Looking for a small stream rod
- This topic has 34 replies, 28 voices, and was last updated Mar 7, 2012 at 5:22 am by
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Wow the Superfine made the list many times. I’m usually not a big fan of Orvis rods but that rod, especially the original superfine (non Trout Bum) is pure awesomeness rolled into a pretty stick.
It seems that the new SF Touch is Orvis going away from the Trout Bum fast action painted blank, back to a full flex, unsanded blank. What made the rod so coveted in the first place. If you can find one of the 6’6″ 3wt original Superfine with the ring reel seat its a rod you’ll pass down to the grand kids.Well, here’s another late comer to the discussion. I would want to know exactly what you mean by “small stream”? Are there lots of trees, brush, and overhanging plants, or are they relatively open? How big are the fish? I went the short rod, fiberglass rod, route at one point. Now I fish ultralight rods. The small streams I fish are relatively open and the fish average 6-8 inches. I found a 3 weight was too much rod – when the fish attacked aggressively and I set the hook, they would often go flying out of the stream and sometimes I would lose them behind me somewhere. My current choice is a Sage 00 rod – a wild 8″ fish is great fun to catch, and I’ve landed a 13 incher with no problems. The downside is they are not cheap.
Quote:Anyone had any luck with some of the Grey’s offerings? A friend has a 3wt that has a pretty slow action and he said its great for monster bluegill!Quote:I have a 10ft 3wt Greys Streamflex that I use during the winter in the Smokies on the larger streams(which are still small by most peoples standards), mostly on Little River, Abrams, or in the Tellico area. I absolutely love it. Great, inexpensive choice and one of the best nymphing rods available. I use the fiberglass rods mentioned in my earlier post in the spring to early fall and on brookie streams.Been looking and looking! Called Steffen Bros and I dont think i would get the rod in time for my trip in April. Anyone had any luck with the Diamondback glass (the newer one not the one Douglas MC listed)? They have an 8′ 4wt i handled in a shop and its pretty nice. Thanks for all the great feedback again. I have been on ebay everyday to see if i can find a decent deal. 🙂
If you’re not familiar with the Scott 6’10” 3 weight ‘G’ you should be. It’s a legendary small stream rod. They aren’t made any more and for what reason is beyond me. For a while you could still get them through special arrangement between Scott through Harry Murray in VA but the last I looked he didn’t have them any longer. This truly is the the bomb for tight spaces. It has just enough starch to stretch a cast if needed but adds a lot to catching and fighting those small brookies.
I won’t be doing any small stream rock hopping in the future and so will sell it. It is an original from Scott and not a Murray special. It’s sell that or a Winston 8′ 3 weight BIIt. I for sure won’t need both.I love the Scotts, particularly the G series.
My favourite is the 8’8″ 3wt. Its good for nymphing and putting out some dries.I happen to have a 3wt Scott G series which I’m looking to sell.
Details here – http://www.itinerantangler.com/cgi-bin/board/YaBB.pl?num=1329462089I originally bought a 7’6″ 4wt St. Croix for the Smokies and that continued to be my small stream rod when I moved west. A little over a year ago I got a TFO 8′ 2wt and I haven’t touched my 4wt since. I love the lighter weight rod. Last week I was throwing mini-buggers with it no problem. Great for dries too, and the 8′ gives a little bit better reach when nymphing. I’ll say one of the best things I did was put some Sharkskin line on it. The line is so fast, that I can keep my backcast in tight and do a double haul to get the fly out long distances when there isn’t much room to cast.
http://society6.com/grainfarmer Fly Fishing and Landscape open edition Photography prints.
http://grainfarmer.vsco.co/ iPhone photos
http://instagram.com/chad_simcox InstagramI’m relatively new to fiberglass, but have quickly found it to be superior over graphite when casting in tight quarters.
Just got back from Colorado where I fished a 12′ Tenkara rod for tailwater fish.
I can’t remember the last time casting was that much fun. I got loads of rainbows and one brown (some over 12″) on a tailwater tossing tandem midge rigs with a small thingamabobber.
That would be my new suggestion for small streams.
I’ll also say that in addition to using a “fast” line like Sharkskin, I over lined my rod by 1 wt. That seemed to help as well with being able to make quick casts in tight quarters. My style of casting has a lot to do with the line choice. I tend to cast fast and usually side armed. I don’t make beautiful slow loops, but I do get my fly where in needs to be.
http://society6.com/grainfarmer Fly Fishing and Landscape open edition Photography prints.
http://grainfarmer.vsco.co/ iPhone photos
http://instagram.com/chad_simcox Instagram
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