If you are casting heavy flies or fly fishing in windy conditions you want to be using a 10 weight fly rod.
If you’re looking for the best 10 weight fly rod for the money, we recommend The Vesper Series Fly Fishing Rod by Moonshine Rod Co. It is an excellent pick for both newbies and experienced anglers.
But as you’ve probably already figured, there is no shortage of models on the market.
So we’ve reviewed some of the best 10 weight fly rod options available so you can get out and spend more time fly fishing.
Read more about our top five picks below.
Best 10 Weight Fly Rod – Reviews & Buying Guide
Best Overall: Moonshine Rod Co. The Vesper Series Fly Fishing Rod
Featured Specs
- Material: Carbon Fiber
- Size: 9ft
- Technique: Fly
The Vesper Series Fly Fishing Rod is one heck of a fly rod.
Moonshine Rod Co. displayed some amazing craftsmanship with this 10 weight fly rod, making it an excellent pick for anglers willing to pay more for first-rate quality.
Some of the features that set The Vesper Series Fly Fishing Rod apart from the competition include AAAA grade cork, fighting butt, HD double blackout rings, and an anti-glare blank.
For the icing on the cake, Moonshine Rod Co. offers a lifetime warranty so you can reach out to the company if anything happens to your rod.
For anglers looking to go into fly fishing with the proper rod, The Vesper Series Fly Fishing Rod by Moonshine Rod Co. is a solid choice.
No doubt, you need to dig deeper into your pocket to get this model but it is worth every single cent.
Interestingly, this fly fishing rod isn’t restricted to professionals only. Beginner anglers will find it quite suitable, too.
The 4-piece fast-action model is 9-foot long and engineered to offer high performance. It is constructed from high-modulus nano-matrix carbon fiber.
In addition to being a durable material, the blank allows you to fish under the sun without worrying about blinding reflections, thanks to its anti-glare quality.
To take things up a notch, Moonshine Rod Co. included titanium frame SiC stripping guides, AAAA-grade cork handle, tobacco tiger reel seat, light wire single foot guides, and downclock rings into designing the best 10 weight fly rod for the money.
You also get a sleek case if you buy this model so you can conveniently store the rod and easily carry it to wherever you wish to fly fish.
Plus, you don’t have to worry if you lose your rod tip for some reason. Your purchase comes with a replacement rod tip so you don’t end your fishing adventure prematurely.
Consider Moonshine’s fly fishing rod if you want a top-notch product that will last for several years into the future.
Pros
- Offers outstanding casting accuracy
- Lightweight, flexible, and durable construction
- Fighting butt for large, stubborn species
- Includes extra rod tip section
- Lifetime manufacturers warranty
Cons
- The price may not suit everyone’s budget
Runner up: Redington Predator Fly Fishing Rod
Featured Specs
- Material: Aluminum
- Size: 9ft
- Technique: Fly
From Redington comes this intuitive fast action fly fishing rod with incredible sensitivity and responsiveness.
This 10 weight fly rod is anything but cheap, but the premium construction makes it suitable for fishing in all water conditions. That means you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck.
Similar to our best overall pick, this model comes with a lifetime warranty so you can buy more confidently.
The Redington Predator Fly Fishing Rod features a premium construction using high-quality aluminum and aluminum oxide guides.
All of the chemical processes that go into anodizing the metal parts make them more durable and resistant to scratches, impact, and corrosion.
Predator is an ideal pick if you want the best 10 weight fly rod for saltwater fishing, thanks to its anodized machined aluminum reel seat design.
Like the previous 10 weight fly rod, this one is a 4-piece model with each section tip coated with epoxy to prevent sticking.
Redington’s Predator is a fantastic choice if a lightweight, dialed-in, hand-balanced fly rod is something that appeals to you. The price tag might discourage some people but not anglers who want to invest in one of the best 10 weight fly rod models on the market.
Pros
- Coated section tips prevent sticking
- Durable snake guides
- Excellent choice for saltwater fishing and resistant to scratches and impacts
- Reel seat features laser-etched model reference for quick rod identification
- Includes a rod tube
Cons
- The rod is a little on the pricier side
Alternative: Wild Water Fly Fishing Rod and Reel Combo
Featured Specs
- Material: Graphite
- Size: 9ft
- Technique: Fly
A 4-piece, 9-foot, 10 weight fly rod complete with reel and accessories is what you get when you buy this Wild Water product.
It is crafted using graphite material, making it a lightweight rod weighing only 6 oz. The reel is made from die-cast aluminum and has a spool measuring 103mm in diameter.
This product offers a lot of value and gets you right into fly fishing with all of the accessories included.
