Personal Preference Question

[Jason Renfro]

Hi Guys,

I recently had a conversation with a friend and long time angler regarding fly rod preference. The preference being discussed was that of preferred action for a general purpose trout rod. I’m not looking to start a debate of one manufacturer vs. the other. In fact, I’d actually love to hear opinions without necessarily naming the maker or model at all.

What do you guys prefer for your personal fishing and why? I know this can be a loaded question should someone exclusively chuck big streamers, use heavy sinking lines, etc. But for ease, lets assume it is for general purpose trout angling.

So, are you a fan of very high performance fast action fly rods? Do you prefer more full flexing profiles? Medium-fast, etc.? Is your preference driven solely by its function as a tool or is more nuanced? What role does emotion or aesthetic play in your choice?

My questions are solely driven by curiosity. I have no financial skin in the game here, I’m just interested in what other folks think. Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Best,

Jason

[Mike Cline]

I own too many different styles of rods to give an answer here that makes any sense. Your First Fly Rod-Don’t Ask Me The soft glass and graphite rods are gems on small waters, especially on windless days, but on big water like we have out here in SW Montana, distance and accuracy in often less than calm conditions is paramount. Although I fish most of my rods at least once every couple of years, the one/two combo that is with me the most with my kayak on the Yellowstone, Madison, Big Hole, Missouri and other is this: one of a 5 wgt (XP), 6 wgt (Radian) or 7 wgt (XP) with 150/200/200 grain sink tips respectively and a 4 wgt superfine trout bum tip flex with floating line. The sink tips are superb for long-range accuracy and depth with un-weighted streamers while the 4 wgt is somewhat an all-purpose rod for hoppers, dries and the occasional nymphing. My rod choices are definitely influenced by my need for depth. Hey Buddy Your Fly is Down

Strategy without Tactics is a Slow Route to Victory, Tactics without Strategy is the Noise Before Defeat - Sun Tzu

[Jason Renfro]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the reply. It sounds like the 5, 6 and 7 weights referenced serve as specific set ups for given sink tips and the 4 weight is sort of your general purpose floating line choice. Would you call the action on your 4 weight fast, medium-fast, etc.? Do you prefer quicker action or more deep loading for floating line work? Thanks Mike.

[Mike Cline]

The 4 wgt in question is an Orvis tip-flex action which in their language is a fast action rod. Slower rods are a lot of fun to fish and I use mine regularly, but really suck in the wind. I bought this particular 4 wgt primarily to fish small buggers and soft hackles on the Firehole and a few other local streams where wind is more common than not. I’ve showed up one too many times at the river with a nice glass 3-4 wgt, only to be confronted with a wind that made casting a chore. The tip-flex is insurance against the wind and will cast light flies a long distance with accuracy on bigger water.

Strategy without Tactics is a Slow Route to Victory, Tactics without Strategy is the Noise Before Defeat - Sun Tzu

[texmontana]

I prefer to fish as slow as I can get away with. My preference for this is stronger than my desire to fish windy conditions. I also fish a size lighter than most. If everyone is fishing a 5 I fish a 4 weight.

[Jason Renfro]

Hi Texmontana,

Interesting. Thanks for your feedback!

[meaton]

Hi Jason,
I’m finding that my tastes have definitely changed. Up until the last couple years I have been a big proponent of fast action rods, my favorite trout rod being a very fast action 4 wt. It casts a mile, wind or no wind, has plenty of backbone and generally fishes really well. Recently I had the chance to fish the Scott g2 for trout and I am sold, Scott calls it a medium flex with a medium-fast recovery, and I would choose a rod with a similar profile for my next trout rod. I don’t want to sound like an advertisement for Scott, but that G2 is awesome, very forgiving when casting, enough backbone to cut through wind when you need to, soft enough to present dry flies perfectly, very easy to load for roll casting, I was blown away. I was trying not to name names (in terms of manufacturer and model), but I haven’t felt another rod like it and I’m not sure if the medium flex with med-fast recovery is different from other medium rods. I definitely like a stiffer stick for chucking streamers for trout, something fast or very fast in a 5 or 6 wt that’s at least 9.5-10 ft, but I think I’m going to switch to a slightly slower rod for everyday trout fishing (nymphing, dry-dropping and dry flies).

I do have to caveat this by saying that my wife has co-opted my fast action 4 wt so I haven’t really been able to fish that for the last couple years. Still that G2 rules.

Mike

[Jason Renfro]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your feedback. I share your affection for the G2. What would you attribute your change in taste to? Progression of personal preference? Was it driven by enjoyment alone or by the type of fishing you enjoy?

Jason

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