Does a 3 weight have the backbone to set the hook using small hooks with weedgaurds? Also, what the biggest fly you can normally use? Is a #6 fathead diver too big?
Seldom if ever use weedguards. On my 3 weights I regularly throw large hooks, up to 1/0 at times. A Number 6 Diver should not be a problem.
Tim
And you have no problem setting the hook into panfish or bass?
Doesn’t seem to be much of a problem. Of course I “Set” the hook. Folks have accused me of trying to pull their tonsils out (lol). I use a 9 ft rod.
Tim
Would the length greatly effect its hooksetting power because i was looking at 7’9".
Not a problem. 7’6" 3-wt.
Nice Smallmouth!! What fly is that?
BF,
I regularly use 3 wts, from 7’ to 9’, for bass fishing.
Like Tim, I have no problem setting the hooks on flies up to about 2/0…and I do use weedguards extensively on my flies.
But, as he mentioned, you do have to ‘set’ the hook when bass fishing. The ‘length’ of the rod isn’t much of an issue there.
Casting larger flies with lighter rods is an excercise in compromise. You aren’t going to cast a 2/0 deer hair bug far with a 3 wt… You can cast them 30 feet accurately…
Your #6 diver won’t be a problem.
By the way, it is a blast to fight a bass on a 3 wt. rod…which is why I do it ;).
Buddy
Sounds like fun, getting through winter is going to be even harder now:D.
Rod length or weight should not matter for setting the hook. Point the rod at fish and strip back hard with your line hand and try to pull their tonsils out like Panman says. If you jerk the fly out of his mouth he would have only thrown the hook anyway.
Leo C
I zoomed in on the fly, and it’s still hard to tell, but it looks like some sort of simple crawfish pattern.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrRxbM3tIvo&feature=player_embedded
Use a similar technique for a light weight rod and take the hook set off the rod and into your stripping hand. You can add a bit of rod with a slight sidewards strike at the same time depending on leader/tippet strength.
Chuck S. , Wer ist der junge jaeger und was jaegen sie?
A baby bass-colored deer hair slider on a size 6 TMC 8089.
Cast it down and across, ripped it back through the current. Fish absolutely hammered it.
hunter=fisherman?
Make sure your hooks are very sharp. I know that’s obvious but sometimes we forget.