Fishing The Fly Scotland

Index => Main Discussion Area => Topic started by: Jay Scott on 05/12/2006 at 18:07

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Jay Scott on 05/12/2006 at 18:07

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

Title: Rods
Post by: Jim Eddie on 05/12/2006 at 18:35

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 :z4

 :z18

Jim

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Jay Scott on 05/12/2006 at 18:42

Ok, how much are they roughly?

Jay

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 05/12/2006 at 18:43

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. :cool:

Sandy

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Jay Scott on 05/12/2006 at 18:45

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

Jay

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 05/12/2006 at 18:52

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. :shock:

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

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Jay Scott on 05/12/2006 at 19:09

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

Jay

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Jim Eddie on 05/12/2006 at 19:30

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.

 :z18  

Jim

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Colin Davidson on 05/12/2006 at 22:46

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.

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 06/12/2006 at 09:01

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  :shock:  :shock:  :shock:  Plus he got a total custom build from me.  :grin: 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.

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Derek 365 on 06/12/2006 at 13:00

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.

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 06/12/2006 at 16:40

Aha

Another convert to the Light side of the force.
Well Done Derek, lighter is better and much more fun. :z16

Sandy

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 06/12/2006 at 17:00

Quote from: "spiderman"

Well Done Derek, lighter is better and much more fun. :z16

Sandy

Just how I like my women!  :z4

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.

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 06/12/2006 at 17:11

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 :z4

Sandy

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Mike Barrio on 06/12/2006 at 17:15

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  :wink:

Best wishes
Mike
 :z2

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Dutchfly on 07/12/2006 at 08:31

A lot of people are scared of a light weight. Don't be! I've landed carp up to 8 lbs on my 3 weight. Loads of fun and as Sandy writes, you can land a fish just as quick on a light weight as on a heavier rod.

Good luck!

Jeroen

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 08/12/2006 at 09:34

Sandy, Mike,
I have fished light line all my life  :grin:

I love stalking large carp on 6-8 lb line and a 10 foot split cane rod and centrepin  :wink:

There is a huge arguement by some pikers that fly rods cannot handle large fish...and time and time again its proven too them that they can...and time and time again they shout the odds saying the fish are in danger..pah!!.

I have fished for Pike for 32 years now and I still say my 10 weight fly rod subdues pike faster than my  12 foot 3lb test curve Pike rods...and they are powerful rods..but don't bend.


As for the 0 oe 1 weight fly rods..yip..its a toy I want  :grin:  :grin:  :grin:  :grin:

I used to have a 7 foot split can 4 weight that i used, and that was perfect for the burns..but I want to be a little mad!.. :lol:

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Jay Scott on 14/01/2007 at 16:47

Well,

I got my rod, its a custom built one that i bought from Mike 9ft 4wt, its perfect, i tried a couple other ones including a Sage XP and a Scierra HM2 and this one seemed to suit me best. Thanks for the help Mike and Sandy.

Jay

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Mike Barrio on 14/01/2007 at 17:26

Quote from: "jayscott"

Well,

I got my rod, its a custom built one that i bought from Mike 9ft 4wt, its perfect, i tried a couple other ones including a Sage XP and a Scierra HM2 and this one seemed to suit me best. Thanks for the help Mike and Sandy.

It was good fun watching you trying out all "the toys" today Jay and guessing which one you would like best :z3

Great to see you catching your first fish on a 4wt too! What a cracking 5 pounder to christen it with  :cool:

As always .......... I could not have advised you which rod you would like, you really do need to try them for yourself, as everybody is different.

Best wishes
Mike

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Jay Scott on 14/01/2007 at 17:35

Yeah absolutely, well i think i'm hooked on lighter gear now after the fight that 5 pounder put up! Great sport can't wait until it gets a bitty warmer and the flies start hatching.

Jay

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Mike Barrio on 14/01/2007 at 18:04

Here's an interesting question for you Jay

As a youngster who has not been fishing for awful long ....... and being used to a 7wt  :z3

How did you find fishing the lighter rod on a DT4F? Did you have any feeling of not being able to cover fish comfortably etc etc, especially since it was a tad cold and windy today?

How did it feel?

Curious Mike

Title: Fly Rods
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 14/01/2007 at 19:36

Yeah!

I enjoyed it too, it always fascinates me what people like, and who can get what to work :shock:
You never can tell.
Glad your happy though jay, and what a way to christen a new rod. :z16

Hurrah! another convert

Sandy