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Thoughts on nymph rods

FIN-ITE 34

FIN-ITE 34

Well-known member
Well this season I have switched back to a 9' 5wt. rod over my 10' 3wt. nymphing rod when targeting larger fish. The nymph rod does a great job and the length really helps in certain situations, but I found that when hooking up with bigger fish, say over 20 inches, I found that the fish were owning me more than I liked. This season with the rod change I have found that I have been able to net a higher percentage of large fish over what was happening with the 3wt. nymph rod. I also feel like I am getting more solid hook sets with the 5wt. and I'm able to control the fish better when getting them close to the netting stage. Maybe my nymph rod is just a piece of crap and a better rod might make a difference, but for now I think I will stick to the 5wt. and "launch" an occasional small fish in trade for more reserve power when playing bigger fish.
 
My experience was the opposite. An 11' 3wt did nothing but impress the shit outta me with bigger fish.

I leave the drag wide open and the rod will double over and absorb everything the fish has not allowing a single run. It almost unbelievable how much abuse the rod can take and still not give up line.

i have noticed though that the 3 wt esn has a butt sec that's half again as big in dia as my 6wt! The willowy tip and overbuilt but combine to do a pretty awesome job of keeping big fish under control.



so yes, it's the rod.
 
I have been using a 9 1/2 4wt that I can add an extension to that makes it a 10 footer. I like it but would not want anything longer since I find that I am often hitting branches overhead when setting the hook. This is especially an issue on the Pequest in the areas that I fish. Not too mention getting a longer rod through brush can be a pain.

Steve
 
The conditions always dictate what fly rod I will use Nymphing. In the early spring when the flows are up I use my 8’9" 6 weight. I like the beefier back bone of the 6 weight when I need to throw heaver split shot When Running higher I also use a longer leader 10’ or longer.

As the river flows come down I switch to my 8’ 5 weight with a less split shot with a shorter leader 7 to 8 feet in length.

When the flows are lower like the have been. The pocket water becomes more pronounced I use my 7”5’ 3 weight with a very short 6 to 4’ leader.

Controlling the drift is essential to my success while Nymphing. During the early spring flows the fish will be more spread out the heavier rod allows me to cover more water. When the flows start to subside I like the 5 weight rod. It gives me a bit more precision on what current I want to target in the run.. When the flows are light and the fish are stacked up in the pocket water. Some of the pools and riffs are only a few feet long. I found that the combination of the shorter 3 weight and shorter leader give a precise drift for the smaller target area.
 
In response to SSA, I have been using a Greys XF@ Streamflex 10/3 and I don't have a problem with line out fighting a fish, it's the lack of lifting power when the fish gets closer in for the net. Like trying to net a fish by yourself with a spey rod. It's easy to guide a fish at distance, but difficult to lift and guide the fish to the net. At least that is the problem in my case.
 
Funny thing. I built a bamboo rod. Compared to graphite it is like a buggy whip. However, when is come to nymphing i swear i can actually feel the fish take the nymph and can out catch myself 3 to 1 over when i use my graphite rods. So to me a softer rod does the trick. Its only 7'7"
 
After fishing 10'+ sticks for a few years now, it really baffles me" as to how anyone can effectively high stick with anything shorter, especially on bigger rivers with out walking over prime lies. And hell, even, if you THINK you can, you work SO much harder with a shorter rod trying to nymph/high stick.

Now, I personally feel there is a HUGE difference between a 10' 'NYMPH' classified rod, vs a 'regular' 10 foot rod.

I have the Loomis Nymph rod and I personally HATE the fucking thing. The tip is softer than Beetles wife's dick when he takes off his shirt, but the butt section of the rod is a 2x4. I DO NOT like the action. You almost need to pause mid way through your stroke to wait for the tip to catch up.

The 'regular' 10' rods such as my native Runs, ONE's and Streamdances, I personally feel, will out fish the balls off any "nymph" designated rod. Then again as I said, I cant get use to that action. With the regular longer sticks, the power is always there at your disposal. You dont need to adjust the way you cast, or your rig, to accommodate the "purpose" of said rod. YOU FISH IT.

For all things streamers (for trout), its my 9' 6/7wt's... Nothing like a fast action 9' rod to launch those streamer express lines.
 
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I was having some issues landing larger fish with my scott A4 10 foot 4 weight and went back to my 9' 5wt Helios 2. Helios had more backbone and seemed a lot easier to land fish with and guide them away from logs and rocks when fighting them.

In a place like the gorge I feel like landing a fish with an 11 foot 3 weight after it gets into a rapid or run would be difficult.
 
Still confused as to why people are having trouble landing fish with longer rods lol Makes so fucking sense lol
 
Agreed. It's just a matter of positioning the rod, I go behind my shoulders.

and there's no rule that says you can't bring your leader into you guides.
 
