Just wondering what length/weight/brand rod you guys like for largemouth bass? Thanks very much.

Anywhere form 3 to 8. I know that sounds like a cop-out answer but there are all kinds of bass fishing. Safest is an eight, can be a bit of overkill at times but covers all bases.

I know what you mean about the ranges. I currently use an 8.5', 5 wt.(for sunfish), but would like something a little bigger for bass, maybe a 9' 7 or 8 wt.

if you plan on casting big bugs and poppers go with an 8wt, it can double as a redfish rod on the coast

i like to use a 6wt. works great.

Bwah hah hah, (arch laugh) Guess you'll have to get one or more of each like I did. Come over to the Dark Side Jedi

Seriously though, look at what size flies you'll be fishing mostly as well as where (high winds, heavycover).

Kinda depends on your fishing environment and your own "happies". Heavy cover like stumps, trees, rocks and even floating vegitation calls for heavier equipment like an 8wt.
Big flies need a heavier rod. Heavier, longer rods also help any fly punch thru this Texas wind as well. Sometimes carp and catfish don't read the "Bass Only" sign on my offerings.

Bottom line is what makes you happy. My personal hawg waller is a 9.5 ft Lefty Kreh Pro model Temple Fork. $159 and outcasts most other big name sticks.

I have a 5 weight. It is okay for smaller bass, but not for a good sized one at any means. I think this is great for trout, and panfish. But if I were gonna target largemouth, I would go with a seven or eight weight. Eight if you are gonna use it just for largemouth.

I have a 9' - 6/7wt which I've found will handle large, bulky flies and BIG bass.

Things are looking up around here Cliff is back!

Hey Cliff,
great to see you are back!

In a few months I'm gonna have to get a bigger weight fly rod myself. I bought a five weight thinking it was gonna be my only fly rod. Well now it seems the rod won't cast bass bugs, which really doesn't make me happy. I am torn between getting a 7wt or an 8wt. I am a 48 year old woman and I don't know if a 8 wt would be too much for me, with a large reel attached to it. I have arthritis in my hands and find a roll cast hard on my shoulder. I think for most conditions my five weight is plenty. BUT, if I am targeting LMB or Pickerel....I need more toughness in a rod. So what do you people with much more experience think about this?

i really like casting jansen minnows and clousers to schoolies and and 7 wt rod with 8 wt line works great for long distances. just my .$02

Kelly

I hope someone else chimes in here - I have an idea that a two-handed rod might work well for casters with arthritic or otherwise damaged joints or muscles. All the extra leverage could make it far easier to cast.

Also look at these Lefty Kreh videos:

video 1

video 2

video 3

Thank you for the replies. I do not know what a jansen minnow is, I will have to look that up. I can cast a small clouser, but not the big bass bugs with my rod. Robin, I have thought of that too, until I took a look at the price....they are very expensive. Mainly my left thumb is the worst part of the hand issue. When I get tired, I will just switch to another kind of fishing, or take a break. Roll casting is the only thing that seems to bother my shoulder. So I am going to work on other casts, and see how I do at them. My main problem is getting the longer cast I need. I will take a look at the videos you mentioned. Thanks guys.

I took a look at the videos. I have seen the same one in the past. But I decided I should watch it again. Pt 3 was especially important to me. I am still overpowering my cast, and that is probably why I have my shoulder pain in the roll cast. I think part of it was I don't normally do that particular motion, and it put a strain on me by repeating that motion over and over. I think too that I may switch off and cast with my other hand some, to help alleviate some of the joint aggravation I am experiencing. Thanks again for the help.

Overpowering is a big thing deal, makes for some uncomfortable muscles and bones and lots of people do it... a lot! Generally it takes about 1/4 the effort you're putting into it if you just put your stops in the right place and tell yourself to pause between casts and just generally slow down.

If roll casting is bothering you, you can stop. Don't let anybody fool you into thinking there is any situation where you HAVE to roll cast. You can always turn your body sideways and cast in front of you sidearm or something. I fished hardcore for about 8 years before ever learning to roll cast because I didn't know it existed and by the time I did I didn't know why.

