making your own fly rod. Regardless of whether you buy a fly rod from a specific dealer or build it yourself, there are basic components required on every fly rod.
  
  

Rod

• The rod itself is perhaps the most important part of the rod, being characterized by weight, length and action. The higher the number of a rod, the heavier the rod. The heavier the rod, the bigger the fish you can catch with it. A standard, middle-of-the-road weight is a 6 weight rod. The length of the rod is primarily determined by where you will be fishing. If you have a tight stream, for example, you may want shorter than the standard nine feet rod. The action in a rod refers to how much it will bend. For example, only the tip will bend with a fast rod.
  
  

Grip

• The grip of a fly rod is at the end, where you would typically hold it in your hand. Grip size and shape is matter of personal preference and comfort. Most grips today are made from cork.
  
  

Fighting Butt

• The fighting butt of a fly rod sits on the end of the rod, providing a comfortable place to rest the rod against you when you are fighting to get a fish in. Like the grip, the fighting butt is most frequently made from cork. Some fighting butts may be removable, and some are permanently attached.
  
  

Hook Keeper

• The hook keeper is more a convenience than a must-have. But it provides a safe and easy way to transport the full rod without removing the hook.
  
  

Guides

• The two primary guides you need on a fly rod are the stripping guide and snake guides. A fly rod has only one stripping guide, and you use it to helps the line pass down the rod without getting tangled as you strip the line.
  
  Regardless of length, there are typically eight snake guides on a fly rod. These guides help the line thread untangled down to the tip of the rod.