I am giving some thought in buying a 6 weight rod,for streamer fishing on a medium sized ''eastern river''.Is a ten foot rod too long?.Any imput is appreciated.Thanks
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I am giving some thought in buying a 6 weight rod,for streamer fishing on a medium sized ''eastern river''.Is a ten foot rod too long?.Any imput is appreciated.Thanks
Hi. I'm curious- why do you want to go that long? I don't think you need a ten footer for your stated purpose. Have you cast a 10 foot 6-wt. rod? I have, although it was a few years ago, and that long lever can be tiring. Why not go with a nine footer, or even 8 1/2'? I find my Sage 9 foot XP to be pretty darn good for streamers, and casting all day. A more current model might be even easier. Just my $0.02, of course!
Chuck
Probably the best know streamer fisherman today is Kelly Galloup...and his Michigan buddy Bob Linsenman. Yeah Michigan!
Quote" Rods. The ideal streamer rod has a medium to medium-fast action, a powerful butt section, and enough length to lift and steer sinking lines. The rod should also cast tight loops and load quickly for accurate casts from 20 to 60-plus feet all day without tiring your arm. Such a rod should cast well in the wind and have the muscle to set large hooks on heavy fish with strong jaws that can clamp down on a fly. We believe that the best all-around streamer rod is a 9-foot, 6-weight, but we both use 7- and 8-weight rods on occasion."
I don't have enough experience with long rods...(10ft+) but those are usually used for swinging or nymphing. I would think (not think...I know) my arm and back would get bloody tired from throwing and strip jerking streamers on the long rod. I'd be interested in hearing Kelly's take on the long rods. I switched from the long rod (11ft) I was using on the Manistee for steelhead to my 9ft 6wt for streamer fishing for browns on the same float.
A 8 1/2 or 9 foot is plenty long. I would not try to get too specialized. I use an 5 wt 8 foot and it lays out plenty of line for me. I use the 8 1/2 if I'm using my sink tip-but both I use for dry flies.
I don't fish streamers that much so I probably am not the person to comment about it too much but I have an Orvis Helios 5wt 10'(by the way awesome rod) it flicks out tungsten+leadbody woollies with so much ease, much easier than my 9' 6wt xp or 5wt z-axis.
Also to the complaints about soreness, I don't have any problems with back or arms getting tired/sore(although I am only 25 and try to keep fit). The only difference in casting the 10ft it is a little bit more resistance on the shorter casts(< 30 foot) but is a lot easier to do the longer casts. Another upside is I can also cast further with this rod, I would recommend a 10' rod anyday.
I use an 8-1/2ft 5wt Orvis Zero-G and have absolutely no problem fishing streamers with it.
Good evening.
Both of my sons use a 10foot 6w rod, and have for a few years, not once have they ever said anything about the rod being too heavy or too hard to use.
And now today, they 'think' they are going to take one of my 5/6w 12foot Trout Spey without paying for it ... so they think !
Flies they use, they mainly use the rods for saltwater casting and fishing with flies that would chase away a Trout, because of their size.
Kind regards,
UB
The other thing to consider... how overgrown/brushy is it around these streams you'll be fishing. If you've got overhanging or surrounding trees, a longer rod can make it that much more difficult to cast, in a tight space. I have a few places I fish where my 7 1/2' rod is too long, simply because of the surrounding foliage.
tri-co -
I think it is a matter of how much water you have to cover with what size flies on what kind of line.
I fish streamers on streams and rivers tied on up to size 6 4x long hooks with a 7'6" for 3 wt, an 8' for 5 wt ( bamboo ), a 9' for 5 wt and a 9' for 7 wt, depending on the size of the water and the wind, if there is enough of a breeze to be a factor.
I typically fish an unweighted streamer off a class II full sinking line, which works for me around here. Depending on the depth and current speed of the medium size rivers you are fishing, you might want to go with a floating line, a sink tip, or a faster sinking full sinking line.
John
I think there other factors more important to rod length than just for use with streamers. Like, for example, the terrain around the water fishing in case your fishing from the bank, or close to it, the size of the stream being fished, what kind of action the rod has, what line weight the rod was designed for, and simply how the rod fits you. Also, while I'm particularly fond of 5wt fly rods, I have found out that while fishing for salmon in Alaska a 9wt rod is a much better choice ... and that was streamer fishing for sure.
My present fly rod arsenal runs a 7 1/2', 4wt to a 9', 9wt with all rod weights in between. The 7 1/2" 4wt was for use on small mountain creeks & streams but I've seldome used it. Like the 8' 5wt better, but that's understandable, I cut my eye teeth on an 8' rod and it just feels right and it's just a handy length for me. Have an 8 1/2 ', 7wt that I call my "windy river" rod and it is just that. For the larger rivers and small lakes I have a 9', 5wt stillwater rod that especially fits me right fishing from the canoe (sitting down). I've tried a ten footer but it simply does not fit me, I do so much better with the nine. Lucky for me I found a buyer on ebay that was to buy the ten.
It would be great if you could try a ten footer and see how you do with it before buying same. Good luck.
Dale