Not all locations fish well every month but there is always something peaking on any given week. Information related to travelling to Montana: which airports to fly into, major towns, etc. Best 5 Weight Trout Fly Rod (Best Overall) The most versatile fly rod weight of all, a 5 weight will allow you to land those massive fish on the river, or even smaller sized bonefish on saltwater, it’s the Goldilocks of rod weights. He noted that the rod is underloaded at close range casts, but starts to feel smoother on casts beyond 30 feet and it felt better and better as casting length increased out to 45 and 50 feet. The Sage X also was similar to the Orvis H3D although its sweet spot was at slightly closer range than the H3D which outperformed the X at longer casts. Lengths between 8’ and 10’ are the most ideal. If you love fast action rods, have an accelerated casting stroke or need to punch wind or make longer casts on bigger water this would certainly be rod to consider. Casting this rod is the next best thing to listening to hockey on AM radio.”. Casey:Casey wasn’t feeling the love from the igniter on shorter casts. At 60 feet the rod is effortless - the line just seems to come flying out of the rod and I still had great accuracy. The cool aspect of the LL series is that you are using the entire rod on every cast, even at short range which gives it a very smooth feel (until it is overloaded). Even though he readily admitted the shortcomings of the LL at longer lengths; Pierce voted this his favorite rod - “Sure it isn’t the most efficient rod for longer casts or in the wind but this is a “fun rod” and I like a fun rod when I’m fishing”. Jimmy:Jimmy didn’t get a lot of love to the X at distances under 45 feet and felt like the LL, H3F and H3D all felt better in close casting scenarios and even to typical mid range trout casts. He felt that the rod started to bog down quickly once he extended casts beyond 30 feet and for longer casts. At 30 feet you can start to load the rod but you need to pick up your casting rhythm to do so. 4-6 Weight Fly Rods. I am not a big fan of the spey rod. Like several of the other guys Jimmy didn’t feel like it was quite as smooth as the LL, H3F or Sage X on closer casts but it felt very smooth on mid range and long range casts. It felt very accurate at typical fishing distances, a great stick”. 1. Let us help you build the perfect lodging and fishing package. Brian:The Igniter is an impressive rod for what it is designed for - power and distance. Orvis Helios 3F. It was the only other rod that felt really good in my hand on short casts. Although casting beyond 60 feet is never really required the power to do so often comes in handy on big wind days. Being able to roll cast and have wider loops due to tandem flies is important. Spring creeks offer the ultimate challenge in the fly fishing world. The guys with aggressive, full body casting strokes tended to gravitate toward the fastest action rods while those of us with a more compact stroke sought out the moderate action rods as our favorites. Jimmy also felt like the LL dropped off quickly once pushing beyond 45 feet. At casts longer than 45 the rod wanted to collapse a bit and I was flexing right to the handle. Pierce:Pierce also felt like the H3F was the only other rod outside of the Sage LL that still felt really good on shorter range casts. I used to think I needed to make most of my casts far out into the stream. KastKing Compass Telescopic Fishing Rods, Moonshine Rod Co. He acknowledged that it wasn’t great in close but it made the longer casts with ease. For example, if you’re targeting steelhead, you’ll probably be using an 8 or 9 weight one-handed rod, so you should use a 6 or 7-weight switch rod. KastKing Krome Salmon/Steelhead Fishing Rod; 5. The good news is for a lot of my trout fishing, especially when wading smaller rivers like the Gallatin I am often making shorter casts. Jimmy:Jimmy acknowledged that the Igniter had power it spades. While some of the other rods got the nod at 60 feet, the H3F still retained good power at longer range and was still pleasant to cast. For a switch rod it is best to have somewhere between a 6 to 8 weight rod for targeting steelhead. Disc drag fly reels use a braking system that helps to control the tension on the fly line during casts and retrieves. Lodge packages include all meals and guided fishing so you can sit back, relax and enjoy a great fly fishing vacation, Enjoy great fishing and keep your costs in check with one of our hotel packages. This is the catch all rod that can handle our most common fishing scenarios on many of our most common fishing scenarios in Southwest Montana. “If I needed a rod to punch wind or make a longer cast - at least in a big grassy field with no trout or wind, I would pick the Igniter”. It wasn’t as buttery smooth as the LL, X or H3F at 