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Finesse fly fishing is as entertaining of an experience as one can find on the water. The precision required to land fish takes hours of practice to learn. It also requires the proper gear.
Many anglers are particular about their finesse fly fishing gear, and rightfully so. If it doesn’t feel right in your hand, it doesn’t matter how budget friendly or expensive it is. You need to feel confident about how it’s going to perform.
Quick Look: 5 Best 2 Weight Fly Rods
★ #1 Best 2-weight Fly Rod Overall: Orvis Recon ★
- Best Top End 2 Weight Fly Rod: Hardy Ultralite LL Fly Rod
- Best Budget 2 Weight Fly Rod: Echo Carbon XL
- Best Value 2 Weight Fly Rod: St. Croix Mojo Trout Rod
I started as a finesse angler, and I believe I’ll retire as a finesse angler. I love all that it has to offer. The seclusion it provides, the focus it takes to succeed, and the things you learn about fish are just a few of the great aspects of it. I’ve become particular about my gear as a result, and I understand what makes a high quality finesse setup.
I’ve personally cast all five rods on this list in several small streams in the western United States. I’ve taken them to some tricky spots with lots of boulders in the water and heavy vegetation along the banks. I’ve cast these rods on sunny days, windy days, and rainy days.
In short, I’ve put them through their paces, and I know what they’re capable of. I know which situations they excel in, and where they may fall short. All of my time on the water with these rods leaves no doubt in my mind that they’re the best 2 weight fly rods on the market today.
What’s a 2 Weight Fly Rod?
A 2 weight fly rod is the epitome of a specialty rig. It’s the best choice if you need a stealth rig in some very tight conditions. These rods aren’t meant to power through wind and handle massive fish. They give anglers a chance to fly fish in areas they never deemed possible.
They’re best used on small streams and rivers where the conditions require fly fishers to be as minimally intrusive as possible. Those are the places where I took these rods for testing, and I really did get into some tight spots with them.
Common 2 Weight Fly Rod Lengths
Finesse fly rods are created for very specific reasons. Whether they’re short and created to make quick casts in tight spaces or over 10 feet long to allow for nymphing, you’re going to need to try out a few and do some research to learn what length is necessary for you.
2 Weight 6′
A 2 weight 6′ 6″ fly rod is made for very compact and tight spaces. Most of these fly rods are made of glass and were created to be used in search of some native trout in cold mountain streams. If you’re fishing bouldered streams with deep pools and need to finesse your way around the water, this is a great choice.
You’re not going to achieve much casting power with this rod, but that’s not the point. You can accomplish roll casts with a 6′ rig and still pick spots across the stream or small river if necessary.
2 Weight 7′
The 2 weight 7′ rod is one of the most common sizes of fly rod. You can cast a bit larger flies, hit cut banks across streams or small rivers, and dead drift through some deeper pools. You won’t feel like you’re overmatched when you hit the water with this length of rod.
You can also nymph with this rod. Many anglers rely on a 10′ rod to do their nymphing, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Rig this length of rod with some floating line and make sure you’re close to where you’d like to drift that nymph. High stick your way through the water, and you’ll land fish.
2 Weight 7′ 6″
This is the sweet spot for 2 weight fly rods. The extra 6 inches allows you to get a little bit more casting power and fish those nymphs as well. You’re able to be extremely accurate with this length of fly rod and be a bit more forceful when necessary. If you need to make 25 to 30 foot casts, you can with this length rod. It feels nice in your hand.
You can high stick with this rod as well. Many anglers don’t even bother nymphing unless they have a double digit length rod, but on smaller streams, this is plenty of length. These rods usually also have a great balance.
2 Weight 9′
A 9′ fly rod is more commonly found when anglers are using a 4 or 5 weight rod. They’re an ideal length for softly laying down flies and making longer casts if necessary. However, with a 2 weight 9′ rod, don’t feel as if you only have to high stick it. You can make those longer casts on smaller rivers.
If you know you’re going to have a bit of room to operate, a 9 weight rod is a sneaky good option. Give it a try and a strong consideration before you make your purchase.
2 Weight 10′
A 2 weight 10′ fly rod is the ideal Euro nymphing rig. The rod is extremely sensitive and was created for anglers looking to stay out of the way, but stay right on top of the fish. If you fish on the East Coast for native brook trout in those gin-clear streams, you’re going to want to use a 10′ rig.
These rods reduce the line sag and allow you to sense very slight takes. If you’re fishing in the winter or those times when the fish aren’t as active, you’ll find that the 10′ 2 weight is an ideal option. You’ll be amazed at how little effort you have to put in to stay on top of and land fish. You won’t be making exceptionally long casts with this rod. Stick to nymphing with it.
Features of the Best 2 Weight Rods
Two weight fly rods are designed for such a specific purpose that fly fishing companies must create them with a certain scenario in mind.
Anglers that use these rods are picky, and fly fishing companies know this.
