Hi,
I only started fly fishing this autumn and so far have concentrated on fishing stillwaters for trout.
I have a 9ft 6ins Greys GRXi #6 rod with a middle-tip action, which seems fine for stillwaters, but next year I hope to progress to fishing small streams and rivers.
I read in the Tightlines catalogue and elsewhere that a through-action road allows for shorter but more accurate casts and delicate fly presentation in more confined environments, and is sufficient for the smaller, wild fish I'm likely to encounter.
But strangely the Tightlines catalogue (and Sportfish's too) don't seem have any through-action rods listed.
So, my questions are:
Is a through-action rod really necessary for small streams or would my Greys be OK?
With a budget of between £50-100 (I know it's not much but I've a young family to pay for) which manufacturers would forum members recommend?
Is it necessary to buy a different reel to the ones I have (a Leeda Profil and a Greys)?
Thanks in advance,
Steve

__________________
There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.

This thread will answer ALL your small streams queries
Small Stream Fishing - Fly Fishing Forums
Snowbee do a cheap wee 6 footer for about £40 and there is also a greys gs for a little more. And yes a through action will help a lot with short cast. Jon

__________________
http://www.fishleven.co.uk/
http://www.edenangling.co.uk/

In your position I'd search for a used 7ft,#2/3,weight Greys GRXi (the old model) 3, piece rod. You'll not be disappointed with one of these.

Totaly agree with the above
I use a grxi (the old one ) 7ft 6" 3/4wt with a dt 4....sweet as a nut
teamed with the g series matching reel its a cracking outfit.the new 4 section "upgrades" in my opinion are slightly inferior




A guy who fishes the same river uses a fladen from tacklebargins which was
dirt cheap and is more than serviceable the action is slowwwwwwwww.
I think he paid under £30,a pirate line, and g series reel a great outfit for less
than 80 blabs.
http://www.tacklebargains.co.uk/acat...play-Rods.html

__________________
BROWN TROUT:THE RED SPOTS HAND PAINTED BY GOD

Thanks for the advice guys, very helpful.
Steve

__________________
There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.

For what it's worth, I have an ECHO Carbon 7'6" 3 wt.

It has a nice soft action that helps to stop fish bumping off and a matt brown finish that helps with the stealthy stuff. I enjoy fishing with this rod more than any other.

You can get it from the States or, better still, Baltic Fly Fisher on this forum. Their yellow banner sometimes appears at the top of these pages and sometimes doesn't.

Gudgeon

I disagree completely about the action. The action your rod has should match your natural casting stroke. For me, that is moderate fast to fast. On small streams it is imperative that you can punch a tight loop into tight places on the first try. if the rod matches your natural stroke, you are more apt to cast it well and not have random mistakes because you forgot what rod you were casting. Also, faster action, crisp response rods make throwing tight loops easier because they enable you to make a crisp stop on your forward cast.

Not speaking of anyone here specifically, but some people who advocate 'through actioned' rods really mean rods that load fully in short stream situations. That doesn't mean the action, rather the relative amount of weight being cast (line outside the reel) compared to the optimum for that rod. In short streams we all know that you're lucky to have more than 10-15' line outside the tip (if that in a lot of places). So you need to make sure that short piece of line is able to load the rod. Overline by a size or two and fish a fast action rod (with a really light tip). To me, that is the optimum setup for tiny streams.

For a perfect small stream rod, the 7'9" 3 wt St Scroix SCIV fits the bill incredibly. For smaller, the 7' 3 wt SCIII is another sweet rod. For blanks, the 6'6" Forecast and Pac Bay 2 wts are great (I've built a bunch of both) and inexpensive. The 6'6" IM6 rainshadow is good (I own it) but not as good as the other two and really needs a 4 wt line in tiny brooks.

Thanks,
Rick

Red Devil

If you have only just started fishing in the last few months, my advice would be not to purchase a rod at this stage. You'll find your 6 weight perfectly adequate for your first forays on any river. Learn to cast a line using all styles and techniques with your current rod before picking up another. You'll find either you like that rod so much you don't want to change it or when you do obtain a rod more specifically designed for the use you are to put it to that you will fish with it effortlessly because you have become such a competent caster, and whatever the tool, you'll be able to get the maximum from it. Its not the rod which makes the fisherman, but a poor fisherman will always blame his/ her tackle and the weather of course! . When you start up in this sport, like most hobbies its all too easily to get caught up in purchasing lots of stuff you think you will need, only for most of it to end up in a corner not to be used again, as many on here might testify to.

Sure a through action rod, is good to roll cast in a tight corner. Provides a wonderfully absorbent playing tool. And yes I personally like that style of rod but a fast action, tippier rod will be just a fine in the right hands. Anyway if its windy on the river I still like to fish a 6 weight, you won't get tired casting in to the wind.

Have a look at the Shakespeare Trion 7'6" #3/4. Quite a soft rod and you might pick one up dirt cheap if you shop around!

SF