On Mar 22, 7:45 pm, rw wrote:
Mike wrote:
On Mar 22, 5:15 pm, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:

What's your choice for a fly rod for smallmouth ?

My choice for smallmouth is a faster action 6wt.

--
Ken Fortenberry

The rod weight rating or its action has nothing to do with the target
fish. The fly size, general conditions, and the consequent line weight
required is what determines the rod you need.

MC

Yes and no.

The fly size and general conditions are largely determined by the target
fish (how big they are, what they eat, what kind of water they're in,
how hard they fight, etc.), therefore the rod size is largely determined
(or at least strongly influenced by) the target fish.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

If you want to fish three inch long bulky or weighted streamers for
trout, you will need at least an #8 weight line to cast them.

If you want to fish #10 weighted nymphs you will need at least a #5
weight line to cast them.

If you want to fish #18 dry flies for trout, you only need a #3 weight
line to cast them.

In all three cases above, the fish you are targeting are the same
size. These situations and usages are also fairly typical. The same
applies to bass and a number of other fish.

The rod action in these cases is largely a matter of personal
preference, and the rod rating is dictated by the line weight you want
to use. In rough conditions, ( lots of wind) you might want to use a
heavier line even for smaller flies.

In fast water, you might want to go up a rod weight for specific
purposes. Or if you expect heavier than normal fish. If you are trying
for distance, you might also want to use a heavier rod and line
combination, coupled with a fast action.

If you are going after tarpon and such with large flies, then you need
a rod with enough backbone to cast the flies, and fight the fish, so
the rod rating would in such a case also be mainly determined by the
size and type of fish.

For most "normal" sized fresh water game fish, this simply does not
apply. The rod required is more or less wholly dependent on fly size
and conditions, not on the size of fish.

There are very many possible scenarios and variables here, but the
original examples and choices given, and the reasoning for them, was
not sensible, mainly because it completely ignored fly size, which in
the cases given is the main determining factor.

TL
MC