quick question....when you say a different weight....you are talking about line right?

i have right now the NXT with 5/6 Wt. line.
is each rod built for different line weights?
could i use a lighter line with the rod i have now?

i am still new to this so please forgive me for asking...but won't a 5/6 Wt. line work just as good as anything below it, such as 1, 2, etc? does it make that much of a difference? i know moving on to heavier lines for bigger fishes, but really for smaller fish? if anything would make a difference i thought it would be the weight of the tippet. what is different line weight going to accomplish?

so....are you guys suggesting to buy more spools with different weighted lines that i can switch in and out of....or to buy more reels that have different line weights? or maybe a new reel that comes with more spools that i can switch out

compared to other rods, how does the NXT do with regards to sensitivity? are there rods out there that would make a small fish feel like a real fight?

if i am just fishing the local ponds, lakes, streams of TX...is there one rod & reel I could use for all of this?

and i thought this was going to be a relaxing sport for me
so confused...Rex...when is your next meeting...i need help

You really should get a book on beginning fly fishing or (as you said) attend a meeting with more experienced fly guys. anyway this will get you started & I hope it answers your question and makes things a bit clearer.
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/lp2/fly-fishing-guide.html

Always, get a 4 piece ! ( or a 5 piece )

Hi there,

BAB recommendations for a good beginners book is absolutely great advice -- before spending any more money on equipment I would spend it on a good book.

What has been suggested for a second outfit, is a completely separate rod, reel and line. I would not suggest mismatching line weights (over or under lining) on rods UNTIL you have some experience and sought casting help from more experienced fly casters.

Rods are listed as specific weights (ie your current is a 5/6) and they are designed to work best with a matching weight line. So on your current rod a 5wt line or a 6wt line is optimum for best performance.

What has been suggested is get a lighter or heavier rod to fit more specific conditions (bigger flies, wind = heavier rod) (smaller flies, more delicate presentations and, typically but not always, smaller fish = lighter rod).

If you want just one rod that best fits MOST freshwater situations a 5wt or 6wt is the best bet -- which is what you have.

If you want to upgrade to a better rod, then take your reel and current line with you to a shop and see if the salesman will work with you to let you test cast some different rods -- and help with any casting questions you may have.

Vance, the next meeting is July 7 in Sherman. I'll add a few more comments a little later today.

Rex

great link!!!
thank you!!!

thank you.......i have gotten to know one of the guys as bass pro shops in grapevine(great guy...learned a lot from him)...i am sure we would let me test out the rods!

was thinking about getting a book before i take off for my mini vacation in 2 weeks!

thanks again!

rex -
thanks for the info...i should be able to make it....i will be back by then!!
also thanks rex for getting me set up with the TFO outfit i have now & that casting lesson a few weeks ago....without your guidance i would be lost!! it's not like you can watch this on tv and get an idea of what is going on!

BAB - again thanks for the link....i have been looking for sites that have this type of info in one place....usually the info is all over the place!

you think a 4 piece is better then a 2 piece...i have a 4 piece now & was going to look at a 2 piece cause there would be less for me to mess up

quick question - if i were to get a heavier rod & reel & therefore use a heavier line....i should still be able to catch those small little fish right? right now i catch tiny tiny blue gills on my 5/6.

I'm Inept and a newbie, but my 5 wt has been doing good on fish up to 20" cats so far. I have a 7 wt, but it really isn't any good for the tiny flies you toss for perch. If you are looking to toss bigger flies, go with a 7, if you are looking for more challenge with the perch, go for a 3. "Why not a 4?" you ask. Well, I don't see the sense in all the even numbers. Hardly ever used them when I used to golf either.

