Best Nymphing blank

I didn’t want to hi-jack previous thread so I started a new one.

Would you rather have a fast, moderate-fast, moderate or slow rod for highstick nymphing?

Just my opinion…

I would think rod length would be more important than rod action when “high-sticking”…

I use fast action rods for this only because I prefer fast action rods for all my fly fishing.

Just to show that there are different opinions, I like a soft rod as I tend to set the hook more agressive than I should and need the soft rod to protect the small tippets that I use most of the time. I use a Winston WT.

Good morning.
Myself, I love a slow soft rod and so would most casters for freshwater fishing if they had a command of Spey casting with their single handed rods !

Sadly today the market is driven by all the b/s of its got to be faster and faster type of rod which only makes it harder and harder to single hand Spey cast with.

Yes the faster than fast rod is ideal for overhead casting by good to expert casters and harder and harder for new casters to start with, here as a slow rod is ideal to learn with.

And for someone starting out into the Spey casting World a faster than fast rod is almost impossible.

Then one day I hope, someone might just decide to release a slow actioned rod and pour the dollars in behind it into marketing and change the average casters thinking, and start a rethink into fly casting that will start with Spey and finish, if you have to, at overhead casting.

The other huge advantage of a slow actioned of is of course far less bust offs during striking or fighting the fish.

Kind regards,
UB

I think the ideal blank would be long and light weight :wink:
Stiff for most of it’s length with a very sensitive tip
Closer to medium than fast, I think

I like a 9’ 5wt in medium-fast.

The rod i use is a Sage Launch in that size and i like i compared to slower rods ive nymphed with as well as a few that are faster.

Overall for high sticking i think 9’+ is needed and the action is more your choice.

I have to agree that it’s more the length, than the action of the rod. I prefer to use fast, to medium fast rods for high sticking.

I’m all over the place with rod actions, etc., and like to nymph fish them all.

  • I have a Sage XP 10’ 5wt 4pc that I built from a blank 7 or 8 years ago I think, and it’s a fantastic high stick river nymphing rod…not to mention a great lake rod.
  • I’m also having fun nymph fishing a Steffen Bros. 8’6" 5/wt 4pc fiberglass rod I built, and with minor adjustments to casting and mending, am finding that it’s also a great nymphing rod.
  • Then there’s my old medium action Lamiglas 9’ 5wt graphite rod…great all-around rod with good backbone, and a really good nymph rod to boot.

Sounds like I can’t make up my mind…but I love them all and they catch lots of fish.

Dudley: sounds like you’re describing a Scott G2.

  • Tom

We’re seeing folks favor longer blank and mod-fast to med-fast actions. I agree. We’re going to introduce some 10’ 3 & 4 weights soon that’ll be great for nymphing. Of course, you can effectively nymph with any rod, but 8’6" plus will land you more fish.

Just go fishin’ and enjoy!!

Ron

Hey Ron: Count me in for one of the those 10-footers. I’ve had a few people suggest I try a 10-footer for nymphing.
Bruce

This rod is one of the favorites of the competition flyfishers/Czech nymphing folks. This rod is a bargain for the money - well made, sensitive, soft tip for tippet protection, and light weight. Weight is an important concern for high sticking and Czech nymphing - tough to hold a heavy rod up like that all day! The longer length is a real advantage in keeping the fly line off the water and also in increased reach.

http://shop4.mailordercentral.com/hookhack/prodinfo.asp?number=GST070

Ron - does the 10% discount apply to these rods? PLEASE say no - I’m weakening enough…:wink:

I played with a Streamflex in 10’ 4wt at Somerset. The only reason I didn’t buy was because I had already spent my fun money. Pretty sure that will be my next FF purchase though. I had it narrowed down to a Cortland Brook and the Greys. I cast equally poorly with each but the Greys felt better to me.

I fish with an old Orvis 8’-0" 4 wt bamboo nymph rod that is no longer made. Back in the 70’s, Orvis would sell you a bamboo blank. The action is extremely slow. All I do is lob the weighted nymph into the current and wait. Any one have the same rod?

One of our sponsors, Global Dorber, carries 10’ blanks in 1 to 4 weight. Supposedly a slower action IIRC. Which is why I haven’t bought one yet. Ron, will yours be a faster or slower action, or is that still in the works?

These guys were just chosen as the CZ rod for the world champiosnhips in Prague in June 2009 by the Canadian youth team.

http://greatbayrods.com/EMG%20SERIES.html

I just noticed that the guy who helped design these Great Bay CN rods is my buddy and mentor, Ian James. Just to let you know…he really knows his stuff…especially nymphing. :wink:

While I’m sure that a longer rod would be more efficient, I really love my old 7’9" Wonderod glass rod for tight-line (or whatever you want to call it) nymphing…it’s all about sensitivity, which it has…it also happens to be pretty slow with a ton of backbone. I also like my Steffen 8’ 5/6 wt. for nymphing for many of the same reasons as the Wonderod. I’ll also us one of my bamboo rods quite a bit for nymphing (8’ 5 wt., slow). I might not have the range that a 10’ rod would provide but with a little creative mending, etc., it’s not terribly difficult. besides, they can’t make a glass rod or a bamboo rod that long that wouldn’t be noodly and/or heavy as hell (I have this strange aversion to graphite for all of my trout fishing…now, if we’re talking salt, that’s a whole different story)…

~Randy

Ed, they make that in a 10’ 3wt. too. I’d love to toss one of those around.

I have read that the best rod for nymphing is…well I have to remember…uh…I think it was a 7’-9"…it was definitely 7’ something (full flex). It stated reasons for not using longer rods. Anywhooooo…I have purchased a 10’ 3wt full flex blank from Global Dorber. Long time ago actually. Haven’t built it yet. I guess my point on this post is one experienced nymph fisherman specifies 7’+ rod for nymphing.

Gemrod

Stay tuned on the 10’ blanks. It will probably be one of the first I have made for us in our new USA line.

On the Streamflex, I have offered you good folks 10% off of everything! But it expires at midnight!

Have fun and thanks for your continued support.

Ron