There are lots of great fly rods out there, but how do you know which one is the best one for you? Here at Curated, our independent experts recommend rods to customers just like you every day. Check out this list of our experts' top-recommended fly rods under $250, then chat with a Fly Fishing expert to make sure you find the perfect rod for you.
- Orvis Clearwater Fly Rod
- Temple Fork Outfitters Pro 2 Fly Rod
- Temple Fork Outfitters NXT Black Label Fly Rod & Kit
- Redington Classic Trout Fly Rod
- Redington Vice Rod w/ Tube
- Orvis Clearwater® 6-Piece Fly Rod
- Temple Fork Outfitters Signature 2 Fly Rod
- Redington Topo Combo
- Temple Fork Outfitters NXT Black Label Fly Rod
- Redington Minnow Combo
Orvis Clearwater Fly Rod
Arguably the best rod on the market for $200 or less. A tried and tested do-it-all rod from one of the most reputable brands in fly fishing.All around trout fishing. It's perfect for dries, nymphs, small streamers. Big rivers and small creeks, wade fishing and boat fishing. Just a solid all around 5 weight to cover most trout situations.
Excellent rod for throwing streamers or bass bugs. Excels in medium casting ranges. Could serve in light saltwater applications when you travel.
All around trout! This is more of a medium-action rod, so requires a bit slower casting stroke. Feels great for those who enjoy that flex!
Temple Fork Outfitters Pro 2 Fly Rod
This rod is very powerful but also casts very smooth. It has a medium fast action that can handle long distance casting. Temple Fork rods have a lifetime warranty and if you ever have to put in a claim they are a great company to work with.
This rod is a stud for medium to larger waters, where you're really trying to cast out to those farther fish, and can bring them in without too much stress.
Good do all rod, great for budget conscious buyers.
Temple Fork Outfitters NXT Black Label Fly Rod & Kit
Nice mid-fast action rod options from TFO. Great accuracy and rebound with a great and comfortable handle shape. This package includes a reel, line, and leader!
Redington Classic Trout Fly Rod
One of the best entry-level rods, hands down. This rod has successfully helped many anglers step up their game and catch more fish. Easy, accessible action helps you improve your accuracy and tighten your loop. Casts dry flies as well as nymphs and smaller buggers with ease!
Great for fishing smaller streams, throwing single dries or light weight rigs. Entry level rod with medium to fast action. Great rod for beginners looking to get into the sport without breaking the bank.
8 foot 3 weight rod is great for small streams and ponds. Super fun to catch fish on! Very easy casting rod! Awesome price and packs down to 6 pieces! Good for trout, panfish, and bass.
Redington Vice Rod w/ Tube
Do-all work horse of a rod, will handle everything from hopper dropper and heavy nymph rigs, to small to medium size streamers.
A great, fast-action rod to really cast out bigger flies. Good for big water and big fish.
Saltwater species like stripers and redfish, freshwater salmon, and steelhead.
Orvis Clearwater® 6-Piece Fly Rod
Just about any trout in North America. This rod excels at shorter range and is a great rod for beginners and veterans alike who don't want to break the bank. Plenty of power for longer casts and versatile enough to handle a variety of dry flies, nymphs, and streamers.
Not only does it have the length to reach out and control drifts and the power to reach far banks, but it also has the line weight to handle big bass. Firing a big topwater won't be an issue!
Powerful yet very versatile rod that can handle a wide array of challenges from small dries to streamers and wind.
Temple Fork Outfitters Signature 2 Fly Rod
Casting longer distances and in wind. In my experience, TFO rods are faster action (stiffer), and do a great job in windy places such as Wyoming. You can use this rod for dries, nymphs, and streamers, and can probably get away with casting some larger flies here.
The 9' 5 Wt is a great do it all weight and length for a variety of trout situations - dries, medium-light nymph rigs, and even small streamers. A perfect first fly rod that has enough performance to impress even the most accomplished casters.
All types of freshwater fishing. Enough backbone in the rod to fight all types of fish comfortably.
Redington Topo Combo
This Combo has everything you need to get started. It comes with a great Redington rod backed with a good warranty. The reel is a Crosswater reel with a large arbor frame that is unbeatable for the price. And to top it off, it comes with line, a tapered leader, and some flies to get started. Great for beginners and new to the sport enthusiasts. The best way to get into the sport!
This is an all-inclusive kit - rod, reel, fly line, & tippet. It specializes in moderate sized fish across a spectrum of fisheries, fresh to salt. Practice on your casting skills.
A good entry-level rod and reel that's great for all types of trout.
Temple Fork Outfitters NXT Black Label Fly Rod
TFO has made one of the most beginner friendly rods with the Black Label series. The TFO Black Label kit is an excellent setup that is used by many fly schools for teaching the fundamentals yet will still have enough performance to keep you happy for a long time. The rod is a versatile, medium-fast action that will suit a lot of casting styles and flies. The included NXT BLK Reel is a solid reel that will perform as intended and comes loaded with backing, a weight-forward floating fly line, and leader/tippet.
Redington Minnow Combo
The Redington Minnow is specifically designed for younger anglers with a shorter length (8'0") and a medium action. This is a great rod to improve casting techniques, but it has enough performance and power to keep you satisfied as you become an expert caster. And although this rod is designed for anglers of shorter stature, this has enough power to cast a wide variety of flies for trout, panfish, and bass. This is a quality, affordable 8' 5 weight for anglers of any age!
Temple Fork Outfitters Tough Fly Rod
Excellent rod for the saltwater or hard-charging fresh water species - pike, salmon, steelhead.
Orvis Practicaster
Specifically made to be indoor-friendly casting practice for days when you can't get to river.
Curated Experts don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews. All of their opinions are their own and unbiased. Want to learn more about our experts? Check out the video or view some of their profiles to learn more!
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