New Backup Rod Length

[gibsygoldtop]

I am thinking about getting another rod as a backup but also as another tool in the quiver. Right now I have an 8' 4wt with medium/fast action.

I would like to get something else in a 4wt but can't decide on the length. I was thinking either an 8' 6" or a 9'.

Would I notice the 6 inches if the rod was billed as medium action? Or should I jump right to the 9'?

I fish more open streams so extra length might be nice.

Thanks!

 

[pcray1231]

The extra 6" helps. For casting, but mostly for holding line off of the water if you're a nympher. The ONLY downside of a longer rod is that they're cumbersome when the casting room gets tight. If you only fish more open places, then definitely, go longer.

If you have relatively few rods, it stands to reason you have relatively few reels. Keeping the line weight the same is a plus as you can just transfer the reel. In fact, as long as the reel balances the rod ok, even if it's a slightly different line weight I often stick with just a new spool on the same reel. I have a lot more rods than I do reels.

 

[gibsygoldtop]

Yes, I do use nymphs, but I use drys as well. Would the extra length help with presenting drys in any way?

And yes, I have one rod and reel right now. Last year I had broken my tip and had to wait to get it back and wouldn't like to go through that if it were to happen again.

I am thinking about getting the 8" 6" as the backup as it isn't to far off what I am currently using but may offer some added benefits.

Thanks!

 

[Tiltaxp]

Go with the 9'

 

[ryguyfi]

Get the 9 foot. It'll improve your nymphing pretty well. You can def toss dries, and probably a good bit farther, but IMO getting 2 rods in the same wt with only a 6" difference isn't very practical.


Most people start with a 9' 4-5 wt rod
then add a short 3wt
Then add a 9' 7-9wt


You have an all around rod, a short rod for very small wild streams, and a heavy rod for bass, light salt, steelhead

I'd go for something completely different before I went with something almost exactly the same. Just my 2 cents though.

 

[gibsygoldtop]

ryguyfi:
When you think about it that way, that does make more sense. Hmmm...

 

[tyeager]

I'll pile on......just got back into fly fishing seriously this past spring. I've always had a 9' 5wt. Got thinking about steelhead even though I had never tried it so I bought a 10' 7wt. I've had a great fall/winter catching fish and I'm definitely glad I have the 7 wt even though you can catch a steelhead on a 5 wt. For christmas I received a 7' 6" 3 wt. It hasn't been fished yet but it casts well in the backyard and should work great for the small NC PA streams I frequent.

I really believe having the 3 different options is great.

I don't know if you hunt but how 30-06's does one guy need. If your getting another rod branch out and get something that will increase your fly fishing abilities/oppurtunities.

 

[pcray1231]

Yes, a longer rod helps with dries too. Casting is a bit easier, especially for a beginner, as it helps keep your backcast high. That's also a plus for low lying streamside vegetation, like grass. Mends are a bit easier. It's easier to lift that line over cross currents to prevent drag. Hooksets a bit higher. Longer rods are simply better fishing tools, provided you have the room to handle em. That's why your big river spey rods and such are more like 15 feet!!!!

Of course, if you're trying to maneuver a long rod through brush to get to the stream or to move up to that next hole, it's a pain. And if you have an overhead canopy of trees, you'll find that keeping your line high isn't all it's cracked up to be, plus you'll get PO'd when you smack that rod tip on that branch.

So there are trade-offs. And we really can't tell you what will work best for you, only you know the situation where you fish. All I can say is that in PA, where the standard fishermen typically fishes medium sized, semi-open streams, a 9' 5wt is considered the standard. It's most people's first real rod and remains the workhorse, forever really.

Though ryguy has a good point. After we got our 9' 5wts, most of us branch out into specialist rods. If you're gonna do some small stream fishing, something around 7' or 7'6" is ideal, and even the experts will argue whether that should be a 2 wt or a 5 wt or something in between. If you have eyes on smallmouth bass or steelies, a 10' 7 wt is nice. And neither of those rods may be ideal in your normal fishing situation, but they'll both do just fine in a backup role.