I prefer a two piece rod, simply because they attach quicker. If you plan to travel with it, get a four or five piece. The time to upgrade is whenever you can afford it and want to. There is no set time. As long as you love fly fishing, then get what makes you happy. I would get another wt rod instead of replacing what you have if you are a newbie and want to upgrade...but that is just me. I have a five wt, and an 8wt. I would love to try a six and seven wt, and a four weight...but no money so it doesn't matter at this point. My 8wt hurts my back after a while of fishing with it. The five wt doesn't. So I may need to get a 7wt eventually. But right now I am perfectly happy with what I have. An upgrade would always be wonderful, but those things aren't cheap. The rod, reel, and line is quite expensive to me once you add it all up.

Your question about how many pcs. should a rod have. JMHO is if you are or might be flying go with at least 4pcs per 9' rod. If you are going to be driving to most locations then a 2pc. is good. Sorry need to add that if you are driving a small car go with the 4pc.(or greater) rods. I drive an Explorer and 2pc. rods fit nicely. Keep asking question that we can think of ourselves as smart

Hello Vance, I'll try to answer some of the questions, but we're going to start getting technical and personal opinion and preferences start coming into play.

First, the easy one. The difference between a 2 pc rod and 4 (or 5) pc rod is just ease of transportation. 4 pc rods are much easier to carry on an airplane. 2 pc rods can often be found at a lower price.

Fly rod sizes are based on the size of the fly line that is appropriate for the rod. Fly line sizes are based on how much the first 30 feet of line weighs in grams. So, that is why rods sizes are called "weights". A heavier wt line can cast bigger flies. Think about comparing a 11 wt rod to surf rod and a 2 wt to an ultralight spinning rod. Also, fly rods tend to accommodate a range of fly lines. Depending on the specific fishing conditions/technique used a rod can be up lined or even down lined one or two sizes. Some rods can accommodate a wider line wt range than other rods.

For your rod and line setup, you have a 5 wt rod and a 6 wt line. The kit comes up lined one size to help beginning casters get started. Line wt is based on 30 ft of line. So, with a 9 ft rod, 7 ft leader, and 30 feet of line, you are making a ~45 ft cast before you fully load a rod with a matched line/rod size. The heavier line size helps make shorter casts easier. Many ff'ers upline their rods all the time. I upline when I'm bass fishing and I know I'll be making ~30 ft casts with heavy flies, however if I'll be making long distance casts to schooling fish, I will not up line.

The NXT rod has a very good blank. The only reason you'll ever "out grow" this rod is when you decide you want another one. When the current line wears out, you may want to upgrade to a premium line such as a 5 wt GPX.

A 5 wt rod is a good choice as a "middle of the pack" rod size. It can be used for trout, blue gill, and bass fishing. It is a compromise for some fishing situations, as it is more rod than you need for small brookie trout or for most pan fish situations, and it will not cast the really big bass bug flies. But a 5 wt can be used to fish for all these species in most situations.

So, you are starting it the middle on rod size, most people will add their next rod either higher or lower depending on how they fish most often. If you fish saltwater, you might want to get a 7 or 9 wt rod. But if you are fishing for smaller trout or blue gill fishing most often, then you might want to get a 3 wt rod next.

There have been some comments about going "odd" or "even". It is a good idea and it means buying either all odd or all even wt rods initially. This is a way to cover the widest rod range for the least money. So, you could add a 7 wt to your 5 wt and then you could skip buying a 6 wt. Or going down buy a 3 wt and skip the 4 wt.

As far as using a heavier rod to catch small fish, yes, you can do that. But catching blue gill with a 10 wt rod is not much fun, just too much rod for the fish. By the same token, trying to cast a 2 wt rod in the wind on the flats is not much fun either.

Hopefully, this respons isn't too confusing.

Rex

Best way to tell when it's time to upgrade is when your wallet starts feeling a little heavy.

Just remember on the two piece versus four piece debate that you can buy a four piece and break it down into two pieces instead of four for convenience or four pieces for space.

I prefer a two piece. But then again my rod isn't that long...it isn't even 8ft. I have a four piece, and it is okay...and I like the fact it takes up less room in the truck...but it takes away time to put it together that I don't like.