what weight fly rod

[albright3]

just curious what weight fly rod you all use and how heavy tippet do you use during what circumstances?

[Leonard]

I myself like my 5wt...

I can throw small nymphs, dry flies, and meduim size streamer.. with no problem at all

As for as tippet.. I use reg. leader line... mainly 3 or 4lb Maxima line... and if im fish at night I'll use 6 or maybe 8lb Maxima (8 if the browns are spawning)

[Phil Lilley]

Rod- all depends on your application.. and your taste. If you're starting out and only fishing for trout, a 4 wt would be good, 9 ft. A 5 wt would also be fine but stay with a 9 ft unless you're fishing places that are confined (trees and such), then to to something shorter (8' or 8'6"). If you're fishing for trout and bass, you may go to a 6 wt.

Leader - tappered, and again it depends on what you do most... and perference. I like long leaders (12') but some people don't like to throw long leader because they have a hard time getting the fly to turn over. I throw alot of soft hackles and cracklebacks (stripping flies) and I think the long leaders get me more strikes. If you're dead drifting scuds mainly, use shorter leaders (9').

Size - I use 3x, 4x, 5x and tie my tippet to that. I don't use the smaller size simply because if I did I'd have to cut a bunch off before I tied my first tippet piece on. As a rule, tippet labeled 6x is really smaller- I don't take any chances- I cut off a foot before tying any tippet onto the leader. So I use the longer leaders (10', 12').

Say I use a 12', 4x tippet. I cut off a foot and add 18 inches of 5x tippet. this becomes my base. If I break off or use most if not all of the tippet tied onto the 5x, I retied on the 5x, not the leader thus not using the tapered leader.

Tippet - depends on application. Water clarity, water speed and flies used plays a big part in what I use for tippet. Remember, flourocarbon sinks fast and monofilament sinks slow. You don't want to use fc on dry flies. If you're using small wet flies you want to sink alittle quicker, use fc.

I could go on but this could become an article real quick. Hope it helps.

[loo10]

Depends how I'm planning to fish.

I love a soft 4-wgt for soft hackles,

and a 5 is a good compromise for most situations.

But years ago, I picked up a 6-wgt. with a full wells grip.

It feels the best in my hand so I usually "prefer" it.

Find one you like the feel of and the looks of and start there.

Then add another...and another...and...

[Roaring River Veteran]

I would have to agree that a 4 or 5 weight is plenty, however, and I'm sure most of you will think I am crazy, but most of my fishing at the dam is at night and I am usually dragging big conehead wollies or leaches and I usually throw a 9' 6" 8 weight. especially in the fall and winter when there is a chance for bigger fish.