05-06-2004, 02:14 PM
[cool][blue][size 1]Hey, FM, you were not too specific on species, but I am gonna guess you were thinking about troutskis when you posted your question.[/size][/blue]
[#0000ff][size 1]I too favor a 9 foot for 5 or 6 for most trouting. I use full floating double taper, sink tip or a range of densities in sinking lines, depending on how deep I need to dredge. That same setup has also put me into a lot of crappies, bluegills, white bass, walleyes, largemouth and even a fair number of channel cats.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]If you wanna throw heavy streamers, buggers or hair bugs, you might want to add a 7 or 8 weight stick to your arsenal. The stouter rod is especially helpful if you are trying to cast in any kind of breeze.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I have had the opportunity to fish with (borrowed) 10 foot rods...a 5 weight and an 8. Based on the feel and control of the extra foot of rod, I plan to build a 5 or 6 weight 10 footer for myself. It is surprising how much better you can control the line with that little extra length on the rod. And, if you get a good light blank, the weight is not noticeably more.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]For larger rods and heavier lines, I don't think I would go over 9 feet from a tube. Well, maybe from a regular round boat, where you sit lower in the water. But, if you have a pontoon, or one of the newer designs in kickboats, Vboats or Uboats, you will sit higher in the water and the extra length is not nearly so crucial.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]That being said, I lost one of my alltime favorite rods and have considered replacing it. It was a 7 foot 3 weight toy that could punch out some surprising casts...even in a tube. It was a joy to fish all day without beating myself up, and every bluegill felt like a 10 pound brown.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I also have an 8 1/2 foot 6 weight that I built on an old super-thin boron blank several years ago. The action is a bit stiffer than I like, but it is great for nymphing. The sensitivity of the boron telegraphs the lightest tick.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I just recently bequeathed an old Fenwick HMG 9010 (9 ft. 10 weight) to TubeN2. I got it many years ago when graphite rods were just coming out. I used it to beat up a lot of salmon, steelhead and stripers in California and some big redfish in Louisiana. Since TubeN2 is a California boy, and enjoys waving a fairy wand from his FishCat, I elected to put it back into action...with someone who could get some good use out of it. I used to use heavy shooting heads with that puppy. It would beat you to death to wave a heavy line over your head all day.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Well, was that TOO MUCH INFORMATION?[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]By the way, what are some of your favorite patterns?[/size][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][size 1]I too favor a 9 foot for 5 or 6 for most trouting. I use full floating double taper, sink tip or a range of densities in sinking lines, depending on how deep I need to dredge. That same setup has also put me into a lot of crappies, bluegills, white bass, walleyes, largemouth and even a fair number of channel cats.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]If you wanna throw heavy streamers, buggers or hair bugs, you might want to add a 7 or 8 weight stick to your arsenal. The stouter rod is especially helpful if you are trying to cast in any kind of breeze.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I have had the opportunity to fish with (borrowed) 10 foot rods...a 5 weight and an 8. Based on the feel and control of the extra foot of rod, I plan to build a 5 or 6 weight 10 footer for myself. It is surprising how much better you can control the line with that little extra length on the rod. And, if you get a good light blank, the weight is not noticeably more.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]For larger rods and heavier lines, I don't think I would go over 9 feet from a tube. Well, maybe from a regular round boat, where you sit lower in the water. But, if you have a pontoon, or one of the newer designs in kickboats, Vboats or Uboats, you will sit higher in the water and the extra length is not nearly so crucial.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]That being said, I lost one of my alltime favorite rods and have considered replacing it. It was a 7 foot 3 weight toy that could punch out some surprising casts...even in a tube. It was a joy to fish all day without beating myself up, and every bluegill felt like a 10 pound brown.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I also have an 8 1/2 foot 6 weight that I built on an old super-thin boron blank several years ago. The action is a bit stiffer than I like, but it is great for nymphing. The sensitivity of the boron telegraphs the lightest tick.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I just recently bequeathed an old Fenwick HMG 9010 (9 ft. 10 weight) to TubeN2. I got it many years ago when graphite rods were just coming out. I used it to beat up a lot of salmon, steelhead and stripers in California and some big redfish in Louisiana. Since TubeN2 is a California boy, and enjoys waving a fairy wand from his FishCat, I elected to put it back into action...with someone who could get some good use out of it. I used to use heavy shooting heads with that puppy. It would beat you to death to wave a heavy line over your head all day.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Well, was that TOO MUCH INFORMATION?[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]By the way, what are some of your favorite patterns?[/size][/#0000ff]
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