Unlike regular spinning or baitcasting rods, fly rods are designed as "levers" that bend so they can create a load that in turn pulls a heavy "weighted" fly line along with the weightless leader and fly along for the ride to the target (ie. the fish). So what is means to you is that the longer the rod, the more "leverage" will you will have in heaving that line to create a load or "bend" in your rod for your cast. So, if you are going to be doing a lot of "roll casting" where your line is going in the water most of the time, you will find an 8 foot or longer rod better suited for roll casting. Many of the concepts of leverage with even longer rods and roll casting are incorporated into "Spey Casting" which typically uses rods 11 feet or longer!

Short fly rods? In addition to my small army of 8.5 foot to 9 foot rods, I do use 7.5 and 6.5 foot ultralight rods (3 and 4 weights) for casting into tight brush in small creeks....the don't roll cast all that well, but for small creeks it does not matter anyway. I am also using a new 7'10" Bass Tournament Qualified 8 weight Fly Rod from Bass Pro called the HEAT that is a faster action rod and its unique taper and design still allows to make decent rolls casts for a rod that is under 8 feet.

So I would recommend that you put heavy consideration into where you are going to do the majority of your fly fishing and types of casts you will need to make before you purchase your next fly rod. Most local fly shops have professionals on staff who should be proficient in helping you choose a rod that is right for you. By the way, many of these places have a casting pond nearby and will allow you try the rod before you buy!

Mexy Fish

It is referring to the breaking strength of the line. 8lb test line will likely break when 8lbs of force are applied to it.

CDC stands for "Cul de Cunard." These are feathers from a duck near the rear. They have special floating characteristics and are mostly used in dry flies.

The rings on the rod that the fly line is put through.

there's a lot-

the typical fishing rod is the most known way, but you can use dredges, harpoons, hook and lines, longlines, purse seining, traps and pots, and trawls. you can see these in depth at http://www.motherjones.com/news/featurex/2006/03/fishing_methods.html

hop i helped!

This question needs to be more specific as to what the meaning of "action" is. Is it about the action of the rod, or actions while fly fishing?

You can find Salt-Marsh Stripers in Marshes

It depends on lake size, depth, plants, lake bed structure, etc. The easiest rig you should use in my opinion starts with a ultra light rod and a good spinning reel. You'll get more response and can feel smaller bites with this rod. Crappie are notorious for light bites. 4 to 6 pound fluorocarbon line works the best. The most basic crappie rig I've found that works great is a 1/16 oz. lead jig head with a soft plastic wrapped around it. Small tube jigs work well with chartreuse and pink color working best. Jig straight down with 1 foot light jigging or float a jig under a slip bobber. Added bait works when you attach half a worm, cricket, meal worm to the jig.

Fly fishing gives around 40k-50k per hour. Depends on your method to get rid of them after a full load of 26.

From what I can gather, if in mint condition, about $25-$30, with box