Why Should You own A Zero Weight Rod?
This question ran burning through my mind, slapping its pants and screeching for a bucket of water, after I returned from a session of angling on [url=http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=33.185027&lon=-96.634298&z=18.3&r=0&src=msa:d3082]Towne Lake McKinney[/url:d3082] (We angled under the + sign)
Keebranch and I tested out some various lines on his Cabelas Clear Creek one weight. Then we tried out his Temple Fork 2 weight. It was lovey dovey with a Cortland Ten Meter four weight line.
So after all that I put together my zero weight and we got down to fishin'. None of the fish we landed were as big as my hand and I don't have large hands. But the fight in these fish was a thing of loveliness. I got to hang out with a friend, fight the fight piscine and come home with my hands smelling like I'd been fishing.
One can drive long distances and pay large sums of money to fish; and I firmly believe that this is a good thing to do. There are thrills galore, there are adventures aplenty far afield. But never forget that there are some sweetnesses right in your own area, right down the road, perhaps a short walk from your front door. The zero weight opens that door to local adventure, a door that might never open with a heavier rod.
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RRhyne56
http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com
http://robinsrumination.blogspot.com
Re: Why Should You own A Zero Weight Rod?
Very nice, wordy post.
I would not choose a 00-0-1-2 wt rod as my only rod.
IMO their only plus is as you discribe.....make a dink feel bigger.
Casting in wind, throwing weight, a longer cast...these rods fail miserably
Re: Why Should You own A Zero Weight Rod?
They will handle wind better than most give them credit for.
I've ran the gamut from 1-3 wt.rods and I must say the 181-SLT Sage has been one of the sweetest rods i've ever fished at short to medium distances under light to moderate winds.
Re: Why Should You own A Zero Weight Rod?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerry
Very nice, wordy post.
I would not choose a 00-0-1-2 wt rod as my only rod.
IMO their only plus is as you discribe.....make a dink feel bigger.
Casting in wind, throwing weight, a longer cast...these rods fail miserably
Bad day today?
Light weight rods can be a dream to play with, in the right conditions and circumstances. Some days even my 3wt's seem a little too heavy. Those are still enjoyable days.
Re: Why Should You own A Zero Weight Rod?
Here I go again.
I get in trouble every time I answer one of these light line rod threads.
Please understand I own a Cabela's one wt and a IMX 2 wt and fish um but unless conditions are ideal for nearly weightless line...I take a 5 wt. or at least a 3 wt.
To me there is nothing magical about these rods. I don't feel I'm a superior angler or more evolved than folk that use heavier stuff when I'm fishin um. I suppose they have their place if you're sure you ain't gonna make a 40' cast or throw a bead head but if I pack for a fishing trip I NEVER just take a 1 or 2 wt.
Re: Why Should You own A Zero Weight Rod?
Dear RRhyne,
Please don't take this the wrong way, because I'm sure you had a good time fishing but if you are fishing what is presumably a warm water lake in Texas and can't find a fish to bother with that puts up a decent fight on a zero-weight maybe the rod is limiting your fishing?
Dinky rods and dinky flies lead to dinky fish, generally speaking. Occasionally you will accidentally stumble across a bigger fish but for the most part you can't cast flies large enough to attract decent sized fish with a zero weight, or 2 or 3 weight for that matter.
Why not put two size 6 beadhead leeches in tandem on an 8 weight and go find a fish worth catching? The way I figure things two ten inch bluegills bow up my 8 weight almost as much as a 20 inch bass.
I've caught enough warm water fish to know that I want a rod capable of handling the out-sized fish I may come across instead of one that makes a credit card sized fish "enjoyable" to catch, but perhaps that is just me?
Best Wishes,
Avalon :D
Re: Why Should You own A Zero Weight Rod?
Well, I can see that there are varying opinions on this point, mileage IS varying :)
The whole thing is that there are many local bodies of water where there are no big fish. Many ponds and tiny creeks right outside the back door are a boon of angling fun with the right tackle.
Just to clarify one point, this is why you should own a zero weight, not why you should get rid of all other tackle than a zero weight. I also own other weight rods up to a ten weight cannon that throws several hundred grains of lead core; I wouldn't take anything else out on the big Texoma for [url=http://www.guidemystique.com/:6bc12]big stripers[/url:6bc12] So I am not trying to turn anyone off of how they fish. But it sure is fun to hook up with the little guys on a zero!
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RRhyne56
http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com
http://robinsrumination.blogspot.com
Re: Why Should You own A Zero Weight Rod?
Dear RRhyne,
Actually, what you were saying was pretty much exactly what I thought you were saying. I know we all don't live right next door to destination waters and sometimes we have to make due with the fishing that we can easily access.
To that end, I would like to say that maybe if people kept a couple of panfish from your local lake for the frying pan on occasion the overall size of the fish would improve and you wouldn't need to use a zero weight?
I don't know if it is the case that they don't keep fish, but I do have two lakes close by to me that are almost indentical in size. They are both around 85 acres and they both get fished heavily as they are in State Parks. One lake sees more catch and release anglers and the other sees more catch and keep anglers.
Care to guess which lake offers the better fishing for gills and crappies and such, both in numbers and in size?
Best Wishes,
Avalon :D
Re: Why Should You own A Zero Weight Rod?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Avalon
Dinky rods and dinky flies lead to dinky fish, generally speaking. Occasionally you will accidentally stumble across a bigger fish but for the most part you can't cast flies large enough to attract decent sized fish with a zero weight, or 2 or 3 weight for that matter.
This Dan Craft 7'-0" 1wt and 9-1/2" bluegill are not what I call "dinky." And, yes, I can throw 40' casts with it all day long (witnessed by Ohiotuber last weekend). I would hope one day you are able to try an outfit like this so your horizons may be expanded. I've also landed a 15" largemouth bass and 15" crappie on this same outfit without stressing either fish. Dynamite comes in small packages as well as large.
I'm getting ready to build a 7'9" 4-piece 3wt, so I'll let you know how that "dinky" rod performs at the Michigan Fish-in.
Joe
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...1wt-060907.jpg
Re: Why Should You own A Zero Weight Rod?
Here's my GLoomis IMX 7'9" 2 wt I built from a blank. Has Struble U20 n/s reel seat with walnut spacer and single foot guides, gray wraps and 6 1/2" rev 1/2 well grip.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...ger/2wt006.jpg