Tengas, Fenwick, and Marryat photo by Alpago |
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 docbluedevil |
3 wts: Use 'em much? |
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Master Guide
Posts: 384 (04/03/09 13:39:41) |
Another question in my "trimming down my quiver" series.
Regarding 3 wt glass rods, do you use them? If so, because you can/want to or because you need to (because the 4 wt in the same length just won't work)? |
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SAltsh |
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Sport
Posts: 83 (04/03/09 14:01:48) |
Doc- I only use my 3 wts. on small brushy mountain streams - it's just fun, and with glass not much risk - but for sure it's an "optional"
configuration. Still, a 3 wt. glass gives you a bunch of "feel" with littler brookies. A 4 wt. certainly fits the bill too - and if I could only
have 1 small stream 7' rod, I'd pick the 4 wt.
- Steve |
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docbluedevil |
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Master Guide
Posts: 385 (04/03/09 14:16:24) |
Steve - I agree. They are fun little small stream rods. I have a Winston Retro 6'6" 3 wt and a Scott 7' 3 wt which are a blast on small to medium
'cuts in the high-country; that is, until the wind picks up.
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Rockthief |
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Master Guide
Posts: 1218 (04/03/09 14:41:07) |
Great Bay Rod Co. 663-4 (being built)
Quiet Loop 763-2 Diamondglass 763-2 McFarland Spruce Creek 703-3 IM6 803-4 You can see that I like the 3 wt. rods. I Fish all five of them depending upon my mood and the water I am fishing. There are places where the fish are usually small but once in awhile a bruiser shows and the 3 wt. is as small as I want to use there. |
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 PeteStiles |
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Guide
Posts: 41 (04/03/09 15:28:56) |
I have been looking for a 3 or 4 wt, but there doesn't seem to be much that is affordable. Great 5, 6,7 and 8 wts seem to be abundant for under $150. How
come the same isn't true for 3 and 4 wts? Or am I missing something?
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Spencer DT |
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Master Guide
Posts: 192 (04/03/09 15:48:10) |
3 and 4 weights were not common until graphite came around. There is an ton of 6,7 weights and quite a few 5's from the days when fiberglass came around.
The reason for the high price is that you are having to but a current rod for the most part in those classifications. You are looking at the likes of Scott,
McFarland, Steffen, T&T and a few others I am missing for the most part if you want a 3 or 4 weight glass rod. 5's were considered light line
specialty rods back in the day.
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jkurtz7 |
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Master Guide
Posts: 451 (04/03/09 15:53:53) |
I use 2wt and 3wt rods for about 98 % of my fishing. For panfish and small trout, that's all I need. I've even used 3wt's for smallmouth. A 3wt is
actually a nice versatile line weight.
J. |
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Cornmuse |
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Posts: 780 (04/03/09 16:16:04) Administrator |
Maybe I'm in the minority here, but of the glass 3wts and below I've handled I've found that in these super light sticks I prefer graphite. The
Hardy 5' 2wt seems quite nice, but like the Diamonglass 5' 2wt I think it's impractical. We'll see; FFO is reviewing it and a slew of other
2wt rods.
My 6' 8" McFarland Anniversary rod is rated a 3 wt, but I fish it more like a light 4. 
I like fishing with a 4wt at close ranges so I can move larger flies - it's really a magnificent rod for this. 
And it still loves a DT3 Sylk for little dry flies and trout. 
But the most versatile and truly useful 3wt I have is a Dave Lewis Performance 2/3 graphite. Built on a Pac Bay blank, it's just a killer rod - I caught my largest bluegill ever on it at 12.5" long and 16" in girth. 
