I usually fish Narragansett Bay RI once a year. Most of my other fishing is trout and bass in MI and PA. The guide I fished with the last couple of times uses a 9wt. It seems that wind is pretty much a given for most of the year (from having lived there back in the 70s). My question is will a 10 wt help me with the wind issue or will it be too much and I will be better off with a 9wt. As always I do appreciate your input. Thanks Dave
The pro uses a 9 wgt?
Generally, I like a 10wt when surf casting, a 9wt when fishing from a boat or in less windy conditions.
If I only had one SW rod, I’d use a 9wt and overline it with a 10wt line when fishing in the surf.
I asked a pro about what wt. he prefers and he said a 9’ 9 wt. would be the best all round rod for fishing that included striper and salmon.
I have no experience on the flats with fly rod but last years (I plan on building a 9 wt. this winter) I talked to some guys and about 90% fished 9 wts. with much success.
I fish the RI salt almost every day. My two striper rods are a 6 wt rod with a floating line whose head weighs in at a ten weight and a 8wt rod with a line whose floating head weighs in at a twelve weight. I have a 10 wt rod that is rarely used for a backup.
I would go with the Dud’s recomendation of the 9 wt with at least one weight heavier line on it. The nine weight could also be used as a heavy freshwater rod whereas the ten would be really over kill.
Well Dave,
Let’s muddy the pot a wee bit more! :roll:
Being on the west coast, we may not be of much help. But we DO got wind. 
We generally toss bugs 4" and bigger and generally bushy for stripers AND LM’s. We used to think a 10wt was too big till we “won” one. Now it is our go to rod for general stripes and LM pestering.
Actually there are SEVERAL rods in the quiver, in multiples in some cases, (no wonder our bride ran us off a couple months ago! :roll: ) between the 10wt and the 5wt that are our go to rods in very much MOST situations. They have all been relegated to back-up status now…unless we desire rods with differing density lines to be readily available to us for the day.
…lee s.
What Micro said. I grew up looking off my deck at Narragansett Bay so I know of what I speak. So does Micro of Rhode Island Ram fame. Kid knows a thing or two about bugs.
BTW. You are doing yourself a disservice by fishing it only once a year. Make the time and fish it more often.
e
e
I know but the trip from Michigan is a bit long (wife doesn’t fly). What really “burns me up” is that when we lived there I overlooked the Narrow River. Tossed a couple of plugs for Blues and trips on the head-boats for cod, but never picked up a fly rod!!!
Thanks all for the input.
Dave
Dave:
What street did you live on? I grew up looking at the Narrow.
e
I fish Rhode Island’s inlets and beaches jsut about every weekend from April to November.
After several “learning curve” lines I’ve grown to love an 11 wt AST floater on my rod that suggests an 8/9 line. Wind is no problem, the line is easy to mend and does everything well.
e
Sent you a PM
Dave
Here in San Juan, P.R. my brother and I flyfish exclusively for tarpon in the 10-80 lbs range and we use a 9wgt most of the time. Ill carry a 10 wgt for backup. The 9 wgt is easier to handle but tarpon being so stubborn, it takes forever to tire them so that we can release them live. Maybe a 12wgt would tire them faster but the fight would tire us faster too and it could be a toss up ast to who wins the fight. Ive fought a tarpon for 6 hrs. before it wore than the 100lb. tippet and I dont think a 10wght would have made any difference in the lengh of the battle. Im also 60+ years in age, so thats a reason why I use a 9wgt. Also we do a lot of blind casting for the tapon and use big flies that I tie myself and that also takes a toll. IMO, a 9wgt will take care of any snooks, strippers, jacks and medium sized tarpon that you may run into. I use a pretty fast rod but Im not sure I can mention brands in here, so I won. I can tell you they are expensive; no funny stuff with tarpons :lol:
Correct me if I’m wrong please because I was thinking of buying a 10wt also for muskie/pike albacore and stripers. If my 8wt weighs 4.8 oz and the 10wt I am looking ay buying is 4.5 oz shouldn’t the 10 wt be easier on the body if you are casting it all day?? I don’t know.
The 0.3 oz difference probably won’t be a factor. The weight of the line and reel you use on the 10wt may more than counteract that. Heck the difference might just be in the reel seat. I actually find the rod taper and distrubution of the weight along the taper to be more significant to how the rod feels that the actual weight of the rod. The type of line used may affect how the rod feels to you.
I have four 9wt rods for example, and the second lightest one according to manufacturers specs acutally feels heaviest in the hand while casting. It actually feels heavier to me than a couple of my ten weights which also spec out heavier.
The only way you will know for sure is to try the rod.