[Jim Wallace]

Sounds like I need to quiver up. All I got is my old (stored in the case from Fall 1966 until spring 2002 and in "like new" condition) 8' Fenwick ff80 that has "3 1/2 oz. DT6f-HCH" written on it. Does that mean its a 6 wt? My old reel was stolen from my brother's van, and this Spring I bought a Pfleuger Medalist and some 5 wt. floating line, which seems to work O.K. I'm still piling up the line at times, finding wind knots in my leaders, slapping it all down too hard, etc. but I'm working on my cast and getting better. Though I have big ears, as of yet they remain unpierced! I originally chose this smaller rod because I was hiking into high country lakes and fishing streams for trout. Seems a little small for steelhead, the salt, or windy lakes. I can only afford one other set up, and you would recommend a 9 1/2' 8wt? Would you also recommend a multi-tip line for versatility? I'm also thinking of replacing the line on my current reel with a multi-tip, and I need to know if 6 wt. line is the right stuff for a DT6f-HCH 3 1/2 oz. 8' fiberglass rod, rather than the 5 wt. line I'm using now. Thanks for any advice you might offer.
-Jimbo

 

[Jim Wallace]

Jim,
Thanks for interpreting the glyphs. I will probably get the 6 wt. multi-tip line. As for a bigger stick, it would be an all-round for going after SRC, chums and coho in the salt, salmon and steelies in the rivers, and maybe big water on a windy day. Also, at times there is some good surf fishing for surf perch on the beach here, with public access only a mile up the road from my house. The small handfull of regulars there are chuckin' sand shrimp on 14' noodle rods and havin' a blast. I'm sure that flies would work when the surf is small in the Summer. But Summer and Fall steelies, coho and chums (both in rivers and the Hood Canal) would be the prime target. Thanks. These recommendations really help. Probably wait on getting the bigger outfit til after Christmas, or even next Summer, as I still have alot to work on with the current rig. Getting too far ahead of myself or too much-too soon might only foul my act up even more. "Relatively crude" would be a kind description now.










Jimbo :HMMM

 

[Jim Wallace]

Thanx,Rob. I was writing my reply to the Old Man as you were posting this. Excellent advice all around...some of the fish scales are dropping away from my eyes. Being on a low budget, with my income falling off over the Winter, I'll probably go with finding the optimum line for my current rod and working on my technique and presentation. Also will begin to whip up my own bugs. -Jimbo :THUMBSUP