wrote in message
...
Ok, first, I am not the greatest fly-fisher there is. In fact,
"Mediocre" just might be a compliment. But, if given enough room, I
can usually (sometimes) hold my own.

My problem - There are many small steams - some no more than 2-4 feet
wide - that I would like to "fly" on, but clearances are very tight -
even trying to walk through the woods with a 6-8 foot rod is nearly
impossible, never mind trying to cast once the water is reached.

Are there any SHORT fly rods made? Something in a 2 or 3-weight, in
the 2 to 4 foot range that would allow a person to work in close
quarters, casting maybe 10 or so feet or even allow a person to "flip"
or roll-cast a fly this distance?

I have a 4 ft. fiberglass rod I made out of an old tip section found in an
abandoned building. It is eminently fishable but, surprisingly perhaps, the
4 or 5 ft. difference in length doesn't present much of an advantage in
tight quarters, except in a very limited set of circumstances. Practically
speaking, in most instances you've got enough room to swing a fly rod or you
don't......the length of the rod (within reasonable limits) just isn't a
major factor. As others have mentioned, you're better off finding out what
kinds of tricks the rods you already have can do, and then master them.

Wolfgang