Wtb[Orrow] 8-11 Wt Rods

[hoglaw]

I'm looking at eloping with my bride-to-be to Acklins Island in the bahamas. I've got an old travel 9wt remington fly rod around here somewhere, but I need to borrow another rod (or possibly two) so that we can both fish. I'll be happy to rent the rod(s). Acklins is apparently a bonefish paradise with some opportunities for Tarpon sprinkled in. I'd be more than happy to trade you a good weekend trip on my boat to the White or anywhere else a 90h jet is appropriate. I'll also be happy to buy/supply my own reels so you don't have to worry about your equipment getting crusted up with salt. We are looking at either October or March/April for doing this (just trying to pick nice enough "back home" weather to throw a Norfork River Resort coming home party for family/friends). I'd also be happy to throw in some free labor on building some custom rods for you in exchange. I just need a couple of rods that are suitable for saltwater fishing for bones.

[bsmith6339]

I have a TFO TiCrx 10wt I would let you borrow. It's a great small tarpon/windy bonefish day rod. I would look for an 8wt as an ideal rod for bonefish and I use mine too often to loan them out. I would ask you to leave something of similar value if you did want to borrow it. A broken rod is no big deal, just a $25 fee from TFO. I'd be interested in seeing your rod building as that's something I would like to get into. Let me know if you want to take it.

[hoglaw]

bsmith, thanks for the offer. We are looking at taking the trip in October. I have zero problem leaving collateral or just straight cash for you to hang onto until I return. So what about a 7wt? Is a 7 too light for flats fishing? I have an older Orvis Rocky Mountain 7wt that's a great white bass and trout streamer rod and I've never really thrown a floating line on it. I just assumed that I needed something heavier. I need to find my old big rod. It's a 9-11 travel rod, somewhere in there. All I know is it's heavy and cheap. I think Remington made it, or some company like that who isn't really known for fly rods. It's cheap but it gets the job done and has a nice fighting butt.

[bsmith6339]

Heavy and cheap aren't good combinations in a fly rod. A 7wt will do on a calm day but any wind would be frustrating. Ideally you would have an 8 and 10wt to cover your bases. Whatever rod you take you'll need to be able to cast clouser like flies on a dime out to 70+ft with the potential for wind.

[sfiser]

I always use my 7wt when I bonefish Great Exuma in the Bahamas, in my opinion a 7wt is the perfect bone rod. 8 wt is just a little to heavy for my liking but if the wind kicks up its handy to have. You should be just fine with your 7wt as long as the wind isnt blowing 30mph and you have good bonefish or redfish flyline on it to help it load correctly. If you plan to catch a barracuda, you need an 8 or a 9wt. I highly recommend you keep a cudda rod handy because they are a blast to catch and jump like crazy

[RSBreth]

I have a 9-weight built on an All Star blank (when they made fly rods) that has Fuji alconite guides - it's a cannon but a two piece so it doesn't travel as well as a 4. I'd just let you borrow it so it doesn't feel so lonely.