i have noticed in recent months an increase in the use of 10ft + fly rods.

i have been quite intrigued with this and am considering purchasing a 10ft 2 or 3wt fly rod.

i can see that a 10ft light weight fly rod would be an advantage on small rivers as it would provide better line control and ultimately reduce the amount of line on the water allowing a drag free drift.

the use of long rods would not be an advantage if there are lots of overhanging trees etc.

i was wondering if any other forum member has changed tactics and now uses a long light weight fly rod for river use.

thank you all in advanced.

Kind Regards

yes, I fish a 10' 3/4 wt all the time as one of my main river rods. Back in the US I fished a 10'6" 6/7 and an 11'9" 7 wt for steelhead in the same way. I also have a 9'10" 6/7 that I fish just the same. I much prefer long light rods for river fishing because like you said, you have great line control. The downside is overhanging brush and tight streams. I wouldn't take it to a lot of the streams I fish because they are overhung with trees. On bigger water or more open water though, they are great.

Also, if you're on a lot of the streams in this country that have cut grass banks but vegetation 15' back, you can keep your back casts just that bit higher and prevent a couple tangles a day.

Thanks
Rick

thanks for the advice.

i guess you could use bow and arrow cast and a few different varaitions if needs must?

Kind Regards

Is it true that long light rods, while being great for fishing close in, are less good if you actually want to cast conventionally with them? It was said to me recently that rods longer than 10 feet and of a five weight or lighter tend to get unmanageably wobbly. Just wondered if a long light rod was fairly specialised in that respect.

Longer rods have more rod to flex. So when you're casting them you need to slow down your stroke. That is unless you get a much faster action than you normally fish. Even then long rods are tougher to cast because they have a longer moment of inertia and will require more work from your arm/wrist/hand just to hold them. The hardest rod to cast I have ever felt was the Bob Popovics 10'6" 9 wt SCIV. It is a BEAST. It was designed for throwing half a chicken 120' over a 6' rolling surf from the beach when you're standing chest deep in water. And, Bob Popovics is something like 6'8", 17 stone, and built like a rugby player. I could cast it a couple times and then had to put it down as my arm was aching.

My 10' 4 wt (as I fish it) casts great overhead out to about 60'. Past that it is pushing the rod's limits with that light of line. It can do further, but any mistake in timing and you're never getting there. Besides, the rod was built as a close range nymph rod so I have next to no need to cast 60' with it. If I need that, I have other rods. For short range stuff it feels good with about 10' of fly line out for overhead casting and that's how I often fish it locally- about 10' of line plus ~15' of leader sight fishing.

Thanks,
Rick

thanks for the advice,

Kind Regards
malcolm

Not really. A bow and arrow cast is easier with short rods. The long rod makes it tough to do accurately. I just wouldn't take it if I were fishing a woodland stream.

Thanks
Rick

I used to have a Hardy Sovereign 11', think it was a six weight. Didn't use it on the river but I can tell you if you ever want to use a long rod from a boat, for normal casting, you'll be glad to put it down at the end of the day!
The leverage on the wrist is incredible.
Perfect for loch style though.

I have a Hardy Fibatube 12ft rod. I kept bumping into things with it so it stays at home.

I use a 11ft 6/7 and a 10ft 6" 7wt on our tight river, great single hand spey/roll casting rods (sea trout/grilse)
I personally would not use anything shorter from the boat

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