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Author Topic: beginner fly rod question - 5 wt vs 6 wt  (Read 40201 times)

TightLinesMaine

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beginner fly rod question - 5 wt vs 6 wt
« on: Aug 05, 2013, 10:35 PM »
hey, new to the fly fishing world looking to get a 5 or a 6 wt fly rod, heard both are good sizes for a beginner, hoping to land trout/salmon(LL's) in the 1-6 lb range, my question is: would a 6 lb hard fighting,lets say for example, Landlocked salmon be too much to handle on a 5 wt rod in strong class 1-3 rapids?, or would a 6 wt be a better choice?, granted i wont be hooking into fish that big all the time but i need to know if i hook "the big one" would a 5 wt comfortably be able to land it? would like to get a 5 wt because a 6 wt im thinking might be overkill for where ill be using the rod (mostly hoping to use it fishing for trout/salmon in the 13-20" range)

any thoughts/opinions i greatly appreciate thanks lets hear em

also, can a 5 wt fly rod cast as far as a 6 wt fly rod?? or does that just depend on length of the fly rod?

additionally what would be the difference in a 8'6" vs 9'0" 6 wt? casting distance farther with the 9'? does 6 inches make a difference?

stripernut

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Re: beginner fly rod question - 5 wt vs 6 wt
« Reply #1 on: Aug 05, 2013, 10:47 PM »
I land 28" stripers on a 5 wt with out to long a fight, so I don't think that would be a problem...

To me, rod size is dictated more by the size of the flies you thing you will be casting most of the time. Big streamers and poppers need the bigger rod, midges, not so much...

I am sure other will have differing opinion.

Good luck and welcome to fly fishing!

TightLinesMaine

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Re: beginner fly rod question - 5 wt vs 6 wt
« Reply #2 on: Aug 05, 2013, 11:45 PM »
I land 28" stripers on a 5 wt with out to long a fight, so I don't think that would be a problem...

To me, rod size is dictated more by the size of the flies you thing you will be casting most of the time. Big streamers and poppers need the bigger rod, midges, not so much...

I am sure other will have differing opinion.

Good luck and welcome to fly fishing!

can a 5 wt toss big streamers far (say up to size 4)?

rgfixit

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Re: beginner fly rod question - 5 wt vs 6 wt
« Reply #3 on: Aug 06, 2013, 12:44 AM »
Yes! A 5wt will turn over big flies it will also drop a midge as if it floated from the sky with the correct line, leader and tippet.
A far as weight is concerned, I fly fish carp in streams and regularly land fish in the 8 - 15lb range with my 3 weight. It's a good 3wt and fitted with a quality reel. Many days I use a WF4F line on that rod. It's a pretty fast action and handles the extra line weight well. Much better in the wind than a DT3F.

Much depends on your casting technique. Take some lessons to avoid developing bad habits from the start. Any good fly shop will help you. If they won't, buy your stuff elsewhere.

RG

If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

TightLinesMaine

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Re: beginner fly rod question - 5 wt vs 6 wt
« Reply #4 on: Aug 06, 2013, 09:56 AM »
thx any other opinions?

TightLinesMaine

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Re: beginner fly rod question - 5 wt vs 6 wt
« Reply #5 on: Aug 06, 2013, 10:21 AM »
found this on a website, does this seem accurate?

#5 Weight Fly Rods
    ~ Considered medium light
    ~ One of the most popular sizes for general trout fishing
    ~ Fishes tippets down to 2 pound test
    ~ Works well with tippets of 3 to 10 pound test
    ~ Works well with bushy dries up to size #6 or tiny emergers down to size #20
    ~ Casts comfortably to ranges of 60 feet with a size #12 fly
    ~ Feels good with mountain cutthroats or Alaska rainbows (9" to 5 lb.)
#6 Weight Fly Rods
    ~ Considered medium weight
    ~ The most versatile size
    ~ Works well with tippets of 3 to 10 pound test
    ~ Casts bushy #4 dries to 50 feet easily and is delicate enough to fish flies down to size #18 effectively
    ~ Will throw #4 cork poppers or deer hair mice
    ~ Has enough line mass to deliver large weighted nymphs to 60 feet and #10 unweighted flies to 90 feet

