[camtheflyman]

This is going to spark a lot of different opinions, but I am curious; what do you look for in a 6 weight rod? To me, a 6 weight is for bigger dries and dry droppers on larger water mostly, but should also be able to throw smaller dries when a hatch occurs, streamers when fish are aggressive, and should be a go to nymphing rod. Here is where I'm looking for opinions; is this too much to ask of one fly rod? What do you look for in a 6 weight? Do you focus more on nymphing, streamers, or dry droppers? What is your current 6 weight and why do you prefer it? I currently have a 6 weight Sage ONE and I personally think it is closer to a niche 6 weight rather than the fabled holy grail. Do any of you prefer a 5 weight for the above mentioned uses?

Thanks in Advance,
Cam

 

[jamma]

This is going to spark a lot of different opinions, but I am curious; what do you look for in a 6 weight rod? To me, a 6 weight is for bigger dries and dry droppers on larger water mostly, but should also be able to throw smaller dries when a hatch occurs, streamers when fish are aggressive, and should be a go to nymphing rod. Here is where I'm looking for opinions; is this too much to ask of one fly rod? What do you look for in a 6 weight? Do you focus more on nymphing, streamers, or dry droppers? What is your current 6 weight and why do you prefer it? I currently have a 6 weight Sage ONE and I personally think it is closer to a niche 6 weight rather than the fabled holy grail. Do any of you prefer a 5 weight for the above mentioned uses?

Thanks in Advance,
Cam

For me,the decision to go with the 6wt. over the 5wt. was mostly because I fish eastside and wind can often be a factor.Need a good fast action rod to punch through that stuff,especially when throwing large stone fly or October caddis patterns.Also because I do a lot of stillwater fishing and the fish are just bigger.

 

[Tristan Mikoleit]

My 6 weights main purpose is beach fishing, so I looked for a stiffer rod to throw streamers in the wind.

I do use it as a second rod on the rivers, usually setting it up as my nymph or streamer rig.

I find it does everything well, but lags behind my 5 weight the most when it comes to real dry fly work.

*Edit: I have the Loomis glx max

 

[David Loy]

I look for a 6 as able to do it all. Certainly there are better choices for light presentations, but with a good line, leader and care, you can make decent presentations. Where it shines would be throwing streamers and nymph rigs with indicators and/or doubles with/without weight, and can handle some wind.
I have two, an XP 697 and an Epic 686 glass. Each has room at the table.

 

[nb_ken]

Throwing big bugs or targeting big fish. I only throw a 6 when I'm gonna need extra backbone. In almost every other trout-fishing situation, a 4 or a 5 is way more versatile and way more fun.

In my opinion, a modern 6 is closer to a 7 than it is to a 5.

My standard beach rod is a 6 wt. Use it to throw a giant shooting head as far as I can every time. Versatility is not a concern.

 

[Carter Burke]

6 wt streamers and large nymphs
5wt all purpose dry and small nymphs
4wt medium to small dries.

If i ever fished very large streamers I'd use a 7 or 8wt.

 

[David Loy]

I was going to add two small points:
First, if you go with a 6, for the bigger stuff and windy conditions, you will want a 4, strung for dries, and versatile enough to use in small to medium streams as your primary.
Second, today's faster 5 wts have crept into 6wt territory. I started long ago with a decent 5 wt. The lines at that time were true to weight. As a result, when I threw streamers it seemed like it took some work to coax the fly out to my target. Today's faster rods and heavier lines can no doubt throw those medium + flies with more authority. So, a 5 is more of a viable "only" rod today IMO. (But, you'll still need a 4, preferably glass, around 8'. My bias ;-).

 

[clarkman]

(But, you'll still need a 4, preferably glass, around 8'. My bias ;-).

Or perhaps a 7.5' in the 4 & 7.5' (8' will do) in the 6...but I'm biased (heavily, I might add) too.

 

[tkww]

For me a 6 wt is almost exclusively wet work. I too try to stay away from the ultra-fasts. If I fished salt I would probably have a different preference. I don't often encounter trout size where a 6 wt is needed, though I can see it having a place there. I love using them for smallies.

 

[Tracker]

I only bring out the 6 when the wind makes it necessary.

 

[David Loy]

Yes Randall, 7'6" is a great size for a 4! "Every fly fisherman should own a 7'6" 4 wt fly rod" (John Geirach). I had one, a Steffen, then fell for an 8' Epic, and later a 7' Barclay, both of which are in the never sell group. So someone else enjoys the Steffen today. Two fours is enough for me.

