Fly Rod For Ozark Stream Smallmouth

[timsfly]

I'm using a 6'9" 6wt scott heli-ply for my smallmouth fishing, it is great for wading or canoe fishing.

[ColdWaterFshr]

I use a Sage FLi-7wt, 9-ft.

I couldn't imagine chucking big blockhead poppers, or big 4-inch streamers with anything less than a 6 wt.

[hoglaw]

Funny this topic should come up. I've been asked by a local fly fisherman to figure out how to build what he considers the perfect rod for the middle fork of the White River. He wants something that's six feet (or shorter) with the equivilent backbone of a five or six weight. I'm going to expiriment with a couple of ideas - stripped mag spinning rods rated for lures up to a half ounce, cut blanks, or anything else I can think of. I'll probably build one on an ultra slow blank and on a faster one to see how things work out. I'm new to the custom rod game, but I think it's going to be a fun project and I think there would be a few folks that could use one.

[SeldomSeen]

Thanks for the input, gentlemen. At this point I'm leaning toward the FlyStick in either 6 or 8 wt. (Thanks, Flysmallie, that one had escaped my radar.) I'm not saying that I think a 4 wt isn't enough rod to handle stream smallies, but, as ColdWaterFshr said, I just don't think that a 4 wt could handle the types of flies I'd be flinging.

[fishinwrench]

Anything less than a 9 for 7 and I feel handicapped, when targeting smallies. Some of the flys I throw push a lot of wind, and others are like casting a wet dishrag. I require a rod like a 7wt. St.C LU to throw tight loops with bigger flys.

[smallmouthjoe]

A nine foot 5wt is my weapon of choice.

[Doc Tom]

I'm using a 6'9" 6wt scott heli-ply for my smallmouth fishing, it is great for wading or canoe fishing.

Me too

[drew03cmc]

Tim and Doc Tom are along the same lines of what I am throwing on rivers right now. I just picked up a custom built TFO Finesse glass rod. 6'9" 5/6wt, that I like an Orvis Clearwater WF6F on. I am fishing it with a Pflueger Sal Trout 1554 reel. That rod has some guts to it, while still being a glass stick, offering great feel. I can throw heavy lead eye (Oh, heaven forbid) Clousers in a #6, any bead head bugger I dare to tie, jigs, etc. Here is a link to the stick, and your local TFO dealer should be able to order the production rod.

http://www.templeforkflyrods.com/rods/finesse.html#T

Now, here is a link to a discussion on this rod.

http://fiberglassflyrodders.yuku.com/reply/59434#reply-59434

[Danoinark]

This would be a nice choice.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...:B:FSEL:US:1123

[RSBreth]

I can't imagine using less than about 8'6"- 6-weight. But maybe you light-line-weight guys fish for Smallmouth in tiny creeks. I fish Bull Creek and there I use my 9' 6-weight. Just easier to cast poppers with.