I’m thinking about buying a 1wt set up for fishing small water. I had the opportunity to fish some small headwater streams with heavy overgrown banks. I was fishing my 3wt with a double taper line and just had a tough time. My two friends were both using light weight set ups. One of them had a Sage SLT 1 wt and the other a Sage SP 0 wt, both rods were 8 ft long. They were having a much easier time and both caught more fish then I did. I felt I was spooking the fish as soon as the line landed on the water when I wasn’t pulling it out of the trees. I also tried both rods and they were so easy to cast.
I looked in a few of my catalogs and didn’t see very many options other then Sage. I know I would be happy with a Sage but $ 500.00 for a rod is a bit more then I would like to spend. Please provide me with some feedback on the lighter weight rods as well as some possible options to purchase.
smgfish,
Im not too sure as to how picky you are about performance…but a cheap rod building kit from hook and hackle might be a good idea for experimenting? Also, the rod would have a more “personalized” touch to it. I built my first rod this winter and would definately recomend it just for the sheer excitement of hooking up on a fish with your rod and your fly. Good luck
-David
Dan Craft has 1 wt rods. I love my Sage SLT. It is as smooth as butter and honey on warm toast. I will never give it up. THey can be found for much less than $500.00 used. However, it is hard to beat the price for that Clear Creek.
A friend just started fishing his new Cabellas 7ft 1 wgt yesterday. The streams around here are high so he went to a pond for small bass and panfish…but a Large Mouth Bass of over 5 lbs took his mudler. He was very worried about the rod breaking! He said that he was shaking like a bird trying to pass peach pits. Says he loves that rod and will use it a lot this summer.
Wouldn’t want to try to dissuade anyone from buying a new rod (one of life’s great pleasures), and I don’t know what 3wt setup you have now, but you might consider trying it out with a lighter line, say a 2wt, or a light, long-taper 3wt designed for delicacy, like the SA Trout or XPS, Rio Selective Trout, Cortland 444 Sylk, Wulff Triangle Taper, or that new Micro DT by Monic (haven’t tried that one, but heard it’s got an extremely soft delivery). Many 3wt rods will handle a lighter line quite well, and it’s the line hitting the water, not the rod. Also, some variation in leader formulation might help. Just a thought. On the other hand, the Sage TXL’s (current iteration of their light line rods) are awfully sweet and downright pretty, to boot.
[This message has been edited by cross creek (edited 07 June 2006).]
Now I been around the corner and back again a few times and it sounds to me like you are looking for an excuse to buy a new rod. Just buy it for Pete sake.
I have fished many many streams that were tight with a 3 wgt and never felt I needed to go lighter and never had a problem with it. And yes they had a lot of timber and brush. Longer leaders do wonders for a small stream. Just do not buy to long of a rod. 7 1/2 foot is about right Just buy the new rod. LOL Ron
I for one have owned several brands of three weights,t&t,loomis,scott,sage and as of now i do not own a three weight anymore.The purpose in buying these rods was to fish the waters you have mentioned,but upon hooking up with a few too many oversized fish on these streams and not having the backbone to hold them,i tired of losing fish to a few headshakes.I now use a T&T lps with a doulbe taper line and longer leader on a four weight and probably will not look back.
I agree try a smaller line weight on the rod first unless the rod is too long for your needs and you hate roll casting,the best thing for small stream fishing!
I’ve got a 1 wt. Scott G Series that is very nice. I’ve landed some pretty good sized fish on it without any problems. I don’t use it very often because of the tiny flies that you need to use (I like larger, heavier patterns) and primarily because the slightest breeze and that lines not going anywhere. To me, they seem like more of a niche buy.
You should have no problem using a 3wt., unless the length is too much. If you do want one and don’t want to spend a ton of cash, look at the Orvis Superfines or the St. Croix’s-They make a 7.5’ 2 wt.
RonMT you got me pegged I am always looking for a reason to buy a new rod. However I was having issues with my 3wt. I guess I should elaborate. My 3wt is an 8ft 6 inch Sage XP cannon. It works well in most situations where I use it. I needed to use about a 4 ft leader at the most over the weekend; and even at that I felt like Robin Hood with all the Bow and Arrow casting I was doing. A shorter softer 3wt probably would have done the trick.
I am going to borrow my friends Sage SLT and give it a try for a few days and see if it’s something I really want. I am going to be buying my wife a TFO 3wt for a trip we are taking out West. The rod I am looking at is a lot softer then my XP.
I’m having an absolute hoot with my 5ft 2weight on the little streams! Built it off a Batson rod blank, and it does handle really big fish easily!! Not sure, without checking the receipt, but I believe it was in the $30-50 range complete!
The Dan Craft 1 wt is an awesome rod if you don’t mind rolling your own or Dan will build one for you. I have the Sig III 6 ft 10 in. The replacement for that blank line is the FTL blanks.
Global doRbeR, a sponsor here, has an entire line of rods especially built for small stream fishing, called, of all things, Lil Streamers. Excellent rods at excellent prices. No affiliation, except I know service and quality when I see it.
A few years ago I put togeher a 6’6" rod freom H & H, A Pac Bay rod that at first seemed too wussy to fish . The following spring I tried again and decided to fish it with a Cortland peach 2 wt DT line. Wondrful!
I’ve been fishing it ever since with great results. In little cricks, give it a shot. You could very well like it a lot!
Bill
A bit different take on a light rod is to consider it for fishing small creeks for small fish but for gentle presentation on spring creek waters to trout that are oftentimes pretty hefty.
A point that has to be considered is wind. A one-weight is not going to be very friendly in even a slight wind and unwrapping a one-weigh line from a snarl of rose hips or other pesky streamside vegetation is not a lot of fun.
Something that can be considered is a softer action presentation rod, say in a 3 or 4-weight. I have TFO Finesse rods in 5 and 4-weight, both 7’9", for the smaller streams and spring creeks that I fish throughout the summer. The soft tips of these rods allow for a gentle turnover of even a long, light leader but there is enough “umph” in the butt to provide some negotiating strength if you should happen to hook a big, rowdy trout. The tip though is forgiving enough to get some play out ove even a pesky little tiddler.
Orvis also makes a fine rod called the Superfine, which is available in one through5-weight. Other companies also offer rods made for gentle presentation that often get overlooked. Just a thought to ponder.
Good Fishing,
Les Johnson
I like the idea of building my own 1wt. I recently I met 2 guys at a TU meeting that have been building rods for years. Both said they would give me a hand.
I also like Les Johnsons idea of the TFO finesse rods. I am buying the 3wt for my wife. I’m sure a softer rod then my XP will help with the short tight cast.
I am borrowing my friends SLT 1wt and it is hard for me to cast more then 30ft. My friend is a good caster and was showing me how to add a small double haul into the stroke. He could really shoot the line out. I need some work.
I have two Sage 1wt rods (SPL and TXL), they are not a problem to cast in windy conditions. A little haul and longer arm path and the wind will be easily tamed.
Both rods will also cast the 0wt lines if you really want delicate delivery with small flies.
The butt section on the Sage rods is strong and will handle a larger fish,the full flex designs are weak and cannot generate much pressure.
Regards,
FK
[This message has been edited by FK (edited 12 June 2006).]
I don’t think those little rods actions determine wheather it is a good rod in the wind. It is the lightness of the line. What I call wind will toss those light lines around, wrap um around your head and make them uncontrolable regardless of how good of a wind caster you are no matter what rod you use. Now what you call wind may be a different deal alltogether.
“The only thing worse than getting old is not getting old”
Ron