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8'6" 4/5 or 8'6" 5wt?

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beemerhead	8'6" 4/5 or 8'6" 5wt?	Lead	[-]
Sport Posts: 17 (03/17/09 18:49:50) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I've got the bug for an all arounder for Tailwater fishing. Currently my only glass rods are a Dglass 763 and a Bean (Cortland I believe) 8'6wt. Although, I've got two Fenwicks on the way FF535, FF605 for Smokey Mtn. small streams. My home water is the Clinch River in Tn. Large open , big water so I prefer longer rods. Usually 9' in graphite. But having been bitten with glass, I'm looking for a 8.5' 4/5 or 5wt. I was wandering about either Steffen or McFarland as to their offerings in this arena or any others that would fit the bill. I wiill primarily be throwing nymphs/dries in size 12 or smaller, but to strong and somewhat large trout. Any advice will be greatly appreciated Ken in Tn Acts 16:31
docbluedevil		#1	[-]
Master Guide Posts: 327 (03/17/09 23:01:26) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I think you're on the right track with Steffen and McFarland. If you can find one, the Diamondglass 8'6" 4 wt 3 pc has quite a following as well. Tough choice . . . I love tailwater fishing and the typically huge (but smart!) fish in them. In fact, I'm waiting on delivery of an 8'6" 4 wt rod as well just for this application: a Winston DL4, delicate tip (for presentations) with a powerful butt (to put the wood to 'em); supposedly it's one of the "glassiest" graphite rods out there.
MountainsAllAround		#2	[-]
Guide Posts: 160 (03/18/09 20:34:53) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	The Clinch is a big tailwater, and if you throw a little wind at it I'd opt for a 5wt over a 4wt - especially if you occasionally want to throw a streamer. I own a Diamondback 8.5' 4wt and love it to death - I fish it during the BWO hatches a lot during the winter on the Upper Sac - but I wouldn't suggest it was a rod designed to routinely make long casts on a windy day. I think everybody should own one, but if I was looking for a Clinch rod, I'd got with the Steffen 8.5' 5wt.
streamcaster		#3	[-]
Guide Posts: 175 (03/19/09 14:06:46) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Then again, if you want to go classic, how about a Fenwick FF855 or FF84. They're pretty rare on ebay, but they do show up. My choice would be the FF855: a quick 5 weight that's got good line speed with a 5 weight. I say that having had a number of 3-number Fenwicks, but not this particular one. Ernie Schweibert is said to have said that it's the best rod Fenwick ever built. If it's like a lot of other 3-number Fenwicks, it will also be sweet and powerful with a WF-6, too . . . but not to worry if you really want it to be a 5 weight rod. It'll be crisp, but I think you'll like it for big water. The FF84 is marked "5 or 6," but I have owned one when I wanted a 6 for smallmouth. Suffice it to say I sold it off. It's a sweet 5 weight, but a little wimpy for a 6. (THese are my own recollections; there are others on this board who have the FF84 who may have other thoughts.) But come to think of it, that wimpiness may be a factor for you. If you are likely to catch big fish, maybe you DO want the 855! Regards, Peter

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