Pack rod?

[Angler77]

Any thoughts on the subject. I'm planning on making my way into the mountains this summer for some hiking and fishing and am looking into buying a pack rod. I have done some hiking and a two piece rod is just too long at times (that is too long on the trail to my destination). I'm relatively open as far as price range goes, but of course a good value is always appreciated. As I'm no pro I like a mid flex rod. A good general purpose alpine lake pack rod is what I'm looking for. Thanks.

[Steve Buckner]

I have a three piece Sage 3 weight called their "LL" series. The "LL" is short for "light Line". I don't believe it is made any longer but it has been a nice back pack rod. The action is somewhat slow, but it allows a delicate presentation on still water and I enjoy it. It doesn't cast into the wind very well. I've caught fish to 18" and it handled them well.

Most summers I load up the pack and head down to the Metolius River in Oregon. This has to be the prettiest stream on the planet! Around July 1st, the stream is alive with flowers. It's a must fish river.

Steve Buckner
www.northwestflyfisherman.com

[2 Much Fishin]

Pack rod's (3 or 4 piece rods) are very popular and they are making them better than they used to.
The important thing I would say to you is buy a 'pack rod' that you are going to use in your normal fishing as well. I would go for a 5 weight because sometimes it can be windy in the mountains and you dont want to be stuck with a rod you cant cast. Also if you buy a rod just for back packing you may find it is sitting around too much. I have a St.Croix legend ultra and really like the rod.

[Porter]

LL a great rod ...I have been told it is the same taper (rod) as the VPS Light.....

Anyways check out www.mrfc.com they have close outs on a variety of rods good prices on Thomas and Thomas, St. Croix, Winston

8'6 St. Croix Imperial 5 weight 4 piece 109.95
Legend Ultra's (old style) are low to mid 200.00's
Scott SAS series some 5 pieces for the low to mid 100.00's
check it out

I believe most rods listed are being discontinued (not all thought such as St. Croix Imperial)

The I have heard good things about the Wayfarer from Redington 5 and 7 piecers....and Cabela's has some also although I don't know much about them.

Good Luck

:beer2 :beer2

[Kent Lufkin]

I've got several 3- and 4-piece rods I use for backpacking. My current favorites are a Sage 389-4 LL and a Mike Brooks 8' 4/2 4wt bamboo called the Pak Rat. I use a Kelty external frame pack (so I can lash my wet float tube outside the bag for the trip back out) but even the shorter Pak Rat tube sticks out of the top a couple inches.

I tried lashing my then-new Sage XP 4100-4 in its tube to the frame rail on one side for a trip up to Lake Philippa a couple years ago. But a couple of tumbles in the dark on the way back down dinged up the tube pretty well and convinced me of the need to stow rod tubes inside the bag instead. If I'd been holding a rod tube instead of having it lashed to the pack and it had come loose when I fell, I probably never would have found it in the dark.

[Rob Blomquist]

I just recently bought up the last of Lamigas' stock of 8' 3wt 9 piece fiberglass rods. They are fully warranteed blanks, with sections about 12" long. I will be wrapping them up and making a custom bag and tube for them with a demo available about June 1.

Don't expect dirt cheap, as these are going to be fine Alpine sticks. One already has my name on it.

Rob

[Kent Lufkin]

Curt Williams (the former fishing department manager at Orvis' Bellevue store) had FethaStyx wrap him up an 8' 3wt 6 piece fiberglass recently. I haven't seen the rod but heard it's a real beauty, with a nice slow bamboo-like action. I spoke with Jim at FethaStyx who quoted me a ballpark price or $350 for a similar rod. He said the 6 piece glass blanks are readily available in several weights and lengths.

[Randy Knapp]

This is another one of those highly subjective questions but I'll give you some thoughts to think about.

When I first started fishing high lakes, I actually hiked with a 2pc 9' rod in a black ABS (I think that's what you call it) tube which doubled as a walking stick/brush beater/balance helper(crossing logs over streams). I later did this also with a 2pc 8'4" rod. A good friend took his 2pc 8' and taped it to his skii pole walking stick. This system worked okay.

Later I actually used 4 or 5pc pack rods that would fit in my pack. This worked okay except the rod tube stuck up out of my pack and snagged things.

Lately I have taken to just carrying a rod in the sock in a free hand.

