5wt is my rod of choice ... it's the one I use most of the time. So much so that I have THREE of them! An eight footer and two niners, one fast action and the other medimum actioned.

I cut my eye teeth fly fishing with an 8' so it is sort of my favorite length; it can really do a little bit of everything plus for me it's just a handy length. Usually the eight is my stream fishing rod where I'll run into a lot of tight quarters. I do have a 4wt 7.5 rod for real tight places, but prefer to use the 8' if at all practical. The med action 9' is my "stillwater" rod. Usually for mill ponds and small lakes and open spands of water and it is usually what I use seated in the canoe. The nines will cast further, especially the fast action. And that fast action will do better in the wind and the one I will use when fishing with poppers, it also will handle a little extra weight better.




Dale