We all have our favorite rods to cast. You know the one. Everything just feels right, and you could cast it all day with a smile. But can that rod do it all, and do it well. I'm talking about a rod(trout) that will cast dries, split shot rigs, streamers, floating, and sinking lines. How about a rod(non trout) that can throw larger flies, on a variety of full fly lines, and shooting heads. The lines can be rated for the rod, or heavier. What I'm getting at is a rod you grab FIRST, when you know you will be covering a variety of situations. A tool that will get the job(s) done.
Rods are getting more and more specialized. That's not a bad thing. You wouldn't use a hand grinder to make a mortise joint. But when you can only carry a limited amount of tools/rods, you need ONE that will get it done. What's that "one" you grab most.
briansII PS, this wasn't meant to hype Sage's, One rod......which is about to spawn another new thread.
No plastic rods here. Only one rod to fish? Here's my go to rod for any situation I fish.....5/6 weight, 3 piece. Either this rod or my Steffen Brothers fiberglass rod I built. Small creeks, I'll still go with the Bamboo 3/4 weight every time.
Hey Brian, Mortise joint? lol. My go to rod to catch nothing in general is my 2pc 9' 5wt Sage SP. Being 2pc you know how old it is. Maybe mid 90s? Need to learn to use my Winston's IIx and IIIxs. Actually I forget I have them. 209er
For now, it's a TFO 7'6" 3wt. Good for the locals, good for having pulled some almost Angie-worthy fish out of Crowley. But, having tasted the sweetness of Sage, I may try and find a TXL 3wt for the quiver.
"We're a cross between our parents and hippies in a tent...." 180 Degrees South
Since I'm finding that I'm fishing San Diego Bay more often than all other places put together, I'd have to say my 6wt Jim Teeny Model TFO rod (9ft 4 piece). I love this one for the bay.
Quite right. I misspoke. Not ONE rod, but A rod.....not the ball player. Say you'll be hitting the Madison. Likely you/we would be fishing dries, to streamers, and everything in between. Which rod? Creeks would be different. As would ponds, surf, panfish to stripers, to sharks.
OR....... You/we can just tell how many fly rods you/we own. That would be a fun(or hazardous)subject too.
4 piece 5 weight. The oldest I have is 21 years old, but I have a couple of newer backups (same rod configuration)
"Should you cast your fly into a branch overhead or into a bush behind you, or miss a fish striking, or lose him,or slip into a hole up to your armpits-keep your temper; above all things don't swear, for he that swears will catch no fish."