While it is significantly more affordable compared to other 10 weight fly rods, Wild Water designed this rod/reel combo to last for a long time.
Whether you plan to fly fish saltwater, ponds, medium to large streams, or lakes, the Fly Fishing Rod and Reel Combo from Wild Water makes a good buy.
The medium-fast action fly rod comes in a matte black graphite design with a machined aluminum reel seat.
Like other quality fly rods, this model is equipped with two stainless steel stripper guides with durable rings made from silicon carbide.
It also features a 2-inch extension butt that makes it easier to fight fish. Plus, you get a cork-style handle with this model.
The left-handed reel is made from durable aluminum and has an adjustable disc drag.
You don’t have to spend extra money buying a fishing line because the reel comes preinstalled with a floating fly line, backing, and mono leader so you can head to the water as soon as your rod/reel combo package arrives.
On top of all that, you get a hard tube rod case that features a reel pouch and a side storage pocket with zippers.
A waterproof, floating fly box is also included. This can hold more than 370 flies! And to get you started, it comes with five freshwater flies.
Consider this option if you want the best 10 weight fly rod for salmon, bass, bonefish, large trout, redfish, and stripers.
Pros
- Moderately priced 10 weight fly rod combo
- Suitable for a variety of fishing conditions
- Includes hard carrying case for holding fishing accessories
- Comes complete with five freshwater flies
- Responsive customer service
Cons
- Reel is not ambidextrous, meaning it might not be suitable for everyone
Alternative: Riverruns Z Fly Fishing Rod
Featured Specs
- Material: Cotton
- Size: 9ft
- Technique: Fly
The Z Fly Fishing Rod by Riverruns might be an entry-level 10 weight fly rod, but has some great features and comes at a reasonable price.
Its premium design ensures high performance, plenty of energy transfer, great balance, and excellent casting accuracy.
It is a fantastic pick for saltwater fishing. And it would be accurate to compare this model to the best Sage 10 weight fly rod for saltwater.
At the current price, this fly rod is a steal!
You can’t go wrong with the Riverruns Z Fly Fishing Rod if you want an incredibly lightweight 10 weight fly rod.
It is made using 40T Japan Toray high-modulus graphite fiber with multi-graphite positioning technology. This means you get an ultralight fly rod that’s equally strong and durable.
The powerful fast action rod has a tip action similar to a Sage fly rod. This makes for an exceptional power transfer and great casting accuracy.
Line snags are almost non-existent with this model, thanks to the titanium deep-pressured guides that hold up even when you fish in the most extreme fishing conditions.
Like other premium models, Z Fly Fishing Rod has stripping guides with corrosion-resistant hard-chrome plated snake guides.
And to make the rod even better suited for both freshwater and saltwater fishing, it has a reel seat made from marine-grade CNC machined aluminum.
The metallic blue finish fly rod comes with a Super A-grade full cork handle to reduce fatigue during prolonged fishing.
Pros
- Lightweight rod with impressive balance
- Durable blank with high-quality guides
- Offers remarkable casting accuracy
- Features a fighting butt for battling fish
- Marine-grade double locker reel seat
Cons
- The smooth handle can become very slippery in wet conditions
Best Budget 10 Weight Fly Rod: Saion Fly Fishing Rod
Featured Specs
- Material: Carbon Fiber
- Size: 9ft, 10ft
- Technique: Fly
Saion offers beginner anglers as well as those who would like to save on a fly fishing rod this budget model.
This option is a lightweight medium-fast action rod specifically designed for fishing in freshwater conditions.
The carbon fiber blanks and wooden cork handle plus the performance and finish make this rod a great value for its price.
The rod is a good choice if you’re just getting into fly fishing or can’t afford a high-end model at the moment.
Many people who would love to fly fish may find some of the rods on this list out of their range when it comes to price.
That’s why we’ve included a budget option that will go easy on the pocket yet offer impressive results out on the water.
In addition to being highly affordable, Saion designed this rod to make fly fishing easy and fun. The lightweight rod features a 4-piece design, so you can carry it around more conveniently.
While it doesn’t come close to our overall best pick in terms of price and high-end features, the Saion Fly Fishing Rod comes in a carbon fiber construction with a wooden cork handle.
That means it is durable, strong, and comfortable to wield even if you plan to spend the entire day fishing.
You can choose between 9-feet or 10-feet rod lengths, whatever works best for you.
Cheap fishing rods are usually not a good investment, but you don’t have to go broke just because you want to get a good rod. We recommend this model if you are in the market for the best budget 10 weight fly rod.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Impressive performance and great value for its price
- Available in two lengths
- Wooden cork handle for increased comfort
- Durable carbon fiber construction
Cons
- The line can get a bit slow due to the small snake guides
10 Weight Fly Rod FAQ
What is a 10 weight fly rod good for?
