Small stream rod suggestions?

I've been fly fishing now for about two years, and I'm afraid it might
be time to take the leap... to a second rod!

I have a 9' 5wt St. Croix Legend, which works fine for me on the
rivers I most like to fish - larger stuff like the Beaverkill,
Farmington, Housatonic, etc. But I also often end up on smaller
streams, some of them really tiny. I'd like to get a smaller and
lighter rod, for --

1) less getting my line (not to mention rod tip) caught in the trees
2) improved delicate presentations
3) better match for smaller fish (i.e., make the little guys feel
bigger)

I'm not entirely sure my reasoning is correct, so I'd love to hear
opinions on that, as well as suggestions for actual rods, sizes and
models. I'm thinking a 3 weight, 7'6". Been eyeing the Orvis
Superfine, or maybe spending much less on a TFO or Redington. (No
need to break the bank on this, as this will not be my most-used rod -
though, hey, I'm always open to quality, right?) I'd love a travel
rod, but from what I've seen it looks like the smaller and lighter
rods are most likely to come as 2-piece, which I suppose would be
fine.


Thanks for any suggestions!

Tim

"Tim G" wrote in message
om...
I've been fly fishing now for about two years, and I'm afraid it might
be time to take the leap... to a second rod!

I have a 9' 5wt St. Croix Legend, which works fine for me on the
rivers I most like to fish - larger stuff like the Beaverkill,
Farmington, Housatonic, etc. But I also often end up on smaller
streams, some of them really tiny. I'd like to get a smaller and
lighter rod, for --

1) less getting my line (not to mention rod tip) caught in the trees
2) improved delicate presentations
3) better match for smaller fish (i.e., make the little guys feel
bigger)

I'm not entirely sure my reasoning is correct, so I'd love to hear
opinions on that, as well as suggestions for actual rods, sizes and
models.

in view of the fact that you will likely not need any more casting
length than 15-20 feet, i would suggest that you go for the cheapest rod
that feels good to you with about 10 feet of line out.

wayne harrison

From: "Wayne Harrison"

"Tim G" wrote in message
. com...
I've been fly fishing now for about two years, and I'm afraid it might
be time to take the leap... to a second rod!

I have a 9' 5wt St. Croix Legend, which works fine for me on the
rivers I most like to fish - larger stuff like the Beaverkill,
Farmington, Housatonic, etc. But I also often end up on smaller
streams, some of them really tiny. I'd like to get a smaller and
lighter rod, for --

1) less getting my line (not to mention rod tip) caught in the trees
2) improved delicate presentations
3) better match for smaller fish (i.e., make the little guys feel
bigger)

I'm not entirely sure my reasoning is correct, so I'd love to hear
opinions on that, as well as suggestions for actual rods, sizes and
models.

in view of the fact that you will likely not need any more casting
length than 15-20 feet, i would suggest that you go for the cheapest rod
that feels good to you with about 10 feet of line out.

Good advice from ofitons. At the risk of a good proper flaming, I would suggest
the Cabela's Three Forks 3 wt 3 pc. (known affectionately arounfd here as the
"kpos")
The rod is around $50. They offer rod, reel & line combos for around $80, but
the line is not the best. Pair the rod with a light reel and overline it with a
4 wt, and you will have a killer small stream outfit, and it is a 3 pc 7-1/2'
rod, so it would double as a travel rod.



George Adams

"All good fishermen stay young until they die, for fishing is the only dream of
youth that doth not grow stale with age."
---- J.W Muller

I have the cheapest TFO 7.5' 3 weight. It's my third different 3 weight and
it's by far the best 3 weight I've ever cast, short or long distances. It's
an especially good roll caster. And I've broken a few TFOs and their
warranty service is as fast as it gets.

bruce h

Tim G wrote:
I've been fly fishing now for about two years, and I'm afraid it might
be time to take the leap... to a second rod!

