Re: The Long and the Short of it(?)
Like Buddy says, Mr. Wright is really only stating his opinion. And we all have one or more of those.
I just recently bought a 9' / 6wt. , and it was my first of those. I had an old Japanese 'boo rod in a flimsy wooden box when I was a kid, and I have no idea what wt. or length it was, but it seeemed pretty long to me. I used to use it to belly crawl up to Rush creek back home, and poke it way out through the weeds to dab a little chunk of worm on a little bitty hook just over the edge of the cutbank to catch some very spooky little brookies by the bunch. I haven't a clue what happened to it, but if it was any shorter, it wouldn't have worked too good. Now I have three rods, the 6 I mentioned, a 8'6 /7wt. and a big ol 10' /11 wt. I just love my new 6, and my casting skills have improved some this past summer, but now I want to get a shorter rod. I can even come up with some great reasons. Truth is, though... I'm just hooked, and I want to try another rod. I'm an ex - spurt on that and many other things. Hopefully, though, my next rod will be the custom I build from that Nunley blank I hope to win :lol: Way back when, when I first started tying flies, I built about 6 rods all from Fenwick blanks. It's been over 30 years since then, and I know once I get back into it, I'll probably get carried away. When I spend a bunch of $$ on blank, reel seat etc. and spread it out, I forget how much it adds up to, and the rod feels like it was a pretty good bargain, so, I figure, well, now I think I want a diferent one.... That's some of the greatness of any sport.
Hunters have lots of guns, Bowlers have lots of balls, Fishermen have great rods, and more is better. Rush creek is surrounded by private property now, and I don't think it's anything like it
was, but, I think if I ever get a chance to go back there, I'll need another rod................................ModocDan
Re: The Long and the Short of it(?)
I have to agree, with all that stated "Wright's opinions are just that.............. "OPINIONS".
Fly fishing for over 30 years, I've run into situations where any rod length at all, wouldn't have made a difference in reaching the fish I then saw, rising and there's been times when the fish were so close, I caught them on just the leader and tippet hanging from the end of the rod. So, how long would a rod like that, have to be? (Or, rather,how short? The fish were at my feet!?).
There are not any "experts" in the sport of Fly Fishing. There are many that are better at casting and tying flies, than others are, but that's about it. To me, although very good at what they do, (or, did), Lee Wulff, Wright, McKinnize, et al, are or were very, very good at the sport. But, their opinions are still their own ideas and experiences put into play for the way they like to do things and they write a book and pass those opinions onto us, thankfully, or, regrettably.
In contrast, Lee Wulff believed whole heartedly that; "The SHORTER the rod, for ANY fly fishing situation was better". He also once cast to, hooked, played and landed an Atlantic Salmon without using a rod at all. The fly reel was held in his hand and his pocket.
I was fishing with Dave Huges and asked him about fly fishing the coastal rivers in his and my, home waters and asked him something on the order of "Being an expert on fly fishing the coastal streams". He darn near fell into the Nestuca River, he laughed so hard at me, when I referred to him as an "expert".
Before I knew any better, I once told Henry Hoffman, while at his house; "Gads, it must be nice to be an "expert" on fly tying!". He, also, couldn't stop laughing at me.
"Long rod?" "Short rod?" What do YOU like, the best? THAT to me, is the right answer!
Paul
Re: The Long and the Short of it(?)
Moving water creates situations where I find rod length important. I have rods from 5'-9'6" and use them according to the "space requirements" of the stream. While everybody has differing opinions on where a short rod is required; in the places I use them nothing else would work, believe me. I'm talking about spots where you can't even MOVE the rod tip of a 7'0" rod more than two feet without whacking a tree branch and roll casts are IMPOSSIBLE with ANY rod.
In those short rod places the only lament I have is reach issues. If you can't keep the rod tip and line belly extended over a drag inducing riffle or chute below a pool; you have major drag problems. It is a pain in the butt at times but the small streams where I find the shortest rods necessary usually are manageable. I NEVER use those rods on places where I can use something longer.
Another issue with rod length that comes into play for me is wading depth. If I am wading deep which effectively shortens the rod tip distance from the ground or water; I want a longer rod because of the possibility of backcast drop. Since the majority of my rods are slower actions; a faster casting stroke isn't always the answer. The same holds true on places with a lot of tall vegetation on the stream banks. I have fished meadow streams that are 5 feet wide but have 9 foot corn stalks along their length. You better believe I use a long rod there.
So for me; a longer rod on moving water IS an advantage because I typically choose one where ever I can get away with it for the reasons above. But if I am fishing still water from the bank where I have clear sailing behind me; I really don't find any huge advantage to a longer rod.
http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/symbolic/twocents.gif
Re: The Long and the Short of it(?)
I got an 11 foot 6-weight mainly because I needed the reach on some of the small streams that I fish. It literally allows me to cast around corners in some places where a shorter rod doesn't work for me. Note that some people might be able to fish sections like that with a 5 foot long rod.
Now, about that new 2-weight that I've got to order next week.... :)
Ed