Small Streams- Right Rod

[Jaybird28]

There's lots of chatting about small streams. My question is, what size rod do you guys reccomend to fish the Taneum, Snoqualmie, etc? The smallest I have is a 5wt 9' and I'm thinkin I need to go to a 3wt 7'.

Any thoughts!!!:beer1 :beer1 :beer1

[Kent Lufkin]

For small- and even medium-sized streams, I prefer the lightest rod I can use. On the Snoqualmie forks I commonly use a short 2wt or 3wt graphite or a 7' 4wt bamboo. I fished Idaho's Kelly Creek last fall with a 3wt tossing stimulators to size 8 all day to WS cutts 14" to 18".

[David Butterfield]

anyone have any suggestions for a short 3wt rod? any help is greatly appreciated. I am currently looking for one. Also any suggestion on reel and line is also appreciated. I am new to this fly fishing arena! Thank you
David

[Kent Lufkin]

3wt rods are teriffic fishing tools for trout up to about 18" under average wind conditions. Some rod suggestions in increasing order of price:

Temple Fork Outfitters
Series 1 7'6" 2-pieces
$89

Temple Fork Outfitters
Professional 8'6" 4-pieces
$139

G. Loomis
GL3 8' 2-pieces
~$245

Sage
380-4 DS 2 8' 4-pieces
$260

Winston
Ibis 7'6" 4-pieces
$295

Orvis
Superfine 7'6" 2-pieces
$345

Sage
VPS Light 389-3 8'9" 3-pieces
$385

[Tom Merrill]

I got a Cabela's 7'6" 3wt and it casts like a dream. Granted, I haven't tossed the more expensive rods, but this one does the job and does it well. It came with a cheap fly line (that is adequate), backing and a Pflueger 1492 1/2 reel. I think the cost for the package was around $80.

Good luck.

Tom

[Randy Knapp]

My small stream combos are still available in this board's classifieds:

http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/..._id=2130&page=

Randy

" When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee" Isaiah 43:2

[rockymountain_brown]

I have a 6'6" scott sas that casts really well, I think it was $240.
RMB

[Brassie]

Your 9' 5wt will work fine on the S.F. Snoqualmie. I've used my Sage DS2 5wt a number of times there and caught plenty of fish - I don't know abaout the Taneum but I wouldn't buy a 3wt just for the Snoq. - good luck

[Jaybird28]

I mistakenly stated that my smallest rod was 9' 5 weight
It's actually 9' 4 weight. Now I repeat my same question. Is this good enough for stream fishin, or do I need a smaller rod???

[redgibber]

It must be a blast to use those lighter rods but...my main rod for streams is a 9' 5wt. It weighs alittle over 3 oz. I use a double taper line so you rarely have more out than the thinner end. I like to mend on the bigger streams and on the smaller ones the 9 ft. allows me to reach out with minimal line on the water. If it gets brushy I just choke up off the cork, or a roll or sidearm cast. A short rod just doesn't let you reach out and my arm gets tired holding it up all day. But I notice they are making longer 2 or 3 wts. now up to nine feet.

[Randy Knapp]

To answer your question: yes and no. Some like to use one rod for every situation if possible and most use longer rods. I and many others use different rods for different situations and I love short rods. Trying to weave your way through the brush is hard enough with a short rod but extremely risky with 9 footers. I have broken several graphite rods in the woods. Now if your small streams are wide open, and many are, then rod length matters very little. But I would love to see someone with a 9 footer try to fish in some of the places I have been. They'd be banging that rod on most casts. I don't think the weight of the rod matters much though. A 5 wt or under should be fine but I would think 7'6" at the longest and I usually fish a 6 footer and sometimes less. A pack rod can be handy at times if you are doing much hiking and there is a lot of good fishing in the back country.

Randy

" When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee" Isaiah 43:2

[Fly For Fun]

Good question, as i was having similar thoughts about purchasing a 3wt for smaller streams. Interested in what some of your thoughts are...:-)

Fly For Fun

"Trout Don't Live in Ugly Places" - Alex Higala

[Old Man]

When I fish the Taneum I use my short rod(7 1/2' 4wt) due to all the brush along side the stream. In the areas that I have been in there is no room or very little to cast a line in. It's like reaching out and dappling your fly on the top.

Jim

[10ft7wt]

I have a Sage SPLCA on the classifides you might be interested in. 8"3" 3 WT. It comes with the Sage Quiet Taper flyline that allows an exceptional presentation and makes a tiger out of a 10 in fish. I just dont fish the small stuff much and I have a T&T 3wt if I do. Also being a rod/reel combo it packs very nicley for hiking in.

[Kent Lufkin]

>I just dont fish
>the small stuff much and I have a T&T 3wt if I do.

What model T&T do you have? If you're ever interested in selling it, please keep me in mind.