trowpa
Member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2008
- Messages
- 578
So i've been given permission to spend some money and buy/build a new rod or two.
I've got dozens of spinning rods and surf rods -but for the past 11 years of fly fishing i've owned ONE and only one fly rod - a custom built 8'6" 4wt. I'm not sure what the blank is - i'm guessing a rainshadow/forcast or similar quality - its a pretty forgiving, slow, traditional action rod and I love it - no issues with its performance for all but the biggest, heaviest flies i use...so unless it breaks, i have no "need" for another rod for 90% of the fishing i do (little lehigh, monacacy, various area wild streams, etc). I've caught smallmouth and trout up to 20 inches with this rod..yet I enjoy the 8 inch fish well enough too.
However, I have the following "wants" in my future:
1. a rod that can handle a bit more wind than my 4wt can (better casting could also help that i know - but I've used my daughter's and father's 5wts and can see a huge difference in the wind)
2. a rod that can handle occassional trips to bigger water or fish (lehigh river, smallmouth trips, possible montanta trip,etc )
3. a shorter rod that would handle tighter wild trout streams easier
4. a rod that would be adequate if i make it to the erie tribs next fall.
I am considering 9ft 6wt as my next rod to cover 1,2, and 4 and then a 7'6" 4wt to cover #3.
But i wonder if a 6wt will be overkill for trout and only useful for the once in a lifetime montana trip and the once a year at most erie trip.
Would a 5wt be better suited in this case and still useable in montana, the lehigh, and erie?
I also wonder the relative usefulness of an additional 4wt. Perhaps I should go with a 5 and a 6wt? or a 5 and a 7wt?
Ideally i want a few 4wts, and one each 5wt, 6wt, and 7wt But like most, I have a limited fishing budget - looking for the best choice in my next 2 rods.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts as I choose my next 2 rods. I suppose this is a good problem to have
I've got dozens of spinning rods and surf rods -but for the past 11 years of fly fishing i've owned ONE and only one fly rod - a custom built 8'6" 4wt. I'm not sure what the blank is - i'm guessing a rainshadow/forcast or similar quality - its a pretty forgiving, slow, traditional action rod and I love it - no issues with its performance for all but the biggest, heaviest flies i use...so unless it breaks, i have no "need" for another rod for 90% of the fishing i do (little lehigh, monacacy, various area wild streams, etc). I've caught smallmouth and trout up to 20 inches with this rod..yet I enjoy the 8 inch fish well enough too.
However, I have the following "wants" in my future:
1. a rod that can handle a bit more wind than my 4wt can (better casting could also help that i know - but I've used my daughter's and father's 5wts and can see a huge difference in the wind)
2. a rod that can handle occassional trips to bigger water or fish (lehigh river, smallmouth trips, possible montanta trip,etc )
3. a shorter rod that would handle tighter wild trout streams easier
4. a rod that would be adequate if i make it to the erie tribs next fall.
I am considering 9ft 6wt as my next rod to cover 1,2, and 4 and then a 7'6" 4wt to cover #3.
But i wonder if a 6wt will be overkill for trout and only useful for the once in a lifetime montana trip and the once a year at most erie trip.
Would a 5wt be better suited in this case and still useable in montana, the lehigh, and erie?
I also wonder the relative usefulness of an additional 4wt. Perhaps I should go with a 5 and a 6wt? or a 5 and a 7wt?
Ideally i want a few 4wts, and one each 5wt, 6wt, and 7wt But like most, I have a limited fishing budget - looking for the best choice in my next 2 rods.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts as I choose my next 2 rods. I suppose this is a good problem to have