30 feet but you could still load it by picking up your casting cadence. Our canned answer is a 9 foot 6 weight with floating line. Jimmy: Jimmy rated the Asquith as his least favorite. The 3D felt just a little more effortless than the Sage X at the longest casting ranges in our test (60 feet which we felt would is about as far as we would practically cast in a trout fishing scenario). With this no win outcome in mind we set six of our favorite 6-weight fly rods head to head in different environments in the hands of different anglers to at least provide some reasonable guidance to how rods actually perform on the water. There are quite simply a lot of really great fly rods on the market today. I tend to really like a cigar grip on 6 weights while other guys prefer half wells. To complicate matters, I have lost track of the number of times that I have listened to friendly arguments between fishing guides on which rod is “best”. Matt:As expected, Matt enjoyed the H3D based on his affinity for faster action rods. My new Sage One 11’6″ 7 wt w/ 465 gr Rio Switch Chucker just might be my do it all sweetheart. After little more casting you really started to enjoy it. He felt that for his casting style the Orvis H3D and Sage X compared very similarly overall. A 6 weight is hands down the perfect big river nymphing rod. Many avid anglers, however, enjoy bringing their own gear. 6 Weight Fly Rod Review Series - Part One, Head to Head Lawn Casting No fly rod is the perfect rod on every river, on every given day. It was hard to place a finger on why but when I was switching back and forth between the X, H3D and Igniter I noticed more similarities than differences. Solar Sailor is for amateur boating enthusiasts who are looking for the latest tips, tricks, and product reviews. As I was working my way through the rods we had laid out, the Asquith was the first of the “fast action” rods that I picked up. I mostly use a 6 weight for throwing bigger dry flies or nymph fishing larger rivers. Right in the middle at a 7 weight is good for all-around use, but you may want to go slightly heavier or lighter depending on the type of line you prefer to use. I choose my rod/line confirguration based on the size of the water I wish to cover, average size of the fish I expect/hope/pray to encounter in that river system and size/weight of the terminal tackle I anticipate using based on the conditions in that river on that day. “I felt like the Helios 3F had more power at mid range than the LL but for my casting stroke I had to work a little harder on longer casts. Weather in the Northern Rockies can be fickle and it is always a good idea to come prepared regardless of the season. So in its sweet spot it zips line effortlessly when at mid range; but he felt the sweet spot was just a little narrower than some of the other rods he cast. Temple Fork Outfitters BVK Series Fly Fishing Rods, 4. This is compounded if you have a buddy with you since you might look a little silly make lots of short “trout fishing” casts with all of that green to play with. Make Offer - G Loomis Asquith 6129-4 Spey Fly Rod 12'9" 6 Weight 12529-01 Brand New In Stock Fly Fishing Steelhead Outfit Leland Sonoma Summer Steelhead 6120-4 (12' 6wt) $725.00 Pierce:“I like a fast rod, and this rod is just like a sports car. Pierce:Pierce enjoyed the H3D. I kept trying to envision wind blowing or big bugs on the end of my line. I think part of the reason it feels so different is that it is the only “power rod” that offers a smaller cigar grip vs. the half wells grips on the other rods. To complicate matters; how much you enjoy (or dislike) a rod also depends on how and where you are fishing. We have every 2020 Steelhead Fly Rod in stock, including two-handed switch and spey rods. For this style of nymphing I prefer to use a lighter rod in the 6 foot range because it’s easier on the arms and can still handle most steelhead under 10lbs. We take care of all the gear and you just sit back and relax after arriving in camp. As the fly line section noted, we are using skagit type lines. Site cast to trophy trout cruising the shallows of several productive lakes. I’ve used this 10 – 6 weight rod a lot for Euro Nymphing for steelhead and it’s one of the best single hand 10 foot rods for this style of fishing. Baseline - Casting on the LawnWe can’t emphasize enough that trout don’t live in grassy fields. Zach:Zach ranked the Orvis H3F as his overall favorite rod in the grass casting session. The 3 weight is the most common and the best weight fly rod for euro nymphing. Fish over 20 legendary Montana rivers across multiple valleys or get off the beaten path on our exclusive private access ranch leases, Plan for your Montana fishing trip. Shop 6 wt. You can really “feel” every cast. No rod is perfect for every scenario but a 6 weight has enough back bone to toss