NDR Flyfishing

J

Jeffrey Nelson

Active member
I saw a post on here about some new trout fishing area. Last summer I went up to NC and tried to fish for fresh water Trout. I have a cheap 6# rod and reel, and quickly realized I need a lighter setup. I have a nice 9# setup for the salt that I Use down here. Far to heavy. I plan to go back this summer and would like to get a 4# rod and reel. I was hoping some of you guys might have some input on a rod and reel that's quality without killing the bank account. I am very limited on what I know about flyfishing for Trout, and could use some advice. Thanks, Jeff
 
I'll just say, there is a BIG difference between a $20 rod and a $200 rod, but not near as much difference between a $200 rod and a $500 rod.

Don't need to spend too much on a reel for that weight, all it will do is hold your line.

I have always been partial to Orvis, but that's because I bartered for most of my Orvis gear. I also have a nice, 4 piece, 4 wt., 6'-6" Fenwick that I love. It's a little short, but it's my pack rod for tiny little mountain streams.

I have several Temple Fork Outfitter, (TFO), Rods too. Those are awfully nice, and priced about right.

I would suggest, go to a reputable Fly Shop and try a few out. You'll know when you feel it.

I could go on and on...

Jon
 
I have a few higher-end fly rods. My friends and I were very impressed with Cabela's Stowaway series. (Actually introduced to us by a friend as a semi-joke on the Bighorn Mt) The rods were made in Korea and were less than $100 then and fished comparable to $600 rods we were using. I don't know if they are still the same price range but worth looking at. Might be the Three Forks Series now. I keep them in my car when I might get a chance to wet a line and don't want to worry about loosing a rod in a hotel. At $70 well worth a look.

I love the 8'6 #5 and the 7'6" #4 5-piece rods and more often leave my Winston's home on primary non-fishing travel. I recall they sold them without hard cases. I also have a 2-pc Cortland GRF 1000 #3/4, 7' that I used on small streams for years that I enjoy very much.

Tight lines.

Tom
 
Last edited:
Jeff....long time since we talked and we still need to get together....there's Snook to be caught.....


I leave for Seattle on Friday and will be gone for most of April but after I get back we need to get together....when we do I'll bring a sweet little Sage RPL 4wt and matching Reel for you to try out......take it to the mtn's and see if that's what you need for the future.......heck I've got an Orvis 1 wt that is KICK ASS on those little hatchery fish in the BlueRidge....you're welcome to try that one too......


You'll know when I'm back when you start seeing an endless stream of Pointy Dog Puppy pictures.......maybe by then this nasty water issue will be over and we can find some fish.....


Steve
 


As others have said, go cheap on the reel for smaller freshwater fish. Get a good rod and line. TFO makes a good one, and I have a 6 wt echo on order that will hopefully be my new go to smallie rod. Will report back once it's off backorder.

Where do you plan on fishing? Mtn streams, stocked waters lower down, or tailwaters? Many of the guys that fish the mountains use relatively short rigs because the brush is tight, casts are short, and the fish are generally smaller and easier to bring to hand quickly with a short, light rod. Just the opposite for tailwaters below the dams. Longer rods for longer casts because the fish are more spooky and the presentations are more delicate. I would recommend checking out little river outfitter's website. Yes, they are in TN, but they know their stuff, and they have a pretty decent forum covering tailwaters, stocked streams, and southern brook trout streams in the Smokies.

You can also get into some great smallmouth fishing up this way with that 6 wt, and that 9 weight could come in handy for some of the stripers, hybrids, and muskies up this way.
 
Years ago I bought a blank and all the necessary bits and assembled my own 7' 6" 4 wt. Saved a bundle, got a great custom rod and enjoyed the heck out of the experience. I also have a keepsake rod that has story behind it. Worth considering.
 
Jeffery, big reel, big rod 80' double haul casts? Nice inexpensive rod, reel and a good fly line. 30' casts? Lefty says Reel holds string.
Started with a $19.95 combo, caught many blues, even a couple stripers. Advanced to the big leagues and got a bigger credit card. Still holds string, expensive string.
 
I've used a 4wt Powell, and a Orvis CFO every year since the 1990's for trout with no problems so far. Usually fish 6 days a week. Some of the fish have been very respectable trout and some SM Bass. My fly line of choice is Cabela's Prestige Premier Fly Line floating WF, and I have used many others. Larger water a 5wt or 6wt for trout.
 
I have fished a bunch of different setups, most moderately priced. I agree that some cabelas rods are great value, I don't own any so can't give specifics. I can't say enough good things about TFO at that price point. My 9wt is a TFO and it has been great for about 1/4 the price I thought I was going to have to spend.

