Fly rod sizes

[cranky]

Ive only have experience fishing and casting 5 wt. I know there are differences like softer,medium or faster rods that make some difference plus of course lengths and preferences which may make it tough to answer.

But in general are the smaller rods such as 2- 3 wt. easier to cast than the larger ones like say 7-8 wt.? Or is that too hard to generalize?

[West O'5]

I would say generally speaking,it's actually the opposite,and the heavier weight rods are typically easier for beginners to cast reasonably well.
It is as you said,"hard to generalise",but casting for any distance and/or casting larger flies especially is far easier with a heavier (say,6,7,8wt) then with a lighter(2,3,4wt).The lighter rods are capable of reasonably long distance in experienced hands,but they are more of a finesse tool,then say an 8wt which is more utilitarian if that makes sense?

[rycoma]

Rods are designed to cast a specific weight line. Not ease of casting. Ease of casting is dependant on what type of fly you will be casting, presentation needed, size of the water body being fished. Trying to cast a heavy leaded up tarpon streamer on a 2 wt is going to be really hard that being said trying to deliver a size 18 adams on a small creek with a soft delicate presentation on a 12 wt will be just as difficult. That is why you have diferent rods for different situations. Ease of casting comes from practice using all sorts of rods. I cant pick up a super fast action rod and cast it sucsefully right away it takes a bit to get used to it. As for actions usually a medium action is more forgiving to new and inexperienced fly fishers. Either end of the spectrum can be hard to get the timing needed to get good loops. But the key is practice, practice, practice. Also knowing what you are comfortable with in an action will make it easier.