Hi guys

I started fly fishing about 18 months ago and after seeking some good advice on here, I bought myself a Greys GRXi 7/8 rod.

This has served me well over the last year but I'm now looking at getting myself a 6 weight rod.

This is for 2 reasons: firstly with a little bit experience behind me, I now realise that the 7/8 is a little bit overkill for most of the places I fish.

Secondly, although the GRXi is fine, I personally find the action quite stiff and would like a rod with a slightly softer action.

I notice that Glasgow Angling Centre have the Greys G-Tec 6w at £125.00 (RRP: £289.99) at the moment, which seems a good deal.

I'm probably looking to spend between £250-£400 for rod, reel and floating line. But it's the rod I'm really looking for advice on.

I'm also going to be looking to try some out before I buy obviously, (something i didn't do with my first rod... mistake) but living in South East London there aren't many places where I can actually do this.
The very helpful owner of the Friendly Fisherman in Tunbridge Wells has said that i can try out a few in the alley out the back of his shop!
So I'll be taking him up on that.

So I'm basically looking for any advice from you lot who have a wealth of experience behind you.
I'm sure everyone will have very different views but even if I ended up with 4 popular suggestions, this would narrow things down a bit for me.

Also if anyone knows of a shop or water that has a wide selection of rods and somewhere to test them, it would be great to know.
(I live in Blackheath and would be happy to drive for an hour or so)


Thanks in advance.

Dan

__________________
In a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing things they hate,
My fishing is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion.

Best place for you is:- Sportfish - Fly Fishing Tackle and Fly Fishing Equipment

It's handy for you, near Reading

Hi, If your interested in a fast action rod, then speak to Steve Parkes at zenithflyrods.co.uk or you could click on the banner. A descent rod for your money.

Regards

Stuart

I think the Sportfish steer is a good one.

Sage Fli/ Flight are good faster action rods, from my experience of fishing mainly with a Fli 9ft 5 wt. You can really feel the rod loading and this helps with timing of forward casts no end.

What sort of fishing do you mainly do? I find my 5wt is perfect for small stillwater rainbows, dry/ wet/ nymph. It can cope with some reasonably big lures, too. Start from there and work back to make sure a 6 wt is really what you need - what are you going to fish for, where, and how?

Hope this helps.

Hi

I generally fish quite small stillwaters and use nymphs and dries, I very rarely if ever use lures.
The biggest waters I ever fish are Bewl and Powdermills reservoirs in East Sussex but I can always use my 7/8 weight when fishing there if need be.

I've tried my dad's 6w (a very cheap rod and reel set he bought from Bewl) and just couldn't believe how nice and easy to cast it felt.
After a day using my 7/8 my arm is pretty tired.
Plus the line just floated down on to the water so much more delicately.
Was a real a eye opener.

I think I'll try a few 5w rods as well then, thanks for the advice.

Dan

---------- Post added at 08:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:08 AM ----------

Thanks for that, Reading can be a fair bit of a drive for me (due to M25 traffic) but could be worth the effort.

---------- Post added at 08:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:11 AM ----------

Hi

Thanks for that, just had a look at the website and looks very interesting.
Especially the option to have a test rod posted to you for a trail.
Might well give that a go, as ideally I'd love to spend a day actually fishing with the rod rather than just having a few casts.

__________________
In a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing things they hate,
My fishing is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion.

There's your answer. Cheaper rods tend to be a bit floppier, a bit softer, a bit more forgiving. They won't cast as far as super-duper high modulus fast-action rods, but until (and unless) you become more interested in casting than fishing, they'll do the job - very often better than the posh ones. Apart from a few high-end eccentricities, you won't find many serviceable glass rods about these days, which is a shame as they are nicer to cast with over short to medium distances.

I've used a few Greys rods (my own and those of friends) and found they are all a bit stiff and usually under-rated for the line size. I've sold mine now and wouldn't buy another. Unfortunately, owing to a complete disillusionment with the current fly rod market I can't suggest a suitable make/model. The Wychwood Truefly seems quite nice and forgiving, though the finish leaves a lot to be desired.

I would stick with a nine foot six weight as your target size though; five weights are all well and good once you get proficient (and it seems quite the fashion these days to go light), but they can be a struggle in windy conditions. No point ruling out your new rod for Bewl if that's where you fish, or you may as well stick with the 7/8 you already have (and struggle with). Unless it's really howling, a six weight is about perfect for Bewl; heavy enough to throw a big nymph/small lure into a wind, but delicate enough to fish buzzers and dries.

Where you fish and why you therefore need a 6wt rod may seem a bit obvious to you but if you point us in the right direction we will help you

Have one in the "Princess of Wales" for me!

__________________
an interesting mix of apathy and panic

Clive M

One more thing... this perfectly describes what I am looking for.
I don't really feel my current rod 'loading', so I find myself looking over my shoulder a bit when casting.

Whereas when I've had a few casts with my dad's 6w I could clearly feel the rod loading.
I did actually find his rod a bit too soft to be honest but it was an improvement on mine.

__________________
In a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing things they hate,
My fishing is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion.

Thanks everyone, that's all very insightful.

I rarely fish Bewl to be honest.
90% of my fishing is done at places like Lakedown or Powdermills.
With a very occasional trip to a Bewl or Lyn Brenig type of water.

I do think a 6wt might be the way to go.
My girlfriend had a lesson at Lakedown and Ted set her up with a 6wt rod, I had a few casts with it and couldn't believe how easy it was to cast compared to my rod.

To be honest I get the impression that once I get a 6wt my 7/8 will probably not see the light of day again!

__________________
In a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing things they hate,
My fishing is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion.

Hi Dan
Like your self I am a new comer to fly fishing and started with middle of the road rods, but I felt ready to progress to a better rod and purchased a Greys G Tec 9ft 6# and tried it out yesterday at Eyebrook and the difference was unbeleivable my casting was smoother I was getting further with less effort than my old greys GS 10ft 7#. It felt so good to use I honestly can not see my other rods getting out of the bags except for dusting and cleaning. Find a shop that sells the G Tec and ask to try then if you are happy either purchase from them or of internet for a reduced price.
Tight lines
Bob