Which rod to start the Yellowstone season with?

[Mike Cline]

It is less than a week away from the Yellowstone Park opener and the prognosis for the Firehole being in great shape is good.  Last year I started the season with my 40 year old Fenwick FF70 5wgt and vowed to focus on a lot of glass fishing in the future.  Well a year later I find myself with about 15 new glass rods in the 3-6 wgt range.  

For the Firehole I’ll pick one of the 3 or 4 wgts that are pictured below.  I’ve fished them all except the Scott.  If it is not windy, that’s the one I’ll rig up next weekend.

Left to right 7′ Diamondback Diamondglass 3 wgt with Flyweight reel, -7′ Scott – 3 wgt with Flyweight reel, 7’5″ [s:15jwmq6w]Hardy[/s:15jwmq6w] Winston Retro 3 wgt with CFO-I, 7’5″ [s:15jwmq6w]Hardy[/s:15jwmq6w] Winston Retro 4wgt with System 4, 7’1″ SA System 4 with System 4 reel.

If the 3 wgt Scott fishes as well as the Diamondglass did last season, I will be pleased.

4 wgt [s:15jwmq6w]Hardy[/s:15jwmq6w] Winston Retro in action on the Firehole last season

Diamondglass 3wgt for hoppers on the Gardner River

I put up photos of the 5 and 6 wgts later as the season progresses.
Of course they were Winstons not Hardy – Senior Moment

[Eric Weller]

Mike,

[Adam McDowell]

Mike, that’s a great dilemma to be faced with. That Scott looks sweet

[Cameron Mortenson]

Mike…those are all worthy choices.

[Mike Cline]

Monday morning on the Firehole went well.  The unsettled weather apparently kept everyone home and even by mid-day there were minimal numbers of anglers out on the river.  Had several sections of the river to myself most of the morning.  Of course, all the easy access spots were filled.  Even the park attendance seemed light.  The Scott 703/3 fished well in the morning until the wind picked up.

Rainbows and Browns were obliging but between 6:30AM and 1PM, not a rising fish was to be found.

The river was in great shape, clear and well inside the banks.  Not like last year.

2011 Opening Weekend on the Firehole. Much better this year.

A great start to the Yellowstone season.  Back in the park tomorrow to take advantage of nice weather.  Oh, what rod to use?

[Zach Matthews]

Very nice! I am drooling.

I was in the area all last week but I had to leave Saturday morning for the 24 drive home. With all the cancellations because of the snowstorm I figured it would be pretty empty for the opener on the Firehole. Plus, I really wanted to try out my new Dennis Stone bamboo fly rod I finished over the winter.

I hope we see my pics from you tomorrow.

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