What size of rod do you reckon would be best for small still water with a lot of high hedging. I want to get a lighter line weight rod with more feel for a better fight with fish.

I have narrowed it down to either a 10foot, 5wt, 6 wt or 7wt but not sure how each would handle with different sizes of flies, normal range from 16 to 10 but go 2 higher and lower. Also how badly would a lighter rod be affected by wind.

Thanks
Al

I am very happy with my TFO Pro's, 9' 4# and 10' 5# for most any situation. I mainly fish from a float tube in the mountain lakes or wading in the rivers. I will switch out to a stiffer Sage, St. Croix or Cabela's when the wind picks up. I have not had reason to use anything heavier, your mileage may vary I have a feeling you guys have more wind issues than I do, so I am no help there.
Go and cast the rods before you buy them if at all possible. HTH

Maybe closer to the surface would be less effected by wind. If high hedges you may have to try different type of casting? Sometimes bigger rod may not offer a benefit. Also maybe line weight would be more effected than rod weight? I am thinking 9' #5 or 9' 6# may fit the bill. You can always see what other anglers use on that water and how they avoid the hedges and winds?

I believe ive already commented on this, but here goes again a 9.6 ft 6# is about right for most stillwaters, you will no doubt be fishing other waters at sometime so it will give you some scope, a 10fter 6# which i use, is for a reason, the banks were i fish are higher than most places so i need alittle extra height, although most seem quite happy with 9-9.6ft rods and those rods do feel more balanced than a 10ft one , unless your trying to put a fly under a tree or something like that then there aint much in it regarding height, a 10ft rod wont hurt, if you havnt had much casting experience a 9-9.6ft would suit you betterGaz

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This is a problem with two elements, line weight and rod length. The line weight is related to the fly size that you are using and that in turn starts with the tippet. For the range of flies that you mostly use you need tippets of 5x to 3x and these work best with 4# or 5# lines, in a particularly strong wind then you can go up to #6 or maybe use a front loaded #5 line like a Lee Wulff TT.

With regard to rod length it really depends on what control you need over the flies and what hazard the high hedges pose to backcasts. A 9'6" or 10' rod would be the starting point. I fish a similar pool where high hedges inhibit a backcast with a standard length rod and I sometimes use my Sage RPL 11' 3" loch style rod to give me a little extra height where a conventional roll cast will not get me the necessary distance or delicacy of presentation.

If you need to get the bob fly working on the surface you need a little more length otherwise, as long as you can get the backcast high enough to get over the hedges then a 10' would probably be fine.

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Al

All my winter small stillwater fishing is done with 9' 5# - 6# rods.

Biggest problem with wind is guys dont know how to cast into it ..........very important thing to learn.

As ive had many winter days face into a howling gale catching fish only a few feet out while the guys with the wind on there backs casting long lines blank Love watching there faces every tine i catch

9' 5# is my favourite year round rod.

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