I have a 9' 5wt St. Croix Legend, which works fine for me on the
rivers I most like to fish - larger stuff like the Beaverkill,
Farmington, Housatonic, etc. But I also often end up on smaller
streams, some of them really tiny. I'd like to get a smaller and
lighter rod, for --

1) less getting my line (not to mention rod tip) caught in the trees
2) improved delicate presentations
3) better match for smaller fish (i.e., make the little guys feel
bigger)

I'm not entirely sure my reasoning is correct, so I'd love to hear
opinions on that, as well as suggestions for actual rods, sizes and
models. I'm thinking a 3 weight, 7'6". Been eyeing the Orvis
Superfine, or maybe spending much less on a TFO or Redington. (No
need to break the bank on this, as this will not be my most-used rod -
though, hey, I'm always open to quality, right?) I'd love a travel
rod, but from what I've seen it looks like the smaller and lighter
rods are most likely to come as 2-piece, which I suppose would be
fine.


Thanks for any suggestions!

Tim

Tim,

As a fly shop owner and from my own personal experience fishing
the small streams here in NC over the years, I have been able to
"test" quite a few different rods in different situations. Your
post has spurred me on to put my thoughts on this matter down in
writing, something I've been meaning to do for quite awhile now.

It's funny that the rod size that I recommend for most people
interested in a small stream rod is the one that I cut my teeth
with in learning small stream trout fishing. A 7.5' 4wt. is a
versatile tool in that you have enough length and power to fish
the larger pools you stumble across but it is also small enough
to allow for fishing in tight conditions.

That said, there are other fine small stream sizes available today:

A 6' or 6.5' 3wt offers you the ability to fish really tight
situations. I usually grab my 6.5' 3wt when I'm heading off to a
small stream.

A 7' 3 or 4wt. offers you a bit more oomph and line control than
the smaller sizes in casting and I like this length when fishing
"larger" small streams.

the graphite models....

Quality rods in the 150 to 225 dollar range:

Our best selling small stream rod and a damn fine performer is
the Sage DS2 7.5' 2pc. 4wt. This rod is advertised by Sage as an
"All-purpose entry-level trout rod for small rivers and lakes."
Pshaw.... it is a great small stream rod and serves many anglers
well in my area.

The Redington Wayfarer has a few 5pc. small stream models
available for the traveler in 3 and 4 wt. I haven't personally
fished the smaller sizes but I have fished the 9' 5wt and it
performs well.

The Redington RS2's 2pc and 4pc come in a plethora of different
lengths and weights, all of them cast and fish well.

The St. Croix Avid 7' 3wt and 6.5' 4wt are both fine sticks.

In the 100 to 150 dollar range:

The Redington RedFly 7.5' 4pc 4/5wt. is a good casting and
presentation rod that also offers you the extra bonus of a travel
model. I have fished this rod and it performs nicely.

If the new Diamondback Americana in the 6.5' 3wt and 7.5' 4wt are
half as good as their predecessor, the All-American, they will be
wonderful small stream rods. I just received my first ones in the
shop and they are nicely made and attractive.

The St. Croix Imperial 7' 3wt and 7.5' 4wt. Although I don't have
personal "onstream" experience with either one, they do cast well
on the courthouse lawn across the street from my shop.

In the under $100 range, the TFO Series 1 7.5' 3wt performs
remarkably well on the courthouse lawn as does the Redington
RedFly 7.5' 3/4wt. I have sold quite a few of both models locally
and the guys seem to like them very much.

the good small stream stuff.... the glass rods.

In my opinion, the serious small stream angler is armed with a
glass rod. The slowness of the glass, similar in style to a
bamboo rod, offers the angler super presentation of the fly to
the wary trout.

There are two that I personally own and fish with often.

The Hardy Perfection Glass 6.5' 3wt is a dream. You won't find a
better small stream stick anywhere for all around delicate and
accurate presentation of the fly whether normal casting, roll
casting, or what I do often, bow-and-arrow casting. It is my go
to rod most of the time.

The DiamondGlass 7' 4wt made by Diamondback is one sweet puppy. I
find that this rod is great in more open places in that you can
toss out a fly 30 to 50 feet if need be and at the same time have
that slow delicate presentation in the tight areas.

