3wt Rod Length

[billynwtf]

Does anyone fish a 3 wt rod? I have been thinking about one for the spring river since most of the fish are running smaller. I have been looking at the cabelas LST in a 3wt 9ft. Should I go with a shorter length? I am afraid the 9ft would be too limber to cast.

[Danoinark]

I have a 7 1/2 ft 3wt Cabelas ..its the low end Cabelas rod but I love it. Its great for the Spring and the trout parks too or any small stream for that matter. Never cast a 9 ft three weight. I also have a custom 9 ft 4 wt that has a moderate action but its not to limber to cast.

Dano

[fly2fish]

I have a 3Wt 8' 0" Browing Sterling that only weighs 1.5 oz. It was my favorite rod until I came into posession of a 4WT 8' 6" Sage now I use that most of the time, however my largest bass (4lb) and a 24 inch rainbow were caught on the 3WT.

I think the 9' 0" would be a bit long and since a 3wt is ideal for the small streams or ponds and there is not much clearance most of the time, the shorter the better so I would agree with Dano 7'6" to 8'0"

[billynwtf]

Thanks for the information guys. I thought the 9ft rod would be too limber. I was looking for a fun rod but was thinking the 9ft rod would be like a noodle rod. I think I will go with a 7ft 6in or a 8ft. Keep a tight line.

[AZ_Trout]

OK --- I'm an addict!

I have 4 3wts. They are a blast for smaller fish. My first set up was also the Cabela's lower end rod(3 rivers?), I found it fine, it could handle 18-20 inch fish, easy to use in tight bushy areas. So I upgraded to TFO 7-6 4 pcs, gave the Cabela's to my son. Now the junkie kicked in. I found a 6-6 3wt 7pc March Brown on Overstock - could not pass it up, a blast on a couple small streams and the winter trout put and take stocked lakes. darn Cabela's Bargin Cave got me too. I found a McGill Wright 7-0 4 pc FlyGirl, yes made for a women's smaller hands - but for $100 I couldn't pass it up. It has become my favorite. For float tubing I did get a 9 footer -- makes casting easier. Another plus is the longer rod makes it easier to keep line off the water- if your high sticking.

I try to justify my addiction by: golfers have a club for almost every situation, why not a fly rod?

[Flysmallie]

I'm also an addict.

I bought a 3wt mainly for my daughter to use for perch jerking and I'm in love with it. It's a Echo 7'6" 4pc. Has been a lot a fun this year chasing goggle eye and smallmouth with it. I can't land a decent fish on it, but that's not the rods fault. I would also suggest sticking with the shorter rod.

Come to think of it I don't think I have ever let my daughter cast it, but that's her problem!!!

[Paola Cat]

7'-7'6" in a 3 weight is a great length for most situations in the trout parks and the smaller streams in the Ozarks. PC