 

[camtheflyman]

I was going to add two small points:
First, if you go with a 6, for the bigger stuff and windy conditions, you will want a 4, strung for dries, and versatile enough to use in small to medium streams as your primary.
Second, today's faster 5 wts have crept into 6wt territory. I started long ago with a decent 5 wt. The lines at that time were true to weight. As a result, when I threw streamers it seemed like it took some work to coax the fly out to my target. Today's faster rods and heavier lines can no doubt throw those medium + flies with more authority. So, a 5 is more of a viable "only" rod today IMO. (But, you'll still need a 4, preferably glass, around 8'. My bias ;-).

Hi David, with fours I'm set. I have an 8'6" 4 and a 7' fiberglass 4. In my experience, I've found that my previous 9' 5 weight (a Sage Accel) was a little lacking in big dry droppers, heavy nymph rigs, and streamers. I don't know if it was the rod I didn't like or the trying to throw bigger things with a 5, either way, the 5 and I parted ways

 

[nb_ken]

For us old timers at least, the idea of rod weights gelled in the old RPL, IMX era. But modern rods are lighter, faster, stronger. I've got an old RPL 2 wt that handles more like a modern 4 wt. Today's 4 wt is the new 5 wt and a 5 wt will do much of what an old 6 wt would do. They're even starting to put fighting butts on 5 wts.

And today's 6 wt is borderline anadromous worthy. I bet there are more new 6 wts sold with fighting butts than without.

 

[Old Man]

I use my 6wt in the winter time, for double nymph rigs. I have a TFO 5wt that throws line like a cannon. I use that for winter time also. I use my TFO 7'9" Finesse 3wt only in the summer time and on smaller type skinny water. I also have a 7'6" 4wt that gets used in the summer also.

I guess that I don't pay much attention to the wind. I like it in the summer as it keeps the bugs at bay. In the winter I just pull my coat tighter.

 

[Stonefish]

The 6 wt is the duct work of fly rod wts in my opinion. Tons of fishing applications for them.
Just like other wts, they run the gamut as far as actions go.
Some of the salty 6’s are really 7’s in disguise while others lean towards 5’s.
I’ve caught a number of different species on 6’s using anything from big streamers to small dry flies.

I’ve owned as many as seven 6 wts at one time, but I’m down to five now. I’ll likely add more in the future as I fish a 6 for 99% of the fishing I do year round.
SF

 

[Thrasybulus]

In my 6 weights I look for the words SCOTT and RADIAN.

 

[Salmo_g]

It doesn't seem all that long ago that a 6 wt was the all around standard trout rod that the 5 wt has become over the last 20 years or so. I fished a Scientific Anglers fiberglass 6 wt as my standard trout rod for years until I broke it. Being a progressive type I replaced it with the then new Sage LL 9' 5 wt, and now have an assortment of 5 wts.

All I look for in a 6 wt is the ability to cast a slightly heavier fly in comfort compared to my 5 wts. I have a couple graphite 9' 6 wts, but for general trout fishing the last couple years I've been enjoying using my old Fenwick fiberglass 7 1/2' 6 wt that is a 4-piece I built for backpacking way back when.

 

[MRKbass]

B3X. It has the tip for dries, and the power to throw some junk or punch into the wind with ease compared to the 5. Light too

 

[the central oregonian]

It may be blasphemy....But i don't even own a 6wt any more. When i did own one i used it primarily for fishing stillwater. I can see the application of using one for 2 nymphs rigs...but frankly my 5wt handles in just fine in the streams that i fish. 9.5ft 6wt would be nice for rocky ford i think but i make due just fine.....Bigger streamers and sink tips i move to a 7 or 8wt. I can cast small buggers etc on my 5wt fine also.....

I guess for me the 5wt does most of the work a 6wt would just fine. I don't live near large bodies of water where i would be dredging heavy nymphs alot. Honestly, if i did i would probably look at a 4wt or 5wt switch rod to do that job.

 

[River Is Polluted]

Rods have become very 'flexible' in defining what weight they are from the manufacturer. Is the rod a light 6 (5.5), 6, heavy 6 (6.5)? There is no 'industry standard'.

With the trend of overlining rods, use of newer lines and various tapers/tips makes it even harder to really balance a rod for a given manufacturer's defined weight rating. IMHO select a rod and line that is balanced for your intended use. Take into account the length and weight of a sink-tip and flies. That means that you will have to cast the rod with the appropriate line to determine if it fits your casting style...

I prefer a 'mid-flex' over a 'tip-flex' rod because it helps protect the tippet better when a fish is on. I give up a little bit in windy conditions and also in casting distance but hope my casting skills can make up the difference (rarely the case any more).