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Pro, I do not think you are going to find a rod that will be ideal for all three rivers. The Clearwater has some big water where distance makes a big difference. It can also have some real windy days. Most of the time I grab my Meiser 15' 7/8/9 and an 8/9 long delta. Then there are the days where the water level is high and it is a place with no backcast room and a shorter rod is called for.
The other two rivers are more "intimate" and lighter and shorter works as well or better. So, where are you going to fish the most? You said that it will be mostly tips, at what distance, and what backcast room? What line? If it is mostly tight and tips, then a Skagit and a shorter rod will probably do it.
Get to the Clearwater Clave this month and try some of those rods and line combos out. In the last analysis, it is what you like best for the conditions you fish most of the time.
The other two rivers are more "intimate" and lighter and shorter works as well or better. So, where are you going to fish the most? You said that it will be mostly tips, at what distance, and what backcast room? What line? If it is mostly tight and tips, then a Skagit and a shorter rod will probably do it.
Get to the Clearwater Clave this month and try some of those rods and line combos out. In the last analysis, it is what you like best for the conditions you fish most of the time.
I am starting to explore lighter rods for more applications, I don't think you need the big gun rods as we aren't catching any 20+ lb steelhead ...granted if I go chum wrestling (which I love) the big rod is a necessity..but for most of what I fish locally and in b.c. I'm finding it a helluva lot more fun fishing all day with lighter rods...
So much has been made and said about how you have to have a big rod on big rivers and I don't think it's true..IMHO...If your new and suck at casting then a big rod and line might help you but your only putting a bandaid on the real problem...13-13'6" rods again IMHO are the max of what you'll ever need...they can throw 140' when you know what your doing so distance isn't an issue...
More important to learn to cast, stay near the bank and fish close in then to wade out throw a big loop and scare all the fish away...