It drives me nuts when people refuse to real past the fly line and into the leader due to the belief that once you reel the leader in the fish will break off it it runs again and the connection catches in the guides. Very rare in my experience that this causes a break off and it is far more worse to lift the rod way over your head trying to swing the fish in with a long leader and applying max pressure with the rod way over your head. If the fish runs then you are far more likely to break them off and a lot of times the fly pops out from applying too much pressure.
 
flyI4 said:
It drives me nuts when people refuse to real past the fly line and into the leader due to the belief that once you reel the leader in the fish will break off it it runs again and the connection catches in the guides. Very rare in my experience that this causes a break off and it is far more worse to lift the rod way over your head trying to swing the fish in with a long leader and applying max pressure with the rod way over your head. If the fish runs then you are far more likely to break them off and a lot of times the fly pops out from applying too much pressure.
Click to expand...

Well, I'm not a guide but that drives me nuts too. I guess it does depend on your knot. If you have a shitty nail knot with a jagged tag end connecting your leader to your line, you might have issues when you reel past the end of your line. But if you have a nice clean knot there's not much to worry about.

But why people hold the rod in the air to net a fish is beyond me. Sideways pressure the whole time is the way to go, unless the fish runs straight at you after the take and you're trying to reduce your slack line in a hurry.

Once they're ready to go in your net or your hand, point your rod directly upstream and they'll swing right in to your body. Holding your rod high actually gives them more room to run and makes their movement unpredictable.
 
I'm taking notes.
1. Don't use a shitty rod, use an expensive nymphing rod.
2. Use a quality 10 foot standard rod over a nymphing rod.
3. Go behind my shoulders with the rod when netting.
4. Reel leader into guides.
5. Don't lift the rod high over head.
6. Use a clean nail knot for leader to fly line connection.
7. Point rod upstream and fish will slide over into net.
8. Don't buy a Cabelas piece of shit. (Added for Simmsy)
 
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1. Dont buy a cabelas piece of shit*

FIN-ITE 34 said:
I'm taking notes.
1. Don't use a shitty rod, use an expensive nymphing rod.
2. Use a quality 10 foot standard rod over a nymphing rod.
3. Go behind my shoulders with the rod when netting.
4. Reel leader into guides.
5. Don't lift the rod high over head.
6. Use a clean nail knot for leader to fly line connection.
7. Point rod upstream and fish will slide over into net.
Click to expand...
 
Simms said:
After fishing 10'+ sticks for a few years now, it really baffles me" as to how anyone can effectively high stick with anything shorter, especially on bigger rivers with out walking over prime lies. And hell, even, if you THINK you can, you work SO much harder with a shorter rod trying to nymph/high stick.

Now, I personally feel there is a HUGE difference between a 10' 'NYMPH' classified rod, vs a 'regular' 10 foot rod.

I have the Loomis Nymph rod and I personally HATE the fucking thing. The tip is softer than Beetles wife's dick when he takes off his shirt, but the butt section of the rod is a 2x4. I DO NOT like the action. You almost need to pause mid way through your stroke to wait for the tip to catch up.

The 'regular' 10' rods such as my native Runs, ONE's and Streamdances, I personally feel, will out fish the balls off any "nymph" designated rod. Then again as I said, I cant get use to that action. With the regular longer sticks, the power is always there at your disposal. You dont need to adjust the way you cast, or your rig, to accommodate the "purpose" of said rod. YOU FISH IT.

For all things streamers (for trout), its my 9' 6/7wt's... Nothing like a fast action 9' rod to launch those streamer express lines.
Click to expand...


You do realize the difference between a 10 ft rod and 8 ft is 24 inches? not that big of a deal. Joe Humphreys has been doing it for decades. 2 ft is not that long. But then again you have been telling girls that 4 inches is actually a foot so I can see how your perception of length can be skewed. :rofl:
 
Simms said:
Still confused as to why people are having trouble landing fish with longer rods lol Makes so fucking sense lol
Click to expand...

Should have said fighting rather than landing. I had no issue netting fish with the longer rod.
 
I also use the -5 to 5 scale when out at the bars.. Once they realize my dick is only 4'' long, the initial shocks is less considering the best they can be would be a "5"...On a normal 0 to 10 grading scale, she'd be out the door and in a cab. The "5" on my scale may stay to try it out. I don't need to tell anyone its 12''.


WBDluver said:
You do realize the difference between a 10 ft rod and 8 ft is 24 inches? not that big of a deal. Joe Humphreys has been doing it for decades. 2 ft is not that long. But then again you have been telling girls that 4 inches is actually a foot so I can see how your perception of length can be skewed. :rofl:
Click to expand...
 
I've noticed how Shannon's was selling the heck out of 10 foot 3 weights for a few years and now folks want the 10 footer, but in 4 or 5 weight. I would agree with the heavier rods and like more backbone myself when fishing two nymph weighted rigs in fast pocket water.
 
In terms of fighting a fish shorter rods give the fisherman more leverage while llonger rods give fish more leverage all other aspects being equal
 
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