Hi All

I am looking for a new road for stillwater fishing. Been relatively new to the sport. Any recommendations on makes, weight and line. Also I was wondering what you guys look for in a rod,when you go to buy a rod?.

Well, first of all you need to say what kind of stillwater fishing you intend to do. Bank or boat, large stillwater or small waters. I personally like to use an 8wt rod of 9' 6" or 10' for all my stillwater fishing. Many anglers will disagree with this recommending a 7 weight rod as the base line for stillwater rods and going for a 6 weight or five weight on smaller waters. I like the 8 weight for dealing with wind and for casting long lines from the bank. As for lines, most anglers would probably recommend a floating line and an intermediate to start off with so thats an easy one. As for rod action, I would say a middle to tip rod would be the route to take, since you're starting out. Greys rods seem to be the choice for the angler starting off nowadays (from what I can tell speaking to other anglers) and also Scierra rods, both sell decent rods at reasonabe prices. I hope this helps

My mate has just started fly fishing, he bought a £30 shakespear rod (cant remember model) and a ron thompson energiser floater at £15. After a couple of outings he decided that fishing was for him and to invest some money. He bought a Greys grx(i think), with a greys platinum series line. All in a 7 weight. After one outing he is back to the shakey and the energiser, and i have to say, i agree with him. The greys rod was lifeless and way too slow, even for a mid action, and underpowered or the line was underweight, im not sure. Im far from an expert but can throw a half decent cast wi most rods, but this set up just felt wrong, as for the wee shakey, a magic rod for £30!

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i was walking far from home, where the names are not burned along the wall, saw a building, high as heaven, but the door was so small

Hi Donald i am not a expert on rods or lines but i got my self a Shakespeare Odyssey Fly rod 9ft6 7/8wt for 31 pound posted off ebay. then i got a line off a member on here brand new 15.50 and the line is really good casts really well and has no memory and feels good when retrieving since then iv had 3 other lines from him Like i said i don't know a great deal but the rod has a nice action not too stiff or soft. iv used it twice and had my strings pulled, For the money i cant complain at all. my dad who has fly fished for years and tested lines agrees its well worth the money.

Vinny