"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
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What's your choice for a fly rod for smallmouth ?

Here in the streams of central Illinois my 5wt is an appropriate
tool for stream smallies. Like Goldilocks says, not too much rod
and not too little rod. But the smallies here in our streams aren't
that big. After the first time I battled a Quetico smallmouth with
a 5wt I knew that on subsequent trips I'd be bringing my 7wt.

Now I go smallie fishing in northern Wisconsin and Michigan's UP.
I find the best all round rod smallie rod, lakes and streams, is
a faster action 6wt. The 7wt is fine in the Sylvania Wilderness
Lakes where the fish are bigger but a 6wt is better I think if
you cast for hours at a time and the 6wt does just fine pulling
the smallies out of the brush and snags on the rivers.

My choice for smallmouth is a faster action 6wt.

--
Ken Fortenberry

.....my home waters are smallmouth waters. Granted, around here a three
pounder is a big un. But, the occasional channel cat or carp can put a big
bend in your rod and I use a five weight 95% of the time. Heck...that rod
is made to flex and I have no problem with fighting a fish right down in the
butt of a rod as opposed to playing one on the tip section.

John