a rod body;

a free line cast control and drag mechanism operatively connected to a proximal end of said rod body; and

a line operatively threaded through said free line cast control and drag mechanism and running through a hollow passageway of said rod body and out a distal end such that said line is capable of being manually pulled through said proximal end of said rod body with a hand of a user with direct contact between said user and said line, wherein said free line cast control and drag mechanism allows said user to manually apply and release pressure to said line by an arm of said user applying or releasing pressure on said free line cast control and drag mechanism by said arm of said user being in direct contact with said free line cast control and drag mechanism, said free line cast control and drag mechanism including a housing including a passageway extending from a proximal end to a distal end and a top outlet, a drag piece and a spring that prevents said drag piece from pushing into said line unless pressure is directly applied by said arm of said user onto a push button that pushes said line onto said drag piece, wherein said push button activates a pressure pin that contacts and pushes said line onto said drag piece, and said spring holding said pressure pin that prevents said pressure pin from contacting and pushing into said line until pressure is applied to said push button, wherein a longitudinal axis of said free line cast and control drag mechanism is aligned with a longitudinal axis of said rod body, and wherein said fishing rod is configured for fly fishing and does not include a reel.