Rod reccomendation

First post here. I fly fished on a regular basis for about 3 years then gave it up for about the last 4. I prefer fishing small streams for brook trout. I would like to get a new rod, and am thinking a 7-1/2’ 4 weight would fit the bill. I would like to keep it under $200. Any ideas? Right now, a St. Croix Imperial is what I have my eye set on. Thanks.

                                  Terry

A good choice as far as length and weight. Another 7’6 4wt I know of is the redington crosswater.
I got to flick it a bit at the store once and its pretty nice. And only 60$.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20431-cat20469&id=0044179319566a&navCount=10&podId=0044179&parentId=cat20469&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20469&hasJS=true
But theres also the St.Croix reign fly rods, in same length and weight.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20431-cat20465&id=0036382318826a&navCount=6&podId=0036382&parentId=cat20465&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=9IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

terry13111,
First of all, Welcome to FAOL. I promise you will like it here. As far as a rod for small streams are concerned, for brook trout, and if you like a slower action rod, you might give some thought to building your own. Lamiglas makes a really nice slow action 3 piece blank (the honey colored one) and you can put one together for less than $200. Again, welcome to FAOL.

Thanks guys. What are the disadvantages to a 4 or 5 piece rod?

Also, is there a lot of difference between a 3 and 4 weight? Could I drop down to a 3 and still handle larger streamers?

Terry - Welcome.

With the questions you are asking I suspect you could get many opinions. One thing you might want to consider is the guarantee on whatever rod you decide. Those little creeks are sometimes quite brushy and the possibility of rod breakage thereby increases.

Tim

Terry -

Greetings and welcome from SE Idaho.

Not knowing what size water, fish, and streamers you will be fishing, I don’t have any recommendations about rod weight. I really do like a 3 wt, though, and do fish medium size ( hook size to 8 2X long ) streamers with one.

No disadvantages to four or five piece rods. The action of a multi-piece rod might be a bit different than the same rod in a two piece, but probably not so much that you would notice.

Not sure if it is still on the market, but the Sage Launch is a pretty nice rod within your price point.

If at all possible, get out and cast some different rods in the weights you are thinking about before you make the final decision.

John

P.S. Rod building is not all that difficult, if you have the time and room and are inclined to do that kind of thing.

P.P.S. Now, about furled leaders …

The sage launch is a nice rod, i have a larger one that i love.

I also have a Cortland Brook series rod in a 7’ 3wt that is a dream. Perfect for small mtn streams. Look into those rods.

You might also want to look at the Temple Fork Outfitters Finesse series. In your price range and i have only heard good things.

Welcome, im still new myself.
Tom

Furled leaders??? Please explain

panman is right about opinions. I sure have one.

On small streams I don’t use anything higher than a 3 wt for trout. Currently, my general purpose rod is a 4 piece, 8.5’, 3wt that med-fast. I can do anything I need to do with that rod on a small stream including streamers and nymphing. I also have other smaller rods that I prefer for specific types of fishing but they are not as good at all around fishing.

Don’t forget that you can overline your rod (e.g. use 4wt line on 3wt rod) which softens the action and loads the rod easier when you’re only casting short distances. I throw heavily weighted buggers on my 3 weight without a problem. Remember you’re only casting very short distances there’s not much casting really. It’s more tip casting, bow casting and just plain imagination on how to get the fly to the fish.

The 7.5’ rod you mentioned seems a very reasonable starting point. I would just consider a lower weight rod then you have the option of overlining if you’re anticipated casting distances will be 15’ or less. Don’t spend a lot on line ($20 is a too much). You’re not going to be shooting line and you’ll just mess up expensive line for no reason. Check out Sierra Trading Post for discontinued lines or our sponsors clearance sections.

Good luck.

Terry -

You don’t want to know. Actually, maybe you do.

There are several threads on the subject already posted. Here are links to a couple recent ones.

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/showthread.php?t=25928

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/showthread.php?t=25719

John

Cool, thanks. The furled leader looks like a interesting idea. What are its ups and downs?

P.S. Sorry for all the questions, I have been out of the game a while.

Terry -

The downs are (1) that they cost anywhere from about $.25 to maybe $1.25, (2) it costs about $10 to make a simple furling board, (3) it takes about ten minutes to learn how to make them, and (4) it takes less than ten minutes to make one after you figure out how to do it.

The ups are (1) when matched properly to the line weight, they turn a fly over beautifully, (2) they have little memory ( mono ?? ) or none at all ( thread !! ), (3) you can hand cast them, or cast only the leader with virtually no line out the tip top, (4) you can build just about any length and configuration you want with a wide variety of materials, depending on what kind of fishing you’re going to do, and (5) you can make floating or sinking leaders, and fish thread leaders as floating or nonfloating, depending on your preference.

John

P.S. Did I mention that they last a loooooooonnnnng time ??

Terry,

You’ve already got some great advise on rods but I’ll add that I’m also a fan of a 3 wt for those small stream Brookies. I’m currently using a 7’6" from ECHO. It’s the classic series rod and I’m pretty confident these can be had well below the price range you indicated. I’ve enjoyed using this one on tight little mountain streams choked with Mt. Laurel and Rhododendron. As has already been said, don’t be concerned about multi-piece rods. I can’t think of a good reason to own a two piece rod again, at least not in a modern graphite.

John Scott’s got you going in the right directions regarding furled leaders. Try them, you’ll like how they work. If you want to get more into it Kathy Scott (a member of our board) did a nice instructional DVD that give all the info you need to start making them.

You can check out the review from FAOL here:
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/prorevw/kathyscott.php

Good luck on your choices!

Cool, thanks guys. Can furled leaders be purchased? I know making them is easy, but I would prefer right now to purchase a couple. Sounds like a 4’ one would be perfect for small streams.

Couple more questions. You just add one size tippet? Or do you taper down like normal? They way I read it is, if I had a 4’ furled leader and wanted to have a 7’ 5x leader, I would just add 3’ of 5x tippet material??? Is this correct? Thanks again.

                                 Terry

I have this rod and love it. I wasn’t in love with the reel though so you should consider an alternative. The drag on the 3/4 reel loosens up through use and when you go to set the hook it over runs.

Terry,

Can furled leaders be purchased?

Absolutely! Check e-bay or simply type in Furled Leaders in your browser search. Feathercrafters lists them in their cataloge, as do others. Should be pretty simple to find some for sale. I’ve not finished my furling board or I send you a couple of samples to try.:frowning:

You just add one size tippet? Or do you taper down like normal? They way I read it is, if I had a 4’ furled leader and wanted to have a 7’ 5x leader, I would just add 3’ of 5x tippet material???

Once again you are correct. Since the furled leader is tapered, adding your tippet is the last length of taper you need. Hopefully the furled leader you get will have a loop on the end so when you add your tippet your also tie a loop (learn a couple of loop knots - surgeons loop or perfection loop or any other you like) and then you can change out the tippet quickly without damaging or cutting the furled leader.

terry,

feather-craft.com has a wide selection of furled poly & flouro leaders. Yes, you basically tie long tippet sections on these. How much tippet depends on the fly and your needs.

Thanks guys. I am gonna try a 4’ furled leader for small streams and see how it works. I like the feather-craft ones, minus the ring at the end.

X2 on the Echo rod. Look and you can find the “older” model Echos quite reasonably priced and I think you’ll like it!

As far as the multi piece question goes, I try to stay with 4 piece, as they are short enough to pack down into a small package, but normally, I leave them with the bottom two sections together and the top two together, and treat them like a 2 pc, so they fit into my rod racks on the truck.