A 10 weight fly rod is very versatile and will cast large, heavy flies quite easily, even with headwinds.
Fly rod 10 weight options are a great choice, whether you prefer to fish from a boat or the shore.
They are also suitable for medium to heavy saltwater applications as well as extremely heavy freshwater applications.
The best 10 weight fly rod will be an excellent pick if you are targeting salmon, tarpon, permit, and roosterfish.
In a nutshell, a 10 weight fly rod is good for any fishing situation where anglers need to cast large or heavy flies more accurately, especially in windy conditions.
What weight fly rod do you use for salmon?
While there is no hard-and-fast rule about this, fly rods between 8 and 10 weights are best suited for fly fishing salmon.
Keep in mind that big game fish, such as salmon, are powerful and aggressive when they make their runs. That’s why it is important to target them by matching them with the right fly rod weight.
Generally, an 8 or 9-weight fly rod is heavy enough to take on a 20-pound salmon. But you will need the best 10 weight fly rod for the money if you are hoping to land a king salmon.
This fish can weigh up to 50 pounds or more, so it makes sense to come at it with a heavy-rated fly rod.
Whatever option you choose, make sure that your fly rod is not lighter than a 6 weight at the very least. That’s because the rod won’t have enough power to cast a heavy fly to reach the distance required to catch salmons.
Even at that, 6-weight or 7-weight fly rods are best suited for going after trout and bass in freshwater.
These types of fly rods are also great choices for light saltwater applications, especially for targeting small flatfish like bonefish.
Bottom line: stick with 10 weight fly rods if you are serious about landing a large salmon.
What fly rod weight should I get?
The fly rod weight you should get will depend on the type of fishing application and the species you plan to catch.
Generally, 5-weight and 8-weight fly rods are widely popular among anglers owing to their versatility.
A 5-weight fly rod is recommended for lighter freshwater application. You can go after bass, trout, perch, carp, bluegills, and whitefish with this rod.
On the other hand, 8-weight fly rods are ideal for heavy freshwater fishing applications as well as medium saltwater applications.
The 5-weight and 8-weight fly rods are not the only ratings available. Fly rods are rated on a weight scale of 1 to 15, with 1 being the lightest rod and 15 being the heaviest.
The weight ratings tell you the line weight required to properly load the rod for casting or flex it during casting.
Here’s a quick rundown of all the weights to help you figure out the most suitable fly rod weight you should get.
- 1 and 2-weight: Suitable for ultralight freshwater fishing with small flies. Great choice for targeting small trout and panfish.
- 3 and 4-weight: Similar to 1 and 2-weight fly rods but offer more versatility when it comes to throwing heavier flies in heavy wind.
- 5-weight: Excellent choice for freshwater applications. Use this to target trout, small bass, and larger panfish.
- 6 and 7-weight: Great options for medium freshwater application and light saltwater application. These work well for casting larger flies when going after big trout and heavier bass. They are also suitable for bonefish and similar small saltwater species.
- 8 and 9-weight: Suitable for heavy freshwater application (targeting bass or carp) and medium saltwater fishing (for baby tarpon, bonefish, and snook).
- 10-weight: An ideal choice for extremely heavy freshwater fishing. This fly rod is also great for medium to heavy saltwater applications, such as salmon, permit, roosterfish, and more.
- 11 and 12-weight: Specifically designed for heavy saltwater fishing where the target is large species like adult tarpon.
- 13, 14, and 15-weight: Consider these options for extremely heavy saltwater fishing, such as going after sharks, billfish, tuna, and other big game fish.
What weight fly rod is best for bass?
As you probably already know, bass come in different sizes. That means the fly rod weight for bass will depend on the size or type of bass.
Here is a general guideline for matching the right choice of fly rod weight with the type of bass you are targeting:
- Choose fly rods between 9 to 12 weights if you plan to catch striped bass.
- 8 to 9 weights are great for larger bass species.
- Go with fly rods weights between 6 and 7 if you are targeting medium-sized bass.
- Fly rod weights 4 and 5 are your best bet for catching small bass.
Conclusion
It’s not difficult to see that the market is packed with quite a lot of great fly fishing rods.
We recommend the Vesper Series Fly Fishing Rod by Moonshine Rod Co. as the best 10 weight fly rod for the money.
But if you prefer a more budget option for whatever reason, then Saion’s option is an ideal choice.
Regardless of which fly rod 10 weight model you pick from this list, they all work great for what they are designed to do.
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