Would be interested to learn from the members what their go to rod is in places like the Susquehanna or CA Delta. Dave
Don’t know the area, but I fish a 6 wt. Elkhorn rod for smallies. Great for poppers and can cast a mile and a half (for me)
jed
Normally, I fish a 8 1/2’ 5 wgt on my local creek. When I fish the Susquehanna later this summer I’ll be using a 9’6 wgt.
I’ve got two i use for smallies, both 9’. one 8 wt and one 6 wt, depending on the fly, and conditions I’m facing.
Dear spike,
Here on the Susquehanna I use a Sage 4 piece 9’ RPLXi 8 weight for smallmouth. I tend to fish larger flies than most people. When I smallmouth fish a size 6 is the equivalent of a size 24 midge to a trout fisherman.
In fact I use that rod for almost all of my warm water fishing, panfish included. Most of the places I warm water fish are very weedy this time of year and they often have larger bass and pickerel in them too. I hate losing flies and fish because the rod doesn’t have the starch to keep the fish from running into the salad.
The only time I use something lighter is in my buddy’s pond where I know the only other fish are slimers*. Even then I usually use a 5 or a 6 weight because I often fish double and triple fly rigs for panfish.
Regards,
Tim Murphy
- for those that don’t know a “slimer” is what us smallmouth and walleye guys call trout.
spike,
When we do the delta we are usually targeting stripes. We USED to toss the five a bit early when the fish are small. It will handle our fav popper and a 3 1/2" deceiver just fine. Our heavy rod at the time was a 7wt. After winning and aquiring a 9wt and a 10wt we use them MUCH more…especially around the orchards in Mildred. 
Though not a chore on the 7wt, LC and big bugs are much easier on them (9wt & 10wt).
In open water at L. Shasta we still use the 5 a LOT for the spots and stuff in there.
We use the 10 a LOT for largemouth in the POOP. In the poop it’s ALL in the grab and on top…no real fight in 10# of weeds!
Got a trip scheduled with KD for LM’s on the delta at the end of July…yahoooo! He’ll learn us about them things, for sure. Especially “RATTIN’ the matts”.
…lee s.
[This message has been edited by lee s (edited 30 June 2005).]
My St Croix 8 wt Legend Ultra would be my choice, especially for large rivers. I base this choice on fly size & river size. Believe me, you WILL feel a stream/river smallie!
Mike