Which Fly rod?

[MultispeciesTamer]

I'd get two rods, probably even as different as a 4 and a 8 wt. The four will give you great play and excellent presentation for small dries or nymphs. The 8 will toss the clousers and buggers with plenty of back bone. 6 is a good all purpose rod and will work for 90% of the stuff you do, but as you fly fish more you will want the other weights to better fit the bill. It will soon seem overkill for the small trout, and throw the heavy flies very awkwardly.

On another note: Just cause you can pull in a steelhead with 4 lb test, doens't mean you should make a habit of it. Thats a good way to leave hooks and trailing line in a good number of fish.

Catching steelhead with 4 pound can be quit common here. When fishing of the piers of lake MI on a sunny day, and clear water sometimes they wont hit your bait if your using say 6 pound test but make the switch in leaders down to 4 pound, the skamania steelhead will hit.

 

[likestofish]

Catching steelhead with 4 pound can be quit common here. When fishing of the piers of lake MI on a sunny day, and clear water sometimes they wont hit your bait if your using say 6 pound test but make the switch in leaders down to 4 pound, the skamania steelhead will hit.

Again really the tippet doesnt matter as much as you think. The thing is you need a rod that can hold a heavier weight line and be able to present the fly. If you are using a 6 weight rod/reel combo and try to throw a big minnow fly its going to catch to much wind due to the line not being heavy enough to get it out there against the wind.

 

[MultispeciesTamer]

Again really the tippet doesnt matter as much as you think. The thing is you need a rod that can hold a heavier weight line and be able to present the fly. If you are using a 6 weight rod/reel combo and try to throw a big minnow fly its going to catch to much wind due to the line not being heavy enough to get it out there against the wind.

I dont know of any reason I would be throwing a big minnow fly or any big flys in general most the flies I drift with my spinning rods for brookies and steelhead are the same size. If I wanted a big heavy fly rod to cast big flies for steelhead I would be asking about which spey rod to get .

 

[floater33]

so was your mind made up before you asked the original question?

 

[oscarcrazy]

so was your mind made up before you asked the original question?

This seems to be the case. Don't worry, I'm not a professional guide or anything offering advice to somebody who asked for it.

Oh wait, I am a professional guide.....

I you want to do thing "right" and I'm not saying it is the only way as people will do what they want. Get two rods, you will be happier in the long run as your fly fishing abilities improve. Or get a six and be frustrated with it in from time to time, but fine with it most of the time. As I, and others, already said.

 

[wheresalbany]

I got my six weight hoping to use it for everything, and when I got it, my skills weren't great so it was good for learning. Now that I've been at it for a long time I'm seeing where the rods shortcomings are and am moving towards getting two rods. Same goes with lines. I used to be a die hard floating line only for everything, but now I can see the benefits of all the different types of line. Live and learn I guess.

 

[MultispeciesTamer]

so was your mind made up before you asked the original question?

NO it def. wasn't and your info helped me the most, I will be getting two rods most likely a 5 and a 7 or 8.

But to say tippet/leader dosnt matter when it does because that is the thing the fish sees and the the line that connects you to the fish. Plus different weights and lengths fly through the air different.

 

[MultispeciesTamer]

This seems to be the case. Don't worry, I'm not a professional guide or anything offering advice to somebody who asked for it.

Oh wait, I am a professional guide.....

I you want to do thing "right" and I'm not saying it is the only way as people will do what they want. Get two rods, you will be happier in the long run as your fly fishing abilities improve. Or get a six and be frustrated with it in from time to time, but fine with it most of the time. As I, and others, already said.

you guys are just a little to quick to jump

 

[ae2359]

The tippet doesnt matter that much, if your going to fish steel head your going to need a heavier rods like 8-10 to get the large air resistant fly out in a presentable fashion. Personally i think two seperate rods would be the best choice.

BTW he's fishing in MI not out west. Very few people swing streamers in MI (glow bugs and nymphs are the norm here

No one uses anything bigger then a 9 wt in MI. If I were you I would get a 8 wt for steel and salmon, and 4 or 5 wt for trout. You might feel a little underpowered with some kings but the majority run between 8-15 lbs which should be no problem for a 8 wt.

FYI a 10 ft 7wt is considered optimum for steel, and a 9 wt for kings. At least where you are fishing.

GL

 

[MultispeciesTamer]

BTW he's fishing in MI not out west. Very few people swing streamers in MI (glow bugs and nymphs are the norm here

No one uses anything bigger then a 9 wt in MI. If I were you I would get a 8 wt for steel and salmon, and 4 or 5 wt for trout. You might feel a little underpowered with some kings but the majority run between 8-15 lbs which should be no problem for a 8 wt.

FYI a 10 ft 7wt is considered optimum for steel, and a 9 wt for kings. At least where you are fishing.

GL

Thanks

Idk how big the kings will average this year but last year they averaged 20 pounds when fresh. But I would say your right and in general most other years they averaged 15 pounds.