I would be interested to hear from the board members about their go to trout rod -- primary use in in small and medium size streams/rivers like the Ausable in Michigan or Bowens Creek in PA. Look forward to the responses. Dave
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I would be interested to hear from the board members about their go to trout rod -- primary use in in small and medium size streams/rivers like the Ausable in Michigan or Bowens Creek in PA. Look forward to the responses. Dave
Hi Dave! My Favorite dry fly rod is a custom built Sevier, 9-foot, 3/4 wt. It is a slow rod and a lot of fun casting dries to rising trout. My favorite nymphing rod is a Dan Craft Five Rivers FT Fast Action rod blank. It is a custom built 10-foot, 3 wt. 4-piece. It will also cast small streamers with no problem.
Bruce
Orvis 7'9" 5wt unsanded Far-and-Fine
Hmmm... for small and medium size streams...Well, my #1 is a custom built Sage LL 490-2. A VERY close second is a custom-bult 3-weight 8 1/2' Gatti. But for nymphing my fav is a custom-built Sage RPL 490-2.
Several years ago, I built a Batson RX6, 4 piece, 7 1/2 foot, 4/5 weight. I used an agate stripping guide, double foot guides, reversed half wells grip and a teak wood sliding band reel seat. I like fishing that rod for almost every outing. If I am trolling deep water in a lake, I'll go with the 8 1/2 foot, 4 piece, 5 weight Ross FW Essence that my daughter gave me. Here's a shot of the Batson;
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...1/100_1016.jpg
My favorite small to med stream rod is a Cortland 8' 4wt Brook Series rod. For Nymphing on larger streams I have a 10' 4 wt Brook Series rod, and it is very good for fishing soft hackles and dries as well. I also have a Sage Fli 9' 5 wt, that gets a fair amount of use on bigger streams however I am finding that it can't really do anything that the 10' Cortland can't do. I have short custom built 2 and 3 wt rods for fishing the really small streams. That's really all I need.
Kusse 7' wt Quad
Steffens' 7' 6" Cattanach 7642
Wanigas 7' Fiberglass (~1970)
My favorite is a Loop Opti Creek 388-4 with a Loop Opti Creek reel. A very close second is a Sage ZXL 486-4 with an Abel pt.5.
DITTO! About as good as it gets for an all around trout rod that is relaxing to cast and an absolute joy to play fish on!Quote:
Originally Posted by NJTroutbum
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I have a 9 foot, 4 wt, fly logic FLP+. I really like the feel of it. A little slow action for some, but I like it. Wish it was a little shorter sometimes and longer others. A good all around rod for me.
Sage 490 XP gets it done regardless of which fly is tied on.
Sage 490-4 LL. I was able to try a 4wt Sage ZXL for a couple of days last fall. If I owned it might become my favorite but for now it is still that old LL.
Sage 490-4 RPL for nymphing.
Mike Shay built Payne 100 7.6 4wt Cane rod for drys.
DuFf
Dave Male 7 1/2' for a 5 weight bamboo rod.
Sage ZXL 490-4 and an Able Creek or Trout reel (love there click and pawl reels). :razz:
Small stream, Hardy, The Test.
For wets and nymphs this relic from nearly 100 years ago. Painfully slow but what a rush with a fish on
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...P1010023-1.jpg
For drys...and actually anything else, my 323 South Bend. It does excel as a dry fly rod but I'll throw anything with it.
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...andbows010.jpg
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...andbows011.jpg
What weight are those boos?
My absolute favorite for fishing the Ausable and Manistee...and most trout streams of that nature is my 7ft6in 3 wt. custom built, G.Loomis IMX ...now out of production). For slighty bigger rivers (or larger flies) like the Grand in Ontario, I like my 9ft 4wt Shakari HMX custom built by me. Unfortunately they aren't around anymore or I would have more of them. These are now what would be considered old technology, as they are about 10 yrs old or so... but I never felt the need to look at anything new. On bigger water like below Mio (MI), western rivers and most still water fishing I use a 9ft 5wt St. Croix Legend Elite (pre NSi resin technology). If your familiar with these blanks you will now know that I like rods that are light and fast, but I enjoy casting any rod to tell you the truth. Now I will say that I still test cast rods any time I get the chance. I also liked the Gatti blanks back when I built the ones mentioned above. I don't know if they are still in the market here or not. I used to get those blanks here in Ontario, but I haven't seen any in quite a while. I also really liked the Orvis Z-Axis. I'm not as crazy about the Helios.
If you were to ask me today what I would like to build on to own...
