Fly rod wt for river smallies

[ATbuckhunter]

What rod wt would you suggest for river smallies? Id also like to use the same setup for trout if that makes a difference. As you can probably tell Im just getting into fly fishing.

[virgil]

A fast action six weight is pretty versatile. Probably at least eight feet for bass flies.

[Pygmy]

A 5, 6 OR 7 Weight rod will do fine for river smallmouths..

 

I see no reason to go heavier..  Use your trout rod...

 

Hellgrammite  and crayfish patterns do well on a dead drift...

 

Most any substantial streamer pattern or a muddler will work cast across and down.

 

Popping bugs  or hair bug patterns work well on the surface.

[ATbuckhunter]

Thanks for the advise guys! Im leaning towards a 5 weight because its a little more delicate for trout and easier to learn with. Thanks for the advice on fly's as well. 

[grampy]

I just got started fly fishing three years ago, so my experience is limited. But my Orvis 5 wt. Works great for river smallies and spring trout. It handles great and it's what the Orvis guy's suggested for newbie's. Perhaps some day I might even get somewhat proficient at casting! But it is a lot of fun.

[stoneam2006]

I'm also a 5 wt user for smalls and Trout suckers or just about anything else that will bite locally...as said by pygmy streamers work well that's my go to

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[ATbuckhunter]

5wt it is then! Thank you so much for the advice guys. Ive always wanted to fly fish and going after smallies gives me a little more flexibility because I can get them between semesters

[stoneam2006]

It's a hell of a lot of fun too some of my favorite times on the stream is wet wading for smallies

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[ATbuckhunter]

It's a hell of a lot of fun too some of my favorite times on the stream is wet wading for smallies

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I've heard the fight is much better. I got a fly set up for salmon and steelhead that I plan on using in October.

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[Culvercreek hunt club]

5wt it is then! Thank you so much for the advice guys. Ive always wanted to fly fish and going after smallies gives me a little more flexibility because I can get them between semesters

If you are just getting started I would practice casting with no leader in the back yard for a bit. It will save you frustration on the water. If you are going 5 wt, I would suggest starting out with a 6 weight fly line. I think it is easier for beginners to "feel" what the rod is doing with one size up fly line. I would assume you are starting out with floating line. I would also suggest a weight forward or shooting taper. 

[stoneam2006]

The guy who taught me gave me an anology for casting.. lock your wrist and pretend your sliding your elbow across a table back and forth...seemed to help me...

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[turkeyfeathers]

Doesn't get much better than a river smallie on the fly rod !!!   Good luck !

[ATbuckhunter]

If you are just getting started I would practice casting with no leader in the back yard for a bit. It will save you frustration on the water. If you are going 5 wt, I would suggest starting out with a 6 weight fly line. I think it is easier for beginners to "feel" what the rod is doing with one size up fly line. I would assume you are starting out with floating line. I would also suggest a weight forward or shooting taper.

So far I was doing that with my 10 wt and I think I've gotten okay with casting just using running line. It took about half an hour for me to figure out how to lay down the line smoothly. More then likely I'll be using a wf line and I'll take your advise and use 6wt line.

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[Culvercreek hunt club]

The guy who taught me gave me an anology for casting.. lock your wrist and pretend your sliding your elbow across a table back and forth...seemed to help me...

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and accelerate on the forward stroke. Don't get caught up with how far and trying that really long cast. work towards that perfect "curl" of the line, even if it's only 40 feet. Distance will come on it's own. Part of what I like about stream fly fishing is the "stalking" component of it. Gettign close. laying the fly right where you want it and then the strike. 

[ATbuckhunter]

The guy who taught me gave me an anology for casting.. lock your wrist and pretend your sliding your elbow across a table back and forth...seemed to help me...

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I was given the analogy of pretending I was using a hammer and locking my wrist in a 10-2 motion.

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[ATbuckhunter]

and accelerate on the forward stroke. Don't get caught up with how far and trying that really long cast. work towards that perfect "curl" of the line, even if it's only 40 feet. Distance will come on it's own. Part of what I like about stream fly fishing is the "stalking" component of it. Gettign close. laying the fly right where you want it and then the strike.

I'll have to practice that some more for sure. Thanks for the advice

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[turkeyfeathers]

yes on the weight forward line

[Doewhacker]

Speaking from experience (unfortunately) be careful when landing them not to over bend the rod or you will break off a section of rod. I think Bass or Pan fishing in a nice open area is the best place to learn.

[ATbuckhunter]

Speaking from experience (unfortunately) be careful when landing them not to over bend the rod or you will break off a section of rod. I think Bass or Pan fishing in a nice open area is the best place to learn.

