Ultralite reel for an ultralite rod

[tjm]

I really don't know.  If I don't understand how to keep the rod balanced in use, then it's hard for me to see the point in it being balanced when in storage mode.

I don't think fly fishing was  as complicated fifty years ago as it is said to be now. I know that back then I believed it was simpler and easier than spin fishing is why kept using the fly rods and abandoned the others.

[Woodland Artisan]

The reason I like my fly fishing kits to be as balanced as possible/reasonable is simply because it's easier on my wrists and forearms.  I don't want to fight the kit; I want to fight the fish ... and the weather ... and the sun ... and the water temperature ... and the bugs ..........

[fishinwrench]

8 hours ago, Woodland Artisan said:

The reason I like my fly fishing kits to be as balanced as possible/reasonable is simply because it's easier on my wrists and forearms

A well balanced outfit is just more enjoyable.  No other reason is needed.   We do this stuff for fun, it isn't like we are simply doing it to survive.    

[tjm]

Pretty weak wrist if 1/4oz tires it.

51 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

 We do this stuff for fun,

I guess that is why I never thought of balancing a rig until I saw it talked about on the 'net, I see no fun in making things more complex than they are. 

I am still interested in the tip heavy causing line waves though, that could be a breakthrough in casting theory. The most common answers when I have inquired about balance on other forums is that when you are walking the tip doesn't tilt down to the ground or that when you high stick a heavy reel keeps the rod angled up.

That could be the answer to your problem, use a 3.5+oz reel and fish the rod for high sticking.

[Woodland Artisan]

1 hour ago, fishinwrench said:

... it isn't like we are simply doing it to survive.    

Says you.  

[fishinwrench]

54 minutes ago, tjm said:

 

I am still interested in the tip heavy causing line waves though, that could be a breakthrough in casting theory.

Well hey, I'm a real Ground-Breaking kinda guy.   What can I say ☺️

[Woodland Artisan]

I went with the Orvis Battenkill I reel.  Can't say I like the click of the click-and-pawl drag but I think I can quiet it down later if needed.  It's a no-nonsense reel that's very light and quite small.  Took it out for a couple of hours spin (get it?) on Crane creek (upper 200+/- yrds) just after lunch today and while it's going to take some getting used to, I'm really going to enjoy this ultralight fly fishing setup.

The lighter is in there for scale.  DT (Double Taper) #2 line with 20# backer.  #5 9 ft leader and only about 12 in #6 tippet.  To start with.  A full range of wet and dry flies from size 16 down.  I wasn't really out to catch anything but wanted to really see what it could do.

I found that I had to hold it just above the reel instead of at the end of the cork like I do the rest of my fly kits.  The balance is so far off that it feels like it's going to slip out of my hands otherwise.  The nice thing is that the reel is so small that it's still comfortable doing that.  We'll see if that lasts with full-day/multi-day trips.

Going to this ultra-light setup is almost like learning how to fly-fish again.  The instincts are just ... "off".  At first, I took it very very easy on the back and forward casts.  It's so darn LIGHT that I didn't want to stress it.  Well, that didn't work at all.  This is a medium-fast action rod and quite stiff.  You've got to put a hurt on it to feel the rod loading.  I'm going to assume I'll get used to the feel and tone it down quite a bit as I go.

I ended up shortening the tippet to about 6 inches and am considering cutting the leader down as well next time.  The only time I really could let this kit take off was when I was in the middle of the stream and casting downstream.  Otherwise, even casting to the far bank, I barely had 5 ft of fly line out.  Oh, and that was plenty, too!  I ended up being able to cast quite easily starting with only about 2 ft of line off the rod tip.

After my 2 hour window of opportunity closed this afternoon, I was really getting the hang of this ultralight setup.  It takes a bit of a curve to learn but, wow, it was soooo nice not to have to worry about a 9-11 ft rod on that small creek.  I'll just have to dial in the line lengths over time and re-train some of the instincts.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Just remove the pawl.   I did it on a Lamson lightspeed.  Totally silent 

[tjm]

With that light of line, I think I'd skip the leader and use ~3' of tippet.  Or use a 12" leader and a 2' or more tippet.

Did you weigh that reel? 

[Ham]

2 hours ago, Woodland Artisan said:

I went with the Orvis Battenkill I reel.  Can't say I like the click of the click-and-pawl drag but I think I can quiet it down later if needed.  It's a no-nonsense reel that's very light and quite small. 

I thought the noise the Battenkill makes is one of the selling points?