Are you a 4-6-8 or a 5-7-9 guy?

[gryhackl]

I can't seem to go to Kiene's and just buy a fly rod with out consideration of how it will fit into my "battery of fly rods. I have always been a 4-6-8 line size kinda guy with the 6 weight being my general "go to" rod for trout and pan fisn with the 4 as a small stream tool and the 8 as Lower American River and black bass equipment. The 4 weight simply doesn't get much action at all because, I don't know where you fish, but where I fish the wind always seems to blow. Lately though I've begun thinking about going over to the dark side to the 5-7-9 line up. I don't fish midges or anything smaller than 16's mostly because I can't see 'em anymore. The Lower American seems to me to be a good 7 line water. The 8 works well on the river but becomes tiring to cast all day long. I'm sure you can see my dilemma, making such a fundamental, total equipment and concept change can be daunting. I would appreciate input on this serious matter from this august conclave.

[Rick J]

I'm a 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 kind of guy - I think I might actually have a 5 wt also but a 5 is one rod I don't have much use for. The others (acutally multiple in some numbers) I probably use at least once a year (except the 12 which was a virgin until this year on my trip to Tarpon Cay Lodge). I find I do not use the 7-9 wts much since I went to the two hander for most of my steelhead fishing (here is use a 4, 6, 7 alot and sometimes a 9). The 10 I still use when I hit the Smith/Chetco for the fall salmon

[Charlie Gonzales]

3,5,7,9.My Scott S3 957/4 is the favorite to cast though. I didnt know I was on the dark side, explains a lot.

[Adam Grace]

I agree with Charlie on the 3,5,7,9 lineup.

3wt for small streams and panfish

5wt for general trout fishing, small bass, big panfish

7wt for steelhead, big trout, big bass/warmwater, bonefish, small stripers

9wt - stripers, salmon, huge steelhead, baby tarpon, permit, maybe huge bass topwater

The lineup above would cover all your freshwater needs, and some saltwater needs.

Personally, I own a 7' 3wt - for small streams and panfish, 8'8" 4wt - mainly for general trout, quite a bit of small warmwater, 9' 6wt - bigger trout gear, average warmwater, 9'6" 7wt - mainly for steelhead, some small stripers, 9' 8wt - striper leadcore chucker, and couple spey rods.

I use my 4wt the most.

[Hairstacker]

I prefer the 3-5-7-9 sequence myself. Mostly for the 5 for general trout fishing and light warmwater stuff and the 7 for Delta topwater largemouths. :D

[anon]

i use 3, 5, and a 7 wt rod. i mostly use the 3 and 5, though. even on larger streams, i will use the 3 wt, unless i plan on doing some deep nymphing requiring more than a bb shot.

[HC]

4,5,7,8,9,10,11. Which I use most often...The 5,8, and 9 wts. I think I would like a nice fast 6 wt though. I have bamboo, glass, and composite rods, each are beloved for different reasons. Harley

[MrBig]

5-7-9. My personal preference is a 5 wt rod whenever possible.

[PaulC]

I'm a 2, 5,6,5/6/7 switch,8,10, soon to be 12 guy.
I think the most important thing is to pick the stick for what you're after.
Like climbing, no reason to buy that big cam unless you have a route you're going for that requires it.

Of all the rods, I rarely use the five wt anymore. But...I rarely trout fish anymore as well. When I do, the 2wt is the preferred stick when throwing dries. Just don't like the 5wt for dries. Works fine for nymphing and streamers.
The other rods make it out more in the salt and for steelhead.
-Paul

[SuperFlyGuy]

Im a 3,6,8 kinda guy. I do not have heavier rods because I havent chased those species on a fly rod yet.

3 for the small panfish, bass, and most trout streams. Go to 6 for the bass and large trout and lake fishing. 8 for shad, hp'ers.

[dtp916]

Hmmm, I'm more of a 3-5-7 type. Only thing is I don't have a 3 or a 7, yet...if I had more money to blow I would get these sticks - 8'6" 3wt is soon to be acquired:

Winston BIIx 8'6" 3wt 8)
Winston BIIt 8' 3wt :D
Winston BIIt 8'6" 4wt :unibrow:
Winston BIIx 9' 5wt =D>
Winston BIIx 9' 7wt :wink:

Possibly a 590 SAGE Z-Axis depending on what the new ZXL (SLT replacement) is like.
Maybe a G2 by Scott.

Ain't nothing like a Winston tip. And that's coming from a guy who doesn't even own one :? I love those green sticks - they cast like a dream 8)

[JT]

I'm a 3-5-7 guy, but I own a couple of 6wt's as well. I use the 3wt when I can get away with it. When the wind, current, weight, or fish size is too much I grab the 5wt. If that's not strong enough I grab the 6wt. I rarely fish my 7wt.

[Rob]

4 - 5 - 7 for me !!!!!!!!

[bolden]

I have a 3-5-8.

3 for most trout streams, 5 for bigger rivers, and the eight for full sink and monster streamers, or bass.


Ain't nothing like a Winston tip. And that's coming from a guy who doesn't even own one I love those green sticks - they cast like a dream

My very first rod was a winston LT 8'9" 3 weight. It is the best rod i have ever handled, plus its a 5 piece for backpacking.

My 5 and 8 are both Sage LE 9' rods. Even though they were 150 and 180 bucks, i like them more than any of the other rods i have casted,
except for my dads 9' 4 weight winston BIIx or my 8 weight fiberglass rod (yuba river rod).

[Hairstacker]

Hmmm, I'm more of a 3-5-7 type. Only thing is I don't have a 3 or a 7, yet...if I had more money to blow I would get these sticks - 8'6" 3wt is soon to be acquired:

Winston BIIx 8'6" 3wt
Winston BIIt 8' 3wt
Winston BIIt 8'6" 4wt
Winston BIIx 9' 5wt
Winston BIIx 9' 7wt

James, I can tell you've been hanging around the Winston forum, haven't you? I'm surprised you aren't getting the BIIt 8'6" 4wt. first. :lol:

[dtp916]

Hmmm, I'm more of a 3-5-7 type. Only thing is I don't have a 3 or a 7, yet...if I had more money to blow I would get these sticks - 8'6" 3wt is soon to be acquired:

Winston BIIx 8'6" 3wt
Winston BIIt 8' 3wt
Winston BIIt 8'6" 4wt
Winston BIIx 9' 5wt
Winston BIIx 9' 7wt

James, I can tell you've been hanging around the Winston forum, haven't you? I'm surprised you aren't getting the BIIt 8'6" 4wt. first. :lol:

Mike, you are right :D The Winston forum is a kick! :lol: You guys should've seen the thread on "Sage Purist" written by this guy Dtrain, so funny :lol:

Just being in the shop and casting those rods is unreal.

[BigBuddha]

I'm a 3-5-7 guy. with a bunch of 5's and a couple different 7's.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

4-6-8 might be more fun but 5-7-9 might be more practical for CA.

9' 4 piece is the top choice.

#5 line is our top seller, actually everybodies top seller.

#8 line is second in CA.

#6 line is third.

#7 is 4th.

[Pimpinmeat]

I have this discussion with friends all the time. I'm 5-7-9 guy, but I have added an 4,8 and soon either a 9 or 10. I like the 5wt the most, it's seems to cover just about everything I fish. I do however use to different 5's for different application. My SLT I use for dry fly light tippet stuff and the XP for nymphing, streamers, and bigger trout. If it were up to me, I would be a 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 guy and I'm sure I will be some day.