I'm really liking the newest St. Croix line of blanks. In particular the rods made with the NSi Resin: SCIV, SCV and SCVI blanks. I love the SC built Legend Elite but those rods and those fast blanks are certainly not for everybody. They are high end, in my book, and I don't like paying that kind of money for a rod...but I did break down and buy a Bank Robber...the first manufacured rod I've bought in over ten years.
I don't think I've ever found a fly rod that I just didn't like to cast. Some just took longer to love than others. It's like a freindship. It starts out with a greeting, a little awkward but comfortable...and after a time they grow on you and sometimes you just fall in love.
For me, it's my Winston IM6 8'6" 5-weight 3-piece. I bought it in 1994 and it's been my go-to rod ever since. Dries, wets, nymphs and small streamers -- it can do it all.
Attachment 9963
Sage 490 RPL and a Forecast 9' 4wt 4pc I built a few years ago (the Sage is my sentimental favorite but it's a 2 pc and doesn't travel out west with me any more). Summer 2010 - YNP, upper Madison, Rock Creek, etc I fished the Forecast the entire time; never did have enough wind where I needed the 6wt.
Regards,
Scott
Medium streams.... my 9' 3wt Sage Z-Axis - Custom Build
Small streams... my 6'9" 4wt Winston LT - Store Bought
Best Regards....
Thanks everyone -- a wide variety!
For dry fly fishing: Orvis Far-n-Fine bamboo 7'6" 5 wt.
For nymphing: Sage ZXL 490-4.
(Good second choices, if I may):
Dries: Winston - Tom Morgan Favorite
Nymph: Loomis 9ft 4wt Streamdance
Brian
I take it many of you pack two rods on streams and creeks right? One for dries one for nymphs.
The rod I take w/ me on an outing for small-med streams like the Ausable or Manistee depends on what I plan to fish (dry vs. nymph vs. small streamer), but I use one of these:
Scott G2 8'8" 4 wt
Winston JWF (WT in 8'6" 5 wt)
Winston Biit 8'5" 4 wt
Winston Biit 7'6" 3 wt
There are those variables that makes just one rod impossible - however - my favorite main stay fly rod has been the 5wt, so much so I have three of them - An 8' med action, a 9' med action and a fast action 9'. But since the Au Sable in Michigan was already mentioned, fishing downriver from Mio to the 4001 bridge, on my trips there I've found there to be some real windy stretch at times; and since the river usually wide I prefer using my "windy river" rod ... a 7wt 8.5 footer.
Goddes, they both like a #6, silk DT in my hands. I rarely take two rods, those are just the preferred flys with those rods, I'll throw anything. It is somehting of a rush when you hook a fish with a rod, line and fly combination from the distant past of fly fishing. Onlything I lack is a reel from the era.
Sexy there Sharps. About the only rivers I think 6 wt is the Snake. As for the posted small or medium stream, maybe that is what you have so you go for it and what a wonderful choice.
I could make a list of rods to fill this posts question with several wonderful rods from a LL 2 wt to a JWF. There are a few, but the Test is my go to and it will cast streamers, nymphs, and tiny dries. I do always pack a back up but it stays in the car as I travel light on streams and creeks ;-)
For me? The last one off my wrapper.
My absolute favorite was a Cortland GRF 3wt. Since then, I have fallen in love with my TFO 6' 2wt.
TT.
Goddess
You raise an interesting quesation -- My brother always carried two rods -- the one not being used propped against a tree. For those that do carry two rods how do you carry the second rod?
Another vote for the Orvis Far and Fine. I love this rod.
Small water: haven't found anything to beat the best deal going for small streams- the Cabela's Three Forks 3-wt. rod. It's a three piece rod that sells for a nickel under fifty bucks. I fish it with a 4-wt. DT line. Never failed me, and has a perfect action (for me, of course) up to maybe 40 feet.
Medium water: used to have the Winston 8 1/2 ft. 5-wt, 3-piece rod. Sold it during a difficult time. I'm very good friends now with a TFO Finesse series rod. 8'9" for a 5-wt. line. Very smooth rod.
Chuck
When on foot the second rod is in one of Dan Blanton's "Rigged and Ready" rod bags, to which I added a strap, I sling it across my back.Quote:
Originally Posted by spike-2
I generally carry two or three rods with me. When the van is close by I just leave the rod strung and ready under some blankets. When hiking I use a pvc tube with a strap to sling over my shoulder.
My most used rod this last year was my 9', 4wt. Fenwick Iron Feather. Also enjoyed a weekend with a Shapleigh's 9', 6wt. 3/2 bamboo (my first outing with bamboo, but not my last.)