7'6 Rod
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k-bob
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As for fast versus slow rods in short casts on brookie streams: most fly rods are made for conventional length casts... So a 2 weight fly rod is made to cast about 40 feet of two weight line, because that is what most fly fisherman do. Some slow action rods, including lower line weight models of the Orvis super fine, are designed for small stream fishing and optimized for casting only about 20 feet of line. That is good for small stream fishing
If you put a 3 wght line on a fast 2 wght fly rod, it may cast better at short range , because 25 feet of 3 wght line may weigh about as much as 40 feet of 2 weight line.
With some experimentation you can use the fast action rod to cast at short distances... And I prefer fast action rods on a really tight overgrown stream....
I actually tried a slower action rod yesterday on a tiny overgrown stream and I did not like it as much for sidearm zinging flies in under branches
Everyone's mileage may vary due to casting stroke etc
If you put a 3 wght line on a fast 2 wght fly rod, it may cast better at short range , because 25 feet of 3 wght line may weigh about as much as 40 feet of 2 weight line.
With some experimentation you can use the fast action rod to cast at short distances... And I prefer fast action rods on a really tight overgrown stream....
I actually tried a slower action rod yesterday on a tiny overgrown stream and I did not like it as much for sidearm zinging flies in under branches
Everyone's mileage may vary due to casting stroke etc
Chaz
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I have rod, it's an IM6 Loomis rod that I built. I don't use it to much any more because I have another 7'6" 4 weight rod I use. PM me and we'll negotiate.
It is an excellent rod for small to medium sized streams, and it casts weighted flies especially well. I have used on the LL quite a bit, and for my money it is a perfect rod for any stream up to the size of the LL, which I consider to be a medium size stream, bigger than Valley, but not as big as Big Spring where I've also used it.
As for what to get, I use my 7'6" 4 weight on streams that have 50 and 60 foot long pools, like Cedar and Slate Runs and it's fine for casting on those streams, I can get out between 60 and 70 feet, even with the slower rod. I don't usually buy into over-lining a rod especially on small streams, any stream from Slate Run down to 10 foot wide stream, if you have good rod, you don't need to, it just confuses the issues. This rod lso casts well in short distances.
So, want do you want, a rod that will allow you to pick up and cast the line without endless backcasting, backasting just spooks fish needlessly. You want a rd that will pick up line with little effort. Most of ll you want to be able to horse in fish so that you don't stress them needlessly.
It is an excellent rod for small to medium sized streams, and it casts weighted flies especially well. I have used on the LL quite a bit, and for my money it is a perfect rod for any stream up to the size of the LL, which I consider to be a medium size stream, bigger than Valley, but not as big as Big Spring where I've also used it.
As for what to get, I use my 7'6" 4 weight on streams that have 50 and 60 foot long pools, like Cedar and Slate Runs and it's fine for casting on those streams, I can get out between 60 and 70 feet, even with the slower rod. I don't usually buy into over-lining a rod especially on small streams, any stream from Slate Run down to 10 foot wide stream, if you have good rod, you don't need to, it just confuses the issues. This rod lso casts well in short distances.
So, want do you want, a rod that will allow you to pick up and cast the line without endless backcasting, backasting just spooks fish needlessly. You want a rd that will pick up line with little effort. Most of ll you want to be able to horse in fish so that you don't stress them needlessly.
djs12354
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Stagger
I bought the LL Bean Quest 7' 6" 4 weight outfit and am very happy with it. It's too bad you weren't at the LL Friday. I had it with me and you would have been able to try it.
You may want to take a ride over to the store and try a few casts with one.
I bought the LL Bean Quest 7' 6" 4 weight outfit and am very happy with it. It's too bad you weren't at the LL Friday. I had it with me and you would have been able to try it.
You may want to take a ride over to the store and try a few casts with one.
pcray1231
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I'm not sure on that one, honestly. I've seen it go both ways. But there are very clearly differences between rods. And other than length, I haven't put my finger on the factors.
It'd be a very interesting experiment. Bow and arrow casting is a good topic for experiment, as it takes the skill of the caster pretty much out of the equation. You are either proficient or not proficient, but once you can do it you can't do it any better. It's all in the rod. All you're doing is pulling back and releasing.
