FAOL’ers
Just started fishing for smallies and have a question for those with a little more experience than I. I’m thinking of buying a 6 weight St. Criox Ultra Lengend. Would this rod have too fast of action for casting larger poppers/nymphs?
Jason
That would be an excellent smallmouth rod but "large’ is a relative term.How large are you talking about?The line size has more to do with how large a fly can be cast than rod action.I use a 6wt for smallmouth and largemouth and cast up to a 1/0 without too much difficulty.I prefer #2 or #4 for smallies.You can always upline that rod with a 7wt line if needed.If you fish really large poppers,I would go up to an 8wt.
Why would a fast rod not toss a popper, nymph, or anything, for that matter? A rod is merely the flexible lever that you use to make and control the loop and it is the loop (big or small) that controls the bug…sorta. 
Bigger lines for bigger bugs. :?
…lee s.
Jason,
First…Welcome to the board of boards! It’s a wonderful family…Mom & Dad are strict, but who likes “wishy-washy” anyway?
I really like LU’s…I have the old style 3wt & did have the 8 wt. A 6 will suit your needs very well. If I may suggest a line, try the Rio Clouser in a WF6F…It is a fantastic line for throwing heavy and/or bulky flies.
Mike
You’ve already received some good suggestions, but you might also want to check out the FF board over at:
This topic comes up frequently over there.
I like a 5 or 6 weight fly rod for Smallmouth Bass, but I do not think you really need to go with a Quick Tip Action fly rod for Smallmouth Bass.
My honest opinion, you may want to consider a fly rod that is a little slower, and has more stamina for fighting the fish.
St. Croix Avid, or the Cortland CL, would be very nice fly rods for Smallmouth Bass. The money you save, can be applied to the line and reel.
Both are Sponsors of FAOL, and have a very good customer service section, if the rod should ever break.
The legend ultra is a wonderful rod, but I have to agree with Mr. McGarthwaite on the idea that the Avid might be the better rod for this particular app. I like a little softer rod for the big flies; lets me open up the loop a little which means I spend a little less time ducking on breezy days. I really like my Avid as a bass rod (big and small mouths). Don’t know anything about the Courtland CL.
Also, the Joan Wulff video mentioned earlier is well worth tracking down for a lot of reasons besides just the oval cast.
Thanks for the replies, all where helpful. It was also my opinion that this rod was a little too much finese for what I needed. I own both the Avid and UL rods by St. Croix and love both and probaly still buy the 6 weight, it’s a deal I can’t pass up! Anyway thanks for the replies again.
JaPa
depending on the rod you can take big smallies on fairly light tackle…
have a look at this:
http://www.theworriedshrimp.com//theworriedshrimp.html
and using a 4wt i got the largest smallmouth of the season, image about half way down the page.
http://www.theworriedshrimp.com/2006/02 … light.html
cheers,
tws
tws,
AWESOME site! Thanks for sharing.
JaPa
I disagree (slightly) with the previous posters. I think a 7 weight is a a better size for smallies. Not so much to fight the fish but to cast large flies - big wooley buggers and clousers. Some (Harry Murray) even recommend an 8 weight.
I agree that the St. Croix Avid is a good choice. I own a St. Croix Legend Ultra 5 weight that I use on big rivers out west - it is good in the montana wind.
I too use a 7wt as my primary rod. I do fish a 6wt at times, but have found over the years that I can handle the larger flies much easier with my 7wt Scott. As a fishing guide I try to put a 7wt in clients hands because they are able to land the fish in a speedier time thus decreasing stress on the fish and increasing you release survival rate.
I’m with the 7wt for the smallie crowd, too. The seven will handle a little more lure and a little more knock-down, drag-out. And where I do go for smallies it is a windy river, if there ever was one, and the seven behaves itself a little better in the wind.
Dale