[Jay Scott]

I think i need a little expert advice, I am looking to buy a new fly rod for dry fly fishing next season prefferably a 9ft 5wt line or similar, anyone have any ideas or advice, i am probably looking to spend between 70 and 150 quid. Any advice would be most helpful im very stuck for ideas.

Thanks, Jay

[Jim Eddie]

Jay

Talk to Mike , his "Otter" rods are the mutts nuts , I bought one for my daughter last year. I used it to fish the Ericht this April , an ideal river rod. Its a 4 piece 9ft 5#. My daughter does get a shot of it now and again

 

Jim

[Jay Scott]

Ok, how much are they roughly?

Jay

[Sandy Nelson]

Jay

I'd agree with Jim on that one, especially with that sort of budget.
The Otter with a DT4 is a beautiful dryfly rod, as well as a superb all rounder.
But the best idea would be to try a few and find out what type of rod you prefer.It can be surprising what you actually prefer once you've had a go of a few different types.
You could always get a blank and have a go at building one! I could point you towards some good buys.
I use 3wts a lot, but lately have been using a 4wt more and more, it provides a lot of control but is still quite delicate.Its also less fast than some of the rods i tend towards, but i love it.
So you never can tell.

Sandy

[Jay Scott]

I was really considering building my own because then i would get exactly what i want, any suggestions for a blank?

Jay

[Sandy Nelson]

Depends on what EXACTLY you want.

Are your preferences based on trying or other peoples opinions.
Because opinions are just that.Unless you know someone who like rods they way you do then you can go well wrong. :

I know quite a few people who have the money to buy some of the top end rods on the market but they can't use them, they would do just as well with an average product, but thats personal choice.
There are some really good blanks on the market and a few bargains, if you look.For the budget you have there are a few options, but i reckon you'd be best to try a few styles first.

Ask mike to see some of the prototype's at Haddo.As well as the otter, If we can find a mutually convienient time then, i can bring you a few rods all built from various blanks to play with.It would give you a good idea of what differences there are and what you could hope to achieve.

Sandy

[Jay Scott]

Ok sounds great, its just trying to find the rod that suits me.

Jay

[Jim Eddie]

Jay

Well done young man you are doing exactly the right thing trying to find which rod suits you before rushing out and buying one.

As Sandy so rightly suggests try out a few to find an action that suits you.

   

Jim

[Colin Davidson]

Jay,

If possible you can go to the Glasgow Angling Centre and try try try try try before you buy. their casting spot wont win any beauty awards but it sire does let you get a feel for the rod and most of the guys there are keen as mustard to help out.

if you cant get along there you can always walk round the next fishery your at and have a shot of everyones just to get a feel of different weights makes.

i did this then went to the angling centre and narrowed it down and now im on the GRXi band wagon.

good luck

Colin.

[Rob Brownfield]

Got to agree with Sandy, there are some cracking blanks available at very good prices.

I built a rather nice rod for a collegue at work for his fathers Christmas.

With Struble reel fittings, Rec guides, blank coloured blue to order, Flor grade cork handle etc etc it was still cheaper than if he had gone to a shop and bought the same rod. Infact, rods built on the same blank are being sold for £250 - £350  :  :  :  Plus he got a total custom build from me.  : with woven name etc..never again..lol

Have a look at http://www.hopkinsholloway.co.uk/tutorial1.php for tips on rod building.

Also have to agree that mikes rods are rather nice...if you want off the shelf.

[Derek 365]

Hi Jay,
         I had the exact same thoughts a few months ago about getting a second rod for fishing dry flies and went with the Scierra IC3 in 10ft 4/5wt .It cost £99 and comes with an aluminium tube and unconditonal warrenty and now i prefer it to my Greys GRX 9.6ft 6/7wt for everything as long as it's not to windy.

[Sandy Nelson]

Aha

Another convert to the Light side of the force.
Well Done Derek, lighter is better and much more fun.

Sandy

[Rob Brownfield]

Well Done Derek, lighter is better and much more fun.

Sandy

Just how I like my women!  

Just out of interest, what are your feelings on the amount of time it can take to play a fish on lighter gear? This arguement comes up all the time with Pike fly fishing, by anglers who cannot see that a 10 weight rod can stop a big pike as its "too light".

I use a 5 weight for all my trout now..but thinking of going lighter...and after a 1 0r 2 weight for burn fishing.

[Sandy Nelson]

Rob

You know my opinion, you can land a fish faster with a lighter rod as long as you bend it.The rod protects lighter tippets better so if you bend into the fish the rod absorbs more of the fishes power than a heavier stiffer rod.
I have taken all my double figure fish on 3wts with no problems.
For burn fishing though i would tend towards a shorter rod rather than lighter, something in the region of 7ft for a 3wt.
I have a "0" wt which is a great toy but not really a serious fishing tool.
I found it to long for burns and not enough control. A shorter 3wt is perfect though.

Line weight has more to do with fly size than the fish size.

Light rods can't cast big flies but they can land big fish as easily as heavier ones.Then again small flies catch big fish so theres really no problem

Sandy

[Mike Barrio]

Hi Rob

Scott was trying out one of my 3wt prototypes on the water today. Never fished a 3wt before and he had no problems with the wind and played his fish as quickly as with his 6wt.

You can actually put more strain on with a light rod like this ........ as there is less danger of your nylon breaking, due to the flexibility of the fly rod  

Best wishes
Mike