3wt Nymph Rod Recommendations

[ChzzyPeaz]

Hello! I am looking to get a new rod, and was curious if anybody has any insight or suggestions on a 3wt rod? I have a price range of $500 and below. I currently have a perfect hatch rod 5/6wt and an echo 7wt for salmon and steelhead. I would primarily use this rod for nymphing and maybe the occasional dry fly. Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[dudemanspecial]

I was going to recommend the Orvis Recon 10' 3wt as that is what I own for this purpose but I just looked and saw that they are 600$ now.

I have used the Echo Shadow 2 before and liked it, would probably go with that if I was in your shoes.

ECHO Shadow II | Echo Fly Fishing

echoflyfishing.com

 

[joebamboo]

Syndicate P2 Pipeline. $325 - 375. Easily casts dry flies as well.

 

[KELORGO]

Agree on the Syndicate. I started on a Syndicate Pipeline P2 10’ 2 weight. Still have it as a back-up / loaner rod.

 

[Mike T.]

Cortland Nymph 10’6” (not the Competition series) - 2wt if tightlining most of the time, 3wt for more all around use. Approx $300.

But I see the Diamondback ideal nymph rods are being discounted in advance of their update. 10ft in 2wt or 3wt would be really fine at around $440.

 

[Nymph-wristed]

I was going to recommend the Orvis Recon 10' 3wt as that is what I own for this purpose but I just looked and saw that they are 600$ now.

I have used the Echo Shadow 2 before and liked it, would probably go with that if I was in your shoes.

ECHO Shadow II | Echo Fly Fishing

echoflyfishing.com

+ 1 on Echo. You can probably find the Shadow X around 450 as well.... Used market too. Could be a lot more nymphing rods out there than nymphers....

 

[KELORGO]

Those Diamondbacks are supposed to be real nice 👍

 

[Tigereye]

Douglass makes a nice rod

 

[JoeE]

Me. I would go with a 9’ 4wt. You can fish that anywhere. I’m not a euro guy, but the 4 you can go up to woolly buggers and small streamers if you don’t want to go back to the vehicle for another rod. But that is me!

 

[Mike T.]

Diamondback Ideal Nymph 10’ 3 Wt | eBay

New in tube Diamondback Ideal Nymph fly rod 10" 4 piece 3 wt. Designed for Euro nymphing.

www.ebay.com

These were running $500-525 in the shops.[/URL]

 

[Calico]

Orvis Clearwater 10’ 3wt. You can use this rod for contact nymphing, indicator(bobber), and toss some drys. With the correct lines of course. This will even save you some money.

 

[Duriensbane]

Fished all this year with a 10'6 and 11ft Shadow X and loved it. While a little clunky, they do cast a reg fly line decently, also can handle small streamers and jig streamers well. They have a very solid butt section which helps fighting fish in current. I paired mine with a Redington Tilt (full weight), and I can fish with it all day. And it is nice that you can get it in 3 different sizes so you can pick what you are looking for, but ill say that the 11ft is more sensitive then the 10'6. At least in my opinion.

 

[whheff]

I bought a Moonshine 2wt last year for nymphing. It was a pleasant surprise at how responsive it was at such a reasonable price point. It also came with 2 tips too. Check them out.

 

[Nocktavius]

A graphite rod coming with 2 tips is not a flex that a company should be proud of- it means their blanks are shite.

Bamboo rods came with extra tips to avoid developing sets and to allow the natural material to de stress a bit between outings- graphite does not have this problem.

 

[tpn]

I bought a Moonshine 2wt last year for nymphing. It was a pleasant surprise at how responsive it was at such a reasonable price point. It also came with 2 tips too. Check them out.

Did the same and it is my backup. Snapped a tip in my gamer T&T and used this for a solid 5 weeks. Happy with it to say the least. I wouldn’t take it out on the water to throw dries but it performed well when surface activity called for a change.

 

[headhunting22]

Cortland Nymph 10’6” (not the Competition series) - 2wt if tightlining most of the time, 3wt for more all around use. Approx $300.

But I see the Diamondback ideal nymph rods are being discounted in advance of their update. 10ft in 2wt or 3wt would be really fine at around $440.

Going to also give the Cortland Nymph (I have a 10'6", 3wt) a shoutout here. Great for tightlining or using an indicator if you're focused on nymph fishing. Even throws dry flies well enough to use it for that in a pinch.

 

[vealboy]

I have a 5'6" 3wt White River Classic SS with 4wt line.I fish mainly small streams,usally under 15' wide.Great little rod for up close nymphing and dry fly fishing,cost $106,from Bass Pro Shops.

 

[czechmate18]

I could build you one

 

[Worth723]

Diamondback Ideal Nymph was the best move I made. I’d suggest you do the same.

 

[salmo]

I bought the Echo Shadow II to save money. I broke it before I used it 10 times. User error not equipment failure. If I had spent the extra money Orvis might have been able to replace the broken part. Echo could not. Bought my replacement on the swap forum here. Should have gone Orvis.