Best Saltwater Fly Fishing Rods for the money 2022
Salt water fly fishing can be a truly amazing experience. When most people think of fly fishing they think of an older man waist deep in a river effortlessly moving his rod back and forth slowly and methodically, allowing his line to reach further and further until it finally reaches its intended destination.
But if you’ve ever been saltwater fly fishing then you know that this picture is not the same. Fishing in the ocean is a completely different game and you need to adjust your game plan accordingly if you plan to go saltwater fishing. To begin you’ll need a stronger and longer fly rod. The fish you will be catching out in the ocean are not the same as catching a small brook trout or even a larger steelhead. Saltwater fish mean business.
You’ll also need to make sure that you have a reel that can adequately and effectively reel in these larger fish. To begin with we’ll go over some of the top saltwater fly fishing rods currently on the market so if you’re looking for the best all around salt water fly rod you’re in luck. Here’s our choice of the 5 best saltwater fly fishing rods for the money in 2022.
Image | Name | Length & Weight | Top Choices | Latest Pricing |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 1. Fenwicks AETOS Fly Rods | 9'- 8wt | Our Favorite | Amazon |
![]() | 2. Tailwater Outfitters Toccoa Fly Rods | 9'- 8wt | Premium Pick | Amazon |
![]() | 3. Moonshine Rod Co. The Drifter Series Fly Fishing Rods | 9'- 8wt | Great Value | Amazon |
![]() | 4. Piscifun Sword Graphite Fly Fishing Rods | 9'- 9wt | Amazon | Piscifun | |
![]() | 5. Maxcatch Extreme Graphite Fly Fishing Rods | 9'- 8wt | Amazon |
Pricing of these Saltwater Fly Fishing Rods Range Between $50-$200
Fenwicks AETOS Fly Rods Review
The Fenwicks Aetos is a versatile rod that’s perfect for anglers who enjoy fly fishing in a lot of different settings and conditions. With freshwater, saltwater, switch, and spey models available, this fast-action rod will deliver dynamic performance wherever you choose to take it.
At 9 feet long, the Aetos is built from four pieces of high-performance carbon fiber blanks that are lightweight and durable. These blanks provide excellent sensitivity, so you’ll be able to feel every move the fish makes. Large-diameter gunsmoke stripper guides and double-foot gunsmoke snake guides will improve your casting distance and accuracy, putting you in a position to land big fish. Its AAA-grade cork handle is comfortable and secure, so your hands won’t fatigue after hours of fishing and you’ll never be concerned about losing your grip.
Fast-recovering, high-performance modern tapers will allow your rod to bend but never break making it one of the best bonefish fly rods. The freshwater, saltwater, and switch rods feature a reel seat with an aluminum anodized double uplock, while the spey model has a downlock.
The Aetos comes in a striking deep blue color with carbon fiber flakes. In addition, the rod also comes with a cloth-covered rod tube and bag, ensuring easy and safe transportation to and from fishing.
Highlights:
- Very lightweight and durable
- Large guides
- AAA-grade cork handle
- Extremely sensitive
Tailwater Outfitters Toccoa Fly Rods Review
Sensitivity, accuracy, and durability are three of the most important features to look for in a quality fly fishing rod. The Tailwater Outfitters Toccoa Fly Rod has all of them and more. Built from four pieces of high-quality IM8 graphite, the Toccoa is a 9-foot-long, fast-action rod that will stand up to all weather conditions and land you big fish.
Its ceramic stripping and chrome snake guides make long-distance casting effortless, allowing you to precisely place your fly in the perfect location. A well-crafted cork handle with a fighting butt will also assist with casting accuracy while providing a surefire grip.
A machined aluminum reel seat and double-lock rings will keep your reel sturdily in place, even during the toughest fights. On top of this, the Toccoa features a user-friendly design that’s simple to put together, use, and transport. Its pieces are easily assembled using an efficient white dot alignment system, so you won’t waste your time.
It also comes with a four-compartment Cordura rod tube that includes an adjustable shoulder strap. Whether you’re fishing on your property or hiking miles to a remote location, you’ll be able to carry it with ease. The Toccoa’s impressive dark gray color will help prevent startling fish with bright and distracting colors.