I have no issues controlling a bow and arrow with any rod. Accuracy isn't an issue. It goes where you point it. Differences are all in how far it goes, and how tight the loop it's throwing is. It's all about how efficiently the energy transfers.
FWIW, I once did a small scale test with 9 footers. Loomis GL3 vs. Orvis Superfine vs. Sage Z-axis. The Loomis was the best, a medium fast action rod. The Superfine was the worst, a slow action. But the Z-axis lost to the Loomis despite being faster.
I'm not convinced it is the "speed" of the rod that has much to do with it. I think it's more likely that you want a very smooth progression, which can be achieved in fast or slow actions. A really soft tip with a fairly rapid, parabolic taper. The z-axis likely lost to the Loomis because of too stiff a tip, it's fast through and through. The Orvis likely lost for the opposite reason, it's slow through and through. But the Loomis, with a fairly soft tip which stiffens quickly, is probably the ticket. There's plenty of rods which follow the same concept, so I'm not saying Loomis is unbeatable or anything. But that's just my preliminary hypothesis, soft tip progressing to a stout backbone. I'd love to do some testing with a dozen or more rods, all equal lengths.
And of course this would apply ONLY to bow and arrow casts. Traditional casting is a different ballgame.
Stagger_Lee
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Went to Cabela's this AM and handled some rods. I'm leaning towards this ..
Cabelas LSi
I love their 25 year warranty and anything with their name on it I have returned/exchanged no problem even w/out receipt. $179 retail on sale for $129. Dude said it is medium+ action .. Good?
Thinking of putting this reel on it as their combo (get Fly line and backing)
Cabelas Prestige Premier
Think a few of you mentioned this rod but any opinions (and/or the reel) are welcomed. Thanks for the info in this thread .. helped me with many questions.
Cabelas LSi
I love their 25 year warranty and anything with their name on it I have returned/exchanged no problem even w/out receipt. $179 retail on sale for $129. Dude said it is medium+ action .. Good?
Thinking of putting this reel on it as their combo (get Fly line and backing)
Cabelas Prestige Premier
Think a few of you mentioned this rod but any opinions (and/or the reel) are welcomed. Thanks for the info in this thread .. helped me with many questions.
wgmiller
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I have that LSi rod in a 7'6" 4wt and love it. I'd say that it is one of my "go to" rods and I fish it as much as I do my 9' 5wt. I have an Allen "Trout 3/5" reel on my 4wt and it balances very nicely.
I think you'd be happy with that rod and as you mentioned, the warranty is solid. For the money, it's a pretty good option.
I think you'd be happy with that rod and as you mentioned, the warranty is solid. For the money, it's a pretty good option.
Stagger_Lee
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wgmiller .. my only rod I have is the same in a 9' 6 weight and I'm happy with it tho I am to inexperienced to really tell the difference excluding weight and loading. I handled a few others but there was no way for me to cast them. Kinda leaves me at a disadvantage on testing any out so I am going with the info and recommendations I received in this thread to go along with how much i want to $pend.
Do other shops rig up rods so you can actually cast and feel them out?
Do other shops rig up rods so you can actually cast and feel them out?
wgmiller
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I think most shops would be willing to rig up a rod to let the customer take it for a "test spin". I know you can do this at Bass Pro in Harrisburg, so I'm sure smaller shops wouldn't have a problem with it.
For the most part, I use my 7'6" 4wt on smaller streams where the 9' 5wt would be more of a hassle to cast and navigate with. Still enough backbone to lay out a cast, yet small enough to work through the brush with.
For the most part, I use my 7'6" 4wt on smaller streams where the 9' 5wt would be more of a hassle to cast and navigate with. Still enough backbone to lay out a cast, yet small enough to work through the brush with.
Heritage-Angler
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Stagger - Cabelas will let you test cast rods. Just ask....
Stagger_Lee
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It was raining out but it looks like I should've opened my big piehole
jbomb
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I have a one of the cabela's prestige rods (7'6" 4wt) from a couple years ago. I got it as a gift and I love it.
I'm also a bit inexperienced, but I really like it for casting dries. Casting buggers or anything with more weight is a bit of a challenge for me, but I gather that's just the way it is.
