The current rod I am using for coarse species is a 5/6 wt, it is the only one I own. But I would like to get a lighter one ie a 3/4 wt, for roach and perch etc, as I feel My other rod is a bit to strong.
1) would I be able to roll cast with a lighter rod?

2)would a 3/4 wt be able to cope if there is a bit of wind?

3) Should I use a weight forward or double taper line?

I will be mainly using nymphs with and without beads or small lures.
Please help.

Hi Paul, 3/4 wt will cope fine in a bit of wind.
Roll casting does seem to get trickier the lighter the line you are using. I'm sure if you used a line with plenty of weight up the front then you could do it easier, but you wouldn't want a heavy front ended line for delicate presentations. Generally lighter rods are also shorter which again doesn't help a roll cast...you can't have everything.
I've found very little difference in wf or dt when down into the low number lines. DT gives you the option of changing the line round when it gets a bit battered, always used to be a selling point but not today?
I even cast small lures on my one wt when pushed...not ideal but when situations must.
Most rods will do a lot more than just their ideal " narrow performance window", just not as well as a tool designed specifically for that purpose.
I'd advise to get a lighter rod and not worry about any limitations...your heavy rod has limitations too...feels too chunky for the small stuff, right?
All the best.
Dee

Yes SkateboardDave you are right my heavier rod does feel to chunky for the smaller coarse fish, also I am worried about breaking off on the light lines and tiny flies I am using.
So yes I think I will go lighter!
This is a good website I found the other day.
www.247ff.com

Hi Paul,
5/6 weights are a bit overgunned for Roach, chub etc. I use a 2 weight (7 foot) and its a delight to use. I wouldn't worry about roll casting etc.

Hi Runer A 2wt ! I have never even seen one of those, what is the maximum breaking strain of tippet you could use?

Depends where I am fishing. I live in the Netherlands & fish only for coarse fish as there are no (natural) trout in the waters here. If I am fishing from a canal or dyke then I go down to 0.12 mm as I can bring in the fish to hand. Normally in the winter the fish move into the city canals from the larger shipping canals due to the warmer water & due to the uniqueness & challenges of urban fishing (hitting houses, garden fences etc & not to mention lifting the fish approximately 6 ft out of the water due to the canal walls) I usually use 0.16mm tippets. Using anything larger I find reduces the takes not to mention it also takes ages to sink. If you can afford flourocarbon then go for it.

Runer I to fish for coarse fish on the fly as there are very few trout waters were I live. The problem is were I live the land is very flat and the rivers are deep with a muddy bottom, so to are the drains. This is not good for trout although there are a few in the upper reaches of the river, they are hard to locate.
So if I cannot catch a trout I am more than happy to catch coarse on the fly, It is hard but enjoyable. A lot of people seem to do well fly fishing in the netherlands, from what I have read they seem to have it down to a fine art.
What are the best flies in you opinion?

I suspect if you used such light gear for the chub on my local river you'd lose a lot of gear!

Sunrider,

I do not know how large the Roach & chub in your local Loch grow to (perhaps larger than here in the Netherlands if all the fishing programs on the Discovery channel are anything to go by). The Roach & chub in the canals here grow to a a max of 30-40 cm and that can be easily be handled with a 2 weight no problems. The canals being canals means there is a lot of **** at the bottom ( from bikes, supermarket trolleys to baby daipers). If I get stuck in one of these then I'd rather break the tippet & lose the fly rather then try anything that might damage my rod. So in that aspect I might lose anywhere from 2-5 weighted nymphs + tippet change which for a days fishing I find acceptable.

Hi Paul,
Sorry didn't quite answer your fly question. Look at this site : http://www.247ff.com/artikel.php?recordid=136
I use a variation of whats indicated there & or GHRE's etc.

Rgds
Runer