I see you're in NE Texas. I live in Lewisville, I'm a certified casting instructor and I give free lessons. Feel free to PM me if you're close enough to drive to Lewisville for a lesson and you feel like working on your casting.

Now as far as the bass bugs. There is more than one way to skin a cat. I try to go for flies with the illusion of bulk (either big in size but light to throw, or, small flies that push lots of water or flash a lot) in order to save a lot of casting trouble. Deer or wool heads and rabbit tails look great in the water, those and/or rubber legs are the absolute worse fly materials to try and cast. There are better (well maybe I should say different) ways.

As far as an 8 weight goes, you'll probably be surprised to find it's not much heavier than the 5. Test cast a few. Also if that doesn't work, you can always fish a shooting head on a 6 weight ( a line that weighs as much as an 8 weight, but, because you throw it on a 6 weight rod with a 6 weight-sized reel, you are casting a lighter outfit).

Very nice offer Dave!

I have to agree. If she is having shoulder pain it's the result of overpowering and rushing the forward stroke. Try and cast from the elbow more (keep it in closer to your body),and slowwwwww down. Go back to watching your back cast roll out and feel for that rod loading. IMO, the best way to stop overpowering is to perfect your timing. The energy in the cast is imparted from the loading of the rod not the strength of your arm. A good cast should look and feel effortless. Watch someone like Flip Pallot, Joan Wulff or Lefty Kreh cast a fly and you will know what I mean.

Thank you Long-Haired Dave. Lewisville is 3-3.5 hours away I am guessing. I will take you up on your offer. I can't do it this week though. Too much is going on right now, so I can't slip away.
I will send you a pm on this off the forum. I am just thrilled you would help me like that. THANK YOU. :-0

Spiny that is great advice, thank you very much. I did watch Joan and Lefty before. I have not heard of Flip Pallot, so I will see if I can find a You Tube on him.

I hope you can find some vid. I love to watch him cast. He used to have a regular fishing show but I have not seen it in a while.
Big ol' barrell chest and skinny legs makes him look like the most ungainly human to ever set foot on a flats skiff, but put a fly rod in his hands and he is transformed into a graceful artist.

5 wt is perfect for pickeral but not large bass - a 6/7 is perfect for bass and not too heavy - sort of like a med action bass rod. i also fish with a 8/9 and it wears me out and i'm a big guy.(and older than you)

good luck

Thanks then builderal, that settles that. I must get a seven wt then.

Kelkay,

I just posted a mouthful under the topic "Fly Rod" on this site. I hope it helps. BTW my wife has fished with me for many years and whatever we fish for, she always uses her 4wt Sage. She is a great example of keeping her casts short and although I can sometimes exceed her limits (size 4-6 hair flies and 60-100 foot casts into 25-50 mph winds - Argentina and Salt Water), she always gets more than her share.

Also, no one asked what rod you were using and what action it had. I've found that many rods are too limber and that a faster action will cut down on your effort and frustration. Also there is a reason that rods like Sage and G. Loomis are expensive. Their material and design are vastly superior like the cars I discussed in the other post. So when you go for your next rod, like others above have said, try several out, then get the one that fits you.

Doug

Pulp Fisher, I have a Dogwood Canyon Bass Pro rod/reel combo. It was about 90 bucks when I bought it, or a little more. I was brand new to fly fishing, and it was the first set up I ever saw that I could afford. I believe it is either med or med fast action. One of the guys who helped me cast said my rod was pretty limber, so that is probably one reason I'm having a hard time. I noticed he could outcast me by several feet without even trying though. I think practice with the right technique is the key. I have not casted enough to get good I guess. What gets me is I read how some guys that teach spey casting say that they have had people brand new who can cast so and so far... maybe I am just expecting too much for the time I have been fly casting. But this is why I stopped after trying it a few years ago. I didn't know a soul who did fly fishing. I did not have a computer to see how to do it. Seeing something is so much easier than trying to copy that movement from a book.
I will look at what you wrote on the other post.