I need some help in deciding on a rod length I should get. I have test casted the 6wt rod lengths of 9’, 9’6’ and 10’. I only want to buy one rod at this time. What I need to decide is what length should I get. I fish mainly lakes, rivers and streams in and around the Sierras for trout using dry flies. Most of the places I go to are open so there are no obstructions to deal with. I tend to wade in or fish from shore and on occassion fish from a boat, but this is rare. What length should I get and why?
Quite frankly a nine foot rod should be just what you want. If you only want one rod at the moment that is the ideal general purpose length, especially if you are using mainly dry flies. That is purely a personal opinion. I have trout rods from 6ft to 11.25 ft and they are all useful at specific times, but for general purposes I use a 9ft rod more than any thing else.
My preference would be the 9 footer for all around use. It provides substantial length and reach and can be used successfully on both streams and lakes alike.
If you’re fishing from a float tube, pontoon or other craft, the longer rod has its advantages over the shorter. I bought a 9’6 7 wt 4-piece this year and have fallen in love with it. I can work it from my pontoon or up to my waist in a river with very nice results. It’s a fast rod (personal preference) that also is great for roll casting in the above situations. I’m considering getting a 10’ rod just because I like the longer rod so well. With the advances in materials, the weight difference is hardly noticable.
For wading deep in big water, I prefer a 9.5’ or 10’ to help keep heavy stone nymphs from smacking me. For Sierra waters, such length would be excessive in my opinion. I would think you’d feel a bit overgunned with a 10’ 6wt on most Sierra waters.
For what you described, I would say a nine footer too. I use ten footers alot for steelhead fishing and nymphing bigger water but they aren’t great dry fly rods. You’ll have greater versatility with the nine.
Another thing is ease of casting LF & JC always make a big point of how much easier it is to stop a shorter rod…makes sense to me…
Can a 1/2 foot to a foot make that much of a difference? I am not challenging the wisdom, I am trying to understand why that is. Since all my rods are 9’ I want to understand the reason (benefit) why people use rods of different length. Some of the reasons are obvious to me, but I only have a vague understanding of why rods come in varing lengths.
T,
We have a 5wt and a 6wt in the 10’ length.
The 6wt is inexpensive and heavy. The 5wt is of a far better grade from a top of the line brand. It is expensive and LIGHT. It is one of our go to rods. It will lift a lot of line and someone else can mend well with it. :roll: The 5 you can stop and cast well without thought. The 6 needs your attention to continually do the job for the whole day.
We DO like our “good” 10’er. If a lesser quality rod is your only option, we would suggest the shorter version.
…lee s.
I like a nine ft wt5 or 6 for GP use. I don’t think the extra 6 inches is going to make any difference to your casting distance and nine ft is a good rod for dry fly on stillwaters and a reasonable compromise for wet fly as well.
I have just recently bought a 10ft wt4 rod specifically for wet fly (spiders etc), it is easier to control the flies when cast upstream and I do have a predeliction for light weight rods. I have an 8.5 ft 3wt from Cabellas which I like very much but it is limited.
I also have dry fly rods down to six feet which at the right time and venue give me much pleasure.
I’ll admit it, I’m a tackle and tying materials junky.
Well!! It is not the worst of faults, at least I’m keeping people in work.
I think over a day’s fishing a 9’ would cast easier and better (especially by the end of the day) and a 10’ would give you more or easier line control. IT depends on your strength, your ability, how much casting and mending you’ll do, how big the body of water is and how exacting your casting need be.
All my rods are 9’ or less. Not that I don’t consider other lengths but in the end that’s what I choose for me.
My personal opinion, 9’6" or 10’ are most under rated. They are fantastic! I use both, and Yes there is a difference (specially on rivers). With the rod being an extention of your arm, you have just increased your reach. Float tubes, you get more line off the water. Rivers you need only hi-stick in certain cases. Plus can cast very easily in the wind.
Where you are talking a 6 wt. I think a longer rod is perfect. Plus a GOOD rod, will not be any more tiresome than a 9 foot.
Just my $0.02 worth.
I agree with Fly Goddess, I think if you look at most replies the guys who have ACTUALY USED the longer rods have had good results. I have at least one rod of every length you have asked about and the 10ft rod is without a doubt the most versatile. It is my cheepest rod but it is the one I use the most, I can mend better, cast much longer leaders and still turn over the fly and pick up line at a greater distance and high sticking is a breaze.
All the best.
Mike.
I still think you should go for the 9 footer, you say you want to use it mainly for dry-fly on lakes etc.
I think 9 ft is about the max for a dry fly rod, as you only want one rod at the moment, this is an ideal length for this purpose. You are not going to do dry fly fishing successfully at long distance.
I use longer rods for wet fly fishing on streams and I have a 10ft 6/7wt which is my rod for loch style from a boat. I like this rod and the 4wt for wet fly but you did say you mainly like dry fly.If you decide to do more wet fly and nymph fishing, you can use this rod no problem. At a later date you can invest in a longer rod if and when you can afford it.
Just my Scottish opinion.
I am curious why you think a 9’ is better a
than 10’ for dries? That is the presenter, not the rod. On Gin Clear lakes, sometimes you have to do long cast with the dry. Plus any kind of structure in the water, longer cast are required.
Why do you think you can’t cast dries successfully with a 10’?
I did not say you couldn’t cast dry fly with a ten ft rod, but it seems to me that only one rod is required at this time and I think a nine ft rod is a good general purpose rod for streams and stillwaters. I personally don’t like too long a rod for stream dry fly and being able to see the fly can be a premium on stillwaters. Of course you can use a large and bright fly to obviate this but the impression I got was that he only wanted one rod and this was a reasonable compromise. It is only my opinion and you are fully entitled to disagree with me. :?