The DiamondGlass is also available in smaller sizes. I haven't
fished the 6.5' 3wt (don't wanna **** of my Hardy, donchaknow)
but I have casted it out on the courthouse lawn, most recently
with the new Cortland Sylk line (developed specifically for
bamboo and glass rods) and it is sweet!

Well, that's my take, I hope it helps you some.

Tight Lines,

--Walt
Fly Fishing NC & more...
http://www.ezflyfish.com
http://www.wilsoncreekoutfitters.com

"Tim G" wrote in message
om...
SNIP

7´6" #3 weight is what I use. Works very well. No point in getting anything
expensive either. Treat it as a "knockabout" rod.

TL
MC

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim G"
Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 7:08 PM
Subject: Small stream rod suggestions?


[snipped] ...I'd like to get a smaller and
lighter rod, for --

1) less getting my line (not to mention rod tip) caught in the trees
2) improved delicate presentations
3) better match for smaller fish (i.e., make the little guys feel
bigger)

Thanks for any suggestions!

I have a 7.5' Loomis GL3 3-weight, which I love, But I recently got a TFO 6'
2-weight, which (at the moment) is my favorite fly rod of all time. Casts
wonderfully both short and moderate distance with a premium Airflo WF3.

Many would say a 7.5' is already short, but I've found the 1.5 foot
difference removes an amazing amount of the annoyance factor in tight
spaces.

Hi Tim,

I think that 7 1/2' to 8' is a good idea. I personally like an 8' rod
myself. We sell rods down to 6' though.

You can buy a soft 4 line rod or a faster 3 line and then put a DT4F on it.

Over the years we have changed many fly fishers ideas about rods by selling
them that "smaller fly rod".

Some won't use the big fast 9' #5 line outfit again until they really need
it.

I think trying a low priced rod is OK too. If you go wild for this size you
can later buy a mid-range or higher rod if you feel like it.

It is kind of like selling someone a nice 20 gauge shotgun when they already
have a big heavy 12 gauge. They will try to use that 20 gauge for everything
because it is so light and fun.

The 9' #5 line rod still king and the top mover in the western USA.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA

Web site: www.kiene.com


"Tim G" wrote in message
om...

I've been fly fishing now for about two years, and I'm afraid it might
be time to take the leap... to a second rod!

I have a 9' 5wt St. Croix Legend, which works fine for me on the
rivers I most like to fish - larger stuff like the Beaverkill,
Farmington, Housatonic, etc. But I also often end up on smaller
streams, some of them really tiny. I'd like to get a smaller and
lighter rod, for --

1) less getting my line (not to mention rod tip) caught in the trees
2) improved delicate presentations
3) better match for smaller fish (i.e., make the little guys feel
bigger)

I'm not entirely sure my reasoning is correct, so I'd love to hear
opinions on that, as well as suggestions for actual rods, sizes and
models. I'm thinking a 3 weight, 7'6". Been eyeing the Orvis
Superfine, or maybe spending much less on a TFO or Redington. (No
need to break the bank on this, as this will not be my most-used rod -
though, hey, I'm always open to quality, right?) I'd love a travel
rod, but from what I've seen it looks like the smaller and lighter
rods are most likely to come as 2-piece, which I suppose would be
fine.


Thanks for any suggestions!

Tim

Thanks for all the great input.

Here's one more question, regarding length: I've never used anything
other than my 9'. Just how different is casting, say, a 7.5' and a
6'? Is it an entirely different animal, or is it just a fractional
variation? Mending and line control I believe I can imagine the
differences, it's the casting that I'm wondering about.

And, since I live in NYC, I won't be having much of an opportunity to
test out any of these rods before buying...

Thanks again!

Tim

Kinda like the difference between parking a sedan and a compact....NYC wise.


john

"Tim G" wrote in message
om...
Thanks for all the great input.

Here's one more question, regarding length: I've never used anything
other than my 9'. Just how different is casting, say, a 7.5' and a
6'? Is it an entirely different animal, or is it just a fractional
variation? Mending and line control I believe I can imagine the
differences, it's the casting that I'm wondering about.

And, since I live in NYC, I won't be having much of an opportunity to
test out any of these rods before buying...

Thanks again!

Tim