Rods and Reels

[PeteCz]

I have a 7'6" 3wt TFO Pro that I really enjoy. However, I think an 8' or 8'6" 3wt may be a bit more versatile in the park. While the shorter rod will help keep you out of the overhanging stuff, I would have really liked to have some extra length to keep the fly line off the water and out of conflicting currents.

I have a cheap Scientific Anglers reel ($29?). For the park, I can't imagine a reel is used for anything other than holding line. If you are fishing on bigger waters, than you really need to think about reels...

[BlueRaiderFan]

Guys, thanks for the advice. I think I may be o.k. with this rod after all. It may be a bit heavy being a 6wt, but I don't think it is so much that I can't use it in the park according to what I've read here. Besides, it will be great for use on rivers as well.

[Gerry Romer]

My choices have been pretty much determined by the type of fishing I intend to do. I've got an 8' 3 wt. (used with either a 3wt FWF or overlined with RIO's new Nymph line), and an 8'6" TFO 4wt (used with either a 5wt FWF or RIO's Nymph line in a 6wt.)

In the park, if I'm going nymphing, I end up fishing the TFO almost exclusively. I just feel that the St. Croix 3 wt Avid just doesn't have enough backbone to be throwing nymphs around all day... it wears me out and the backcast is less efficient, leading to more bird's nests than I care to Deal with. But it's great for delicate presentation of dries. So I know that if I intend to spend a day throwing nothing but dries, I'll take my little 3wt -- it's just more fun!

Truthfully, though, that TFO has become the workhorse. Probably because I just can't seem to commit to an entire day of either nymphing or dry flies. It may seem silly, but that extra 6" makes a big difference when highsticking.

Gerry

[WNCFLY]

4wt 7 1/2 ft orvis superfine rod and a large arbor Ross cimarron reel. I really do like my current setup.

[Gerry Romer]

Originally Posted by WNCFLY

4wt 7 1/2 ft orvis superfine rod and a large arbor Ross cimarron reel. I really do like my current setup.

Who wouldn't??

Me?? Jealous??... nah. not one bit.....

[czkid]

For me, anything under 7 ft and a 4wt are a waste. But then I fish nothing but bamboo rods and silk lines... so what the heck do I know The real shorty rods are so specialized that they will rarely get used unless you live in an unusual area.

My park rods are an 8ft, 5wt and usually a 7ft, 4wt depending on the stream I'm on.

[WNCFLY]

Has anyone picked up the Orvis trout bum 2wt 6ft rod. I was "playing" with it at a fly shop the other day and couldn't get over how light it was. I would love to take it in one of the small headwater streams in the park. I figure 6ft is way to small for most people, but it would be a lot of fun. The big problem is that it costs $475. I just cant dish that out with the way money is these days.

[txbrown]

I use a 8ft 2wt TFO pro for dries in the park and love it. It is a great brookie rod because you can still high stick pocket water. I have been playing with a 6'3" 3wt medium action for nymphs this week. It is my bluegill rod and I pitch only very small poppers and 12-16 bead head buggers for them. It has been fun on hook ups but can be a bit of work with line control in fast water. During summer it might work better with lower flows but I would stick with a 8+ft 4 or 5 wt for nymphs depending upon your other type of fishing. I went back to one yesterday and caught more fish.

[ccmmcc]

95% of the time I use a 9' 4wt in the mountains, and yes, even on small streams. If it is really small, with overhanging brush, I use a 7' 3wt. I like to use a long rod and keep line off of the water. I also like to high stick nymph, so the longer rod really comes in hand.

[BlueRaiderFan]

Originally Posted by WNCFLY

Has anyone picked up the Orvis trout bum 2wt 6ft rod. I was "playing" with it at a fly shop the other day and couldn't get over how light it was. I would love to take it in one of the small headwater streams in the park. I figure 6ft is way to small for most people, but it would be a lot of fun. The big problem is that it costs $475. I just cant dish that out with the way money is these days.

I haven't seen it, but I will look in my catalog. I love looking at Orvis catalogs.