Casey,

I tried my 9 foot 3 weight on a small stream once, then I bought a 7 foot bamboo for that. However, a 9 footer is great for catching smaller fish, like in a lake from a raft pontoon boat. The extra length allows a better reach cast and an easier mend and helps keep the fly off the water on poor backcasts. . It also allows you greater control over a fish when you almost have it reeled all the way in, with the 9 foot rod you can keep the fish farther away from the boat/raft until you get your net ready. A really short rod causes problems in that area, at least for me. But then again, maybe that is just me and not a problem for other people.

Larry ---sagefisher---