Then again, if you don't like your workhorse rod, then get something similar and call it an upgrade, the old rod becomes the backup. The comparison to guns is a good one. A 30-06 or a .270 will work for just about anything if you want to buy one gun and be done with it. They're perhaps perfect for elk and bear, but for whitetails and groundhog I'd prefer a .243, and for squirrels a .22. For most, a 30-06 might be your first gun, but most wouldn't buy a 2nd, might as well get something else that will be your 1st choice for something.

 

[The_Sasquatch]

Just to add on to what Pat and Ryan have said. I'm more like yourself; I did NOT start w/ a 5w9' rod. My first was 8'. That was my workhorse rod for many years. When I looked for a backup rod, I went w/ a 5w9' and that quickly replaced my 8'. Now my 8' is the "back up" rod. I rarely use it.

 

[Swattie87]

Tough to say...pcray's point about sticking with another 4wt has good merit from the perspective of not needing another reel and line immediately. (Although you will likely find that you will want one, just how it works.)

Ultimately I think you should base your decision on the type of fishing you currently do, and the type of fishing you might like to also do. Here's what I mean...an 8'0 4wt is a good all around compromise for most PA trout situations. Sure you probably would want something heavier and longer on the really big streams (D, Little J, Penns, etc), and something a little shorter for the tiniest of Brookie streams, but you can cover a lot of bases with an 8'0 4wt. If fishing some really tight, tiny trickles for Brookies appeals to you, then I'd recommend going shorter, although sticking with the 4wt line rating would be fine...something in the 7'0 4wt range would work well, and you could use your current reel and line in that situation too.

If you fish bigger streams, or want to go with a longer rod, I'd probably recommend moving up to a 5wt though. I think a 5 wt is a good bit more versatile than a 4wt, and with an 8'6 or 9'0 5 wt you'd be able to handle larger trout streams, and even moderate sized Smallmouth in the warmwater realm. A 5wt would mean you need to get another reel and line, but look for the combo deals where you get the rod/reel/line/leader...if you do the math on those you usually end up getting at least the line and the leader for free.

In either of those situations...the 7'0 4wt or the 8'6 - 9'0 5wt would serve as respectable backups for your current rod if needed, and allow you to broaden your horizons a little bit at the same time. If you want to get into steelhead, salt, or heavy bass fishing and decide to go with the 7-9 wt rod that's cool too, but understand that wouldn't be able to pull double duty as a backup for your 8'0 4wt, which I think was kind of the original purpose of your post.

I agree with the majority view here though that getting another 8'0 4wt (unless you're unhappy with your current rod) probably makes less sense than diversifying a little bit...but again, the further you stray from those parameters, the less of a "back up" and more of a second "primary" rod it becomes.

I feel like I may have rambled here, but hope that helps.

 

[pcray1231]

I feel like I may have rambled here.

I know the feeling, I do that all the time. j/k.

FWIW, I took a 9'6" 7 wt to Spring Creek recently, just cause I wanted to fish it, I like the rod and it doesn't get out much. I didn't feel like I was at any sort of disadvantage. I mean, it's not as enjoyable to fish for that application, a bit cumbersome and overkill. But I didn't catch less fish because of it. It's a 2nd primary rod, but certainly could serve as a backup for a 9' 5wt in a pinch.

Like taking a .300 mag whitetail hunting. Overkill and unneeded, probably a lb or two heavier than you need to carry. But it'll get the job done just fine.

 

[bikerfish]

I'd go with a 9ft 5wt. you might find your existing rod might become your backup rod.
the 4wt will still be nice for dries and smaller water, but the 9" 5wt will be very versatile for bigger waters and bigger flies.

 

[WildTigerTrout]

bikerfish wrote:
I'd go with a 9ft 5wt. you might find your existing rod might become your backup rod.
the 4wt will still be nice for dries and smaller water, but the 9" 5wt will be very versatile for bigger waters and bigger flies.

+1 Sounds like good advice to me.

 

[dryflyguy]

I'd also recommend getting a 9' 5 weight - especially since you said that you fish mainly on very open waters.
Plus, that rod would be the ticket if you want to fish large streams like the delaware river - or even out west.

 

[gibsygoldtop]

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. I am going to hold off on getting the other 4wt in a different length. It makes more sense to get something different than what I got.

Thinking I am I am going to look at a little 3wt or something for small mountain streams.

Thanks again!