Virtually all fly
fishing guides
agree that a 9′ rod for 5-weight line is the most versatile trout rod in the world. If you’re likely to fish a mix of lakes, creeks and rivers, a 9′ 5-weight is a no brainer first rod. If you have no idea where you are going to fish, buy a 9′ 5-weight.
What is a 6
weight fly
rod good for?
A 6-weight fly rod is the perfect size freshwater rod for casting streamers, dry flies and nymphs It is the middle ground between lighter weight rods (3wt to 5wt) and heavier fly rods at 7wt and up. Six weights can be setup for every
size trout
, all sizes of bass and
smaller salmon
and steelhead.
What is a 5-weight fly rod good for?
5-weight fly rods are the most popular and versatile of all fly rods for freshwater anglers. Anglers use 5-weight fly rods not just for trout, but also for bass, bluegills, perch, whitefish, carp and even catfish ! 5-weight fly rods have become the single quiver rod for many freshwater anglers.
Should I get a 4 or 5 wt fly rod?
A 5wt can throw slightly bigger flies (streamers) and will throw a nymph set up better than a 4wt. You can also take a 5wt out west to Montana or Colorado and fish any of the rivers with confidence. I would say if you were ONLY fishing the smaller streams here in the midwest a 4wt rod is the perfect rod.
What is a 9 weight fly rod used for?
A fast or extra-fast action 9-weight rod and line has the power to deliver flies effectively in windy conditions yet remains plenty enjoyable while battling average specimens of bonefish, snook, redfish, schoolie stripers, largemouth bass, and the like.
What is a 9ft 5wt fly rod good for?
As aforementioned, the 9ft 5wt is an incredibly versatile rod that I’ve used everywhere from throwing streamers on the Missouri, to fishing poppers on lakes in South Dakota, to fishing some of the
small mountain creeks
in central Montana It just never really feels out of place.
What size fish can you catch on a 5 weight fly rod?
In short, 5-weight fly rods are widely considered to be the best all-around choice for anglers; and for good reason. From making delicate casts on small mountain streams, to fighting 20-inch trout on larger rivers and lakes, 5-weight fly rods are versatile enough to handle a wide range of fly fishing scenarios.
What is a 8 weight fly rod good for?
These rods can handle all kinds of lines, wind, and flies ranging up to larger patterns like bass bugs and saltwater streamers The amount of power in an 8 weight also means it can take on some bigger, stronger species, yet more average-sized specimens remain enjoyable because it’s not too much rod.
Do I need a 7 weight fly rod?
If you’re looking for a rod that can handle a variety of fishing techniques, specifically for larger fish, then you’ll want to add 7 wt fly rod to your quiver They excel at casting large flies, streamers with sink tips, handling wind, and casting long distances.
What is a 12 weight fly rod used for?
11- and 12-weight Fly Rods These are good choices when fishing heavy Saltwater applications and are specifically built for large saltwater species such as adult tarpon.
Do heavier weight fly rods cast further?
You can go up or down a fly line weight from what the fly rods specify. Going up a weight in fly line will load the rod more to help you cast further and punch into the wind Going down a fly line loads fly rods a bit less, giving you less energy to control for accuracy and delicate presentations of your flies.
What size fish can a 4 weight fly rod handle?
It’s here you can utilize that 4wt to successfully drift nymphs past brook, rainbow, and brown trout If fishing in narrow corridors, you can also pair this lightweight rod with a shorter length. A great size would be 8′-8′ 6”.
What is a good size fly rod for trout?
For the vast majority of trout fishing, you simply can’t go wrong with a 9-foot, 5-weight rod Especially for your first fly rod. In fact, I’m starting to recommend 5-weight fly rods to nearly all new fly fishers because they are lighter and are easier to cast while beginners are learning to fly fish.
Can you fly fish for bass with a 5-weight rod?
You can use a 5-weight trout rod for bass fishing, but it’s not the best tool Because bass flies tend to be large and wind-resistant, heavier 6- and 7-weight rods with a medium action are best for bass. The rod should load deeply into the mid and butt section to launch bushy bass poppers in and around thick cover.
How big of a fish can a 7 wt fly rod handle?
By adding a 7 weight to the quiver, you’ll be able to cover just about everything from large trout, to bass and carp Don’t forget steelhead and a few inshore saltwater species. With most anglers already owning a 5 weight, the 7 weight is a perfect next rod to have.
What is a 4 weight fly rod used for?
A 4-weight is the heaviest of the small-fish fly rods and is great for precision fishing while providing enough power to combat a heavy current or brusk winds.
What is a 3 weight fly rod good for?