In these very light lines I find I like a bit more line speed for control - remember that velocity and mass create momentum. The lighter a line is, the faster it must move to accurately cast the same sized fly. For flies size 20 and below, 2 or 3 wt all the way. But when I want to cheat up to a size 12 mini-bugger then I find the faster action of graphite gives me the power to drill the fly on target and under real fishing conditions when I keep that same super-light #3 line in play. I just aim about 2' above the water's surface and I get a feather-light landing with great accuracy. "Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the
drink, taste the fruit,
- Henry David Thoreau
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frogmorton |
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Master Guide
Posts: 257 (04/03/09 17:24:40) |
I love 3 wt rods but don't get to use 'em much. My favorites;
Steffen 7'8" 2pc Quiet Loop 7'6" 2PC McFarland blank, FD Lyons build 7' 3pc |
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scud dog |
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Master Guide
Posts: 1341 (04/03/09 18:09:16) |
I often fish 3wts. from mid-June into November and a graphite 3wt. could get you into the winter. Wind isn't much of an issue on small to medium streams
here in PA. Lower water, warmer water and spookier fish has always been my main reason for this. Also, I fish lots of smaller flies and lighter tippets during
the summer. I fish micro caddis, small ants, tricos and midges a lot. A three weight works fine. It's more sporting and is just flat out more fun. I find I
can bring a large trout to hand quickly with a 3wt. as long as I'm not fishing in heavy water (or trying to land something in the 25" + range). 3wts.
are great as long as you're not trying to use them when you SHOULD be fishing a #5. My rods and lines I use: Hardy "Stream" 7'0" #3
(WF3); Steffen S-glass 7'6" #2/3 ( DT2); Steffen 7'9" 3/4 (DT3/WF4) and a Fenwick "Triple Apple" 7'3" #3 (WF3/DT3).
Last Edited By: scud dog
04/03/09 18:25:04.
Edited 2 times.
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jgestar |
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Posts: 3505 (04/03/09 18:16:44) ezOP |
I use my Lami 7 footer routinely, but it is more of a 3/4 weight setup. I enjoy fishing it with a WF 3 line when the winds allow, but in any breeze it is
easier to cast with a 4 weight. I have a Quiet Loop VF663 which is a very nice, honest 3 weight, but I haven't had it out fishing yet. I also have a
couple of 3 weight Dglass blanks on the rod bench for later this summer. If I had to cut down to fewer than 20 rods, at least a couple of them would be
3's or 3/4 weights.
At the McFarland gathering, I cast Mike's 7 foot, 3 piece, 3 weight parabolic. Wow! Talk about a lovely casting rod. I could easily see it making other rods redundant. Just because your rack only has 15 holes, that doesn't mean the cases should only have one rod in them. It also doesn't account for the rods in the car trunk, the basement, the hall closet, against the wall in the garage, behind the shirts in the walk in closet, etc. Even with a 15 spot rack, an effective fly rod fanatic can have a good 30-60 rods in the collection. Move them often so it seems a small number of rods are moving from place to place. Tom |
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PeteStiles |
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Guide
Posts: 42 (04/03/09 20:14:00) |
Tom - that is funny!
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Flyfishingshaman |
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Sport
Posts: 52 (04/03/09 21:45:58) |
Doc-
Love my 3wts. use them most of the time. Just got a 2wt. South Fork in Feb. hope to try it out soon. The 3wts. I have are: 6' Sierragv Bamboo "Ultralite Midge" rod 6'3" White River Classic Ultralight (Basspro Graphite-one of the Donation/Gimme rods) 6'6" 3/4wt. Hexagraph Classic (part of a travel pair) 7' Hardy "Stream" 7'9" McFarland Vintage (graphite) Mike's rod has been my "go to" rod for 3wts., however, I think the Hardy might give it a run for the money will have to see how the season goes. Caught a 17" 2lb. rainbow on Mike's rod and loved how it felt. Have to agree about the brookies as well. Love the feel of a 3wt. when one of them is on. Think the 2wt. will be even more fun. |
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scud dog |
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Master Guide
Posts: 1343 (04/04/09 05:46:21) |
Tom, My "rod racks" are copper stand for fireplace tools and the sides of my closet. Some of my favorite rod stands I've heard of or seen; still
basin; cane/ umbrella rack; wicker laundry basket and a wine rack bolted on a wall. As three weights go, the 7'6" 2/3 Steffen has been my
"go-to" summer rod. I've fished it with a DT2. The Fenwick will toss bigger flies and will hold up well with wind and a large fish. The Hardy
"Stream" is new. I've landed a few fish on it though...and it's a really nice rod. Cast well and has plenty of feel. Hard to describe in that
it feels like a medium actioned glass rod while fighting a fish yet lays out line like a champ. I'm not weirding out because some graphite got tossed in
with the glass. It's light and slender yet feels like a glass rod. It's slower than the latest Scotts, D'glass, Fenwick and Quiet Loops.... Kudos
to Hardy. IMO, they got it right. Super rod. It'll share time with the other 3wts...
