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New Fly Rod?


Deitz Dittrich

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Ok as you may have seen in a previous post, I am getting a pontoon for floating the St.Croix up by my cabin... I have a 6wt St.Croix flyrod that I bought about 14 years ago...

If I wanted to get into more fly fishing for smallies and anything else I may catch on the river(some walleyes and sheepies I would imagine).. what would be the correct fly rod and length to fish best from one of the tube pontoons.

Thanks for the help again guys... I love to fish out of my triton with my 8gazillion baitcasters and such as much as the next guy... but this whole fly stuff is drawing me a little.

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I prefer a 7wt for the St. Croix, but you're at no real disadvantage with the 6wt. You may find that a "bug taper" line gives you better cast with the larger flies you'll use for smallmouth. My advice is that you fish with what you've got for a while and see how it goes, then change your equipment accordingly.

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9'6" or 10', 7wt, mod-fast to fast, although a 6wt is fine. I just built a 9'6" 6wt w/removeable fighting butt for warmwater fishing or tossing heavier stuff for trout. I teamed it with a RIO multitip line. If you have a 9' 6wt that you like then I would use it and spool up a line with a taper to match the bugs you're going to toss.

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For bass I highly recomend a 9 ft 8 wt. I use a longer rod for steelhead but the shorter length helps you rocket those larger flies out there a ways. It also provides a better hookset when fishing with weedguards. I also recomend the RIO clouser for big nasties line. it has a massive head and shoots heavy flies like no line i've ever seen.

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I'm with Quickstrike all the way on this one. If you're a St. Croix guy, an Avid in 9' 8 wt. would be a nice piece of equipment for you. The slightly shorter (and considerably more expensive) 8'9" 8 wt. in the Legend Ultra series is an extremely sweet rod. That's the so-called Bob Clouser rod.

You can fish with lighter line weight rods, certainly, but they are more tiring to fish all day long and if you should hook up to a muskie or a good northern, you'll be undergunned.

I have a 9' 6" 8 wt. that I like for steelheading. I used it once for bass bugging and the extra length just seemed kind of strange.

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Thanks all for the great advice, I knew I could count on you guys... I unfortunatly will probably not be selling the farm to buy this rod. I am a shimano dude, by heart so it kills me that they dont make fly fishing stuff.

I will probably end up getting a less expensive combo from Cabelas next time I am working there as then I get employee discount. So I mostly interested in lenth of rod and wt. for these smallies.

thanks again for all the help.

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Deitz, how far off the water do you sit in your pontoon? If I'm float tubing (waist in the water) or sitting in a canoe then I like a longer rod (say 10') as the extra length helps in airializing the line. If you're casting from the deck of a bass boat then a 9' or even less will be just the ticket. As for line weight that really depends on what you're going after. If you plan on targeting Pike or Muskie then a 9 or 10wt (or larger) would be ideal, for bass a 7wt or 8wt would be great although that 6wt you have will certainly work. For fighting wind and punching your flies out there I would go with a fast action rod. If you're going after Bass with wind resistant flies and mainly targeting the surface then the Rio Clauser line is a great choice when teamed up with a fast action rod. On the otherhand if you're also trying to fish the water column then having a sinking line (or multitip) in your arsenal is very useful.

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Dietz i met you at the sportsman show sat, if your going to get into warm water fly fishing I may still have a few warm water flies i don't use and would be willing to let you have them. wink.gifjust have to remember where they are.

Due to all the tournaments of the last few years I have had no time for the sport, and sold most my fly gear all i have remaining is trout rods there for i have no use for big flies. such as clousers, dahlbergs, hair poppers,craw patterns ,ect.

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Dietz ol' man, you don't have to go nuts on this fly tackle stuff. A good solid Cabela's deal on a 9' eight weight rod and a decent reel will be fine. And a Cortland Bass Bug Taper line, or the Cabela's equivalent will be just fine. Cut a couple feet off the tip of the fly line which will really emphasize the blunt taper, add three feet of 20 lbs. test Trilene XT with another 3 ft. of 10lb. XL and you're good to go. Don't over complicate your life.

Been all through this stuff as an instructor, dealer and hard core user. grin.gif

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LC, very kind offer.. I may take you up on it.. maybe make some sort of deal so it doenst feel like I am robbing you.. LOL

thanks again to all for the great advice!

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DIETZ, NO PROBLEM I WOULD RATHER SEE IT GET USED THAN JUST LAY AROUND. ILL SHOOT YOU AN EMAIL ADRESS REPLY ME AN ADRESS AND ILL MAIL THEM TO YOU BY SNAIL MAIL

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ILL HAVE TO E-MAIL YOU FROM HOME MY COMPUTER FROM WORK IS NOT CONFIGURED FOR EMAIL

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LC, still no e-mail from you.. or it got zapped in my junk mail filter?.. I'm in no hurry.. Just making sure there wasn't an e-mail problem.

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dietz, i sent your package on saturday so you should be recieving it soon

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yipee!!!... I love waiting for packages!...

Thanks a mill sir!

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