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Specialty Nymph Rods?

6006 Views 38 Replies 18 Participants Last post by  Tony T
So I am looking at an Echo shadow 10ft 3 wt or a 10'6 4wt. Leaning more on the 4. However, my question is; Are these types of euro style nymph rods only for that purpose or do they also excel in throwing indicator rigs? ( which is what I really want to do and my main concern).

I would appreciate feedback from all of you especially the indicator jesus himself @Irafly . I am sure you guys want to know what systems I will want to do this on. #1 Yakima, #2 Cedar (rarely) #3 other general rivers that are nunya business.

Thanks so much for the help everyone.
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...sucker for marketing

Get a 5-6 wt for utility
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So I am looking at an Echo shadow 10ft 3 wt or a 10'6 4wt. Leaning more on the 4. However, my question is; Are these types of euro style nymph rods only for that purpose or do they also excel in throwing indicator rigs? ( which is what I really want to do and my main concern).

I would appreciate feedback from all of you especially the indicator jesus himself @Irafly . I am sure you guys want to know what systems I will want to do this on. #1 Yakima, #2 Cedar (rarely) #3 other general rivers that are nunya business.

Thanks so much for the help everyone.[/QUOTE
Id try and find a sage 99 in a 5 or 6 wt. The euro sticks wouldnt be a lot of fun tossing a double nymph rig with weight and a indi. Love mine for tight line nyphing though
I've bobber nymphed the Yakima, Madison, Clark Fork, Bitterroot with my Scott 10' 4wt Czech nymphing rod. It doesn't just get away with this kind of fishing, it is a very good rod for indicator nymphing. Get the 4wt and try it with a 5 line.
So I am looking at an Echo shadow 10ft 3 wt or a 10'6 4wt. Leaning more on the 4. However, my question is; Are these types of euro style nymph rods only for that purpose or do they also excel in throwing indicator rigs? ( which is what I really want to do and my main concern).

I would appreciate feedback from all of you especially the indicator jesus himself @Irafly . I am sure you guys want to know what systems I will want to do this on. #1 Yakima, #2 Cedar (rarely) #3 other general rivers that are nunya business.

Thanks so much for the help everyone.
Honestly, I only use my trout switch for the lakes and long leaders. In the river for steelhead I use a switch 8wt, but my 9' rod worked just as well. For trout in rivers and throwing indicators, I use my 9' rods, but I wouldn't be opposed to throwing my switch.
Honestly, I only use my trout switch for the lakes and long leaders. In the river for steelhead I use a switch 8wt, but my 9' rod worked just as well. For trout in rivers and throwing indicators, I use my 9' rods, but I wouldn't be opposed to throwing my switch.
Well then you are saving me money then. As i just bought a 5wt echo 3
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I've never played with any of the rods in question, but I DO have a 10' 4wt (ARE IM6) that works great for tight-line nymphing and really really well for indi fishing. I just up-line it to turn over junk...by a lot. It can handle it.
sage 799 for beads bro. if u can find on e :)
sorry 599 or 699 didnt notice its for trout
If you want to fish euro style, you'll want the 3. If you will mainly be indicator nymphing, don't get a euro rod. The best euro rods, in my opinion, are light and sensitive. Indicator fishing requires more backbone.
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Just cuz a euro rod is sensitive at the tip doesn't mean it has no backbone. They are designed to have huge backbone in the butt for larger fish, while having a tip that is made to avoid breaking fish off.

They can toss indictators and dry flies as well.
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I think there is a guy on here who would be able to answer this question quite accurately. Tony...Tony..... Tony something or another.
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I think there is a guy on here who would be able to answer this question quite accurately. Tony...Tony..... Tony something or another.
@Tony T formally known as Tony Pro?
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I recently got both the 4 and 3 shadow. They both throw regular flies just fine. They were designed to that end. There is a video of Rajeff talking about it online. I prefer them to the Sage ESN for general use and I'm a total Sage fanboy (10+).
I use the 4 to drag around a heavy stonefly with a dropper and the 3 for small nymphs with a yarn indi or for tightline. Both feel like a line weight heavier than a conventional rod but that might only be my preference for slower rods.


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@Tony T formally known as Tony Pro?
Yep that's the one.

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Just cuz a euro rod is sensitive at the tip doesn't mean it has no backbone. They are designed to have huge backbone in the butt for larger fish, while having a tip that is made to avoid breaking fish off.

They can toss indictators and dry flies as well.
thats great an all but a good rod indicator split shot rod has a soft butt and stiff tip.
thats great an all but a good rod indicator split shot rod has a soft butt and stiff tip.
So you don't think rod action preference is entirely subjective? Because it is, and you don't know everything.
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So you don't think rod action preference is entirely subjective? Because it is, and you don't know everything.
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So you don't think rod action preference is entirely subjective? Because it is, and you don't know everything.
i dont really know anything. im just passing on what people who claim to know things have told me.

to me, a good indicator rod does a couple things really well, single spey (roll casting) and stack mending. i dont see how a soft tip really aids stack mending, or helps that much on long and aggressive hook sets.

and no, i dont think rod preference is entirely subjective. i think some rods are better tools for certain jobs, based on the physics of what you are fishing and how you are fishing it.

but would you use a 8'6 5wt fiberglass rod knowing the river is usally windy and requires long casts, or would your "preference" for it cause it to preform better then a fast action 9' graphite rod?

i agree that there is a large amount of subjectivity in rod selection, but i honestly believe that from a physics/rod design viewpoint for indicators, a softer butt with a nice stiff tip works every well for the task.

another advantage of the softer butt section rods is they help you keep your loops wide and are great for "Belgium" style casts.

further more, if u subscribe to it being entirely subject, then my opinion is correct, because its my prefernce, and im sharing that opionion with the OP. if you dont like the rods i like, thats fine by me. you do you.
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