multiple pieces vs. just two

[F/V Gulf Ventur]

What are your thoughts on multiple pieces vs. just two?

Getting back into fly-fishing it seems that when I was young there were mostly just 2 piece rods. 3-5 pieces were either gramp's old bamboo (that were off limits) or backpacking types. Other than fly-fishing all my rods are single piece, especially all my salt-water ones. What is it that makes, say for instance a 4 piece differ / better than a 2 piece, besides the price? Other than being compact, what would be a functioning benefit from using so many pieces? It would seem that you would loose integrity the more pieces you use. Is this a fad or are there really some benefits?

[Fred]

I remember hearing from some of the casting gurus that the four piece actually casts better, but I don't know the science behind it.

I like the four piece better for the reason you mentioned. It's compact.

4-Peace

[John Bell]

I have been wrong many times but I think the multi piece rods are mostly just a way of selling us on buying a new rod. The Multi's do have value for getting off and on airplanes/travel/luggage. I am glad we have the option but there should be a better price brake between a 4-5 piece and a 2 piece?

And further more why are there no double ended weight forward fly lines?

And where is Global Warming around there here parts? Brrrr

[dryflyguy]

You can cast most high end 2 piece/4 piece rods head to head these days and not tell a difference. Ferrules have gotten substantially stronger and slimmer. Most people can cast say a Sage 590-4 SLT and a Sage 590 SLT head to head til the end of time and not tell a difference. Two rods that have huge differences are the Winston XTR and the Sage RPLX-i, they have a huge difference between the 3 piece and 5 piece models. Only the Winston XTR5 is still made.

[jllcjl85]

The Winston XTR5 is no longer being made.

[campfire]

One of the major technological advancements in fly rods has been the development of section connections that transfer the flex of the rod all the way through the rod. I remember the days of metal ferrals. But I presume it is more difficult to make multiple sections to flex smoothly through entire length of the rod. I make this assumption as multi piece rods of the same grade are more expensive than two piece rods. As has been mentioned, quality rods get the job done with multiple pieces. But it makes sense that if it is more difficult to make a multi piece rod perform well then a two piece rod of the same grade would probably perform a little better. The only advantage I can see of multi piece rods is convenience and safety when traveling or packing but this is an advantage. Therefore the rod I use the most is a two piece rod but I have a couple of multi piece rods for back packing. If you could only have one rod, it would make sense to have a multi piece rod. My 2 cents.

[Red.Fly]

If you could only have one rod, it would make sense to have a multi piece rod. My 2 cents.

It might just be semantics here, but isn't a 2 piece rod a multi piece rod?