How Many Rods To Own?
- This topic has 14 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated Aug 25, 2006 at 1:54 am by
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how many fly rods should one own? The question is how many can you get?
My opinion on a dedicated great lakes Steelhead rod, especially for our area, is a fast 9 1/2′ 7 wt. I have an XP in that configuration and IMO it is the ultimate rod for this purpose. You will hear all kinds of guys go on about 10′ rods for Steelhead because of added mending abilities. I have fished several 10 footers for extended periods and they are just a pain in the butt to me. Way too tiring and you have to compensate with a heavier reel to not feel tip heavy. The entire thing just wears me out. Also, you are giving the fish a leverage advantage during the fight. I have never detected a difference between a 9 1/2 and 10 in mending abilities, but there is a ton of difference when fighting fish and how tiring each is. The extra 6″ is the perfect compromise over a 9′ rod for mending, holding lots of line off the water, fighting fish and not feeling like you just got done tossing bails of hay all day.
Can you ever have too many. I agree with Carter as well about the spacing of sizes. Here’s my list:
Main Rods:
Sage TXL 7′ 4wt – small stream/light trout
Sage SLT 9′ 6 wt – all round trout rod also used for light salmon
Sage TCR 9′ 8 wt – main single hand Atlantic salmon rod/ light striper rod
Beulah 10′ 6″ 8/9 Switch – my new favourite two handed Atlantic salmon rod
Beulah 12′ 7″ Custom 7/8 two hander – currently on the way, it will replace my St. Croix
St. Croix 9′ 10wt. Legend ultra – Striper and heavy salmon rodRods from my past that I still have but don’t use:
St. Croix 8’6″ Legend Ultra 4wt.
St. Croix 9’6″ Legend 8wt.
St. Croix 9’6″ Legend Ultra 8wt.
Fenwick HMG 8′ 6wt. – The first fly rod that was really mine
Fenwick HMG 8’6″ 6wt
St.Croix Imperial 13′ 7/8 two handerI also have a Beulah 9′ 7wt. and a Beulah 7’6″ 3wt that I just finished field testing. These are great rods but I normally wouldn’t buy these weights as I usually go 4, 6, 8, etc… I agree that there is something odd about owning 3, 5, 7, and 9wt rods.
I just realized that I may have an addiction, I better not think about my reels!!
great advice! my next purchase is going to be a 9′ 6 wt. i’m unsure what to get. my price range is up to $300. i can’t justify with the wife spending more than that on a fly rod. i’d like to cast a st. croix legend ultra. i hear that they are great rods. i also really like my orvis tls power matrix. i’ll have to cast that rod in the 9′ 6wt. they currently have a sale on their 9’6″ 6wts. what are the advantanges and disadvantages of the extra 6″? probably just a little extra length is what you all are going to say. does it affect castability? I would use the rod to mostly fish medium to larger bodies of water for nymph and streamer fishing. the extra length on the 9’6″ would definitely give me that little extra reach to mend and czech nymph.
decisions, decisions, decisions! i appreciate all of your advice and direction. it’s been a huge help.
thanks! tight lines!
paul
Hmmm, good question. You are like me, you fish a variety of waters. Here is our arsenal:
Trout:
7’6″ Winston Cane
8′ 4 wt Winston WT
8′ 4 wt T&T Paradigm
8′ 4 wt Winston BIIx
8′ 5 wt Oyster Can
8’6″ 4 wt Winston WT
8’6″ 4 wt Winston BIIx
8’6″ 5 wt Winston BIIx
9′ 5 wt Winston BIIxStreamer & Smallies:
9′ 6 Winston BIIxSteelhead:
9’6″ 8 Winston BIIx
13’4″ 6/7 CND Solstice
12’6″ 6/7/8 Meiser MKS
13′ 7/8 Meiser Highlander
2 – 13’3″ 7/8 Winston BIIx
13′ 8/9 Winston BIIx
13 8/9 Meiser MKSIt’s an addiction, I know BUT I can stop any time that I want! 😎 ::)
– David
Rather than base your decisions simply by price and/or brand, since most brands cover the price and action range or rods anyway, choose your rod (tackle) in relation to the combination of *fishing* techniques and the *casting* techniques used within your *system*.
There is *Wet* System and *Dry* System.
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