I’m thinking about buying a new rod to use primarily for stillwater fishing in the West (maybe also use for nymphing/streamers on larger rivers). If you were to buy a new rod for this purpose, what would it be? Fishing would be primarily from a float tube/pontoon boat. Please include brand, model, length, and line weight, along with a comment or two about why you would choose that rod. If you already have the ultimate stillwater rod, please indicate what it is. Thanks!!
My personal choice would be a 9’4pc.6wt.Sage XP great all around western rod. Heavy enough to throw streamers and handle large fish,beat the wind a little and still not wear you out when fishing all day.
I have to agree on the length and weight of the rod. Out here the wind can come up and the 6 wgt will do a lot better for you. You might take a look a the new ECHO 2 Rods by Rajef. I have two of them and they are fine rods at a good price. One nice thing about the ECHO 2 rods is they come with two tips. One fast action and one slower action. They are 4 piece rods.
I would also get a clear intermediate line for it. That is the main line I use for lake fishing out here. I even fish dry’s with it at times. You will find that having the line under the water most of the time you will feel more of the takes. This is because with a dry line it will take on the shape of the waves so you get a lot of slack in your line and miss a lot of takes. I would guess I use the intermediate line about 90 percent of the time. Good Luck. Ron
I have somewhat limited experience fishing still water. The times I have I found I wanting to cast to fish or likely looking places that required a long cast - more so it seemed than stream fishing. In my case a soft rod was not good, I tailed it trying to press it for longer, quick casts.
I have never cast a Sage XP but the RPL 9’ 5 wt would be a rod I would choose or Loomis IMX 9’ 6 wt or Gatti FRHP.
Rods that work best for me are fairly fast and responcive.
Still water fishing is my primary fishin and I use a tfo 9’ 6weight with a sinking line. With heavy winds found in the west and using a pontoon boat it handles just about anything I do. It has the backbone for the wind and heavy fish. Caught up to 26" trout and never had a problem except getting my heart rate to slow down
Only one rod - for all species in the west?
9ft 7wt. I have a Powell TiMax that I really like. Sage Fli also. Lots of good choices.
A bit heavy for panfish and a bit light for stripers and double digit largemouth bass. Satisfactory for trout, smallmouth bass and carp. Works well for all.
My favorite rods handle floating and sinking lines as well as shooting heads. They are fast action models because that is what I prefer. They are four pieces for travel convenience.
I would look at a 7 weight Great Bay Rods CTX or Evolution series. 9 feet with ceramic guides.
I like ceramics because a lot of the freshwater line is a little softer and will “stick” in snakes when a big fish is on. Ceramic has less friction. Although primarily built for the saltwater they will cast big flies in a stiff wind and have the action and strength to lift a large fish.
Whatever you get make sure it has a fighting butt, I learned my lesson fishing for big browns in NY.
you wouldn’t need a rod with a fighting butt if you fished glass…
that said, I don’t fish stillwater nearly as much as rivers & streams (or nearly as much as some of you guys for that matter), but when I do, I love my 8 foot 6 wt. Heddon glass rod…unless it’s windy, then I’d go with on of my faster graphite 5 wts. (I don’t own any 6 wt. rods in graphite…). When I’m really feeling adventurous, I’ll take the old 7 ft. 5 wt. Hardy glass rod…even out of a float tube…great fun!!!
~Randy
I will agree with gonfishn for pretty much the same reasons…Sage XP 9’ 6 wt is my favorite rod for large, windswept stillwaters (plus its my favorite rod period).
I would use as first choice a fast rod though I do use different wts. I have a GL3 8’6 4wt that is a lot of fun to use while dry fly fishing when the wind isn’t screaming across the lake.
What fish species and size are you going after and what is the size of the still waters? :?:
I am going to say 6wt. and I have caught fish from 2" to 34" with a 6wt. For a pontoon I would say, if one rod, think about a 10’. I also agree med/fast for the wind, but also delicate for dry action. As far as a 10’, you got $175. TFO up to a $600. plus Sage. In my case I am having a Mcfarland blank made.
However, 9’ or 9’6" are more than super. Personally I have the T3 9’ 4 pc tip flex and a Zero 9’ 4 pc. mid-flex and they both have there special points. I use any weighted line on either (intermediate, Type II, III, IV, etc.)
Not knowing how long you have been fishing,but lately I have been using an 8’ 6wt glass and it is a riot. A little more challenging for weighted lines, but on stillwater, not that big of a deal. The fish are setting the hook themself. That is just my opinion and no animals were harmed in the making of it 8)
I don’t know what your budget is but for the money a Elkhorn “Western Series” 9 ft, 5 wt. graphite is excellent buy for the money and should suite your purpose. I use on for still water fishing here in SE Michigan. Check out the website here on FAOL sponsor page.
One more note. Fast rods have been mentioned for windy days, but personally, if I see white caps, I get off the lake. A fast rod is perfect for windy days from shore lines, but on a boat, I would think more about a med/fast to a med action. Will help you set the hook better and less breakoffs.
I had a very nice fish yesterday from my potoon on my T3 tip flex. Got it up ready to net and it took a quick dive breaking 8lb flouro. Needless to say, it was a big un, but no pictures except the smile on my face. Never happened with my mid-flex.