Parameters and details of a small stream fly rod
When we design a small stream fly rod there are a few attributes or parameters that we feel must be addressed. The first thing we look at is the application and how the rod will be used. In the case of small stream fly fishing the angler is in tight quarters and will be doing very little overhand casting, there fore the small stream rod must be able to roll cast. It is for this reason that many companies do not make a small stream fly rod, because it is a very niche market and it is difficult to make a small rod that will roll cast. Our Beaver Meadow fly rod is made to cast short and play small fish, yet still has enough back bone to land a good size fish if needed.
The next thing to look at is durability. Most of the time small stream fishing is climbing over rocks and boulders, diving under alders and trekking through muck. So the small stream rod must be able to handle the abuse.
All our reel seats are impregnated with resin and can be completely submerged in the water with no worry of any swelling.
We also build many of our small stream fly rods with Nitinol or nickel titanium alloy guides, also known as memory alloy or memory metal or in the fishing inductry Recoil(tm). You may have seen this metal used in frames for glasses. It will bend easily and then bend back to its original shape automatically. The advantage is if you get your guide stuck in some leaves or branches the guide will bend or move to alloy the leaves or twigs to get thru the guide instead of breaking your fly rod tip.
