Fly rod recommendations

[SA Friday]

Best weight if your sticking strictly to drys would be a 4 wt and go with 9'. Personally I would by a 5wt so when you decide to start nymphing more you're set up for it. Something to take into account is what line is going on it. A higher end line can make a lower end rod cast better than a high end rod with crap line. Favorite right now is Rio's Gold series. Didn't mention reel but if you're needing one a good bang for the buck is the okuma slv series. Large arbor with fairly good cork drags on them.

This. Good post, almost verbatim to what I was going to post, but I prefer Ross, Galvin, or Lamson reels.

[obawon]

Dittos to all recommendations! The 9 ft 5 wt is a universal soldier...besides, if you get a 4 wt, it is harder to justify buying a 3 wt down the road :-)

[obawon]

As far as where to spend the extra money on quality...for a trout rig, I would make the extra investment on a nicer rod and fly line and settle for a middle of the road mid to large arbor reel. My bonefish rig has a lamson reel and it that was well worth it for drag smoking bonefish, but trout, even big trout are not that hard on a fly reel.

[hatidua]

but trout, even big trout are not that hard on a fly reel.

For trout, no matter the size, the reel is for storing line, nothing more (even if the trout are over 30").

[d_striker]

As far as where to spend the extra money on quality...for a trout rig, I would make the extra investment on a nicer rod and fly line and settle for a middle of the road mid to large arbor reel. My bonefish rig has a lamson reel and it that was well worth it for drag smoking bonefish, but trout, even big trout are not that hard on a fly reel.

+1 regarding reels for trout. All of my freshwater reels were less than $40. My saltwater reels are a different story. Spend your money on the stick and line.

I fish with a fast 4wt most of the time. I have a fast 6wt with fighting butt that i use to chase freshwater hogs and as a light saltwater stick. It's good for throwing big streamers and punches through the wind.

I wouldn't even think about trying to throw big streamers/mice with my 4wt. I wouldn't even think about throwing small dry flies with 6x tippet using my 6wt.

[buckshotbarlow]

9' 5wt for me. Same areas as well

Sage is the only way, my 5wt came back in shattered pieces after hooking into a bada$$ sockeye in alaska. Sage replaced it with no questions asked. I've bought a lot of cheep stuff, and a lot of expensive stuff. Custy support, well, that justifies the expensive stuff.

[Rabid]

For drys on the Platte and most rivers in Colorado i use a 8'6"-9' 4wt. As for action thats a hard one, I prefer a medium action in my older rods but the new fast action rods are pretty amazing with the presentation you can get and you get the power to throw heavy streamers, hopper droppers and foam ants like an older 5wt. It is hard to beat a 5wt in Colorado for a do it all rod but if you are mainly throwing lighter nymphs and drys a 4wt fits the bill in my opinion and the only problems is casting into the wind with a medium action 4wt. Also something to think about is if your shoulder still gives you problems going to a 5wt medium or even a medium-slow action might be best, you really have to put some power behind the fast actions. At http://www.yellowstoneangler.com there are some great reviews that explain where some rods shine and where some fall short in areas.

[shrapnel]

My go to rod for areas you mentioned are 9' 5 WT. I carry a 7' 3WT when backpacking along smaller streams. Want to try some tenkara this year. Unfortunately my shoulder issue only lets me get in a couple of hours per day. Sucks!

[hatidua]

Sage is the only way, my 5wt came back in shattered pieces after hooking into a bada$$ sockeye in alaska. Sage replaced it with no questions asked.

Any, and all, of the main fly rod brands will do likewise. Sage is no more "the only way" than is Winston, Scott, Loomis, Orvis, or any number of other makers.

(disclaimer: I own quite a few Sage rods but let's not deify one brand over another, they are all graphite sticks)

[Rabid]

Any, and all, of the main fly rod brands will do likewise. Sage is no more "the only way" than is Winston, Scott, Loomis, Orvis, or any number of other makers.

(disclaimer: I own quite a few Sage rods but let's not deify one brand over another, they are all graphite sticks)

Sage and Shimano (G Loomis) are the only ones i know that will repair or replace a rod for the cost of shipping when you admit you closed the tip in the car door

Saying they are all graphite sticks is not fair, some are fiber glass and bamboo too.
Being brand loyal is fine but i am not. I buy what works for me best. when they came out i tried the Loomis IMX - loved it, tried the Winston IM6 - loved it, tried the Tom Morgan Favorite - loved it, and apparently most people agree because they make it on to the all time best fly rod lists in time. Some of the Hardy and Gatti rods will be on those lists soon too. The problem is some of the rods those same companys have made are just not enjoyable to cast or land a fish on.