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4 or 5 piece rod suggestion

Author	Comment
TimJ	4 or 5 piece rod suggestion	Lead	[-]
Sport Posts: 7 (03/26/09 22:47:52) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Hello, I'm just starting to look for a 4 or 5 piece pack rod for fishing a couple smaller local rivers and this seems like the place to ask about this. No trout around here so it would be mostly stuff like mooneyes, goldeyes, smallmouth bass, maybe carp and the occasional catfish. I am looking for a pack rod because I would like to be able to carry it easily through tight situations or be able to just go for a walk and take a rod along. I'm thinking a 6 wt, maybe 7, up to 8'. Mostly will be fishing wet flies, nymphs and small/medium top water, no big deer hair poppers. I'm not adverse to building/rebuilding so a blank or rod that can be improved with better guide spacing is alright. So if money was an object and you didn't want to break an expensive rod falling down a steep bank what would you recommend? Just for fun what would you recommend if you wanted the best bang for the buck? Not expensive but a sound value for what you get. I want to start keeping an eye out for some different options. Thanks for your time, Tim
corlay		#1	[-]
Master Guide Posts: 734 (03/27/09 08:02:05) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	On a budget, you gotta go vintage. For a used-vintage, and budget-minded rod choice: Browning 'Silaflex' 322975 is a great 7'6" 2/1 6wt. and can be had on the open-market for $75-$125 Also: Fenwick 'Feralite' FF756 is another nice 7'6" 2/1 6wt. (especially for non-trout fishing, IMO) that I like to up-line with a WF7F also a very common and reasonably priced rod, easily obtainable for ~$75 (or less) Finally, for a real bargain, look for Garcia-Conlon 2, 3, or 4-star rods, in lengths from 7'0"-8'0". Many are 6/7wts. These are a bit older, with respect to rod-technology, and most feature metal ferrules, and are a bit heavy by today's standards. But they fish great! These heavier line GC's make better bass rods than trout rods, IMO; And usually* sell for well under $75 * a snowstorm in the pacific northwest usually insures this, for some odd reason... [***Update: Oh, I forgot about your pack-rod requirement. None of the above-mentioned rods fit that bill. There is a FF756-4 out there, but usually fetches a much higher price. More like $120-$150.] "From my observations I think that most of us spend too much time worrying about our tackle and too little time learning the intimate characteristics of the fish and streams we fish most." - Ray Bergman Trout, New York: Knopf 1938 Last Edited By: corlay 03/27/09 08:04:36. Edited 1 times.
JeffSod		#2	[-]
Master Guide Posts: 1094 (03/27/09 09:59:41) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I would think if you are looking for budget pack rods the Wright and Mcgill and Berkley rods would be the ones to check out. I think Keith (magicwrench) can add some insight here. Here is an old thread that might be of interest- http://fiberglassflyrodders.yuku.com/reply/52291#reply-52291
Arctic Grayling		#3	[-]
Master Guide Posts: 306 (03/27/09 10:48:31) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	If you can do it with a 7' five weight Great Bay rods makes a four piece rod for $280. http://fiberglass-fly-rods.pbwiki.com/Great+Bay+Rod+Company I think that Great Bay plans on adding some longer rods to their selection later in the year.
majicwrench		#4	[-]
Master Guide Posts: 1090 (03/27/09 11:35:21) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	THE best pack rod out there, esp considering how cheap they go for, are the 7ft, 5pc Berkley Bucanneers. Spigot ferrules, they make a nice 5/6 wt. Get the fly-only rod, the spin/fly is shorter, and faster. I have gotten 30lb carp and 3" cutts on mine. They also make a 6pc, 8ft version that is a bit of a club as equiped from the factory, but if stipped of all its thread and a few more guides added, it turns into a nice 6wt. and gives a bit more reach than the 7fter. SouthBend/Gladding makes a 6pc 7ft rod, one was for sale on the board a few months ago, more of a 7wt, but I have one and have enjoyed it immensely. They go pretty cheap too. Garcia makes a 4pc 8ft rod, with metal ferrules, they are a bit of a club, but make a decent 7wt. I had one years ago and sold it. Have always wanted a FF756-4, I would bet that is a fun rod, would go for more money than the above, but would likely fish great. Keith
MuddlerOH		#5	[-]
Guide Posts: 221 (03/27/09 12:50:00) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I like the Bucaneers also -- 5 pce -- 6 weight -- i have a couple and have run into a couple others. All measure out at about 6' 10" . One rod I wish I hadn't sold was a Fenwick 8' 4 piece 6 wt. Great rod and really about where I have settled into as a favorite length and action. It will probably go for a chunk more $ though. I think that Keith's advice is the way to go. Steve Last Edited By: MuddlerOH 03/27/09 14:29:52. Edited 1 times.
jgestar		#6	[-]
Posts: 3478 (03/27/09 13:35:48) ezOP Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Tim, For vintage rods, watch for a 5 piece, glass ferruled Garcia Conolon, 7'6", 5/6 weight. They don't go for big money. Often the three spigot ferrules don't align well with the guides, so you may need to do some rewrapping to make a better rod from it (the last ferrule is a tip over butt and aligns just fine). Obviously, there are quite a few other vintage options. Keep and eye on the For Sale forum and eBay. But even at $150, a four piece classic Fenwick is still a pretty good deal. If you want a new, four piece, up to 7 foot, up to a 5 weight rod, you should look at Great Bay. They also offer their 4 piece rod blanks for $135. Mark Steffen and Mike McFarland can build you a rod with as many sections as you wish. Again, if you wish to build your own rod they also offer blanks. Tom
TimJ		#7	[-]
Sport Posts: 8 (03/27/09 23:12:18) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Thank you all for the suggestions. This gives me some to keep an eye out for. The Fenwick option is really nice looking, will have to think about that one. Might have to go with a berkley or garcia this summer if I can find one. Tim
Upstreeam		#8	[-]
Master Guide Posts: 411 (03/30/09 14:13:52) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	An FF756-4 might fit the bill. Fenwick made lots of rods, so these aren't terribly rare. I think it's a true 6 wt., although some might push it down to a 5 wt. Happy with small poppers or multiple flies. I forget what I paid, but it'd be more now anyway. An 8 footer might be cheaper, but maybe rarer. No experience with the other rods Keith mentioned. Bob

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