Trout fly rod advice

[the reel ess]

What's the right weight/length for a small waters/stream fly rod for trout and small panfish? Thanks.

[PressuredFishing]

5ft 9wt is a jack of all trades, fly fishing industry is elitist and is high on their own supply price eBay. I don't buy mainstream. Diawa algonquin rod is good, and nothing fancy for reel don't spend over 50$ on a reel. Put majority of your money into the line and buy flies on ebay. 

[the reel ess]

21 minutes ago, PressuredFishing said:

5ft 9wt is a jack of all trades, fly fishing industry is elitist and is high on their own supply price eBay. I don't buy mainstream. Diawa algonquin rod is good, and nothing fancy for reel don't spend over 50$ on a reel. Put majority of your money into the line and buy flies on ebay. 

I'm a noob. Do you mean 5 wt 9 ft?

[PaulVE64]

Yes he did mean a 9ft rod in  a 5 weight as a jack of all trades rod. 

Before I make a recommendation can you tell me if you will have the space for back casts on your waters?

[PressuredFishing]

44 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

I'm a noob. Do you mean 5 wt 9 ft?

 

12 minutes ago, PaulVE64 said:

Yes he did mean a 9ft rod in  a 5 weight as a jack of all trades rod. 

This^^^ wt basically is the power of the rod, 1wt 2wt 3wt are used for very small fish  or presenting tiny tiny flies lightly.

4wt is for tiny usually unweighted or small bedhead nymphs and mostly dries

5wt does dries, nymphs, and small streamers

6wt medium streamers, small poppers, etc etc..

 

[the reel ess]

32 minutes ago, PaulVE64 said:

Yes he did mean a 9ft rod in  a 5 weight as a jack of all trades rod. 

Before I make a recommendation can you tell me if you will have the space for back casts on your waters?

Well, yes and no. In trout waters it will be kind of tight. But I also kayak fish. That's where the panfish and possibly bass come in. In that case, there are no back cast obstacles.  

[Fallser]

A 9' 5 weight rod would be a good starter rod.  It would depend on how bushy the small streams you plan to fish.  Most of the creeks I fish I can use an 8 1/2 foot 5 weight.  You should be able to pick up a beginner's combo(rod, reel and fly line) for between $100 and $150.  Cabela's, Bass Pro, Orvis, TCO or others.  Make sure the line is a Weight Forward Floating fly line.  An 8 1/2 foot or 9 foot rod would be the best.  A couple of suggestions, if you have a fly shop near you see if they give casting lesson or maybe a local chapter of Trout Unlimited.  If you go to a fly shop, don't let them talk you into a lighter weight rod.   

  Start off fly fishing for panfish.  With a kayak I would go with a 9 foot rod.  To be honest I don't fish for trout that much anymore.  Fly fishing for panfish and bass are lot more fun.

  You be surprised what you can catch with a 5 weight and a small fly.

  

[Further North]

First:  I agree that a 5 wt. is a great place to start for trout.  It'll do about anything you like.

Second:  A 5 wt. is only effective for bass if you stay with small flies - think small poppers and woolly buggers.  It will not cast larger bass flies (bigger poppers, larger streamers) with any efficiency at all. 

Personally, a 6 wt. is the lightest weight rod I'll use for bass, and I'm much more likely to go to an 8 wt.  Like the 5 wt., an 8 wt. will throw just about anything - small to large - that you'll want to fish bass with.

Yes, some people use 5 wt. rods on bass.  They're likely using pretty small flies - like @Fallser above - but it's far from ideal if you're going to target bass with any regularity, and want to throw the bigger flies.  They are also probably not new to fly fishing.
 

[the reel ess]

3 minutes ago, Further North said:

First:  I agree that a 5 wt. is a great place to start for trout.  It'll do about anything you like.

Second:  A 5 wt. is only effective for bass if you stay with small flies - think small poppers and woolly buggers.  It will not cast larger bass flies (bigger poppers, larger streamers) with any efficiency at all. 

Personally, a 6 wt. is the lightest weight rod I'll use for bass, and I'm much more likely to go to an 8 wt.  Like the 5 wt., an 8 wt. will throw just about anything - small to large - that you'll want to fish bass with.

Yes, some people use 5 wt. rods on bass.  They're likely using pretty small flies - like @Fallser above - but it's far from ideal if you're going to target bass with any regularity, and want to throw the bigger flies.  They are also probably not new to fly fishing.
 

