Hi everyone,
Please would you be able to give me some advice?

I used to flyfish as a teenager and had a 9ft #7 rod which I used for pretty much everything.

Now I want to buy a new rod I have been looking at 7 weights and 9ft 6in rods as I was told/read that these are the best buys for a beginner which I consider myself.

After looking through these forums it seems that these rods are classed as relatively heavy?

I know only too well one rod won't do everything (you should see my range of coarse rods and poles!) but as a beginner what rod weight and length would be best to fish predominantly rivers and small stillwaters but occasionally reservoirs as best as I can with only the one rod? I realize that the rod won't cover all options perfectly but what line rating and length will enable me to fish and cover the options as best I can?

as I want to make sure I am back into it first and enjoying before purchasing another then another......

i would opt for a 5# 9'- 9'6" , it will be ok for the rivers and the stillwaters ....

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WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

That is still a perfectly sensible choice.

The Latest Airflo/fishtec flyer had a beginners kit with a 9' #7 four piece, a reel, line some flies for £50.

I mourn the simplicity of being a kid when I owned just the one fly rod - made choosing real easy.

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Plusnet/Madasafish > Liars to the internet community

I agree with Bruce. a 9ft. or 9'6", if you must, #5 weight will do all those jobs.

9'6" #7 is way too much rod for a river.

Gary Evans still seems to have a few Diamondbacks in 9' for a #5 at the ridiculous price of about £80.

DaimondBack Flawless Fly Rods -Under Half Price

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Roy

I suggest you opt for a nine foot #6 rod.This will be suitable for small still waters for nymph and dry fly and for single larger lures. This rod is not really suitable for casting teams of lures on heavier sinking lines. This rod will also serve on rivers although probably considered over rodded by most anglers on very small rivers.
I consider that a nine food rod is the ideal length for novice to start with.
If you move on to fishing regularly on still waters, then a nine foot six rod at #7 or nine foot at #7, the latter not easy to come by at the lower price range.

I agree with Richard a 9ft, 6 weight is a good compromise.

I'd concur, as an all round rod I'd always opt for the 9' #6, if you were just fishing stillwaters and using bigger lures, then a 9'6" #7 is a very popular choice still.

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Whatever weight you get, I wouldn't go above 9 feet on the river, you will lose castin accuracy. As to line weight, I use a 4# mostly but a 5# might suit better as an all rounder. You can put a 6# onto a 5# rod to damp it down for close range brook work. Small stillwaters are easily fished with a 4# 9 footer, I know cos I did just that almost daily two years ago.

You could get a Guideline AWM for £49.99 if you look around - another good choice. For rivers and streams I opt for split cane as a rule, but then I'm surrounded by split cane rods.

I don't know where the other guys in this thread fish but the wind blows where I do and round the Midlands generally .

For many years I have sent out stillwater beginners with 10' WF8 gear to start off with and none too expensive at that . As they learn they might come down to 7# in a year - the point is to get them fishing and catching asap - light gear like 6# and 5# too light for beginning casters to make much of it !

But I've only been selling the stuff for 30 years so what do I know ?

Shakespeare rod reel and line + backing around £100 + - all you need to catch a lot of fish !

Best wishes

Steve P

remember this person is a beginner. I agree the 9 foot 5# COULD do all the jobs, but in a beginner's hands he'll be undergunned on a stillwater and massively so on a reservoir. Depending on the river he fishes, a 6 or even 7 weight could still be used (I have used a 7 on the Test/Itchen) and would be much more like it on a stillwater/reservoir. I suppose it depends what sort of fishing this chap is likely to do most of. If small rivers, then get a 5 weight but if he's mainly on the reservoirs/stillies, i'd suggest a 9'6'' 6 weight minimum, and possibly a 7.