If you are going to fish alpine streams as well as lakes, I wouldn't go over 7'6" because those streams are lined with brush and trees. If you are just fishing lakes then an 8' to 9' rod will do fine. A 3,4, or 5wt will work fine but I wouldn't be afraid to use a 6 or 7 if that's what I had. The wind can kick up at times and you might get lucky and find a lunker. I tend to carry rods of 5 or 6wt because I am often inclined to fish other waters on the way in or out.

In summation, I don't think it matters other than if I was going to use a pack rod in my pack, I would want one that was completely hidden in the pack so as not to snag on low branches or logs I might have to crawl under.

A floating line is all you need. Elk hair caddis, ants or beetles, Renegades or Royal Coachmans, plus your favorite nymph is all you need. I have found that on alpine lakes, twitching your dry fly occasionally in between pauses really enhances their attraction to cruising fish.

This year, I will probably just hike with my 6' 5wt Fenglass 2pc in the sock in my hand but I intend on doing more stream than lake fishing on my hikes.

Randy

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

[Angler77]

Great info from all of you thanks. I've used a rod tube in a similar fashion to help balance and got concerned as the tube started to show signs of breaking down. Good suggestion about making sure I plan on using the rod for more than just hiking trips. As this would be only a third rod for me I'm sure I will make use of it. Thanks for the discount website, I'll check that out immediately. Enjoy the fishing.

[HMCFisherman]

Someone had suggested the Redington. I have both a Wayfarer 9' 8wt 7pc (great for sticking in luggage for long trips--like my upcoming one to Yucatan/Belize), and a Wayfarer 9' 3wt 5pc. Picked both up on Ebay for $120/rod--can usually find 130-180. Great medium action rods. 7pc fits into 18" tube, 5pc fits into 24" tube. Great rods for the money and for the intended purpose. Redington has great customer service--now on Bainbridge with Sage---$20 and 2 days to a replacement rod.
JJW

[Ron Eagle Elk]

There are a lot of very fine rods listed here, however, being aware of my budget (living on a fixed income sux), I bought a couple Cabela's Stow-Away combos. I have a 5 piece 3 wgt that is a great casting rod, the fit and finish are excellent. My wife has a 7 piece 4 wgt rod that has spigot ferrules, casts like a little rocket, with an excellent fit and finish.

The combos have decent reels (up to a Ross Cimarron), WF line and backing. A five piece rod combo runs from $120 to $250. The seven piece runs from $185 to $315.

Since we got these rods my Orvis and Sage rods spend a lot of time collecting dust while to Cabela's rod gets used.

Usual disclaimer, not affiliated with them or anything.

REE

[Cactus]

>I bought a couple Cabela's Stow-Away
>combos. I have a 5 piece 3 wgt that is a great casting
>rod, the fit and finish are excellent. My wife has a 7
>piece 4 wgt rod that has spigot ferrules, casts like a
>little rocket, with an excellent fit and finish.
>REE

I agree. A friend of mine just bought the 7 piece Cabela's rod. For the price it is a very nice rod and casts well. I'm thinking of picking up one as well just to have a rod handy when I'm hunting and I come across a nice lake or stream.

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Cactus,

As I understand it, the 7 piece rods don't have the spigot ferrules anymore. I haven't had a chance to try the newer rods.

REE

[troutman101]

Winston LT 5 piece 8'9" 5 weight and Lamson ULA reel, WF-5 line with a film canister of flies and a spare leader is all you need. Less than 8 ounces for the whole setup. I roll my rod up inside my foam mattress on the outside of my pack.

[Nooksack Mac]

My backpack fishing in the mountains started in 1967. I was handicapped with some attrocious pack rods, such as a 6' 9" 6-piece glass Eagle Claw with metal ferrules, or trying to protect my 8' 3-piece Herter from rough usage. Equipment improved over time: a 7' 3/4-wt. 4-piece St. Croix paired with an 8.5' 5-piece Fenwick glass No. 6 got a lot of use. Now I hike with a 8'4" 4-wt. 5-piece Scott and a 9" 6-wt. 6-piece Gallatin Oynx (IM6, Korean import). These two travel in a single 2"/22.5" PVC tube. They're delightful not only on alpine lakes and streams, but in airline travel, since they fit in my carry-on backpack, with reels, vest and waders. No ruined trips from lost luggage here.

Even if you use pack rods once or twice a year, over the decades they become a key part of some favorite memories.