Rod for Spring Creek

[fcarp]

Which 10’ 4 wt rods are people using on Spring Creek? I’ve cast a few and always thought they did better from 40’+ versus < 40’ (majority of my casts on Spring creek). I do like the added length.

I’m referring to using fly line, not mono rig. Obviously a lot of personal preference here.

Interested in this answer too as I agree with this. Most 10’ 4wts I’ve used felt more like 5wts and are much heavier than what I like for most of the fishing I do on spring (and other similar sized creeks)

 

[troutbert]

I use an 8 1/2 ft 5 weight on Spring Creek. For dries, nymphs, and streamers. It's a very versatile rod.

For bigger water, like the Delaware River and Little Juniata Rive and Pine Creek, a 9 ft 5 weight is probably more practical. And still works fine on Spring Creek.

Regarding 10 foot and up rods, do you want to cast or REACH?

 

[Mikey2006]

Never fished Spring, but on water that’s anything bigger than 20ft wide I like a simple 9’ 5wt, especially on bigger rivers, because it can do anything you want it too. I’ve went from throwing size 18 dries to 5 inch streamers in the same day on the same rod. I like a good all around setup that is versatile enough to do just about anything, I try I avoid having to carry two rods with me whenever possible. Sure it's nice to have a ton of rods specifically suited for specific situations, but unless you can and want to spend a fortune I think its best to have a rod you can fish literally anywhere especially when just starting out.

Take everything I just said with a grain of salt, id still consider myself a beginner in many aspects of fly fishing, but I think my opinion is held by others as well.

Edit: I didn't catch the part where you said you already had a 6wt. Maybe a lighter second rod would make more sense

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

I haven't ever been to Spring Creek, but I go to Pine and Little Pine at least once/year. For many, many years, a 9' 5 weight has met all tasks for "bigger water" (like Pine) and an 8'6" 5 weight works for "typical water" (thinking Yellow Breeches, Little Pine, Loyalhanna, etc.). I've only recently started updating those rods (past 3 or 4 years), but I don't consider my new rigs to be groundbreaking tech or anything like that... Just rods built on medium-fast graphite blanks. Instead of going to 10' rods, I've gone smaller... 7-8' 3 weight or 6'6" 2 weight... for water I consider to be "small" like Manada, Indiantown Run, Slate Run, Clarks, etc.

 

[joebamboo]

Orivs 10' 4wt or 3wt Clearwater is a great rod for the price!

 

[scottywest6]

Assuming you're steering clear of Euro nymphing (which I would HIGHLY recommend for a stream like Spring Creek) in favor of a a more traditional rig it would be hard to go wrong with the 1st iteration of the Winston Pure series in the 8' 4 weight configuration. It has the backbone to throw a modest indicator or hopper/dropper rig while still having that classic Winston "green stick" feel for dry fly work. A great all around performer here's a good review from a few years back from the folks out at Yellowstone Anglers but keep in mind you'll have to search it out in the used market as Winston has since moved on to the Pure2 line of rods but this fact means you'll get this rod at a fraction of it's original retail cost as a result:

R. L. Winston Pure 8'#4

Our renown Yellowstone Angler "shootouts" directly compare similar fly rods against each other. See how we've ranked today's most popular fly rods.

www.yellowstoneangler.com

 

[ROVERT]

Creeks the size of Spring are pretty easy for me to chose a rod. 8'6" or 9' 4wt.

Unless you want to get into the Euro game, this is really a no brainer when you already have a 9' 6wt.

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

i don't fish with heavy weight, i don't fish big streamers. there's not a stream or creek in this state i wouldn't use an 8' 4wt on.

 

[dudemanspecial]

There isn't a stream or creek in the state that I couldn't fish with a 9' 7w. There are no rules, just preference.

 

[lycoflyfisher]

Outside of very small streams, I have trout fished almost exclusively with a 9' 4wt. I never felt under gunned, even outwest.

Recently picked up a 10' 4wt douglas sky. Its set up with a monorig, but I have no trouble cssting dryflies to 30, 35 ft. Likely farther, but havent tested it yet to that extent.

 

[MJMFlyfisher]

I've been fishing Spring Creek for over 30 years and I have been reaching for a 9' #4 pretty much everytime since day one.
Winston IM6, Sage LL, SP, XP, Z-Axis, type of stuff......
It's pretty much the perfect stick for that size water and fish.
In fact my LL is in the back of the truck right now.

Lately I've actually been using a 10' #2 Diamondback "Ideal Nymph" just to see what the hype is on longer rods for the same tightline style nymphing I've always done. I'm not technically euro-nymphing with it, but I have to say it's the Cat's meow!
Still throws a beautiful dry with a conventional fly line and I was amazed at how much I liked it nymphing. And it fights fish and protects tippets wonderfully.
Old dogs can learn new tricks. 😉
I will still continue to use the old school 9' footers especially for primary dry fly work ....but I've even added an 11' #3 Cortland for bigger water nymphing and a 9'9" #4 Hardy for all around bigger water work, and I'm enjoying those very much as well.