The 3-weight rod is ideal for the tight quarters of small streams Such a light rod is excellent for short casts that allow your fly to dance around obstacles crowding the water, and these rods are ideal for panfish and small trout.
Is an 8wt too big for trout?
The 8-Weight Rod This rod is ideal for stripers, redfish, black drum, sea trout, flounder, largemouth and smallmouth bass, carp, catfish, snakeheads, pickerel, bluefish, pike, bonefish, big trout , salmon, small tarpon and can be used for panfish.
How far can you cast a 6 weight fly rod?
Many trout fishing casts are under 30 feet and 60 feet is about as far as you would ever actually cast in a real life fishing scenario. We didn’t even let anyone cast beyond 60 feet even though some of these rods can easily shoot out to 100 feet when in the hands of a competent caster.
How do I choose fly line weight?
Use a fly line one size lighter than the rod manufacturer recommends Jim Green, who has designed fly rods for years and is a superb angler, mentioned to me more than three decades ago that he almost always used a line one size lighter when fishing dry flies where the trout were spooky or the water was calm.
Does fly rod weight matter?
Fly rod weight: Conversely the larger the the weight the stroger and heavier the rod is For example, a 3 weight is appropriate for smaller fish like small trout, bass, and panfish whereas a 8 weight rod works well for large trout, steelhead, salmon, and many inshore saltwater species.
Can I use a 6 weight line on a 5 weight rod?
Yes. It’s a fairly common practice to over line, especially when fishing shorter distances.
What is a 7 6 fly rod good for?
A shorter rod between 7′ 6” and 8′ 6” helps maximize short distance performance and fine dry fly presentation These shorter rods are also easier to fish in tight cover or brushy environments. If you’re backpacking or blue lining, a shorter rod packs down to fit nicely in a backpack or travel bag.
What size fly rod for small rivers?
Small streams, brooks and close in fly fishing, a short fly rod between 6ft and 8ft long would normally be ideal. For general river fishing and small stillwater’s, rods between 8ft and 9ft 6in are normally used. Then for the large rivers, reservoirs and so on, fly rods about 9ft to11 ft are normal.
Can you use a 5 wt reel on a 4 wt rod?
Well-known member. I have one reel spooled with a 5 weight line, that I use on both my 9′ 5 weight rod, and my 8’6″ 4 weight rod, and it works great for me The 4 weight rod is rather stiff – it’s an old Orvis HLS – and the 5 weight line flexes it just a little nicer at short distances.
Can you fish streamers on a 5 weight?
Anyone can make a streamer fish just as well with a 3 to 5 weight rod Just keep in mind that casting a 6 inch articulated streamer pattern on a rod of this size can be frustrating and maybe even a little frightening. For smaller rods you may want to consider scaling down the size of your streamer.
Can a 5wt throw streamers?
The 5wt rod is sort of considered the “universal trout rod” for fly fishing. It can throw dry flies fairly well (although a 3wt is better) and it can throw streamers if needed (although a heavier rod is better).
Is a shorter fly rod easier to cast?
“ Short rods are remarkably easy for most people to cast , and since a lot of fly-fishing does not require crazy distances, the average fly-angler can develop lots of line speed and throw tight loops with less effort,” he says.
Does the color of fly line matter?
Color doesn’t matter If you are floating the line over them, on the surface of the water, things are worse. They now see the depression of the water’s surface as well as shadow and motion. Sure, they can see that a bright orange line is orange and a green line is green but they will find neither acceptable.
How far can you cast a 8wt fly rod?
This gives the NRX pretty great casting under 40 feet which is usually the weak point for 8wt rods. As far as casting out to 75 and even 100 feet, the NRX can give you tight loops, high line speeds, and accuracy with heavier lures.
What weight fly rod for sea trout?
A good compromise would be a 9 to 9.5ft #6 or #7 fly rod The ‘action’ of the rod should not be too stiff as sea trout can be very unforgiving once you hook them, and if you and the sea trout pull in opposite directions at the same time, you will almost certainly lose the fish, the fly and probably the leader too.
Can you use a 8 weight line on a 7 weight rod?
Most rods will cast a wide range of line weights, your 8wt will be fine even benificial at closer range , the 6wt should also work fine more so with longer casts try them both. Lots of people including me use barrio slx which is essentially is a 9wt line for a 7wt rod.
What is a 7 weight rod good for?
7 wt rods are the perfect companion when you are fishing for both largemouth and smallmouth bass species, as well as targeting steelhead , salmon , small stripers , pickerel, and smaller pike These rods can handle both large fish and flies with no problem.
References
https://www.orvis.com/choosing-a-fly-fishing-rod-by-jim-lepage-and-marshall-cutchin.html