5 wt, or 6 wt?

[A Polinger]

I am looking to get a rod and reel and right now I am between at 5 wt or a 6 wt. I have a 4 wt that I use for trout and a 7 wt for large bass flies and light saltwater. I am looking for something in between. Any feelings?

AP

 

[Pete]

You could probably find uses for both.

Traditionally, the 6-weight was considered an "all around" rod, but with modern materials and rod design, the 5-weight is now filling this need.

Since you already have a 7-weight, unless you're going to use it exclusively for "big" water, I'd go with the 5-weight.

 

[golden beetle]

I am looking to get a rod and reel and right now I am between at 5 wt or a 6 wt. I have a 4 wt that I use for trout and a 7 wt for large bass flies and light saltwater. I am looking for something in between. Any feelings?

AP

Yeah, Polinger.

Why you not at RRTU meetings?

And check your PMs.

 

[Joe D]

It depends on what you plan on using the rod for. If it's for another bass rod for smaller flies and/or fish go with the six. If primarily a streamer rod, the six would be a good choice too. If you're looking for a big water trout rod the five would make a good dry fly rod for most flies and a good nymph rod too, much of the time. Big dries, heavy nymph rigs; six.

It's not always as simple as filling in the rod weights. The rod actions and lengths have their place too when deciding on certain applications. So the key question to answer is what is the rod for? Maybe another four weight in a different length or action would fill the bill...

 

[Andy B]

Hi AP:

Here is my take on a 5 or 6 weight rod. I use a six weight for streamers with an intermediate sinking line. The rod can handle the weight and throw streamers and larger size streamers nicely. I also use the 6 weight for wet fly fishing specially when I am using and intermediate sinking line with a two or three wet fly rig. Now if you are not going to use larger streamers or sinking lines then a 5 weight will be a very nice solution that will handle various types of fishing from nymphs to dries to wets and streamers. Again if you are going to be using sinking line of any type a 5 weight can handle it but will make you feel that you are fishing with a weight attached to your line where the 6 weight picks this type of line up easier. Hope this helps out a bit.

Sincerely
Andy Brasko

 

[Trout Nazi]

Get a 9'6" 5 weight, it can do every thing a 5 and a 6 weight can do.

 

[G Lech]

Get a 9'6" 5 weight, it can do every thing a 5 and a 6 weight can do.

Good call!

 

[Joe D]

A longer rod will make mending line easier and allow you to mend a longer line. The extra weight (20 or so grains) of a six weight line will make casting bigger and bulkier flies easier. It's the weight of the line that carries the fly. Your intended use will still be the determining factor.