Accuracy
Accuracy is an absolute necessity for anglers choosing their 2 weight fly rod. If the rod isn’t able to hit spots at 5 to 25 feet, then it’s no good. You need a bit of versatility with your 2 weight rods. No, you don’t have to only make distance casts, but you need that option if the opportunity presents itself.
You also need to feel comfortable with shorter casts. Whether you’re trying to hit a pocket or a riffle, the rod needs to work!
Action
Most 2 weight fly rods should be a moderate-fast to fast action. They need to respond quickly to your actions, and a faster action rod will do this. Plus, they’ll reload faster than most other types of rods.
Balance
If you don’t have a properly balanced rod, you’re going to find yourself in trouble. Since 2 weight rods are created to be used in finesse circumstances, you need to feel confident with the rod in your hand.
Best 2 Weight Fly Rods
There are dozens of 2 weight fly rod options on the market, but these five set themselves apart from the rest. I enjoyed casting each one of them, and I’m happy to say I landed some nice trout on all of these rods.
Whether you’re looking for a budget or high performance option, there are some phenomenal choices on this list of the best 2 weight fly rods.
Echo Carbon XL 7’3″2Wt
- Action: Medium fast
The Echo Carbon XL 7′ 3″ 2 weight rod is a wonderful option for all anglers. If you aren’t looking for an extremely expensive rod but still want one that’s going to perform in a variety of circumstances, this is the ideal option.
I nymphed and still fished dries and some smaller streamers with this 2 weight, all in the same day. I found that it was strong enough to handle larger fish, and I never felt overwhelmed when using this rig. I consider it a great all-around option for the angler who enjoys finesse fishing but doesn’t only do it.
Compare At:
Trident Fly Fishing
AvidMax
Orvis Recon
- Action: Fast
The Orvis Recon is one of the best lightweight precision rods on the market. You can purchase it in a 7′ 6″ or 10′ size, depending on how you’re fishing. The faster action allows you to power through some of the wind you face while on the water.
And, sure enough, the wind picked up hard on one of the days I was fishing with this rod. I figured all of my accuracy would be shot, but the rod performed extremely well. I was able to power through the wind and still hit my spots the way I wanted to.
In sum, if you need precise casts and take pride in your accuracy, the Orvis Recon will keep up with you. You’ll find that it’s just forgiving enough that you can still make little mistakes, but it’ll keep up with you if you consider yourself a talented caster.
Because of this accuracy and the general quality of the rod, the Orvis Recon is my choice as the best 2-weight fly rod overall. I’m certain that I’ll be using it for years to come.
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Trident Fly Fishing
St. Croix Mojo Trout Rod
- Action: Moderate fast
The St. Croix Mojo Trout rod has won numerous awards for its casting. You can purchase this rod in a 6′ model, so it’s perfect for extremely tight conditions.
In my time using it, tall trees leaned over the stream right behind me, and I was able to complete roll casts again and again. The rod also had the power to fight fish efficiently and get them into the net without wearing them down too quickly.
The Mojo is a blast to catch fish with, and you’ll find that even though it has a bit of a shorter length, it’s one of the best feeling rods on the market. Everything from the warranty to the makeup of the rod is pristine.
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Trident Fly Fishing
Snowbee G-XS Rod
- Action: Fast
The Snowbee G-XS 2 weight fly rod is the definition of delicate. The Graphene technology makes it extremely sensitive but also durable. I was able to make 20 to 25 foot casts into the wind with this rod and still hit the spots I wanted. Yes, it’s comparable in price to the Orvis Recon, but its makeup definitely feels different.
Small strikes on gin clear streams were easily detectable with this rod. Plus, with a bit of work, I think I even improved my ability to lay down my flies delicately with a 2 weight.
When I was fighting fish, though, I noticed that it lacked just a little bit of the power that the Orvis Recon has. But just a little. It’s still an outstanding rod.
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Amazon
Hardy Ultralite LL Rod
- Action: Medium fast
The Hardy Ultralite LL Rod has few competitors in the Euro nymphing category. Hardy is well-known for their high quality fly fishing equipment, and fishing with this rig is an honor. They’ve found a wonderful balance with this rod.
Everything seemed to come together on the day I tested this rod. The weather was clear and the fish were biting. I sent my fly between boulders and under large overhanging branches with ease. I couldn’t believe the precision I achieved on the stream that day.
If you consider yourself to be a diehard Euro nympher, then you need this rod. You can purchase it in 11′ 2″, 9′ 2″, 9′ 9″, 10′ 2″ and 10′ 8″. You’ll be able to be about as exact as you’d ever need.
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Trident Fly Fishing
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Conclusion
Ultralight fly fishing is a world many anglers don’t even bother entering. It’s either too intimidating or they consider it not worth their time. However, if you can go in with the right expectations, you’ll find that the better you are with a 2 weight fly rod in tight conditions, the better angler you’ll be overall.
Being well-rounded is key to success as a fly angler. Do yourself a favor and get out in some of those situations that make you uncomfortable. One of the rods on this list will help you get there.
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