In order to target smallmouth better, Ive decided to drop the redington 9’6 RS2 7weight fly rod and RS2 large arbor reel that I use for steelhead, and purchase a smallmouth rod. I will keep my steelhead setup for steelhead fishing obviosuly, but I stumbled accross two combos that I can get pretty cheap and id like for the experts to pick apart the combos and tell me which 1 would be good for about 10 inch smallmouth. Ok here is combo 1
rod-diamondback all american fly rod 9 foot 2 piece 6 weight
reel-redington 5/6 weight AS reel
line-cortland 444 floating 6 weight
combo 2
rod-diamondback all american 9foot 2 piece 5 weight
reel-STH mr-pop disk drag reel 5/6
line-cortland 444 floating 5/6
Smallie, what I think is that there isn’t a whole lot of difference between the two setups. In most situations the reel is insignificant in smallie fishing, as you rarely fight off the reel. I’ve been doing this since the 1950s and don’t think I’ve ever once taken a fight to the reel, even with a ten pound carp. Had me thinking about it, though, and I had a few line burns when I was done. My reels are basically line holders. I have a five weight that I love for all sorts of warmwater fishing. I have an eight weight I use for LMB’ing in heavy cover. I’m now building a three weight for a hoot. I need a hoot now and then, now that I’m in my 60’s. JGW
[This message has been edited by white43 (edited 13 August 2005).]
thanks, but if you HAD to lean towards one rod for fishing for smallies in a smaller stream which would it be? I am kind of leaning towards the 5 weight right now, because it is lighter, and the small smallies will fight pretty good on it. Anyone else?
Smallie,
From what I understand most rods will cast down 1 wt size line without too much trouble. I.E. a 6wt would handle anything between 5-6. Therefore, you’re really not looking at very different rods.
I’d personally sick with the 5 wt because you’ve already got everything up to 6/7wt covered with the other rod.
One thing I’ll consider with my next reel purchase is getting an of extra arbor so I can load with a sink tip line when the bass and gills are deeper.
There’s almost nothin’ wrong with the first lie, it’s the weight of all the others holdin’ it up that gets ya’! - Tim
My obvious Q would be as to the size flies you plan on chunk’in with this beast.
I love my Diamondback All American 9’ 4wt. for smallies,and it’ll handle about a #4 hard foam popper…Might not be able to get past the 60 yd. mark with em…But unless I’m going to the larger rivers…This is the rod I carry for most smallie and LMB fishing.
But I’d not go lower,5wt. seems to me to be just about right…especially in the spring when they are still hang’in round their wintering holes, At those times I sometimes wish for just that lil bit more.
I’ve made some adjustments to certain heavily weighted nymphs to allow for this,as you may well find a good thing as well, If you tye, That is.
I can say that if a moderate action rod is your thing,I think you’ll find the All American series to your likeing.
My big water rod for anything that swims,Is a 9’6" Redington FSF 9672 I built a few years back.I own many rods of heavier wt.s but I just don’t need them for anything I fish for,was young and dumb once I guess…
“I’ve often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before” A.K.Best
“Wish ya great fishing”
Bill
[This message has been edited by billknepp (edited 13 August 2005).]
Smallie - one thing you may want to consider is that it is very hard to see much difference in just one line weight. Therefore, the 5 wgt would be a good move for ya’. I use an 8’, 4 wgt for my creek smallie fishing [and sometimes a 3] and have only been manhandled one time in the last couple of years by a smallie - and that one was around 19-20"! NOT the normal smallie I carch. <G>
I have been fishing a pond this weekend and hooked a couple of bass. One 10in and the other 12in. I think the 6wt. I was using was a little strong. Even with it being two differnt types of bass I agree with OkieBass133 on the 4 weight.
Smallie14,
I fish for smallmouth on several Ozark streams and I use a 4wt most of the time. If I am using heavily weighted flies or big deer hair bugs I may go to a 6wt.
Steve
“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went”-Will Rogers
I use each weight from 3 wt. up through 6 wt. when fishing for smallmouth. I have managed to land up to 3 1/2 lb. smallies on a 3 weight, and a 5 pounder on a 6 weight. I tend to use a 5 weight most of the time, or a 4 wt. with a 5 wt. line on it, since I usually fish areas where a long cast is not needed. I would throw my two cents in with the majority and go with the 5 wt.