On 22 Nov, 18:19, "Bob La Londe" wrote:
"riverman" wrote in message

...

I've ordered up 9-footers, since I have both an 8'5" and a 9" 5 wt,
and I find that I can cast more easily with the longer rod. But a LOT
of websites mention 8'6" 5 wt rods as the best beginner rod. I was
thinking that the shorter rod might be less versatile for the kids.

What do folks think: what are the advantages to one length over
another on a medium-fast rod? Should I change my order to 8'5" rods?

As a total beginner all I can tell you is I have 3 8' fly rods in different
weights. They have their pluses and mninuses being so short comparitively.
I can not make long casts. I doubt I have the skills really to do it with
longer rods either, but I have noticed in close quarters fishing like Oak
Creek in between all the tress I really like having those shorter rods.
Even so I still find myself battling the brush and trees more often than I
would like and its rare that I have room to make one of those big long casts
anyway. More often I find fish stacked up in deep water below a riffle. I
just lay my fly on the riffle, start pulling line off the reel and shaking
the rod so it slides out with the current. Not much casting skill required
there, and I can control the fish pretty well up close with it too. Even
when wading.

I really don't fly fish. Certainly not like most of the guys in this group,
but I can pass soemthing on to you that I firmly believe in. You are going
to find some things that are nearly universal, and some things that work
better for you and not so well for somebody else. You have to spend some
time and some money figuring those things out.

For example. In bass fishing its almost universal to flip heavy brush and
cane with very heavy line and a heavy fast action rod. The idea is to be
able to get that fish out of the brush as fast as possible. However,
bassers will tell you that baitcasting tackle is universally superior to
spinning tackle. For me that is not true. I find that baitcasting tackle
has some distinct advantages, but when I find feeding fish in open water on
a very windy day they often like to take a bait that is being retrieved out
of the wind. This means casting directly into the wind. I can make a two
handed snap cast low to the water with a good spinning rod that will fire a
jerk bait a pretty fair distance that would leave most bait casting anglers
with a birds nest suitable for eagles.

Those are extremes, but I have found that there is a lot more grey area for
choice of tackle and finding things that work for you than some might be
willing to admit. Don't let somebody else's opinion stop you from trying
something. It might be true, but it might also only be true for them.

That being said, and not knowing the conditions you are fishing your rod
choices may be ideal for you.

--
Bob La Londehttp://www.yumabassman.com

--
Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com

I have never fished for your sort of bass, and I probably never will,
but I thoroughly enjoyed your description of it. I also enjoyed, and
indeed heartily endorse your opinion on the matter of fishing.

TL
MC