[tightlines]

I currently have a Fenwick Royal 8'6 medium action fly rod. The rod is about 12 years old. This rod will cast perfectly with a bead headed nymph or dry flies but as soon as you throw on a weighted cray fish, weighted streamer or pop some split shot on the leader, its a b1tch to cast. Does the action of a rod affect the castibility or heavier flies?

I found that the more line I let out the easier the cast but most of the time I only need about 15 - 20 feet of fly line to hit my mark.

I am looking to buy two more fly rods, a fast action 5 wt (for dries and nymphs) and a 7 wt that will cast heavy streamers with ease.

Any information would be appreciated.

[Kingfisher]

In my experience, the speed of the rod can affect the casting stroke, which may in turn influence how easily/far/accurately you can throw a weighted fly such as a large streamer. Going to a heavier rod and line system will make it much easier. I use a very fast 6-wt. lined with a shooting head to throw streamers up to size 2, then go to a heavier rod for larger patterns.

[tightlines]

The fenwick is a 6 wt aswell but it is a medium action.

It is a very stiff rod compared to others I have seen. For example, when I tried a fellow fishermans fast action 6wt loomis I noticed how much of a bend the rod had in it during my casts. My fenwick hardly bends unless Im hauling. Im wondering if that extra flexibility in the rod helps move the heavier flies around. Ill wait till a few more people reply but thinking about the physics behind it the more flexible the rod the more load during casts. I could be talking out of my a$$ right now but Im thinking that a faster action rod will move heavier flies better.

Thanks for your reply

[Carlin]

Far be it for me to discourage someone from getting more rods , but what type of line are you using? I've found that the line selection is just as important when throwing streamers as the rod weight/action. If you have a line that has too long of a tip (before the front taper), they simply won't turn over streamers. For the line on my 7wt+ rods I always trim back the line tip 12-16" and shorten the leader (I'll trim off 6-12" on my lighter weight rods, again mostly depending on the line specs).

I have a medium-slow action 7wt cane rod that throws streamers amazingly well, but only when I trim back the WF Cortland 444 line 12". Just another idea.

[Sean Juan]

A 6 wt should be plenty rod to cast a streamer, or a weighted wooly bugger

Now heres a question:

Are you fishing a dry fly, then decide that its not working clip it off and tie on a streamer with no other adjustments? If so that could well be your problem.

Not to get too involved but fly outfits work best when they are balanced: rod, line, leader, fly

Since it would be foolish - but totally awesome!!!! - to have a quiver of flyrods each choosen to cast one fly and handed to you by a caddie most of us will either adjust our set ups a bit, or change our casting style's somewhat to match our set ups.

You are already doing this, by letting out more line you are changing one of the variables in this balance...if that is uncomfortable try changing another one - I'd start with the leader shorter thicker. Another change might be to over line the rod with a 7 or 8 wt line - that way you'd get the same affect as letting out more line but could stay in the 20' range.

[SDHflyfisher]

tightline i am looking to build a few rods to sell i could handle both builds with out a problem

email me at sdhflyfisher@yahoo.com or pm me

[Airhead]

I agree with shortening and stiffening your leader. I had a lot of trouble turning over streamers with my 5wt, until I changed my leader. 18" 20lb and then 18" 10lb. If the water is very low and clear or fish are spooky add 18" of 8lb. I have used this all summer for Smallies and Trout with good success on my sink tip. Early mornings with unweighted (or lightly weighted) streamers and floating line has also worked well, 12lb butt and 8lb leader.

I originally had cut back whatever leader was on at the time, but leaders suited to dries or small nymphs/wets, just collapsed under the weight of a streamer. Recently I left on the heavy butt section and tied out to 12' and 6x and a #14 bwo, it worked very nicely for 30' casts and fooled some nice Brookies.

[steeldrifter]

I like to use a slower rod for streamers or nymphs with splitshot attached, but a little heavier & shorter leader as was suggested might help.

SD

[OSD]

I will sell you that nice brown rod that I landed that salmon with Steve
even if you don't catch any fish you should get a good work out.

OSD.

[steeldrifter]

ahhhhhhh