Two other brands I own, both in lighter freshwater weights that haven't been mentioned yet are Diamonback and Colton. I'm not sure Diamondback is still in business I bought it probably 10 years ago but it's my go to 5wt. The Colton I bought a few years back I believe it's a 2wt slipstream 6'6" for small water. I bought on sale for around $80 to try a smaller rod. I was blown away with how it handled. I could still throw a loop and it had back bone enough to handle 4lb lmb that I caught while testing some patterns on bluegill. After the first bass I couldn't help but catch more and never once was I out gunned, with a 2wt! If you throw small stuff in cover its worth a look at. Heard good things about their other products also.
 
Jeff--the right set-up really depends on where you'll be fishing. North Carolina could mean larger tailwater rivers below dams, in which case a 6 weight might not be appropriate.

It might also mean headwater streams in the mountains you can step across that are tight with mountain laurel and other brush, where a long cast might be 25 feet. These can put a premium on short (7' or less), light rods.

The advice above about selecting mid-priced rods is sound. If you are buying something in the $150-200 range from an outfitter like Cabela's, LL Bean, Temple Fork (agree with the praise above), Orvis, etc, you'll have good equipment. The really cheap stuff can be god-awful. I wish there was a fly rod equivalent of the cheap and functional 870 Express pump gun that looks like hell but functions well, but I haven't found it.

And while experts may appreciate the subtlety of the high end rods, there is no need to go there to get functional gear.

And for trout, reels don't matter, but a quality rod and line do.
 
or corn?

I actually liked Uncle Mike's brand salmon eggs in orange color best for stocked rainbows and worms for the brookies.
 
I appreciate all the input and recommendations. After reading all of it, which is a lot to take in at once, I have a couple of more questions...I noticed most of you recommended shorter rods. The only guy I know down here that goes up north to fish suggested a 9' rod 4pc. Is that too much rod for tight situations? What should I take into consideration when concerning rod length. I was looking at St. Croix somewhere in the middle price range. Any of you have any experience with them?
I get what you all are saying about the reel and having good line. If you guys needed new line on your reel today..... what would you buy?
Here's the stretch of water at the cabin. Maybe it will help?


Can't wait to be up there.
 
Based upon your pics, I'd say a 7'6" or 8' rod would be fine. It would be great if you could cast a few different rods...there is an incredible difference in rod action among manufacturers, and even within manufacturers. Hard to know if you prefer a slow or fast rod. Although, in my experience, fast rods in smaller sizes can be problematic; can't always get enough line out to load the rod properly. Don't forget about used rods on ebay...there's a zillion of them. I don't fish much with single hand rods anymore, but when I do, I enjoy the old Sage RPL rods. I've purchased them in like new condition on ebay for 250-275. That's a high end rod for not much bucks. Newer doesn't necessarily mean better in the world of fly rods; many of us lament discontinued Orvis and Sage (and other) lines.
As far as lines, you can't go wrong with a Cortland 444.
Gary
 
If I were you, I'd wait til I got up there and find a local fly shop to outfit you. Most will let you test drive a rod in the yard and be able to recommend some good flies.
 
Agree many good used fly rods on ebay, other sites and in fly shops. Cast the rod before you buy.

From your photo, 8foot 4wt rod, medium action. You will be roll casting, etc. much more than false casting to get to where the fish are.

Any reel will do on small trout. Large trout are a different story and small streams hold many large trout.

Also agree about the old Sage RPL mine get plenty of use. Not for small streams, as they are 9foot rods.

Line choice I have already posted.
 
Jeff,
Sometimes, it boils down to what you and the water will handle. I have a couple Heddon Black Beauty Split Bamboo Rods that I really enjoy. They have a great cadence and I picked them up at steal deals.

My favorite rods for trout are both Orvis. One is a 9', 2 piece Rocky Mountain Orvis 4 wt. The other is another Rocky Mountain Orvis 2 wt and around 7.5' or so...don't recall at the moment. In tight waters, I use the shorter 2 wt. If I have plenty of room, I mostly opt for the 4 wt. If fishing the AuSable (Michigan), I typically use the 2 wt.
Lou
 
That is some beautiful water! Makes me homesick for northeast PA.
 
I like 9' fly rods. It's rare for the rod to get in the way and frankly getting the line where you want it is more trouble than the length in tight spots... in my opinion only. Longer lever makes roll casting in tight spots easier.

As far as # of pieces, you can often get a 9' 2 piece rod in an overhead bin on an airplane, but you can ALWAYS get a 4 piece in there, even on the little two seaters. And not all car trunks or even back seats take a 2 piece rod. No problem for a truck of course :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top