Highlights:
- Amazing craftsmanship
- Nicely corked handle and fighting butt
- Included carrying case
- Machined aluminum reels seat
Moonshine Rod Co. The Drifter Series Fly Fishing Rods Review
The Moonshine Rod Company’s Drifter Series is inspired by the classics. Featuring impeccable attention to detail, each custom-made rod is top-of-the-line quality. The 8WT is no exception. At 9 feet long and weighing just 3.9 ounces, it’s light, sensitive, and strong. Its four high-performance graphite blanks allow for comfortable action and peak performance, giving you an enjoyable experience on the water.
The rod is firm for strong casts while remaining flexible enough to effectively reel in fish. The Drifter 8WT includes anodized copper hardware from reel to tip, facilitating easy and accurate casting for both expert fly fishermen and beginners alike. The rod’s unique reel seats are hand-turned from grain burl woods, which are dyed to fully showcase their rich color.
Its handle is constructed from AAA-grade cork with burled ends, and the rod is painted in a vintage matte-brown color scheme. In addition to its craftsmanship, the Drifter 8WT is functional. It’s both easy to assemble and deconstruct, so you can focus more on fishing making it one of the best tarpon fly rods. And its careful attention to detail extends beyond the rod itself.
It comes standard with a hard canvas case with five compartments – including an extra tip section – that’s finely embroidered with the Moonshine logo.
Highlights:
- Inspired and designed around classic rods
- AAA-grade corked burled end
- Weighs just 3.9 ounces
- Anodized copper hardware from reel to rod tip
Piscifun Sword Graphite Fly Fishing Rods Review
For fly fishermen looking for a sturdy, versatile, fast-action rod, the Piscifun Sword Fly Fishing Rod is an excellent option. It’s perfect for winter steelhead, salmon, and saltwater fishing. Constructed from durable IM7 graphite blanks, this rod is reliable.
Its machined aluminum reel seat has double-lock rings, creating a rugged and powerful reel attachment. While a tangled line can be a common problem for many fly fishermen – particularly beginners – this rod is equipped with ceramic stripping guide inserts and chrome guides to ensure consistently smooth casting.
These guide features will also contribute to longer, more-accurate casting, putting you in position to land sizeable fish. The rod also has a high-quality cork grip that will fit well in your hands. Cork handles are warmer than many EVA grips. Whether you decide to fish for 30 minutes or three hours, you’ll never be uncomfortable on cool mornings spent in the stream.
At 9 feet long and 5.3 ounces, the Piscifun Sword is both durable and light, possessing instant pulling power and excellent balance. The rod’s four-piece design and white alignment dots allow for quick, headache-free construction and disassembling. It comes with a resilient PVC rod tube for reliable protection, safe storage, and straightforward transportation.
Highlights:
- Made from IM7 graphite blanks
- Ceramic stripping guide inserts
- Stunning cork handle
- Weighs in at 5.3 ounces
Maxcatch Extreme Graphite Fly Fishing Rods Review
Backed by 13 years of experience, Maxcatch understands fly fishermen. Their Extreme Graphite Fly Fishing Rod is one of the best available. Powered by the company’s exclusive Maxlinq blank technology, it contains pure IM7 carbon fiber that’s built for top-quality performance.
It also features five layers of mixed carbon – including a reinforced muscle carbon layer – that enhance the rod’s strength by more than 20 percent. Ultra-lightweight, stainless-steel snake guides, MaxSelect stripping guides, and an oversized tip loop make long-distance casting effortless. The rod is also slim-tapered to be smooth and powerful, and its high-efficiency loading make it an excellent option for novice anglers.
A high-density, machined aluminum reel seat has two up-locking rings, so you’ll always have confidence that your fly fishing reel won’t detach from your rod. This is also corrosion-resistant, giving you the added flexibility to fish in salt water. A pure A+ contoured cork handle is also helpful to maintain complete control when casting and will provide you with a sturdy, comfortable grip.
All of Maxcatch rods come with a lifetime repairing warranty and a one-year, no-hassle warranty, during which time you have the power to return your rod if you are not 100 percent satisfied with its performance.
Highlights:
- Built by experienced anglers
- Strong than comparable rods by 20%
- Pure A+ corked handle
- Lifetime repair warranty
- One-year, no hassle warranty. Return with no questions asked if not satisfied within the first year.