Help choosing a do it all fly rod

[flyguy93]

Im looking to get a new 5 wtfly rod mainly for nymphing , light streamers, and dry droppers. I have a 7.5' 4wt and am tossed up between a Scott session 9' 5wt and a 8'6" 5wt sage sonic. I feel like the shorter length of the sage will be better suited for most situations with lots of brush and trees. The 9' would be a bit better for nymphing but there are many times I have a hard time navigating with the longer rod. Any suggestions?

 

[fishing fool]

Im looking to get a new 5 wtfly rod mainly for nymphing , light streamers, and dry droppers. I have a 7.5' 4wt and am tossed up between a Scott session 9' 5wt and a 8'6" 5wt sage sonic. I feel like the shorter length of the sage will be better suited for most situations with lots of brush and trees. The 9' would be a bit better for nymphing but there are many times I have a hard time navigating with the longer rod. Any suggestions?

What size streams do you fish?
If you're on mainly small creeks go shorter, if larger I'd go longer rod

 

[Swattie87]

You have basically the ideal small stream setup already in that 7’6 4wt. From a practical perspective you’re likely to notice little difference between a 9’ and 8’6 5wt in most situations. Yeah the 9’ will probably nymph a little better, but if you’re not on big Trout water (Penns/Little J type stuff) the 8’6 will be a little easier to manage. But they’ll be similar enough that I’d just cast them and buy the one I liked more.

I have an 8’6 5wt that I use for medium-ish sized streams. It’s perfect for that. Bigger than Brookie sized streams, but not big necessarily either. Spring, BFC in the Narrows, Kettle, etc. Stuff like that an 8’6 5wt is perfect IMO. Once you get to Penns and Little J sized streams, yeah I’d want that 9 footer, or even longer if I was planning on mostly nymphing.

 

[dudemanspecial]

Test cast them both if at all possible and buy the one you enjoy holding and casting regardless of length.

I fish an 8'6 5w 90% of the time I am fishing for trout.

I have a 9' 5w, I just happen to like the 8'6 rods I have better. Can't say I ever miss the 1/2 inch. I suppose if I cast a 9' 5w that I liked more than the 8'6 rods I own I would probably buy it.

I fished a 10' 3w almost exclusively for years and I will say that I miss that extra foot and a half when nymphing, but I have come to enjoy the casting accuracy of the shorter 5 weights more.

 

[flyguy93]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I'm leaning towards the 8'6". For the wild trout streams I've been to, the shorter rod really helps for those tight spots. I wanted a 5wt because my 4wt is the superfine glass. Wanted to have a rod I can use for bigger streams and throwing some bigger flies and indicators if need be. I wish they sold the session in a 8'6 5wt because I was looking forward to trying a Scott, but the sonic also sounds like a great choice and would be a nice addition with the faster action.

 

[TimMurphy]

Dear flyguy93,

Regardless of what you decide to purchase please consider the fly line used as well as the leader used.

On most small streams, as in streams 20' wide or less, WF lines and 9' leaders are pointless. I can roll cast 20' with a 9' 5wt loaded with a DT5 and a 7 1/2' leader better than I can with a 7 1/2' 5 weight and 12' leader all day every day and twice on Sunday.

One other thing to consider, if you need to cast 20' plus a 9 ft rod will have 1 1/2' less line outside of the rod tip at all times. That extra 1 1/2' of trailing line can find lots of things to snag itself on with your backcast.

The best small stream fly fisherman I ever saw had a Fenwick 857 Fenglass 8'6" 7wt rod with a Cortland level 7 weight line and a spool of # 6 Golden Stren for tippet.

The dude just knew how to fish, and that's 95% of the game at least.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