What length 5wt for newbies?

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?

--riverman

On 22 Nov, 07:08, riverman wrote:
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?

--riverman

As a general rule, the longer the rod the better. It is not casting so
much, but line control. #5 weights are not very heavy, and teenagers
should have no problems using nine foot rods.

TL
MC

On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 22:08:38 -0800 (PST), riverman
wrote:

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?

A nine footer is easier to mend with, and also makes a better nymphing
rod. It may be easier to cast, but I doubt they would notice that.
Casting, as far as they are concerned, is not about about distance so
much as it is accuracy, and most of the fish they will be after will
be right in front of them or a short distance away.

I'd go with the 9s.

BTW, did Tim S. get in touch with you?

Dave

On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 22:08:38 -0800 (PST), riverman
wrote:

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?

--riverman

What streamside conditions are they most likely to encounter? If it's
heavier cover on a short-cast stream, go with shorter, if it's wide
open, go with longer. And if the kids are (overall stature, not just
age) on the smaller side, I'd say go with the shorter model. Frankly, I
don't think the 6" will make a huge difference either way, but those are
the guidelines I'd use in selecting length. Given what I've heard about
your situation, I'd say that number of pieces (IIRC, from what you've
said, they will _always_ have to travel to fish, right?) would be more
of a factor than the 6" length difference, but ???

Happy Thanksgiving,
R

On Nov 22, 10:21 pm, wrote:
On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 22:08:38 -0800 (PST), riverman
wrote:

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?

--riverman

What streamside conditions are they most likely to encounter? If it's
heavier cover on a short-cast stream, go with shorter, if it's wide
open, go with longer. And if the kids are (overall stature, not just
age) on the smaller side, I'd say go with the shorter model. Frankly, I
don't think the 6" will make a huge difference either way, but those are
the guidelines I'd use in selecting length. Given what I've heard about
your situation, I'd say that number of pieces (IIRC, from what you've
said, they will _always_ have to travel to fish, right?) would be more
of a factor than the 6" length difference, but ???

Happy Thanksgiving,
R

Good considerations. NZ is almost exclusively wide open streamside
casting from gravel bars or grassy banks, and the kids will (at first)
primarily be nymphing or tossing sloppy casts to nearshore eddys. From
the feedback here and my initial instincts, I think the 9' was the
right choice after all.

I know for me, I can definately feel the difference between the two. I
used to cast off of a dock at a stocked pond outside of Cape Town, and
when my gear got stolen a few years back, I replaced my 9' rod with an
8'6" rod. Suddenly I couldn't reach the same pool on the far side that
I used to cast to all the time. And with a good cast, I used to be
able to cast the full line on the same spool that I had on the shorter
rod, and I don't think I ever have cast the full line since. Of
course, some of that is probably other differences (stiffness, etc),
but I certainly don't have the distance on the shorter rod.

M
(And Dave: No I haven't heard from your friend Tim yet. I'd love to
swap stories with another Mainer, so tell him to send me a line.)

"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 Londe
http://www.yumabassman.com



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

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

"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?

--riverman

Well, it's six of one and half a dozen of the other....

john

On Nov 23, 6:44 am, "asadi" 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?

--riverman

Well, it's six of one and half a dozen of the other....

john

I had considered doing just that. :-)

--riverman