1 wt Orvis

[SmittyTheSquatch]

Does anyone here ever dabble with a 1 weight? I've been thinking about getting one recently with Orvis's new line of Superfines. I have a 3 wt that I use a lot on smaller streams. Just think it could be fun to mess around with sometime and make fishing for some smaller fish a bit more fun. Not looking to throw a 3 nymph rig or anything with it. Just thought it would be a fun pure dry fly rod on some of these smaller streams. My only issue with it is its a 7'6" rod. Wish it was a bit shorter. Anyone have any other recommendations of rods to look into?

 

[shortrod]

Does anyone here ever dabble with a 1 weight? I've been thinking about getting one recently with Orvis's new line of Superfines. I have a 3 wt that I use a lot on smaller streams. Just think it could be fun to mess around with sometime and make fish 2wt lineing for some smaller fish a bit more fun. Not looking toching throw a 3 nymph rig or anything with it. Just thought it would be a fun pure dry fly rod on some of these smaller streams. My only issue with it is its a 7'6" rod. Wish it was a bit shorter. Anyone have any other recommendations of rods to look into?

I've not dabbled with a 1 wt. the only thing I know about that rod is that some people have had fun with them catching sunfish on still water.

I have dabbled with several 2wt rods. Nearly every one of them is better with a 3wt line than with a 2wt line.

 

[dc410]

The only reason I would fish a 1 weight would be to try to land a carp on it, just to say I did it. I’m not looking to target a 30” carp on it, just an average 23 incher. That would really be fun!!

 

[TimMurphy]

Does anyone here ever dabble with a 1 weight? I've been thinking about getting one recently with Orvis's new line of Superfines. I have a 3 wt that I use a lot on smaller streams. Just think it could be fun to mess around with sometime and make fishing for some smaller fish a bit more fun. Not looking to throw a 3 nymph rig or anything with it. Just thought it would be a fun pure dry fly rod on some of these smaller streams. My only issue with it is its a 7'6" rod. Wish it was a bit shorter. Anyone have any other recommendations of rods to look into?

Dear SmittyThe Squatch,

I have an original Orvis Superfine 7'6" 1 weight for over 30 years. It's a not the rod for tossing #6 weighted stoneflies on Penns. That said on smaller streams it can cast # 10 - #12- Stimulators with a trailing bead head nymph just fine.

When I fish small streams now, I use rods from the 1 weight up to an 8' 3 weight. But I still reach for the old Orvis most of the time, just seems right to me.

For perspective, I started fishing small streams with a 9' 5 weight Sage RP as it was the only fly rod I owned at the time. The rod never kept me from catching fish, or even lots of them. Just watch your surroundings regardless of what rod you are swinging, and you'll be fine.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[PennKev]

Just thought it would be a fun pure dry fly rod on some of these smaller streams. My only issue with it is its a 7'6" rod. Wish it was a bit shorter.

It depends on what aspect you think is going to be fun. My experience has been that despite the creeks being smaller (or downright tiny), the flies I need to cast require something more than a 1 or 2wt rods/lines. Such rods are really midge fishing rods, not small stream sticks. Hitting a trico hatch on a spring creek? Sure they can be fun for that sort of fishing. Punching #12 Royal Wulff's or #8 Bugger into tight spaces at short distances? Nah, that becomes work. You need at least a 3wt, or preferably a 4wt. If you are thinking that a lighter rod will somehow make the fish "fight better," that hasn't been my experience either. Big fish pull, little ones don't, and your rod doesn't change the situation.

However, the 7' 6" length is just about perfect for small water. Many year ago now, I got into short light line rods for small water and purchased or built progressively longer, heavier line weight rods until I got back up to 7' 6" 4wts and have settled on that configuration.

 

[caddisflyer]

Try one out before buying. The one I tried was worthless.

 

[sixfootfenwick]

Does anyone here ever dabble with a 1 weight? I've been thinking about getting one recently with Orvis's new line of Superfines. I have a 3 wt that I use a lot on smaller streams. Just think it could be fun to mess around with sometime and make fishing for some smaller fish a bit more fun. Not looking to throw a 3 nymph rig or anything with it. Just thought it would be a fun pure dry fly rod on some of these smaller streams. My only issue with it is its a 7'6" rod. Wish it was a bit shorter. Anyone have any other recommendations of rods to look into?