Well, I actually have an 8 wt with dry line that I hardly ever use. So, I guess I have bass covered. So I'm feeling like the 4-5 wt is the one for me for trout. Maybe an 8' to 8'6"???

[Further North]

24 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

Well, I actually have an 8 wt with dry line that I hardly ever use. So, I guess I have bass covered. So I'm feeling like the 4-5 wt is the one for me for trout. Maybe an 8' to 8'6"???

I'm not that much of a trout angler...but I have three 4 wt. rods:

One 8 ft., one 8 1/2 ft., and one 10 ft., for nymping.

I prefer my 8 1/2 ft. rod, but the 8 ft. rod gets it done well too.

And a 9 ft. 5 wt. is kinda the "gold standard."

...I'd hang an intermediate line on the 8 wt., and you'll be set for bass.  1 ips, maybe 2.

[Fallser]

1 hour ago, Further North said:

Yes, some people use 5 wt. rods on bass.  They're likely using pretty small flies - like @Fallser above - but it's far from ideal if you're going to target bass with any regularity, and want to throw the bigger flies.  They are also probably not new to fly fishing.

Yep, I caught it on a Estaz bug tied on size 6 hook.  I don't normally use a 5 wgt.  I was on my way to a lodge in NE Ontario, and stopped off to visit some friends in Huntsville.  All my other rods were in my PVC rod tube.  I'd left the 5 wgt out because I knew they would take me fishing after dinner.  A 9' 6 wgt is my go to bass rod, though I use an 8 wgt for heavy cover when tossing frog flies.  I'd been fly fishing about 12 years when I caught that one.

[casts_by_fly]

5 hours ago, the reel ess said:

What's the right weight/length for a small waters/stream fly rod for trout and small panfish? Thanks.

Remember, the weight of the rod tells you the size of the lure you’re fishing. The length of the rod generally depends on the places you’re fishing. Usually smaller lures in smaller places tracks to smaller fish (like native brook trout) and bigger rods and bigger flies means bigger fish. Having one rod for small trout streams and bigger bass flies is pushing what you can do a little. Since you said you have bass covered (and an 8 wt will cover all bass fishing), then let’s focus on trout and panfish. In that cast, the biggest flies you’re fishing are going to be just fine on a 4 or 5 wt, and I don’t see you making 80’ casts to bluegills. I would pick your length based on the smallest place you’re fishing (probably the trout stream) and probably end up at a 4 wt. I have, have owned, and have built/sold 4 wt rods from sub 7’ to almost 11’. For panfish, I think that’s the perfect weight unless you’re going into sinking tips and fishing big waters and lots of wind. For trout, it’s also a great weight for most eastern fishing and presentations. 

[bulldog1935]

Mid-line-weight fly rods, 5/6 are just right to learn on (only taught about 120 people, including my daughters).  

Versatile enough to fish trout, panfish and bass, light enough to not be exhausting, and the line weight is heavy enough to give you feedback when you're learning how to load the rod. 

 

If you're sitting in a kayak, nothing loads quicker than a mid-length glass fly rod. (up to 8'). 

E.g., if you're wading, you have part of the line belly out and can quickly load a long graphite rod.  But sitting in a kayak, you look like a one-armed paper hanger trying to first get that working line out of a graphite rod. 

With a glass rod sitting in a kayak, I can start with 2' of fly line past the tip, and shoot to 70' on the 3rd stroke.  Big stealth advantage. 

(this is CGR 7/8 for salt)

7' to 8' glass 5-wt will cover you on Everything. 

[flyfisher]

Small stream rods for me mean short length and 3-4 wt. If the small streams have the room, a longer rod will help when mending and dropping flies into pockets etc.  

 

I know many on here recommend the 5/6 wt range to learn on and I will be the dissenting opinion.  You can learn just fine on a smaller weight rod and as I think about it of all the rods I own, I am pretty sure I have never owned a 5 or a 6 lol

 

Lots of good deals out there now too as rods from some companies are switching models and old are going on sale.  If you have a loval fly shop, definitely go in and talk to them and they can guide you on what works well and also many offer a free intro lesson to casting.