I already busted the top section of my fly rod testing it out...good thing I went with the one that had a great warranty

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[wdswtr]

Its all over for ya now, start hiding wads of cash for new rods.  The wifey ask me all the time why in the world I need so many fly rods.  I told her think golfing, theres a rod for every fish and water type like there is a club for every golf shot.  I have flyrods from weight 0 up to 12.  That 0 is a blast on little brookies in small streams but not easy to cast.  5 weight is the most versatile as they get.  Cheap rods and cheap line will lead to frustration if you find yourself next to a seasoned flyfisherman or try going from casting a high end rod then back to a cheapo.  Some good choices between middle of the road to high end, Sage, Temple Fork ( cant speak highly enough of the value behind these two rod brands), Thompson and Thompson, Albright, G Loomis etc.  The couple Orvis rods I have I do not like, more money than they are worth compared to say the Sage.  I personally like Double Taper lines better than traditional weight forward.  They also last twice as long as you can reverse the line on the reel when one end is at the end of its life.   Temple Fork Outfitters Rods, you will be hard pressed to find a better warranty and company to deal with.  Prices are a great for what you get.  I bought a new Temple fork 3 weight for a a trip for some rainbows, I did the ultimate no no ever, slammed the tip in the truck door a few days before I was leaving for the trip.  Called TF in Texas and shipped the rod over night.  I expected it would take some time to match up a new Tip section and was a little bummed, however the guy on the phone said give me the name and address of the place your staying and we will overnight it back to that address.  When I checked in the Hotel the receptionist handed me a package with my Rod in it.  Never got charged for return shipping or the repair.  I have to send a Sage 5 weight back to get repaired after stripping streamers on the boat for night walleyes, guess that last one was a bit much for that weight rod lol.  sage warranty is a bit different than Temple Fork though.  Its all about the serial number stamped on the rod.  Happy flyfishing, like in the movie The River Runs Through it your gonna look at the guys with the coffee cans of worms and get a chuckle.

Edited July 21, 2016 by wdswtr

[wdswtr]

Oh and the 10 and 2 cast is just the beginning, there is a whole load of cast for every situation.  Learning to mend and a getting drag free drifts will up your game drastically. A good fly shop will spend time with you and teach you the basics and most of them have courses from beginner to advanced.   

[stoneam2006]

Another thing is go to "the fly shop" website and sign up for there free catalog it's outta cali but there are 1000s of flies rods and other stuff in it along with stories and pictures. I use it to tie flies with by a pic example. Good magazine for free

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[ATbuckhunter]

Its all over for ya now, start hiding wads of cash for new rods.  The wifey ask me all the time why in the world I need so many fly rods.  I told her think golfing, theres a rod for every fish and water type like there is a club for every golf shot.  I have flyrods from weight 0 up to 12.  That 0 is a blast on little brookies in small streams but not easy to cast.  5 weight is the most versatile as they get.  Cheap rods and cheap line will lead to frustration if you find yourself next to a seasoned flyfisherman or try going from casting a high end rod then back to a cheapo.  Some good choices between middle of the road to high end, Sage, Temple Fork ( cant speak highly enough of the value behind these two rod brands), Thompson and Thompson, Albright, G Loomis etc.  The couple Orvis rods I have I do not like, more money than they are worth compared to say the Sage.  I personally like Double Taper lines better than traditional weight forward.  They also last twice as long as you can reverse the line on the reel when one end is at the end of its life.   Temple Fork Outfitters Rods, you will be hard pressed to find a better warranty and company to deal with.  Prices are a great for what you get.  I bought a new Temple fork 3 weight for a a trip for some rainbows, I did the ultimate no no ever, slammed the tip in the truck door a few days before I was leaving for the trip.  Called TF in Texas and shipped the rod over night.  I expected it would take some time to match up a new Tip section and was a little bummed, however the guy on the phone said give me the name and address of the place your staying and we will overnight it back to that address.  When I checked in the Hotel the receptionist handed me a package with my Rod in it.  Never got charged for return shipping or the repair.  I have to send a Sage 5 weight back to get repaired after stripping streamers on the boat for night walleyes, guess that last one was a bit much for that weight rod lol.  sage warranty is a bit different than Temple Fork though.  Its all about the serial number stamped on the rod.  Happy flyfishing, like in the movie The River Runs Through it your gonna look at the guys with the coffee cans of worms and get a chuckle.

Ill be sure to check out sage and temple fork rods. My issue is im on a college budget, so spending 400 bucks on just the rod is a little expensive for me right now. Funny you mention a river runs through it...its one of the reasons I became so interested in fly fishing. 

[ATbuckhunter]

Oh and the 10 and 2 cast is just the beginning, there is a whole load of cast for every situation.  Learning to mend and a getting drag free drifts will up your game drastically. A good fly shop will spend time with you and teach you the basics and most of them have courses from beginner to advanced.   

I started to realize that when i was practicing as well. 

[ATbuckhunter]

Another thing is go to "the fly shop" website and sign up for there free catalog it's outta cali but there are 1000s of flies rods and other stuff in it along with stories and pictures. I use it to tie flies with by a pic example. Good magazine for free

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Will do! Thanks