Hello all. I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction with 2rod and reel set ups. The first would be for trout fishing in the streams and lakes here in NJ. Would I be better off getting a 4 wt? The second would be for salt water fishing for stripers, blues, and weakfish. Thank you for all your input…Ray
Rod selection is a very personal thing, but for trout fishing the basic set up is a 9 ft 5wt. However, if you were doing most of your fishing on small mountain streams then a shorter, lighter rod would be more practical. If you were going to be chucking big streamers on a sink tip on the upper Delaware, then a 6 or 7 wt would be better.
Most of the guys I know who fly fish in the salt back east, the Jersey shore and Martha’s Vineyard, use a 9ft 9 or 10 wt.
Be warned, fly rods are like potato chips: Bet you can’t have just one, or two.
I’m not sure that wiser words about flyfishing have ever been spoken…
hey doc, I live in jersey also and just so happen I picked up a brand new rod &reel setup Temple fork`s 3 weight 7’ 9" 4 pcs. Lefty Kreh Finesse with a Gloomis 3/4 eastfork reel What an outfit. I fish the Flatbrook alot it great for those small patches and strong enough to cast across the river on a roll cast. Jeff
P.S. go to tight lines fly fishing in pine brook on rt.46 west, they have them there tell John or andrew, Jeffro sent ya!
I started fly fishing last June, since then I have bought 8 rods and 10 reels. Whatever you pick just remember it isn’t your last rod, but just this rod, right now.
For spring creeks in my area of Wisconsin, I love the 3 or 4 wt rods. Many who are drawn to fly fishing in the first place are sporting types to begin with, in other words they enjoy a little challenge. Yes, you can catch brook trout on a 6 wt, but it is so much more fun for me to do it on a 3 wt or a 4 wt. I have also gained a real liking for longer rods even in the light wts. A 9’ 3wt has so much more going for it in my opinion that the same rod in a 7 1/2 version. It’s easier to mend line, when the vegetation gets tall it is easier to cast over it on the small streams that I fish. The only place that I would like a short rod is fishing under a bridge, but I can side arm cast with the best of them so it is longer rods for me. Sorry that I am not qualified to recomend something for the salt. That would be a long way from home for me.
Have fun shoping.
Rick
:shock: Uuuuhhhhh… whoa! :shock:
A 3 or 4wt rod is a great all round trout rod for streams and rivers that produce average 15-22 inch fish, but if you’re chucking to fish that are much bigger, then you’ll definately be better served with a 5 or 6wt.
As for the salt, you almost can’t go wrong with a 9wt. You’ll also have to get a decent quality reel for the occasional fish that screams the line off of your backing. It’ll be on fish like that that you’ll appreciate spending a little more money on a reel with a smooth drag.
Good luck,
TT.
Thank you all for posting. Its nice to have so many people post on what they like to use in fresh and salt. I am going to hit a fly shop in North Jersey next week for a casting lesson and take it from there. Thanks again…Ray
Sounds like you are on the right track. Let us know how things work out for you.
Welcome to an obsession.
Rick
Hmmm, I would love to visit some of your streams that produce average 15-22 inch fish. 
I think so Rick. The thing I love most about this site as compared to the saltwater sites I post on is that this isnt only limited to the East Coast. Due to my job and family, traveling to some amazing places to fish will not be happening anytime soon. Its nice to read about you guys and gals fishing all over the country in some places many of us only dream of fishing. Keep up the good work! I am seeing such a great bond in such a short period of time. Its nice to know that people are still willing to go out of their way and take the time to explain things to us rookies…Ray
Ray -
Just another couple thoughts on the trout rods. Any well made rod of weight 2 and up ought to handle just about any trout you are going to hook into ( the above referenced 15-22" trout, for example ). But the lower the rod weight, the longer you will likely have to play a fish, and that increases the hooking mortality factor. It may be fun for you, but it will possibly be deadly for the fish.
Also, consider choosing the rod weight based on the amount of wind you will likely encounter most of the time, the size of the flies you will be using, and the distance you will be casting, not on the size of the fish you are targetting. Throwing a 3 wt into a stiff breeze, or to fish a weighted size 6 nymph, or to cover 50’ of water, even with a dry fly, is not the way to do it. Little or no breezes, little flies on little water, go small, otherwise, go bigger.
That’s part of why we all end up with so many rods. Darn it.
John
Gadabout…can I carry your rods and bags:D
If I lived near Pulaski and only fished the Salmon River for steelies/browns and salmon----I guess I could say the average size fish I caught was 20-24"