Rick Grigutis wrote:
hi everyone
i'm taking a weeklong trip to smoky mtn natl park in nov. i'd like to
flyfish while i'm there. i've never flyfished before and have no eqpt. i
understand the trout there are small and all i need is an ultra lightweight
outfit. talked to the guy at orvis and he said i should get a heavier
outfit which would offer more versatility. i see myself fishing 3 trips a
yr to the smokies. i understand the ultralites are more fun and challenging
w/ small fish. i'd hate to outgrow the outfit if i wanted to fish for
larger fish. is there a compromise? what should i look for and who's got
the best deals. thanx guyz, rick

Fly rods are rated by the weight of the fly line they are
designed to cast. Ultralight is a term used to describe
spinning rods.

The most versatile fly rod for freshwater is the 5 weight
and that's probably what the Orvis guy was recommending.
Not a bad recommendation for someone looking to buy one
and only one fly rod and use it in different circumstances.
However, if you plan to use your one and only fly rod
exclusively in Smoky Mountain National Park my recommendation
would be a 7.5' 3 weight fly rod.

Most manufacturers have a 7.5' 3 weight model, the boy lawyer's
recommendation to contact Uncle Wally is a good one, but better
yet visit your local fly shop and test cast as many different
rods as you can.

--
Ken Fortenberry