 

Have fun and keep asking querstions as there is a lot of great fly fishing knowledge on this site, even if we lurk in the shadows

[roadwarrior]

BFS alternative:  https://www.finesse-fishing.com/bait-finesse-system.html

[N.Y. Yankee]

7.5, 8 and 9 foot are most common. Many people scoff at 9 foot rods for small streams but there are times and places where a 9 foot rod will let you reach out and drop a line in the water without having to cast and also will help you roll-cast if you have overhead clearance. I really haven't found much advantage in a 7.5 but I have them and use them. 

 

Also remember if you are casting to bass, that bass will go after darn near anything sometimes. You can catch bigger fish on smaller flies but not always all fish on big flies so that 5 wt isnt such a bad idea as an all-around line. Checkout Mad River Outfitters on Youtube.

[Further North]

I am probably missing something, but the idea that rod length on small streams...with fly gear...helps an angler make casts easier in tight situations has always been a head scratcher for me.

It's the length of fly line outside your guides that's going to cause problems...in my head anyway....and that doesn't change based on rod length.

It reminds me of the guys who claim that shotguns with shorter barrels work better in the grouse woods...

[bulldog1935]

It's simply a question of what you get into. 

I can think of places where a 6 or 6-1/2' glass fly rod is an advantage, and only glass works in these short lengths. 

For one thing, you can make an underhand cast under cypress overhang. 

The fly rod version of skipping. The place I'm thinking of makes this overhang look simple, but big bass are there that no one else has ever presented to before. 

[new2BC4bass]

On 8/23/2022 at 6:18 PM, the reel ess said:

What's the right weight/length for a small waters/stream fly rod for trout and small panfish? Thanks.

What a surprise.  Various opinions.   And all good...for where and how they fish.  Armchair expert here.  ?  But I have been doing a lot of research. 

 

I think most will agree on one thing.  The size of the fly is going to determine the (line) weight of the rod.  Lengths are grounds for a fist fight.

 

I don't know if this link will be allowed as it is for another forum.  One on fly fishing and this link is to a thread entitled "Set-Up For Bluegills".  https://www.theflyfishingforum.com/forums/index.php?threads/set-up-for-bluegills.357555/

 

Nine pages long.  Some won't use less than a 5wt because of the opportunity to catch the occasional bass or pickerel.  Some think a 3wt is on the heavy side.  Some like graphite, some like fiberglass and no doubt there are more than one into bamboo.  It just depends on where you fish, what flies you like to use and (of course) personal preferences.  AND the depth of your pocketbook.

 

I tried to cover all my bases (to a point).  Already had a 7'6" 3wt from several years ago.  Tried casting it once and put it aside.  I had learned on a reasonably fast 8wt and this rod was definitely slow.  So when I decided I wanted to try fly fishing for panfish, I figured a 9' 5wt would be a good in between step for learning to cast the 3wt.  (Actual all I probably needed to do was LOOK AT MY BACKCAST.)  When the reel for the 5wt arrived, it turned out to be a 3/4 instead of 5/6 in the picture.  A quick check brought my attention to the fact I needed to look at the little box to see the size of the reel I was actually buying.

 

So I did the only practical thing.  I ordered a 9' 4wt for the 3/4 reel, and ordered the correct 5/6 reel.  Both Echo Carbon XLs as they were the number one choice in a couple reviews as the best budget rod.  Another highly thought of rod for the money is the Redington Classic Trout.  It's a $150 rod that can be found in the $115-$120 range.  I know because I now have an 8' 4wt and 8'6" 3wt.

 

Yup.  That Bait Monkey is a monster. 

 

EDIT:  I thought smaller streamers might be a good choice occasionally so I found a 9' 6wt Aetos at almost 50% off that I am the proud owner of.  It is another highly regarded budget rod.  (That I no longer consider budget at MSRP because it went from $179 to $235 but I'll admit it is budget compared to a $1375 Asquith.)

[flyfisher]

On 9/1/2022 at 3:09 PM, bulldog1935 said:

It's simply a question of what you get into. 

I can think of places where a 6 or 6-1/2' glass fly rod is an advantage, and only glass works in these short lengths. 

 

I will disagree on this one entirely.  I like a faster action short rod as well as my glass one too.  It is all about about preferences really.

[bulldog1935]

Vince Cummings Water Witch (polished and tuned St. Croix glass blank) and c. 1930 click-pawl Medalist.   More often it's about skill set.