St. Croix Avid Series Fly Rods

[3wt7X]

I recently purchased a two piece 9' St. Croix Avid series rod. It is a 6wt and I have been very happy with its performance. It handles medium sized streamers and large fish very well and it is still delicate enough to present smaller dry flies. I also enjoy having a 9' rod because it picks up a lot of fly line when I am high stick nymphing. I was considering upgrading my 3wt fly rod to the Avid series. Does anyone have any experience with the Avid 3wt? I can't imagine that it performs badly, but any input would be appreciated. I currently have a TFO Lefty Kreh series 7' 3wt. which I've enjoyed, but it does not cast nearly as nice as my Avid. Thanks again for any input.

 

[dryflyguy]

I have 6' 3 wgt avid that I use for small stream fishing. It's nice - but I'm not sure how critical the action would be on any rod of such a short length.
I also havent really used it a whole lot, preferring to fish larger streams.
But it does seem like a great little rod for the very reasonable cost

 

[chstrcntyfish]

I have an avid 7' 3wt. and I like it alot. I bought it during the summer and used it to fish tricos on the lower Tully and it had enough power to throw a decent amount of line and was really nice for fishing small flies. It really performs well fishing small streams. I used in the summer to fish dries on valley creek and it is really nice for presenting dry flies.

 

[Woolybugger]

Two summers ago, Avid changed it's color a little bit. At Cabelas in Hamburg, PA they had a half price sale to get rid of the older style rods.
I picked up a 8' 3wt 2pc for $80! ........ I don't think they make them any more.
It's a wonderful rod. Med-fast action.
It's great for small streams.

 

[MKern]

Avids ar ethe best bang for the buck I think!
I have 3.
They hold up so well in the cold, especially when other rods would snap like twigs.

 

[3wt7X]

I think that you guys have convinced me. My next fly rod purchase will definately be the Avid 3wt. I am still debating on the length. A 7' foot would probably be the best choice for the medium to smaller sized streams such as Spring Cr. and Falling Springs and some of the native streams that I enjoy to fish. I appreciate all the responses and good luck to those who make it out on the water in the near future.

 

[fid17]

I've also been trying to decide what my next rod will be. I currently use a 9', 5wt Avid that I love but need a smaller rod for some of the streams I fish. I've been thinking about a 6 or 7' 3wt but I'm not sure if it will have the backbone for the some of the 15-16" brownies I run into. Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[riz]

i have a 6' 3wt i used a lot last season and loved it.i threw dries with ease as well at weighted nymphs, even in tandem, and the rod performed great. however, throwing the tandem nyphms was pushing it when throwing out to 30'+. i caught several 14" - 16" fish with no problems. i was casting to 50' with the dries, easily. the 3wt is a great rod and i highly recommend you take a look at it. it's not a fast rod, it's more on the med side of med/fast, with a nice smooth action. great bargin.

 

[fid17]

Riz, I throw a lot of woolly buggers as well as tandem rigs. Did you cast any weighted or unweighted buggers and how does it do? Thanks.

 

[riz]

have not used this rod to throw buggers or streamers. i like a longer rod when doing this. but from my feel with the tandems, i would not think it would be too hard to throw a weighted bugger 30' or so.

 

[fid17]

Thanks Riz