TightLinesMaine

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Re: beginner fly rod question - 5 wt vs 6 wt
« Reply #6 on: Aug 10, 2013, 11:11 AM »
does no one post in this section regularly? ><

still would like to hear some opinions thx!

stripernut

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Re: beginner fly rod question - 5 wt vs 6 wt
« Reply #7 on: Aug 10, 2013, 11:53 AM »
I would think about what type of fishing you might want to do in the future? If you think that all you will ever do is Salmon /trout, then go with the 5wt, if you might want to go after bass or something else bigger go with the 6wt... Most all of my fly fishing I get by just fine with 5 wts and 9 wts. I sometime think a 7wt would be nice when I am out on the Colorado River and am working with big flies, wind and long casts. But I also want a 13/14 wt for big tarpon and tuna... Never enough time or money!!!!

If you grow to love fly fishing one rod will most likely not be enough anyways!

TightLinesMaine

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Re: beginner fly rod question - 5 wt vs 6 wt
« Reply #8 on: Aug 10, 2013, 12:02 PM »
I would think about what type of fishing you might want to do in the future? If you think that all you will ever do is Salmon /trout, then go with the 5wt, if you might want to go after bass or something else bigger go with the 6wt... Most all of my fly fishing I get by just fine with 5 wts and 9 wts. I sometime think a 7wt would be nice when I am out on the Colorado River and am working with big flies, wind and long casts. But I also want a 13/14 wt for big tarpon and tuna... Never enough time or money!!!!

If you grow to love fly fishing one rod will most likely not be enough anyways!

im going to get a 5'9''-6' 3 wt as well in the future for small stream trout, and i dont feel the need (atleast right now or in the near future) to go for bass/pike on a fly rod, ill use my spin rod for that..,

i guess my only worry about going for the 5 WT would be not being able to cast big/heavy streamers far distances, or is there that much of a difference between casting a 5 WT and a 6 WT?

stripernut

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Re: beginner fly rod question - 5 wt vs 6 wt
« Reply #9 on: Aug 10, 2013, 02:40 PM »
Quote
i guess my only worry about going for the 5 WT would be not being able to cast big/heavy streamers far distances, or is there that much of a difference between casting a 5 WT and a 6 WT?

MUCH more will depend on your skill as a caster than the difference between a 5wt and a 6wt...

MickeyFinn

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Re: beginner fly rod question - 5 wt vs 6 wt
« Reply #10 on: Aug 13, 2013, 09:00 AM »
A 5wt will turn streamers over, where you are going to have some issues I with weighted flies... They will lag a bit until you get used to throwing them and make an adjustment.... Honestly I'd recommend a 6wt... They have a little more back bone and since you mentioned Salmon the extra backbone will be at your liking....
With that said, I fish for Salmon ,Browns, Brookies, Bass,Crappies, Pike..... I've used a 5wt to target all.... But I bought a 7/8wt a few years ago and I use it for everything now.... I just like the distance I get out of it when I'm casting big flies which is what I cast 95% of the time.... The other downside of 5wts is if the wind is blowing steadily it can make for a long day.....
5wts have their place and in my opinion its on a small stream casting small flies.... I know you can do he opposite because I have done it.... But once you have casted big flies with ease at long distances with a bigger weight rod you'll wonder why you screwed around with a smaller weight....
We were biting this morning, we were biting this morning, we were biting this morning......

