I’m going to be putting together my own rods, was thinking a 6, and 8 weight on Gloomis blanks.
My question, what would your choice be for a good all-around line to toss medium to large Bass/Pike Flies? Going to concentrate mostly on or within a couple feet of the surface.
Pretty much decided on an 8 weight because of the good chance for Big Pike hook-ups, though I will be concentrating on SMB mostly.
I’ll most likely have a 6weight along for smaller flies and panfish. This will be my first year hitting smallies hard on the fly, will be all lake fishing on shield waters.
Does this sound like a solid plan or should I be thinking 5 and a 7 weight rods?
Well, as usual, a question like the ones you’ve asked, should get you about 35.8 different replies and answers!! Which is great, then you’ll have to “pick and choose” thru the pile!
My own, 9 cents worth, (inflation ya’ know), I use a 4 and a 5wt. for smallies. Depends on “how small the smallies and how big the smallies”!
Here, on the coast, a 1 pounder is considered "a big smallie’ so I usually, use, my 4wt. for them. When I travel to “real smallie water”, like the John Day River, here in Oregon, where 3 pound smalllies can be classed as “average”, I step to my 5 wt. It’s also windier, up on the J-Day river, to so I want the weight of a 5wt. behind the bugs I use.
For all my LMB fishing, regardless, I like using a 6wt. We don't have the "12-14 pound bucketmouths", that are found in more productive warmer, waters so the 6wt. is more than enough. (Our "average" LMB is about 6-7 pound range, with bigger ones available, but rare).
For the 6wt. I’ve tried numerous lines, and settled on an AirFlo 7000 Bass Bug Taper.
(WF/6/F Bass Bug). On the 4wt., I upline it, for the little bigger than average bass flies and poppers and use an AirFlo “Ridgeline”. (WF/5/F). I use the same, AirFlo, with the 5wt. also.
Again, only mine and one of many opinions I’m sure you’ll receive!
Good luck, and have fun!
I think it sounds pretty solid. I generally think one is much further ahead choosing the rod to the size flies one is likely to cast. I do a lot of smallmouth fishing and have not found a rod lighter than 6wt that will handle the flies I generally throw at them. I don’t doubt that I could land a largish smallie, say 4-5 pounds on a 4 wt but that rod won’t cast a #2 clouser very well.
The line you choose will be dictated by the rods action. If you are building fast rods you may want something like an SA bass taper that concentrates its wieght in the forward section of the line to help you load the rod. Rio offers a clouser line as well as an outbound that will also load fast rods quite well and as is the case of the outbound allow you to carry a considerable amount of line in the air for long casts.
Also since you are fishing shield lakes you might consider an intermediate or even a full sink line as the water warms and fish move a bit deeper.
Build the rods then take aq trip to a local fly shop that will allow you to cast a few differant lines. You’ll find the one that works best for you.
I appreciate your comments, I guess I’ll find out if my choices are valid. I will most likely get some sort of sinking line for late season, by then I should have a feel for how everything works out as well.
As far as lines go…If you like SA lines…and want a good bass type taper and the AST advantage…and ALL that for not alot of money…Then I’d suggest what I myself use…Go to the Scientific Angler’s site and compare their Bass line tapers and their Headstart line tapers…About THE ONLY difference is the price!..65 bucks for the “Bass Line” and 35 or there bout’s for the Headstart line…I find no prob’s with the Headstart lines in my bass fishing.
About the only time I get to fish for smallies and pike is when I head up to Northern Ontario for my week’s vacation. I bring my 6 wgt and 8 wgt, but since I’m usually targeting smallies I mainly use the 6 wgt with pike being a by catch. I don’t run into big pike most are in the 20-28 inch range and the 6 wgt will handle them. Last year I was throwing a fly about 6 inches long with it, and caught more pike than smallies, and actually had to down size the fly before I could catch any smallies. Locally, I fish for smallies with my 5 wgt. It’s a small stream, and there are a few 20 inchers in there but I haven’t met them yet. If I head for a larger river like the Schuylkill, Delaware or Susquehanna. I go up to the 6 wgt.
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A lot of it depends on where your fishing. If your out east, where your fishing “trout type” flies for smallies, then you can get away with a 5 wt. If your in my neck of the woods where your throwing big flies in big water then a 7 is as small as most anyone goes for smallies.
Again, depending on where your fishing, will determine what size rod you’ll need for pike. If your chasing hammer handles all day long then you can get by with a smaller rod. If your throwing large bunny flies or poppers your going to want a larger rod, say a 9 wt.
Agree with Chucker as it’s all about the size of the fish in your area. Big pike like big flies and that’s Nine weight or a very stiff 8 weight rod. Smaller pike will hit bigger flies as their eyes are bigger than their stomachs but bigger Pike will ignore a small fly at times. Pike to Ten lbs or so and your 7 or 8 weight will do but for the bigger fellows it pays to have something stiffer to throw flies and for hook sets.
For Smallmouths the 5 to 7 range is just fine depending on the size of the fish and the flies you choose to throw. Bigger, bushier flies are wind resistant and it helps to edge closer to that 7 weight rod. Most medium sized flies work for smallmouth and the 6 wt is fine for these.
I hunt musky and do pick up some pike from time to time.
I fish a 10 wt with a SA Striper line on , your 8 wt is going to
be put to it limits with a big girl.
It will be great for smallys as you will have the power for poppers and heavy
bunny leaches and clausers.
I think a 6 & 8 are a good choice. I’m from the old school and fish the rod that will throw the size flys I am fishing. Not the size of fish I expect to catch. So most of the time I fish a 6 for smallmouth and the 8 when throwing larger flys or if there is allot of wind.
Although some on this board, swear they can chuck a 1/0 deer hair bug on a 3wt.
I fish for both pike a smallmouth a lot and I’ve found the best set up to be 6 wt for the smallies and a 9 wt for the pike. I have an 8 wt but never use it for pike because the flies are so large that an 8 wt is under gunned. Most pike flies run in the 6 - 8" long category and may be constucted w/ things like rabbit fur and or deer hair. You can’t make a pike fly too large in my opinion they have huge mouths and will regularly eat anything up to 1/3 their length. Are you going to be fishing from a boat? If so, get a slow sink rate full sinking lines if you are fishing from shore get a sink tip.
I’ll be boat fishing almost exclusively, I’m not going to be targeting Pike, just most of the waters I’ll be fishing have some big Pike and chances are I’ll end up with a few. My Blank will be here tomorrow, a TFO TiCr 8 weight, Haven’t decided on what I’m going to build for the 6 weight, I’m sure not far down the road I’m going to have way to many rods to choose from.
Because I got a great deal on them I’ve ordered a pair of Rio Clouser lines in 6 and 8 weight, and I’m shopping for some sinking line now. Reels are going to be cheap and simple Okuma SLVs. Hopefully the Rio Clouser lines will work out, I was looking into some SA lines but they would have cost me substantially more.
RDL I use both the 6 and the 8 like you are thinking of doing but I do not use one for this species and one for that. I will use the 8 if Im casting a bigger fly or casting in the wind. Ill use the 6 for smaller flies and less wind.
Up here, (Southern Canada) we are on the edge of smallmouth bass range but in the heart of pike country. I love fishing for both and most of our waters hold both. I think Fly-Chucker nailed it: gear up to the type of flies you want to throw. My preference is a 9’, 9wt, as I like to throw poppers or larger minnow immitations…TIM
