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OK Z sent me a bunch of size 6 hooks, I dont think even a gill will get them down which means I have to start thinking about Steelhead and Small Mouths. Is there a good rod size for both of these fish?
Ill be fishing the steelhead on the clearwater and the smallies on the snake.
Eric
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Tis bettter to have hooked and lost, than never hooked at all.
For Great Lakes steelhead I generally use a 10' 7wt. For the smallies it all depends. I've gone as light as a 3wt. to as heavy as a 7. I would probably suggest either a 9.6' 7wt. or 8wt. That will help you cast those big size 6 hooks. It'll also give you better mending capabilities for the steelies.
Eric,,, come to the 'Fish In' this fall. Try a few rods.
Eric,
What JC said. There'll be plenty of rods there including two handers to play with. Part of the fun is test casting what everyone else brought.
REE
Dear Eric,
No offense intended, but where do you live that a decent sized bluegill can't eat a size 6 fly?
I know from the streams you said you'd be fishing that you are out West so for steelhead and smallies out your way I'd go with at least a 9 or 9'6" 7 weight.
The 9'6" rod will help with line handling chores on the steelies, but it will not handle serious smallmouth bugs in sizes like 1/0 and 2/0 unless you pay special care to your leaders. A shorter rod will do better with those and an 8 weight will do better with both jobs.
There is a reason why the greatest smallmouth rod ever built was the Sage RP 889 and it was also copied by St. Croix with their "Clouser" model.
You need that "punch" if you are slinging the big flies that big fish eat.
Best wishes,
Avalon
When I started fishing the North Umpqua River here in Oregon I asked a fellow who has fished that river for something like 30 years what I should get for steelhead. He said a 9' or 9'6" 8wt would be the best thing to have in my hand. I bought an 8wt Loomis and it seems to be the perfect rod for the steelhead fishing I do.
Rocky
Thanks for the help so far. The bluegills were I fish run small but lots of them. I can use trout flys with our worrying about tying special for them.
Elkhunter I lived in Coquille for a short time and wish I still did,
Eric
Eric how long ago did you live here? The company I work for just put a yard in Craigmont Idaho but they haven't said who was going yet. Looks like there may be some nice fishing around that area.
Rocky
If you're looking for a rod that will "tackle" both angles (puns intended), a 9' or 10' 7-wt should be fine. I have a fished a 9' 7wt for steelhead on both coasts and taken many large smallies on the same rod. You'll need some stiffness to cast big flies - and definitely for the reel screaming runs and jolting takes that the steelhead will provide.
Marty
MFTG