That being said, I recently got a TFO 8' 4wt which can handle the bigger flies better without sacrificing much if anything (as far as i can tell) with the smaller flies. I also find it a lot easier to roll cast.
I'm also a bit inexperienced, but I really like it for casting dries. Casting buggers or anything with more weight is a bit of a challenge for me, but I gather that's just the way it is.
That being said, I recently got a TFO 8' 4wt which can handle the bigger flies better without sacrificing much if anything (as far as i can tell) with the smaller flies. I also find it a lot easier to roll cast.
Stagger_Lee
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Went with the TFO 7'9 and went out with it for the first time yesterday ... love it. Smooth as silk and I was actually more accurate ysterday on my casts as I felt like a different FF'r and definitely a fan. Big difference in overall feel than my 8'6 Cabellas rod but maybe thats just me. Will be using this rod often.
Thanks again to all the info provided in this thread .. it guided me ;-)
Thanks again to all the info provided in this thread .. it guided me ;-)
pcray1231
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All rods have a different feel. All unique and good in their own way...
Stagger_Lee
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You guys would know better then I. the only other rod I own is my 8'6 Cabellas LSI and the feel is night and day. Maybe its the reel or something but I felt like a different FF'er on the water yesterday when it comes to casting. Maybe I had some special mojo for the day ;-)
pcray1231
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Yes, but there is some situation somewhere where the LSI is going to feel better too. Every rod has a niche. You just gotta find it.
That's why you can never own too many rods. 🙂
That's why you can never own too many rods. 🙂
Stagger,
Some rods work/feel better for certain casters. Matching the rod to the angler is what it's all about. I've seen "aggressive" (for lack of a better word) casters with a very sharp speed-up and stop and a short, quick stroke absolutely hate a full flex rod, and yet when you put a tip flex in their hands, their casting improves and they are really happy with that rod.
The same thing can be said for a caster that is not "aggressive" and has a slower casting stroke - the full flex works best. Most anglers fall somewhere in between those two extremes.
At some point, with experience, you actually can get a feel for an individual rod and adjust your casting stroke to make any rod work for you. Thus you are able to use different rods for different fishing situations.
Going with a rod that matches their natural casting style most often pleases an angler. Apparently, that rod does just that for you. Good stuff.....you're on your way! It looks like the time Heritage Ed and Foxie spent with you paid off.
Some rods work/feel better for certain casters. Matching the rod to the angler is what it's all about. I've seen "aggressive" (for lack of a better word) casters with a very sharp speed-up and stop and a short, quick stroke absolutely hate a full flex rod, and yet when you put a tip flex in their hands, their casting improves and they are really happy with that rod.
The same thing can be said for a caster that is not "aggressive" and has a slower casting stroke - the full flex works best. Most anglers fall somewhere in between those two extremes.
At some point, with experience, you actually can get a feel for an individual rod and adjust your casting stroke to make any rod work for you. Thus you are able to use different rods for different fishing situations.
Going with a rod that matches their natural casting style most often pleases an angler. Apparently, that rod does just that for you. Good stuff.....you're on your way! It looks like the time Heritage Ed and Foxie spent with you paid off.
JakesLeakyWaders
Active member
Stagger,
being a 7'9" Tfo, I assume you have either the 3 or 4 weight Lefty Kreh finesse series.
I have both the 7'9" #4 and the 7'3" #2. The finesse rods have a fairly slow action almost like a fiberglass rod.
My 4 weight Tfo was my go to rod for several years and I've fished it on everything from small trickles on up to the Susquehanna for bass. I've broken and repaired two guides on it and recently broke the tip. I've really been hard on my equipment the last few years. Think it's time to send it to TfO for a replacement. It really was my favorite rod. Just really like that smooth slower action.
being a 7'9" Tfo, I assume you have either the 3 or 4 weight Lefty Kreh finesse series.
I have both the 7'9" #4 and the 7'3" #2. The finesse rods have a fairly slow action almost like a fiberglass rod.
My 4 weight Tfo was my go to rod for several years and I've fished it on everything from small trickles on up to the Susquehanna for bass. I've broken and repaired two guides on it and recently broke the tip. I've really been hard on my equipment the last few years. Think it's time to send it to TfO for a replacement. It really was my favorite rod. Just really like that smooth slower action.