TightLinesMaine

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Re: beginner fly rod question - 5 wt vs 6 wt
« Reply #11 on: Aug 13, 2013, 09:35 AM »
A 5wt will turn streamers over, where you are going to have some issues I with weighted flies... They will lag a bit until you get used to throwing them and make an adjustment.... Honestly I'd recommend a 6wt... They have a little more back bone and since you mentioned Salmon the extra backbone will be at your liking....
With that said, I fish for Salmon ,Browns, Brookies, Bass,Crappies, Pike..... I've used a 5wt to target all.... But I bought a 7/8wt a few years ago and I use it for everything now.... I just like the distance I get out of it when I'm casting big flies which is what I cast 95% of the time.... The other downside of 5wts is if the wind is blowing steadily it can make for a long day.....
5wts have their place and in my opinion its on a small stream casting small flies.... I know you can do he opposite because I have done it.... But once you have casted big flies with ease at long distances with a bigger weight rod you'll wonder why you screwed around with a smaller weight....

great! very helpful thx, im leaning toward the 6 wt because that little extra casting distance could be make or break

TightLinesMaine

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Re: beginner fly rod question - 5 wt vs 6 wt
« Reply #12 on: Aug 13, 2013, 12:43 PM »
guess my last question would be do smaller sized (10-15") inch trout/salmon still feel pretty good (do they bend the rod?) on a 6 wt? i dont want overkill in the heavy rod dept. fishing for smaller class trout


additionally what would be the difference in a 8'6" vs 9'0" 6 wt? casting distance farther with the 9'? does 6 inches make a difference? will probably be using streamers/nypmhs most of the time (i will not be using dries very much) so guessing the 9 ft would be a better choice?

MickeyFinn

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Re: beginner fly rod question - 5 wt vs 6 wt
« Reply #13 on: Aug 13, 2013, 02:39 PM »
guess my last question would be do smaller sized (10-15") inch trout/salmon still feel pretty good (do they bend the rod?) on a 6 wt? i dont want overkill in the heavy rod dept. fishing for smaller class trout


additionally what would be the difference in a 8'6" vs 9'0" 6 wt? casting distance farther with the 9'? does 6 inches make a difference? will probably be using streamers/nypmhs most of the time (i will not be using dries very much) so guessing the 9 ft would be a better choice?

For the most part a longer rod gives you a higher casting plain equaling longer casting ability.... But as you become a better caster rod length shouldn't be a big issue unless you sitting right on the water and even then good casters seem to adjust in those scenarios....

I've casted a few short rods in my day 7' -8'ers and I prefer 9'6"  its more of a line control thing for me and that's while I'm casting and while my line is on the water..... Longer rods are more accurate as the tip is closer to the target also roll casting with a longer rod can be achieved at greater distances with minimal loading.... I can roll cast my 9'6" 7wt 15+ yards with trees at my back with a flick of the wrist.... This is where I'm referring to line line control.... Your only issue is going to be if you are fishing an enclosed canopy tree line setting where you have trees over your head... But then if that's the case you're probably fishing a stream that's 10 feet wide and if you put some practice in you can get into DIP fishing.. Basically when you do this you're just taking a knee at the bank behind a tree and dangling a fly off the tip.... So again the longer rod is to your benefit.... Also mending lines and riding Eddy's or dragging flys, swinging flys is much easier with a longer rod...

Everyone has their own method or madness and style to using fly rods, some some like smaller weight rods because they have fun trying to haul in 16 inch trout or bass on them... Don't get me wrong I like the feeling also I own a 4wt.... Granted I haven't broke it out in probably 5 years but I have had a lot of fun with it dealing in giant crappies and medium sized trout...... You aren't going to be over killing trout with a 6wt intact there will come a time when you hook into that 25inch brown or salmon and you say dang I gotta get a 7 wt. Then it'll go to 8, 9, 10 then you'll say ahh I need a spey rod..... lol.... Anyway I think you see my point.....
We were biting this morning, we were biting this morning, we were biting this morning......

rgfixit

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Re: beginner fly rod question - 5 wt vs 6 wt
« Reply #14 on: Aug 13, 2013, 05:09 PM »
Here's what will happen...in 20 or so years. You'll have a collection.

Mine currently contains;
2,3,a few 5's, 6 (a couple), 7/8(including a bamboo), 8/9, 10 and a 10wt bamboo.

Of all of them I like 2 the best for the streams I fish. My 3wt TFO Finesse and my 5wt Pfleuger President IM6. I use them all during the year, but those 2 get the most attention.

RG
If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

 



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