TGlide
New member
I have an old, 1980 vintage Fenwick. Is yours fiberglass?
Fly fishing question
- Thread starter mep1811
- Start date
mep1811
Gentleman Adventurer
Yes it is . I just started using it with 5 weight line . It seems to work fine.
aknightinak
Active member
I'm a run what you brung kind of fisherman.
Many of those rods often behave more like an x/y/z-weight. I have a fiberglass Fenwick in a 2-piece, 8- weight that is the flexiest, mushiest thing I've ever casted. If yours has similar action, I can't imagine you'd notice a difference with one weight lighter line, especially on a small to middling stream, but I bet it would absolutely chuck a one weight heavier line.
A rule of thumb someone once remarked on tippet was to go no greater than 2x the weight of the rod. That said, I've been known to run 30# on an 8 to drift home-cured roe for cohos. Fishing bait with a fly rod generally shows you who the elitists on stream are immediately, too.
Many of those rods often behave more like an x/y/z-weight. I have a fiberglass Fenwick in a 2-piece, 8- weight that is the flexiest, mushiest thing I've ever casted. If yours has similar action, I can't imagine you'd notice a difference with one weight lighter line, especially on a small to middling stream, but I bet it would absolutely chuck a one weight heavier line.
A rule of thumb someone once remarked on tippet was to go no greater than 2x the weight of the rod. That said, I've been known to run 30# on an 8 to drift home-cured roe for cohos. Fishing bait with a fly rod generally shows you who the elitists on stream are immediately, too.
Glass is very forgiving so, as you have discovered, it will play nicely with a 5wt line. My small stream rods tend to be lighter and loaded one weight heavier. When casting short, 10-15’, a heavier line actually loads the rod better. My favorite small stream setup is a 6’ glass or bamboo 4 wt loaded with a 5 wt line. When you are fishing with the tippet and 3’ of fly line it feels much better.
aknightinak
Active member
I grabbed a 7' 6" 3 with a 4 line at Bean while I was visiting family last summer. This Redington had the price point over everything else and a few inches more length. I still wanted reach on larger creeks, which I fish more than real skinny troughs. New favorite, it took my summer grayling trip to a whole new level when I got into schools of 14-18 inchers. As much and as long as I've loved it, I might not ever fish my 5 wt in upland headwaters again.
ShootingCar
New member
I also had an old Fenwick Pack Rod and tried it. But the truth of the matter is you can pick up an entry level rod package that matches the conditions you’re fishing in and you will have more fun. I would look around. Go to a local fly shop and tell them your budget and what you to fish and see what they have available to sell you. They may help you with some lessons too and get you set up to start out right. The Orvis Clearwater or Echo (I think they’re called) entry level and the Reddington packages are a great deal. Yes they won’t have the best fly line but they’re a great start. Keep seeking advice.
DCH109
Adventurer
I started fly fishing with what I had and it was a 9' 8wt rod using about 5wt floating fly line. This was about 35-40 years ago.
With that setup, after I learned how not to get my line caught in over hanging trees, I never had a problem catching fish. Was my casting photo worthy, hell no (still is not) but I never had a problem catching fish.
I now only use a 5wt line and I am all self taught on my fly casting. It is much better than it was and I can get my line out and catch fish, the key is how that fly lands and in my case it lands well. I get a lot of looks is I am around other people and I am sure some are amazed I catch anything. I am 100% catch and release these days and only fish with dry flys now as I like seeing the fish strike vs feeling it.
So to answer the OP's question, grab a 4wt or 5wt and it will be fine. Like other have said it is all about placement. The right fly helps, but there are some standard ones they work 80% of the time in most situations.
With that setup, after I learned how not to get my line caught in over hanging trees, I never had a problem catching fish. Was my casting photo worthy, hell no (still is not) but I never had a problem catching fish.
I now only use a 5wt line and I am all self taught on my fly casting. It is much better than it was and I can get my line out and catch fish, the key is how that fly lands and in my case it lands well. I get a lot of looks is I am around other people and I am sure some are amazed I catch anything. I am 100% catch and release these days and only fish with dry flys now as I like seeing the fish strike vs feeling it.
So to answer the OP's question, grab a 4wt or 5wt and it will be fine. Like other have said it is all about placement. The right fly helps, but there are some standard ones they work 80% of the time in most situations.