Do you have a shorter lighter fly rod for small stream dry fly fishing?

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I love the 8' #3 line softer action rods for dry fly small freestone stream fishing.

I really enjoyed turning folks onto an outfit like that.

Many trout anglers have a 9' #5 line 4 piece rod that is fairly fast action so it is not as much fun on small streams.




Years ago I had a new Sage 'Light Line' 279 LL 2 piece (7'9" #2 line) fly rod with an Orvis CFO II reel and a DT2F Peach 444 Cortland line in a Harding & Sons rod and reel case.

I lent it to Don Kohn to take up to a little stream by his house in Grass Valley.

Don came back a few days later and bought the exact complete outfit from me, including the rod & reel case.



Would make a nice Christmas gift?
.

[EricO]

Hey Bill,

When I have space for my rod to load...cuz it's a slooooooooow rod, I use an Orvis Superfine 7'9" 2wt full flex.
I use it with an Orvis CFO 1-3 reel for small streams or small lake fishing. Not too good for tight quarters since it's so slow.
But great for dry flies when I have space.

The reel has several flat spots on the rim, but continues to work. Love Orvis products.

I'll be using it this Saturday at my favorite small lake with the 'ol float tube.

I also have an Orvis Hydros 3wt that is fast action, so better for nymphing or throwing small buggers.

Eric

[PV_Premier]

Rods, plural...

TFO Finesse #1 weight 6'9" w/ Redington Drift reel and DT2 Rio line
Redington Classic trout #3 weight 7'6" w/ Orvis Battenkill II and WF3F Rio line

Girl friend uses an Echo #2 glass 6'2" w/ the same line/reel setup as my #1

I also have a Redington Hydrogen #3 weight 9'0" w/ Redington rise 3/4 reel and WF4F Rio line (I rarely use this rod on small streams, but instead use it a lot on the NFYR, Silver Fork, LT, and Upper Sac for both dries and light nymph rigs as those streams have adequate casting space for a 9' rod and the extra reach is useful)

Yes, we have a small stream problem...LOL

[BumbleZ]

I use a St. Croix, 8 foot, 4 wt. It throws a nice loop and I can shoot the line out pretty far for such a lightweight rod. I've had it about 20 years and use it more than any other rod.

[yubaman]

Yes! Sage TCL 1 weight. It is an awesome small stream rod. Believe it or not, this rod has landed a 20" rainbow on El Dorado Creek. Also great for the NF Yuba.

[mogaru]

I have a temple fork finesse 7'9" 3 wt with a new pflueger reel (1-3 wt) and it's great......deadly with dries on the north fork Yuba

[Bill Markwood]

Echo Carbon XL 7'-4" 2wt
and
Cabelas CZN 9'-6" 3wt

They're both fun rods.

[Idadon]

Orvis Superfine 1wt 7'6". Orvis makes a carbon Superfine now but haven't tried one.

Just a heads-up, Cabelas has those CZN 9'6" 3 weights on sale in their Bargain Cave for $119. Like Bill Markwood says it's a fun rod and long enough to do that Czech Nymphing style on those little creeks.

[tcorfey]

Bill good call, especially as fall sets in the streams are a little smaller and the trees have moved in, those shorter rods make it easy to get a roll cast under the overhangs.

Rods I have in this type are:
6' 3wt Granger fiberglass
6' 2wt Redington Butterstick
6' 3wt Bamboo
7'6" 4wt Payne 100 bamboo
7'6" 3wt Orvis Superfine Carbon
7'9" 3wt Sage VT2

Regards, Tim C.

[Troutstalker55B]

My all time favorite rod for small streams and one I grew up with as a kid is a 1974 Walton Powell 8' 3, 4, 5 weight first generation graphite. Slow/medium action, and combined with the RIO "light line" with John Quigley"s fueled leader is the total dry fly experience. Not my everyday rod, but my most cherished. - J.