Dave,

I really depends on what kind of water you are fishing.

I get to occassionally fish for smallmouth on a neat little section of a small river. There, I like a 6 1/2 foot 2 wt. or a 4 1/2 foot 1 wt.

I also get to do some smallmouth fishing off the dam in a large lake in Colorado. This is sinking line, count it down deep type stuff with semi seal leech and craw patterns, and for that I use a 9' 6 wt. I AM going to find a nice full sink line for my 3 wt. soon, and will probably switch to that next season. More fun and the fish never top five pounds.

Great fish, smallmouth....

Good Luck!

Buddy

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Tie flies beyond the resistance of mortal trout!