hi everyone. last season I really got into fly fishing on rivers and more often than I approached the river with nymphs, spiders or dries. this year I want to purchase a lighter rod but need some advice. what length and weight would be most suited to this approach. would a longer rod give better control and what weight would be most suited. I want to spend about £100 on the rod and up to £50 on a line. all advice will beuch appreciated.

look forward to hearing everyones views

gerry

If you could say what river and where it would help...

Andy

both the rive Avon and carron in falkirk (Scotland). the rod I have just now is 9th 7/8 weight but I want something for a more stealthy approach.

Hi Gerry, I would suggest either 4# or a 4/5#. As you say a 10ft will give you better line control, as long as you have enough space to cast it.
Try out the Airflo streamtec nano if you can it fist your buget and cast well enough.

Frank

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Frank Williams APGAI

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both smallish rivers for most part englander did a lot on the carron last year he might point you in right area I would guess no more than 9' but maybe 3/4# I was going to use my 7' next season but I'm newbie lol

Pete

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do you fish the Avon paramedicpete? how did u get on last season on the carron?

The 9 foot 5 weight is nearly a universal combination for a river trout rod. Light enough to be nice to use, long enough for good control without being cumbersome in moderately confined situations, but with enough punch to handle larger rivers and some amount of wind. You'll find this combination used on trout streams the world over.

A 9 foot 4 weight is a joy to cast, but it does have a smaller sweet spot when it comes range of flies and conditions that it can handle.

I really couldn't recommend going beyond 9 feet. The advantages in terms of covering specialized situations are outweighed, IMO, by narrowing the rods versatility.

I fish two rods for 90% of my river fishing, nymphing, dries, streamers, and terrestrials. I use an 8.5 foot #4 and a 9 foot #5. I don't think I will ever be without rods in these two configurations.

Grouse

Hi Gerry, I would agree with Frank, my most used river rod is a 10ft #4.
I have fished with this rod around the world, It was powerful enough to use most of the time in New Zealand but also Canada and definitely good on the Avon and it suits most nymphing methods as well as being gentle enough for dryfly fishing (different brands will vary though) it is also a perfect rod for spider fishing as it allows the flies to be fished with more control.
The streamtec (Airflo) may be a good choice, but getting into a shop and picking 2 or 3 up is highly recommended.
Alex

I am with the Grouse on this , yesterday fishing a brand new to me meduim sized mystery chalk stream which will remain nameless ,it was blowing a hooly with tricky gusts , put up a 9ft 5 and it did all I wanted with some prescision .
Actually this was at one time my always in the car rod and its done me for grilse seatrout stalking with bugs at Avinton ,Rutland rainbows ,and its Original purpose fishing the town waters at Hungerford .

Got the other lenghths and line weights down to 3s and up tp 11.3 for trouts but if stuck with one that would be my choice .

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Andy Wren
Winter grayling taking a year off !
Claret not just a great dubbing colour!

Rod: 8ft 6in to 9ft
Rating: #5
Action: Middle to Tip, medium not fast.
Fittings: Matte dark coloured snake intermediate guides and hayfork tip, stripping ring matte and dark also. Winch fittings completely matte and dark.
Finish: Dark, Matte not Glossy.
Reel: carbon reinforced plastic preferably matte black or grey.
Line: Dark Cow Pat Brown weight forward floating line. (Use a magic marker to tint your line if it is a pale colour.)

There's a load of stuff about gearing up to dry fly fish rivers on the blog including a short series of posts especially for folk migrating from stillwaters to rivers that started with Dry Fly 'Expert': Migration... if you begin there and after reaching the bottom of the post click on Newer Posts it will take you through them. If you have any questions just use the comment facilities on the blog.


richard

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Who resides on the right bank of the Derbyshire Wye and is lulled to sleep each night by the mutterings of a weir, dreaming that "When the rivers and their inhabitants come first, we ALL win..."