I am looking for a rod for my father for a Christmas present and he is very particular and I guess, rather old school. He has requested a 6 or possibly a 7 wt. rod that is at most 8 feet long. In his defense he fishes almost exclusively small rivers and stillwaters and feels that fly rods over 8 feet are too long and awkward.
Anyway I have searched all over and found a couple of 8’6" rods in a 6 wt but nothing shorter. Does anyone one know of a company that makes something in a 6 wt or heavier that is only 8’ long.
I make an 8’ rod in both 6 weight and 7 weight in bamboo if that is an option. Let me know if I can help. For a christmas delivery, I would have to get started PDQ.
GJAMIESON;
I’m only curious, asking this, but if your father fishes “only SMALL rivers and still waters”, how come such a heavy weight rod? Like, I said, “only curious”, because if he’d choose a 5wt, or 4wt., (since he fishes the type waters you’ve noted), his (and YOURS!), selections, for finding a shorter rod, would be greatly increased as to what’s available!!?
I was wondering the same thing myself, but it’s not really my business to tell him what he needs, when he already knows what he wants. When I sold death insurance (some called it life insurance) I was told to sell the customer what they WANT, because you can then go back and sell them what they NEED later on and make another commission. Not sure if that applies here, but I like a 3 or 4wt for small streams, and can handle fish to 5-6#‘s with no problem. I fish steelhead to 13# with my 6wt St Croix. 8’ is fine, but I like a 9’ rod for fighting bigger fish and for roll casting. For that matter, I have caught and landed 15" LMB with my 7’-0" 1 wt with no problem.
The pools in the small river that we normally fish are fairly easy to cover with a shorter rod and a 4 or 5 wt outfit is plenty for trout fishing. My father has a 7 foot 4 wt. outfit that he uses most of the time. However when the salmon enter the river we get fish up to 15 lbs. He was fishing with me this year and I was using a 9 foot 8 wt and the wind was blowing hard and he wanted something a little beefier. He just isn’t receptive to any mention of a rod over 8 feet in length.
Geoff,
What your father wants, he should get! In searching FAOL sponsors, here’s a few (not knowing your price point)
St Croix Triumph 7’6" 6wt…listed as moderate fast…$90.00
Global Dorber has a few…
e-rod 2… 8’ 6wt…slow, parabolic action…$145.24
e-rod 3… 8’ 6wt…faster…$198.46
e-rod 4… 8’ 6wt…faster…$242.35
I have owned & DO own St Croix rods of various price points & have never been disappointed. Every one I have owned casts & handles great! While I am not personally familiar with Global Dorber, I have heard no complaints.
IMHO, you just can’t go wrong with FAOL sponsors!
Not a lot, but hope this helps a little…I hope your Dad has a FANTASTIC Christmas!!!
Mike
Don’t laugh about this because these Eagle Claw Feather Light fiberglass rods are actually pretty good. I now own one and have another on the way. You can get them on EBay from Gremlin Fishing for less than 30 dollars delivered. Copy the following link to your browser search window:
Or just go to EBay and type Eagle Claw Feather Light fly rod into their search block. Heck, just copy and paste it from this post.
Like I sad they are inexpensive but cast and fish very nicely. This way if he doesn’t like it you did not loose a lot of money. I am not saying that to be rude but picking a fly rod is a very personal thing. We ll have specific likes and dislikes. Everyone is different. Perhaps the best thing to do is take him to the local fly shop or sporting goods store to try the rods himself. Another option is to buy him a gift certificate.
I was actually looking at the St. Croix rods and saw the 7’6" 6wt. rod but noticed that it was a youth model. Don’t want to offend him in his old age (plus he is 6’2" and goes about 220 lbs)
I will take a look at the other rods you posted. Thanks
Price is negotiable. He has owned lots of rods over the years but never a really god one so I wouldn’t mind getting a high end one for him to try. You never know he might not like the fast action though. Might be better off with one of the Eagle Claw’s.
Thanks to all who replied. I have several more options now than when I posted
Gjamieson;
THAT’S why,I said “I’m only being curious”, in my first post!! By ALL MEANS, get your Dad whatever he wants, I certainly didn’t try to suggest otherwise! I was merely curious, as I said, from my own perspective.
However, now that you mention “15 pound fish” entering this river (s) , he likes to fish, I wouldn’t really go after fish like that, EITHER, with a 3 or 4wt. rod!
Used to prefer the 8’ rods because it was easier to undo the knots that somehow got wrapped around the rod betwen the tip top & first snake guide which made the task easier in a canoe or small boat without going overboard. Orvis had full flex fiberglass rods in that length for #6, 7 & 8 weights & later made an All Rounder graphite 4 piece for #7 which would cast the same line weights just as well on the river! 8)
