Hi everyone,
I know that many people will say "try before you buy", but this is much easier said than done. I'm new to fly fishing, but love it. So far I have fished small, to medium sized lakes. I do envisage going on to larger lakes with some occasional boat fishing. I'm looking for a good all round rod for around £200. I started with an 9'6" 8wt Scierra Sweep which seems to have quite a fast action. I picked up a second hand 5/6wt Snowbee diamond II which seems fairly soft. For the larger lakes/reservoirs I think the Scierra is fine. For the smaller lakes it just seems a bit too heavy, while the Snowbee's action seems a bit too slow - I'm having trouble establishing a consistent rhythm with it. I've been told a good all rounder would be a 6/7wt 9'6". But here's lies the problem. With so many rods on the market, being able to try before you buy presents a problem. Some tackle shops have lots of rods but nowhere to try, whereas others have a limited selection with limited space to try. I've also been told that as my technique improves/reaches its limit, the preferred rod action may change. Is it best to persevere with what I've got until later, or should I visit all the tackle shops in the south east trying rods where possible (plus is it best to use my own reel and line to get the best comparison?). Any useful advice would be most welcome.
Phil

If you live in the South East, I would strongly recommend that you go and see Peter Cockwill at Albury Angling.

Hello Phil

You seem a little confused and I appreciate this can be a minefield but "try before you buy" is really the preferred option.However all lines are not equal so please tell us which lines you are using majority of the time.Maybe your snowbee feels soft/soggy because of the line you are using on it.Some lines will "soften" a rod depending on the design as in head/belly length etc.Tell us a little more and maybe will help you out of the dark and into the light.You should really be able to establish a rythm of sorts with the Snowbee given it has the right line on it.Another major consideration is how you prefer to fish i.e. with nymphs or lures/pulling flies.There are rods which you could put in the all round category but they will have limitations for some situations.I would say your Snowbee is not a bad all round kind of rod but against your much more pokey Sierra 8wt it would feel very much different.There are some splendid options rodwise within your budget but you still need to balance your set up so a little more information will help.

Best JP

Thanks JP. I'm fishing the Snowbee with an Airflow WF no.6 floating supple line. The line that came with the Scierra seemed quite stiff and took some time to get used to. I had borrowed a 6wt line from someone to try out the Snowbee but I've no idea of the make. It wasn't as supple as the Airflow, which I quite like - probably it's more forgiving! I haven't yet got into a preferred choice of flies, although I would say that the majority of fishing falls between lures (montanas etc) and buzzers (which I have had more succes with).

Thanks

Ron,
Thanks for the tip about Peter Cockwill at Albury Angling. I'll give him a call soon.

Ta
Phil

Hello Phil

Good sound advice to talk to Peter Cockwill.You will find the solution there.
I think you may find the Snowbee Diamond will feel a little better with a WF 5 Wt line or DT 6WT.

Best JP

Where did you get this pearl of wisdom from? What a load of C**p.

Phil. Stick with WF6 line on the Diamond try one of PP's lines. I have a 4/5 Diamond and it works perfectly with a Greys WF5, your problem with the Diamond is more than likely the line you are using.

Paul

Where do you live?

Sportfish Reading is one of the best places to try a rod. Being based on a fishery. Other than that book a casting lesson and get advice from the instructor.

My last advice is if you live any where near Surrey give Mick Bell a call i.e. Bloke rods. You can try his rods, he'll give you a few tips and even give you a beer. Great rods, my still water rods are all Bloke XL50's so I am a bit biased.

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Carl

http://www.wandlepiscators.net/
http://teiseangling.co.uk/index.htm

TOMORROW THE TRENT COULD BE YOUR FISHERY! When are YOU going to JOIN THE ANGLING TRUST?

Paul

The "the pearl of wisdom" comes from a fair bit of experience.I was just trying to help Phil.If you took the time to read the earlier posts it covered the subject of lines.Like lines quite often with mass produced rods they too often vary even though they are supposed to be the same aftm.You are entitled to your opinion as are we all here but the derogatory remark at the end of your thread is typical of guys who do this "sniping" from behind a keyboard and in this case neither warranted nor fair.

JP

PM sent re trying some 'Bloke' rods

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[I]"The fish and I were both stunned and disbelieving to find ourselves connected by a line." William Humphrey in "The Armchair Angler"[/I]