Noob question on rods/reels and line weight

[CBennett]

Ok I am trying to get back into fly fishing after trying my hand at it years ago when I lived in Warren PA with one of those $100 starter outfits..I actually did catch a few trout near Chapman dam in I believe it was Adams Run and Farnsworth that run near or in/out of the lake.. till i snapped that rod, took a a new job in North Central PA and life happened and I never got back into it... fast forward 25+ years..Im now recently retired...and am trying to get back into Fly Fishing both standard and Tenkara style.

What I have right now is a mix and match of things..ive ordered waders to replace my old dry rotted ones....a net I have 2 rods available neither probably optimal but I assume for now till I can get something else will work....the rods are a old vintage Heddon Starcast 8' or 8.5' fiberglass 7 weight I also have a slightly newer but also at least 25 years old Ryobi Fincast 7 weight rod also also 8" range...

when I had posted about getting back into fly fishing I had a EXTREMELY nice man give me a EXTREMELY generous offer..he said he would send me a few flies and said he also included a reel to get me going...I got a LOT of flies from this kind man and a vintage Scientific Angler System 7 reel

what id like to do to get started till I can net a decent 6 weight rod is use the Scientific Sportsman system 7 on one of the 2 8' fly rods I have. Does this seem reasonable for now till I can get a decent rod?

I think for now if im fishing a larger stream like say the Loyalsock or Lycoming I will use the fly rod..if im doing smaller I will use my Tenkara rod...
thoughts???

 

[troutbert]

Yes, you can use a 7 wt for trout.

You can also use it for smallmouth bass in the Loyalsock, Pine Creek, the Susquehanna and its West Branch.

And bass in ponds.

 

[Fly-Swatter]

What he said.

If you find you really like fly fishing after, say, a year of fishing, you may want to look into a 5 weight outfit for dry flies and smaller streams. Other than that, your bases are covered for local fishing.

Have fun!

 

[HellBoy]

Maybe take a look at some used TFO rods. I worked/guided out of an Orvis shop for a long time and while I really like their rods and older reels (I have five older Battenkill LAs), I think TFO gives most manufacturers a run for their money day in and day out, you can get a nice 4pc 5wt for ~$100. In all of the schools I've run I've always recommended a 8.5-9' 5wt for general trout fishing and it's fine for pond fishing as well unless big bucketmouths are present, you'd be in for a lengthy fight with a 5wt there. A little long for smaller streams sometimes, but you'll learn how to manage it.

The biggest thing I would recommend is to not skimp on the lines. You can make a yard sale rod cast like a multi-hundred dollar rod with the right line on it. And don't fall for the "faster is better" deal with fly rods, find a rod that is comfortable doesn't need to be super high line speed. A good idea might be to grab something reasonable for the season, then go to the Fly Fishing Show in Somerset NJ next January, they have a casting pond set up and you can borrow rods from manufacturers booths for test casting which is a great way to see what you like.

 

[CBennett]

Ok from reviewing some info on my reel I had so generously given to me its a Scientific Angler System 7..I really couldnt find a ton of info on it other than several that say its good for 5/6/7 weight line. If I can cast 5 or 6 from it which would you get

Rod:

8.5' or 9' 5 weight

OR

8.5' or 9' 6 weight


this is mostly for Trout and or bass even crappie or pond/lake bass..im sure just like with trout there is a small chance id get something larger but most are in the typical range

trout stocking size to 16 maybe 18" tops like I said ive seen a few 20+" but in 45 years of fishing my largest catch ever is 18" Brown out of the far side of Kinzua Dam in the Allegheny River..and largest bass probably 4-4.5 lbs 22-23"

typically it would be standard size fish

I can look for either but dont really need a 5 AND a 6 weight rod..rather just get 1 so which???

 

[flyflicker]

I will second Hboy’s comment on fly line. Do not skimp on that part! I agree that a $100-200 9ft 5 weight will suit most. Glad you got a reel! But for most trout you get into, a reel is simply storage for the fly line.

Good luck, you are in a fantastic part of the world!

 

[afishinado]

A 9' 5 weight is the "swiss army knife" of fly fishing for trout, panfish and smaller bass in streams. It is by far the most popular choice to start out FFing.

 

[CBennett]

Maybe I will look closer at 5 then I was actually looking more at 6 weight as I thought that was more the all around than 5...opens up more options

 

[dryflyguy]

I've always considered an 8'6" 5 weight to be the best all around trout rod.
Little easier to manage on smaller streams if you want to do that.

But yeah, if you want to go bassin, a 9 footer would be better