smaller streamers yet still provides enough “feel” to throw dry flies on a windy day. Finally you need to cast a rod at the distances you most often fish (don’t get caught into parking lot hero casting) and find one that matches your casting stroke. Options include diverse lodging packages, camping trips, wilderness horse pack expeditions, day trips and world wide travel. They recommend using a 7- to 8-weight fly rod and reel that provides the power needed to cast big flies and retrieve the powerful steelhead. It has a silky, relaxed feel and is very enjoyable. He placed the LL and Helios 3F at the top of the “happiness” factor when rod in hand for close casts with a slight edge to the LL. The rod felt progressively more forgiving as casting lengths increased. 20 years ago it seemed like whichever rod incorporated the newest generation of space age graphite would win the “best rod” race. General Overview of Rod Review Test ProceduresOur simple goal in mind was determining which fly rods “feel the best” in specific on the water applications. Matt:Matt gave the Sage X a thumbs up. Casey:This was Casey’s favorite “one-quiver” rod based on lawn casting results. To further help you in your search, we will now take a look at the key factors you should consider and the qualities you want to see in a fishing rod for steelhead before you make a purchase. These BVK rods perform every bit as well as rods selling at double their price, and buyers have nothing but praise for the BVK series. Rates and terms for some of our standard trips. We also decided that it is nearly impossible to quantify “feel” so we intentionally tossed out the notion of any point systems and will focus on qualitative descriptions of specific rods in specific situations. They are also less prone to backlash and are ideal for beginners. At mid range it felt smooth and powerful. Imagine floating into a deluxe camp on one of our private ranches or permitted islands where cold beverages and tasty appetizers await. You now have a rod with a balanced fly line that is setup up for swinging flies. In the early stages of graphite rod development the race was to produce stiffer and stiffer “fast action” rods. St Croix Triumph Surf Spinning Rods deliver the power and action needed to hunt the biggest and most aggressive of fishes be it in the backwaters or on the high sea. I caught a nice Coho on the spey and it really seemed like too much rod for the fish. I have also found that over and over again that the rod I enjoyed most behind the fly shop is not the one I enjoyed most on the river. affordable fly rods on Orvis.com. When I picked up the Asquith after spending some time bouncing back and forth between the other faster rods in the group it was noticeably a different animal. The best winter and summer steelhead hook size is #4, 6, 2, 8, 1.5, 3, 5, 8, 1, 10; in that order; unless in a different order. He felt that it didn’t have quite as much power as a few of the other rods at 60 feet but still had plenty of “juice” to get it done at longer range. So this rod was my favorite under 30 feet. Got a really nice big fish on the five weight cuz the eight weight snapped The rivers, streams and lakes of Yellowstone National Park hold a special place in the hearts of many anglers. Louis:Unfortunately we weren’t able to receive feedback on the Asquith from Louis. This accelerated casting stroke and high line speed required a lot of focus when up close to make sure I didn’t punch the rod too much. Rods TestedWe opted to select 6 premium price point rods (generally retailing between $875 and $1000) with a spectrum of rods that were designed for different applications (high powered canons for long distance and wind all the way to more moderate actions that “feel” buttery even on up-close casts. Experience the wilds of Montana on a multi-day horse pack adventure. The Orvis Clearwater 1266-4 Switch Rod is a fun and easy spey rod for trout or even small Steelhead like the “Half Pounders” or other smaller anadromous species or the big rainbows in ... We recommend using the following fly lines with this rod… We couldn’t quite make out his words as he mumbled to himself, but it appeared that some sort of spiritual battle was taking place within his inner being as the seductively smooth loops the rod cast conflicted with his aversion to the deceptive line speed it produced. A: This is an elusive concept. Weight. He described it as feeling really touchy on short casts, with the rod mostly casting from the tip. It should be just fine for the Ohio steelhead. 8’6” rod length with 10-25lbs line weight rating. I felt like the Orvis H3D struck a nice blend of having great “feel” at mid ranges with great power potential for punching wind. Zach:Zach felt that the Orvis H3D offered a good blend of power and touch. 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