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yuhina |
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Master Guide
Posts: 1153 (04/04/09 08:53:31) |
Joe... THAT IS A HUGE PAPA GILL!!
ok. Currently I only have two 3wt fiberglass rods...Lami 3wt 6'6 spring creek and Fenwicks JP 3wt 7'. but I overline the Fenwicks up to 5wt for streamer fishing. So It give me a good cover from 3wt-5wt line. |
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Arctic Grayling |
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Master Guide
Posts: 312 (04/04/09 12:09:25) |
Everyone needs at least a couple of three weight rods, even if you live in Alaska!!!!
I like them for fishing for grayling in small streams. When I can't make it out of town to fish, I also like three weights for fishing the stockers in the local lakes. I have two fiberglass three weights, the three piece 7' Scott, and the four piece 7' Great Bay. I also have four Winston graphite three weights. a 7'6" DL4, a 7'6" IM6 with the rainbow trout scrimshaw reel insert, an 8' BIIt, and an 8'6" WT. |
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bill0215 |
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Master Guide
Posts: 232 (04/04/09 12:58:27) |
This morning I received my 9' 7 pc, 2 wt fly rod from March Brown fly rod. I own several 2 wts(glass & grass). I also have a 3 wt winston. I like
them all because i think ultra light rods are fun. the winston is the fastest. but i do enjoy the slow flex of my 2 wts.
Bill |
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mudman |
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Guide
Posts: 60 (04/04/09 13:29:32) |
Glass in a 3 weight really shines IMHO. Really makes a sweet rod 7 ft. and under. I have 3 that are from 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 feet, that I made myself on Hiliie
blanks over 20 years ago. All three are super nice rods that I use often during the season when the conditions will permit.
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Canoeman1947 |
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Guide
Posts: 92 (04/04/09 20:05:26) |
Of all the rods I own, I probably use the 3 weights more than any. Of my six 3 wts., four are graphite and haven't been used in a couple of years. I will
probably sell the graphites, except for the Cabela's Three Forks because I have had too many fun days on the water with it. The two glass rods I have
owned only about a year, so have only had a few chances to use them, but really enjoyed it when I did. The 7 ft. 3 pc. 3 wt. Diamondglass is just a crisp
sweet casting little wand of a rod, which I really like using on trout. However, I think my favorite at this time is my H-I Queen Elizabeth Model 1200, a
6' 9" rod. The H-I, built in 1953 casts a 3 wt. DT with real authority. I don't know how the Diamondglass will fare on stream bass this summer,
but I think the H-I will handle them just fine.
Larry |
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Bamboozle |
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Guide
Posts: 177 (04/06/09 05:42:19) |
I have a few longer 3wts in graphite that I really like because of the slower action they have:
7'6" 3wt Winston DL4 8'0" 3wt Winston DL4 8'6" 3wt Winston WT I am not a huge fan of light line weight rods so the rods above get used when the mood strikes me and the wind isn't howling. But for short rods, (5'0"-6'6"), I prefer 3wts mainly because of the smaller reels I like to use on them. I don't really want to cut heavier fly lines in half to get them to fit on a small reel. Besides, at the places where I use my shortest rods, wind never really factors in. FUBO |
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Upstreeam |
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Master Guide
Posts: 413 (04/06/09 16:16:26) |
A four is often a better choice, but shorter three weights are pretty common for small streams around here. Lami and McF 7 footers are two of my favorites.
I'm usually fishing dry on those streams, and haven't run into too much wind trouble, even out west.
Bob |
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