Rod for fishing spiders,nymphs and drys

[Neil Mason]

Been looking for a new rod for fishing spiders nymphs (grhe and Ptn) and drys.

[Mike Barrio]

Hi Neil - welcome to the forum 

I'm sure this could have lots of replies with personal rod preferences. I can't really help you with any specific suggestions I'm afraid, as I tend to fish my usual couple of go-to rods for whatever tactics crop up on the day.

Most #3 to #5 rods should serve you well, let's see if anybody suggests some specific brands/models.

What rod do you normally fish?

Cheers
Mike

[Neil Mason]

Hi Neil - welcome to the forum 

I'm sure this could have lots of replies with personal rod preferences. I can't really help you with any specific suggestions I'm afraid, as I tend to fish my usual couple of go-to rods for whatever tactics crop up on the day.

Most #3 to #5 rods should serve you well, let's see if anybody suggests some specific brands/models.

What rod do you normally fish?

Cheers
Mike

Used to use sage slt 4# which were stolen, been given a Shakespeare agility 4#. What iam finding is lot dealers pushing Czech nymphing, with one saying I would save money with not having to buy a fly line.

[James Laraway]

what size of rivers are you fishing ?

[Neil Mason]

The river Ure and Swale in the dales and Wear in Durham

[James Laraway]

so i love a bit of fibreglass but as sandy (resident expert) will tell you they are only effective up at approx 8ft in length max - so if you are ok with that i'd go for a nice glass rod ( lots of lovely #4 7ft-odd glass rods on the market)

Otherwise if you want a longer lighter rod check out the Taniwha rods that are sold by the fortitude rod company...

[Neil Mason]

so i love a bit of fibreglass but as sandy (resident expert) will tell you they are only effective up at approx 8ft in length max - so if you are ok with that i'd go for a nice glass rod ( lots of lovely #4 7ft-odd glass rods on the market)

Otherwise if you want a longer lighter rod check out the Taniwha rods that are sold by the fortitude rod company...

max length 8'. I used a Richard Walker 9'3" by hardy back in the 1970's a little surprised at the maximum of 8'

[James Laraway]

max length 8'. I used a Richard Walker 9'3" by hardy back in the 1970's a little surprised at the maximum of 8'

you can of course build them longer but apparently once you go over 8ft the action of the blank starts to go.... something to do with the material..

[Sandy Nelson]

Neil

The SLT 490,590 and 690 were the best fishing rods of their generation.
I take it you really liked yours, it would have been a perfect dryfly and spider rod.

Are you looking for something similar or are you considering the current trend towards using a 10' 4wt for river fishing. Not my thing but seems to hold sway with a lot of the top anglers these days.
The Wear and Ure are similar sized to the Don so a 490 or 4100 would be ideal as you know. Personally I fish off 7'6-8' glass in 4 and 5 wts most of the time because I like the way they fish.
But I have a graphite 590 and a 483 as well, which I really enjoy.

Budget is the thing that will drive your choice. I know the SLT well and can tell you that the Livingston YS DF, Steffen Graphite, Gatti XP, Winston Pure2 , sage R8 core classic are all in a similar vein.
The guideline NT11 is another great option off the shelf .
If you are thinking of building one then there are some great blanks out there like the Livingston, Gatti and Steffen where you could save a few quid and still get a great rod (often better).
Another option to hunt down a second hand SLT as they were and still are some of the best rods ever made.

Glass becomes a different conversation so I've stuck what is similar to your SLT.

Hope that helps a bit

Sandy

[Neil Mason]

Sandy. That has got me thinking about my technic I mainly fish spider's nymphs and drys, never fished Czech nymphs and don't have any interest. So I'm ruling out a 10 rod and opting for 9' 4#.
I made a glass rod at 14 year old and fished with it at least years used a gear fly reel and a airflow line

[Sandy Nelson]

Neil

If you are keen to make one, then get a Gatti xp 904 with a kit from Jason at Fortitude rod Co.
The best value rod I've tried in a long time, casts like a SLT.
I made one a few weeks ago and I loved it when I took for some casts.
The blank has a 3yr warranty too.

[Neil Mason]

Love to make another rod, but since my stroke I don't have the dexterity in my right hand any more.

[Sandy Nelson]

I can relate a wee bit to that Neil
I had a fairly significant Heart attack back in March and I'm still adjusting my new normal.
My hands work fine although they are very cold most of the time, but the meds are affecting my close up vision.
I've managed to find a solution with improved lighting and better glasses, but I don't like it much and it's removed the fun from building.
Otherwise I'd offer to make you a Gatti if it fit the budget.
Only rod in that size I have built up is a Winston Pure2 904 which I made last year while I was recovering. It would still be a fairly expensive rod though as the blanks were mega bucks to buy. Fabulous fishing rod mind you.
Level heading with the Livingston YSDF 904.
If you want any pics or to discuss anything specific then please DM me and I can send you my what's App number 

[Neil Mason]

Sourced my self a fibrelite rod tone refurbished in 8'6" of a old friend

[Kevin McPherson]

Hi Neil
I write this while at the heliport and without a keyboard my one finger typing takes a while so apologies for not being in depth , you describe fully my style of fishing, Spiders primarily and traditional Nymphing , I do dabble at dry fly but I don't have the patience to walk the bank as Sandy can confirm, I used to fish a 10 ft 4wt and still do on occasion but my go to now is a 9ft 6" 4 wt works great gives me the accuracy should I go for the dry fly but still gives me the ability to hi stick and covers virtually all I do, if the winds up I over line rod with a 5 wt line
Regards Kev

[Neil Mason]

Hi Neil
I write this while at the heliport and without a keyboard my one finger typing takes a while so apologies for not being in depth , you describe fully my style of fishing, Spiders primarily and traditional Nymphing , I do dabble at dry fly but I don't have the patience to walk the bank as Sandy can confirm, I used to fish a 10 ft 4wt and still do on occasion but my go to now is a 9ft 6" 4 wt works great gives me the accuracy should I go for the dry fly but still gives me the ability to hi stick and covers virtually all I do, if the winds up I over line rod with a 5 wt line
Regards Kev

Kev. I have searched high and low for a 9'6" 4# rod whom makes them, a few years ago I would have spent Sage money that was till I had a stroke.
Neil

[Kevin McPherson]

Kev. I have searched high and low for a 9'6" 4# rod whom makes them, a few years ago I would have spent Sage money that was till I had a stroke.
Neil

Hi Neil

Grey's used to make one, I had a look and you are right not really a go to standard length for companies, I chose the 9ft 6" after really liking the 9ft6" 6wt FX2 I purchased, so when i had sandy build me a rod i chose that length using an RJC blank. I love it, as i don't now your price range, I can only offer up that in the lack of 9ft 6" commercial rod companies who supply a 9ft 6" 4wt .  My first choice would be a rod built by Ross at  RJC  he has some cracking builds and is the blank sandy used for my rod, Ross made me a superb bespoke 12ft 2" summer salmon rod  so i can vouch for the quality.   This is where it gets subjective and each to there own,  If i had no option and it was either a 9ft or a 10ft for my style of fishing then it would be hands down a 10ft rod, This  covered and still does me for my spider fishing standard Nymphing and on occasion will work for Euro Nymphing but that's not really my thing, But that's the great thing with fly fishing so many different avenues. Its a pity you weren't closer would have happily met you at the river with both rods

[Neil Mason]

How do I post a for sale post

[Mike Barrio]

How do I post a for sale post

Just like these posts, but in the for sale/wanted section