In fly fishing rods are generally between 1.8 m (6 ft) long for freshwater fishing and up to 4.5 m (15 ft) long for two-handed fishing for salmon and so on, or for certain species in small streams.
On average, a rod for freshwater or saltwater is around 9 feet (2.7 m) long and weighs between 3 and 5 ounces. A recent trend, though has been for lighter, shorter rods for fishing smaller streams. Another trend is that of longer rods for small streams. But the rod you choose very much depends on local conditions, the types of flies you plan to cast and, in general, your personal preferences. Everyone has a different approach, style and technique, after all.
When actively fishing, you will to use the index finger of your casting arm to keep the fly line lightly pressed against the rod handle. You will use your free arm to pull line from the reel or to retrieve line from the water. If a fish strikes, you can pinch the line with you index finger against the rod handle and lift the rod tip to set the hook.
Style, and grace under pressure - that just about sums up what fly fishing rods are all about.
