What to use for really small fish on tiny streams.

[Normand]

how about this 3 footer from j autin forbes

http://www.jaustinforbes.com/micro.html

[anglerdave]

For small spring creeks, I'll sometimes use a 7' 4wt boo made by a local builder. In his book, Fly Fishing Small Streams, John Gierach seems to have settled on a 7 1/2' 5wt has an all round rod. Unless you plan to limit yourself to just fishing small dry flies, I think if you go to light in line weight it may present a challenge if you want to throw a bigger dry, such as a hopper or any kind of a weighted nymph.

Good luck on your quest.

Dave

[Betty Hiner]

Most of the streams we fish are tiny, willow encrusted, over hanging edges, and did I mention tiny? I have a 5'2#, and a 6'5# that I use almost exclusively. Both glass. Even little brookies feel like whales!

[dudley]

I fish a 1963 vintage Wright & McGill Feather Light . It's a 6'6" for a 5wt but actually casts a 4 or even 3wt better
Eagleclaw still makes them and they cast pretty well despite the butt over tip ferrule construction.
Being fiberglass, they're tough as nails and retail for all of $30

[dphotoco]

Thanks again to all of you!!

The streams I'm talking about have heavy bushed banks and even canopied just a few feet off the water level. Trout are small, ranging 6-9 inches, but abundant. Dry flies are the weapon of choice and size 10 as big a fly as this dwarfs will buy.

The issue with the 1wt being hard to find is magnified by the fact that we don't have fly fishing stores down here, or even dedicated fishing stores, for that matter. All of my equipment has been shipped from the states and it's been bought at major stores (Cabelas, Orvis, Basspro...) due to the fact that many smaller stores don't accept international credit cards. I hope that will help in finding a line for the rod, if I decide to go with a 1 o 2 wt line.

As for the EagleClaw rod. I've seen those being offered at eBay. I'll go back and have a look at them now that you've mention them as being fine rods.

[NJTroutbum]

I don't like to drop below 7ft personally. It makes is harder to manage leaders and line in tight quarters. I use a 7ft 3wt glass rod. The 7ft 3wt St Croix Imperial is an awesome little small stream rod.

[anglerdave]

Orvis has a 7' 4wt Clearwater II for $198. TFO has a Lefty Finess 7'3" 2wt for $179.95. St. Crois Avid 6'6" 3wt $240, or if you prefer 6' 3wt $220.