{Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: TPFR - Help me pick out my next fly rod!

Agree with the fast action preference (especially since it sounds like small stream bass and bluegills are also a target) and that there is no need for shorter than 7'6".  I grew up fishing some TINY, extremely brushy trout streams in SE PA where larger streams all get too warm for wild trout (with a few notable exceptions). I had a 7'6" 5 wt and often wished I had a longer rod to drop flies around logs and bushes.  There are few situations on a trout stream where a bow and arrow, sidearm, or roll cast won't get the job done - it pays to develop skill with those techniques rather than spend more money on a specialty super short rod.  Which is not to say those who enjoy using short rods can't also do all of the above, but I tend to view those rods as a toy that I haven't found a need for yet in 8 years of small stream obsession-level fishing.  

In my opinion SNP brookie streams are wide open casting compared to where I used to fish.  And on smaller bass/panfish creeks, you'll probably have even more space than a trout stream, so a somewhat longer fast action 4 wt is a good fit there.

On Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 5:12:55 PM UTC-5, Misha Gill wrote:

I may be in the minority when I say that I prefer a fast action small stream rod (I have a 7'6" 3 wt), but here's my $0.02:

1) Bow and arrow casts are more accurate and the rebound of the rod does not tend to smack the ground as much. Accuracy is the more important consideration, but it is kind of disconcerting hitting your rod tip on rocks.

2) A fast action rod helps cast small streamers. Some days that's what the fish want. I have fished a kreelex on the Savage with my rod, and only really suffer a disadvantage at really long range, (for a streamer that would be 40'+) but that's too far out to be fishing a streamer for trout on the east coast anyways.

I've never felt the need for anything shorter than 7'6". I think it's a perfect length. If I had my druthers I would own a high end Orvis, Winston, Sage, what have you, in 7'6" 3wt but I have a Redington Path and I love it (Thanks Richie!). 

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