Fly Rod Choices

[am4mu]

I have three general purpose trout rods. A Sage STL 9'5wt(a very nice rod). 2 A TFO pro 9'5wt(heavier than the Sage but a very nice rod). 3 An Orvis Streamline 9'5wt(low end yes but feels pretty good). My question is this, due to an extremely heavy workload and the price of gas I am not able to get down to southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas near as much as I would like(my father lives in Mtn Home, Ark.) As a result I am wanting to get into more bluegill and bass fishing here in the Kansas City area on small ponds and lakes. To achieve this should I be looking at some 7 or 8 weights for the bass and some 3 or 4 weights for the bluegill? Also forgive my ignorance but could some of the above mentioned rods cross over into a trout fishing experience?

Thank you for your help,

Doug

[Greg]

I think the answer to both of your questions is YES. 3 and 4 weights and also 7 weights can be very useful for trout fishing. I use a 5 wt most of the time but at times I like to use a 4 wt for smaller streams like Crane creek and the upper current. And a 7 wt can be great for slinging truly large streamer flies to trout. A lot of guys use them at night on Taneycomo.

I also think you are on the right track in that a 3 or 4 weight is pretty good for bluegill and a 7 or 8 wt is pretty good for bass. But don't sell your 5 wts short. A good 5 wt can definitely work for the bluegill and bass as well. I've done that. The limitation would be that with a 5 wt its more difficult to throw big air resistant bass flies and poppers.

But to me any excuse for a new rod is good - just ask my wife!!

Greg

[Danoinark]

Doug I agree with Greg that gills can be fun on a 3 wt...but there is also no reason you couldn't have fun with smallies and bucketmouth on the 5 wt too. The 6 or 7 wt would have just a bit more backbone. A 5 wt will play a larger tippet which I use when fly fishing for smallies. Typically for bass I just use a 4 ft piece of straight mono say in the 8 to 10 lb class. A 6 wt or better will toss bigger bugs / poppers than the smaller wt rods. That's really the only advantage. I decide first what size and kind of fly I will typically use then match it to the rod.

Dano

[drew03cmc]

5wt for everything! Enjoy! Throw a 7.5' straight mono leader of 8# on there, and throw some #8 Clousers, #8 Woollys and hang on tight!

[am4mu]

Thanks for the help guys. I definitely want to hang on to the 5wt's. I will start doing my home work on the other weights.

Thanks again,

Doug

5wt for everything! Enjoy! Throw a 7.5' straight mono leader of 8# on there, and throw some #8 Clousers, #8 Woollys and hang on tight!

[am4mu]

Have done a little homework on the 3 and 4wt's now. Wow the possibilities are endless and a little overwhelming. Talked to Matt at Rainbow Fly Shop here in Independence yesterday and he says I am on the right track and that he has all kinds of rods in stock in this range from low end to high end. He also has a trade in rack with rods in this class. I am going to see him Saturday. Thanks guys so much for your help. I think for the time being I am going to go light and maybe down the road look at the heavier stuff.

Thanks again,

Doug

PS: would really like to see the water go down on Taney and the White. Really miss the tailwater reports on Taney and would really love to go see my dad in Mtn Home and fish the White.

[jdmidwest]

The 9' 5 wts should be good for bass on streams and ponds. I use an Orvis 7'9" 5wt Far and Fine and my new 8' 5 wt Trout Bum for stream fishing. I also have in my quiver several light 4 wts that fish streams well also, a 7' One ounce by Orvis, a 7'6" Stowaway 5 pc from Cabelas, and a 8'6" HLS Adams from Orvis that work well for smallies and gills. I have landed gar to 42" long and carp that have weighed 5lbs with all of them, even the One Ounce. I tend to stick to shorter rods in streams and pull out the longer rods on big rivers, ponds, and lakes. The 9' rods tend to hit trees more in most of the creeks and streams, they are harder to cast in heavy cover.

If you are tossing big poppers or streamers, you will need a 7 or an 8wt to go the distance and punch thru wind on ponds and lakes.

If you keep the flies small and light, your 5wt should do well. 9' is good for a boat or open bank and you can get better line control with the longer rods.

I have in the past 4 years started buying 4 and 5 piece rods instead of 2 piece rods. The technologies keep the multi-piece rods light and strong. Cabela's Stowaway rods are a great value and are on sale now. They come with a decent reel and rod/reel case in several weights for less than $150.

[am4mu]

Thanks for all your help guys. With your help I have found many more uses for my 5wt's. I have a glass 7wt that I will continue to use. Went to Rainbow Fly Shop here in Independence, Mo. this morning and Matt hooked me up with a TFO Lefty Kreh Signature series 7'6" 3wt off of the trade in rack. It feels great.

Thanks,

Doug

[3wt]

Another light-tackle convert. Once you get a feel for it, you'll be using it for everything that you can.

I use my 7'9" 3wt for most trout situations except for Taneycomo. I end up throwing everyting from #24 tricos to #8 weighted buggers with it. Try the upper current, the upper meremac or some other streams and you'll see that you don't really need to cast a country mile. On Taney, I usually use my 5wt, and end up needing to double haul to cast the necessary distances, but that's a once a year at most trip for me.

The 4wt in my opinion is probably the most versatile weight if you only had one rod. A 3 and a 5 for me cover all trout and smallmouth options. I know alot of people use the 7's for trout, but I don't see the need unless your monster hunting at night, and are casting 10" streamers, in which case I'm not really sure a fly rod is really the best tool anyway.

[Greg]

The TFO signature series are just flat out a fine line of fly rods. I've cast several and have liked them all. And a lifetime guarantee for under a hundred bucks. How can you beat that?

Greg