If You Could Only Have One Fly Rod

[Brian K. Shaffer]

I have heard from more than 10 people that the Sharkskin line will cut you.

I do not like that in a fly line. I even wear a stripping glove with regular fly line.

Also, I am going to post a few photos of my reel collection. Not here.

Under the Rods/Reels/Lines/Leaders/Waders section.

Brian

[Ham]

St Croix LU 9 foot 6 weight.

I'm actually thinking fairly hard about adding a 4 wt to the rotation for dry flys or midges.

[fishinwrench]

St Croix LU 9 foot 6 weight.

I'm actually thinking fairly hard about adding a 4 wt to the rotation for dry flys or midges.

I knew there was something we had in common...now I remember. We're both St Croix pimps.

I love the 9/6LU for streamers, muddlers, and fishing leeches.

You should try the 8.6/5 LU as a dry fly/nymph rod..Sweet ! Although you are a bit taller than me, so the 9/5 may have the same control and accuracy in your hands that the 8.6 does in mine.

I experienced a 9/4 once (on the stream)....and it's too wimpy for 5x IMO but perfect if you mostly fish 6x, or dip into 7x occasionally.

Personally I avoid 7x like the plague.

[Flysmallie]

I have heard from more than 10 people that the Sharkskin line will cut you.

I have always heard that too Brian. Didn't really believe it until last Friday. You gotta be careful or it will get you...eventually.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I have an Orvis 8 1/2, 4wt Adams that I'm fond of, it does a nice job on small drys. I've also got a 10'. 5wt and while its nice for short line nymphing, it doesn't balance that well for a day of casting, at least for me.

I'm not sure how much height comes into the equation, giving he fact I've never been tall. Fellows at Ham's altitude would know better there having been the height of Wrench and I at one time.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Albright Bugatti? Coldwater, where do you find this stuff? Never heard of it.

Yeah, Bugatti is an interesting choice of names for a Korean-made fly reel, isn't it?

But lets face it, their ain't nothing tricky about a fly reel. From a modern manufacturing standpoint, its hard to make one expensive. Time will tell how well the Albright stuff holds up, but I know some guys that have made similar raids during their October sale the last couple years, and now they leave their Winstons and Sages at home when they go fishing.

Yeah, there is some guilt about funding a Korean sweat-shop, but if Lefty's okay with it, then so is Paul Dallas.

[Flysmallie]

Yeah, Bugatti is an interesting choice of names for a Korean-made fly reel, isn't it?

But lets face it, their ain't nothing tricky about a fly reel. From a modern manufacturing standpoint, its hard to make one expensive. Time will tell how well the Albright stuff holds up, but I know some guys that have made similar raids during their October sale the last couple years, and now they leave their Winstons and Sages at home when they go fishing.

Yeah, there is some guilt about funding a Korean sweat-shop, but if Lefty's okay with it, then so is Paul Dallas.

It is a good looking reel and I've seen some decent reviews online. Might have to try one at that price.

Anybody know anything about their waders? Just figured out I could get the 11 year old setup with waders and boots for around $70. She won't use them a bunch, just a few trips here and there.

[Paola Cat]

I've found that you always come back to a few rods that you are comfortable with. When it comes time to hit the water you go back to your comfort zone. I always come back to my Sage SLT 590, my old Sage GFL 490 brown blank, or .... believe it or not .... the Orvis Silver Label TL mid-flex 8'6" 5 weight. I do fish a Lamiglas G1298 also. Then there's the Cabelas LST hardware chucker trout park rod and the Lamiglas Appalachian small stream rods ..... here I go again. PC

[Ham]

I knew there was something we had in common...now I remember. We're both St Croix pimps.

I love the 9/6LU for streamers, muddlers, and fishing leeches.

You should try the 8.6/5 LU as a dry fly/nymph rod..Sweet ! Although you are a bit taller than me, so the 9/5 may have the same control and accuracy in your hands that the 8.6 does in mine.

I experienced a 9/4 once (on the stream)....and it's too wimpy for 5x IMO but perfect if you mostly fish 6x, or dip into 7x occasionally.

Personally I avoid 7x like the plague.

Wrench I have and LOVE the St Croiv LU 8.6 5W. It is my go to rod. I might have to rethink things if the 4 wt is too wimpy for 5X. I rarely fish 6X and 7X is krytonite to me. I might as well dump my fly box in the river. I'd lose the flies either way and it is less frustrating to dump the box rather than break off that many fish.

I fish 4 x more than anything.

[Geoff]

Anything St. Criox makes. Something in a 5wt. I plan to pick up a new St. Croix Imperial it is, 7' 4 piece 3 weight i want a new trout rod, my 7'-6" 3 wt is only a two piece and makes it hard to get in with some places i fish and they dont make a 2 weight in that size. that being said, i like to use REALLY light tackle for stuff, however i think a 5 wt is a great first rod, thats what i had at first.