Any recommendations?
I bought an old winston lt a number of years ago. It was 7ft 9" 5 piece and rated for a 2wt. I use it on the lochs for boat fishing mostly.
I tried a few but to be honest anything below 3wt is a lottery in my view. The best rod I have is a 3wt David Norwich with a medium action. A superb piece of kit and can cast when you want it too even in the wind, which is surprising. East wind will also be able to confirm how good they are.
I thought going small would be more pleasurable but it's not.
So my advice is don't waste your money.
I couldn't find a #2 or below for a reasonable sum, so I ended up going for a 6' #3 Shakespeare Agility for about 30 quid. I have yet to use it though.
I know a guy who fishes a Sage 00, even for big fish and he swears by it. I have seen a photo of a 6lb brownie and a salmon about 12lb he landed on it on very fine mono.
Alex
I phoned the Orvis shop in Banchory today about the 6 foot #2 Clearwater which would be ideal, but it's £179 and it would have to be ordered in for me, so I didn't commit as it would not be right to have them get it in and me perhaps changing my mind. Ben was very helpful, but I'm still not sure about spending that kind of money as I'm not sure how often I'd use the rod. :?
Aye Fred. Exactly how I felt about spending a few bob on something I might not use too often.
Santa dropped off a Wychwood River and Stream 6ft #2, but I'll have to wait until later in the year to use it. I've ordered a Wychwood Presentation line to accompany the rod, but struggling to find a reel at a reasonable price.
Will I use it, aye every time I go to my wee local river. I'm very confident that it'll make that experience even more enjoyable.
Quote from: Ed on January 18, 2014, 12:28:31 PM
Santa dropped off a Wychwood River and Stream 6ft #2, but I'll have to wait until later in the year to use it. I've ordered a Wychwood Presentation line to accompany the rod, but struggling to find a reel at a reasonable price.
Will I use it, aye every time I go to my wee local river. I'm very confident that it'll make that experience even more enjoyable.
I bought an Okuma reel last year for my 3 weight for £20, seems ok for the price
Just something to hold the line
I have an rdp 7ft6 1wt and an orvis troutbum 7ft6 1wt, the former being the slightly slower rod.
The rdp is semi custom but very reasonablely priced and also available in 6ft. You can also order the blanks to make your own.
Mike Barrio is now also doing a 1wt small stream line.
I use mine both on rivers and lochs and as long as not fighting a wind, where i step up to my 9ft 3wt.
If you already have a 3wt, i would drop 2 sizes to a 1wt, but if your rods are bigger, a 2wt might be more attractive as more widely available.
The fladden 7 ft is a 3 weight I use on small rivers thats about £20
Quote from: admin on January 17, 2014, 11:22:14 PM
I didn't commit as it would not be right to have them get it in and me perhaps changing my mind. Ben was very helpful, but I'm still not sure about spending that kind of money as I'm not sure how often I'd use the rod. :?
What about a 3# or 3/4# (7' or 8') which would fulfil the role you want it for but also be useable for other occasions?
Someone mentioned some of the lightweight Wychwood rods. I've used my mate's 3# Truefly on the local a few times. 7' I think. We swapped for a while as he reckoned my Sonik SK3 3/4# (8') might be somewhat similar in feel and action. We both agreed that each rod worked well for small streams but (to my joy) he suggested that my Sonik was much easier to roll-cast for some reason, and despite the extra foot was maybe overall a better rod in terms of "feel" (which is, of course, a very subjective thing). That said I really enjoyed using the Truefly so it could just be a case of "the grass is greener on the other side". In terms of price, the Truefly (assuming you can find one now as the original line has been superseded) was available at around £79-£99 and the Sonik about the same (I got mine for a lot less in an end-offline sale and i'm
very happy with it). I believe Sonik do a very inexpensive rod called the SKS now which retails at a lower price than the SK3.
Incidentally, i haven't seen anyone on here speak of (or admit to? ;) ) using a Sonik rod. Maybe i'm in a Sonik minority of one on WFF then? :lol:
Quote from: Alan on January 19, 2014, 12:52:56 AM
When your used to a heavier rod all lighter rods feel great, does the Fladen vantage come in a 2 weight? at £20 quid that would be my first option.
..And a 1 weight line most likely.
I think thats true but im a light line convert now. Been using 3wts for around 5 seasons for every type of fishing. They can handle big fish as well and cast a reasonable line, even in the wind.
I use an orvis 2wt superfine for most small river fishing. I think the line cuts through the wind , compensating for any lack of power and probably for the same reason I find it accurate at short to medium distances. What I cant do with it, Malcolm ably demonstrated one day on the river, casting under trees and at distance I struggle with a 5wt! Great rod and worth the money, to me.
Quote from: Alan on January 19, 2014, 12:52:56 AM
does the Fladen vantage come in a 2 weight? at £20 quid that would be my first option.
I have the lightest one they do 7 foot #3. I had actually forgotten I had it! :lol: Once you remove the garish chrome stickers they are OK. I bought two some time ago to try. They were under £20 each. I gave one away to one of my sons I think.
Like all the cheap carbon rods I have tried they are a bit poker-like with stiff tips.
I tried my Fladen 7 foot #3 I had forgotten I had :lol: with a Wildfisher Stream Stealth #3 in the park this morning. Was even able to cast it straight into he teeth of the gale that was blowing. I don't like the rod though, it's just too stiff. The Fladen is great for the gale, not so great for lightweight fishing on small streams.
Last season I used a 6ft 3wt bamboo rod I picked up off eBay, it was great fun on the Luther making the most of the bandies.
Following a heads up from Stonepark I trotted along to Angler's Choice in Dundee this morning and bought a Greys (yes I know!) GS2 7 foot 2 weight 4pc on sale at £49
It is sweet, feather weight, mid to tip action and proved a delight to cast with the prototype Wildfisher Stream Stealth #2 weight line. I know Greys have a reputation for 4 pc turning into 5 pc, but at the price it's worth a shot.
The Wildfisher Stream Stealth #2 will be added to the range shortly as I have had several request to produce a high quality #2 weight line for under £20 and have now done this. :8)
I've got a couple of greys rods and never had a problem with them. You can't go too far wrong at that price.
The rod is lovely to cast Robbie. I won't bother even registering for the warranty though.
£25 handling charge + 10% of RRP per broken section (not the sale price). That would come in at £33 + shipping. For a rod that cost only £49 it's pointless.
I have been going down the lower rod wt & line wt last couple of years.Just bought another Flextec Streamtec before they disappear as they have been discontinued i think.I have them in various lengths & weights but didn't have the 9 ft in 3 wt already had it in 4wt.Just ordered one of the stealth 3wt lines for it.Might order a 2 wt stealth line for it latter on if i think it will cast a 2 wt line.I never really got on with those Fladen Vantage rods too poker like for me too.Cheers All
Have spoken to Flextec via email, they are not discontinuing the Streamtec and have a large order due in before the end of the month, so future supplies should be assured.
An update on this topic. I used the Greys GS2 7 foot 2 weight 4pc today for the first time along with a Wildfisher Stream Stealth line. I had a great day and took some nice fish on it.
More here: http://www.wildfisher.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=22994.20 (http://www.wildfisher.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=22994.20)