I would recommend the Superfine Glass 6'6" 2wt.
It's a delicate rod that makes small fish fun.
Casts well with a 3wt line so it will in general be easier to cast in more situations than a 1wt.

The length is shorter which you seem to desire

 

[Bamboozle]

Does anyone here ever dabble with a 1 weight? I've been thinking about getting one recently with Orvis's new line of Superfines. I have a 3 wt that I use a lot on smaller streams. Just think it could be fun to mess around with sometime and make fishing for some smaller fish a bit more fun. Not looking to throw a 3 nymph rig or anything with it. Just thought it would be a fun pure dry fly rod on some of these smaller streams. My only issue with it is its a 7'6" rod. Wish it was a bit shorter. Anyone have any other recommendations of rods to look into?

First off, what is the length of the 3wt that you already own and use on small streams?

Second, is that Orvis Superfine 1 wt really a 1wt or will it feel like a broomstick unless you line it up a few sizes or are casting well beyond 30 feet?

I own a 7'9" 2wt Winston LT5 and it is the only and last rod I will ever buy under a 3wt because for normal fly fishing, lines under a 3wt are a HUGE compromise for a lot of reasons most related to wind, leader length, casting distance and fly size.

A 1wt or lighter is even more of a joke and if the action isn't a flat out medium to medium slow, you won't feel a thing. IF it is a true 1wt, you can't even fine tune the rods abilities with different lines because the availability of true 1wt fly lines is so small.

Unrelated to your desires, I also question the ethics of folks that do the ultralight thing with bigger fish and overplay them so they can stroke their egos.

If you want practical, something shorter that what you already own and want to feel the smaller fish, get yourself a TRUE 3wt in fiberglass which means not an 3wt Orvis Superfine Fiberglass rod.

There are some good suggestions in this thread.

Which Short Small-Stream 3/4# rod? | Fishing with Fiberglass Fly Rods | Fiberglass Flyrodders

I'm currently looking for a 3/4# (<6'6") small-stream glass rod. I currently have the following rods in 3/4#:Sakura 7'0" 3# / Scott FS 7'

fiberglassflyrodders.com

 

[sixfootfenwick]

Quite an array of rods and different actions in that link. Certainly such a wide margin not everyone would like each one. Many of those can't be test casted as they or either rare or custom builds.

With the user sounding like they have little experience with such a wide range of manufactures and actions, I would suggest they test cast a specialty niche rod like the one he is looking for, especially at the price ranges of some of those rods.

I personally use the 2wt Superfine Glass. I find it to be a great small stream rod that fits the bill of what he seems to be looking for.
You can test one out at an Orvis Dealer and see if you like it. (I have the older 3pc model, the new ones are 4pc, the action may be different)

Orvis SFG 2wt | Fishing with Fiberglass Fly Rods | Fiberglass Flyrodders

I’m thinking about picking up the Orvis Superfine Glass 6’6” 2wt, but I haven’t seen many reviews of the newish SFG 662. I’d be targeting bl

fiberglassflyrodders.com

 

[sixfootfenwick]

If the OP does not mind buying an expensive fly rod without being able to cast it then I highly recommend Chris Barclays line of rods. They are lovely fishing tools that meet the needs of what you described perfectly.

Fiberglass Fly Rods — C. Barclay Fly Rod Co.

cbarclayflyrods.com

For your purpose, in particular, these:

• 60: A 6’0” 2wt 4 piece small water pack rod. The Scout. Light, delicate and capable. $925
• 66: A 6’6” 2wt 4 piece small water pack rod. The Gila Special. Inspired by fishing in the Gila Wilderness catching beautiful and challenging trout. Perfect for a light and delicate presentation. $925
• 68: A 6'8" 3wt 4 piece. The Blue Ridge Special. Small secluded mountain streams and brook trout. $925

At the price of these rods id spring the extra 175 for the agate and accents.

Perhaps I'm jumping the gun because we all should be asking what kind of action you prefer on a fly rod. Fast or slow?