The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

I have always used a 5 wt backpacking, just because of the wind and distance issue. Gotta agree with Shawn--I don't think it matters how fast a 3 wt is, in the wind, it is still a 3 wt.

I have never packed a spare rod into the wilderness. I would rather put the extra weight into food or drink I haven't broken a rod backpacking, so I guess I have been lucky. I figure I can always rig something up if I broke my rod (I do know how to make a casting device from a tin can).

I like my St. Croix Imperial for backpacking--about $150.

Looking forward to the report. Is it summer yet?

Dawn

No, but he's the only guy I know who builds rods. There's a savings to having it built, but more convenient to just send in the broken rod to the manufacturer and get a new one back in a week.

I'm also one of those guys who buys all his flies. I figure I'll work at what I know and enjoy, and then spend on my toys.

A 5 wt. is a bit heavy for me. I have one, but I never use it. On the San Juan, where the fish average 17", I've been using a 2/3 wt. fiberglass rod. It's hell in the wind, but I do get them in reasonably quickly. However, on the Juan you usually don't have to cast more than 20 feet. I use a 4 wt. too, and that's plenty of rod for those fish.

The flies will mostly be small egg patterns, some size 12 buggers and 12-14 nymphs and dries.

I guess I've been influenced by my buddy who is leading our group of 3. He's been going up there for years and uses a 3 wt. In fact, he uses a 3 wt. for all of his trout fishing...except when we went to Alaska.

Too much $$$ Shawn. My days of $600+ rods are over, or at least temporarily on hold.

I'd rather spend the bucks on a trip.

It's almost 4 months away, Dawn, and I'll need every minute of it to get into shape! It's been 6 years since I got into shape for my last big hike. UGH! I shouldn't have let myself go.

I've been hiking in the flatlands, with pack, every day. Next week I'll start in the hills, then the mountains.

As to the second rod, I won't risk hiking 10 miles from 8500' to 10,500' with only one rod and reel. I'll shave the ounces somewhere else...you should see the photo gear I'm planning to bring! One lens weighs as much as 2 rods and reels.

I really need to learn how to post photos. Maybe I'll give it a try with my big steelie pic.

bruce you have alot of rods sitting around collecting dust. sell your burkheimer you dont know how to use it and you never will because you refuse to put away the bobicators. learn how to fish like a real steelheader jigs arent flies. Plus save your money for a steelhead trip. if I were a betting man I would bet that there will be to much snow in early june to get into those lakes in the wind river range.

Arizona Bruce wrote:
and maybe I'll learn something in the process.

Here's my situation: I'll be hiking for 10 miles at a high elevation to reach glacial lakes at close to 11,000 feet. The trout will average 15"-18" with a possible 24 incher. There will be a lot of lake fishing from shore and some streams wide enough not to be able to cast across..

Where on Earth is there a high-elevation stream too wide to be able to cast across?
Where is this 11,000 foot elevation lake where the average trout is 15"-18" with the occassional 24" trout thrown in?

I want to go!

Listen, if you want a long, fast-action 3 wt, then buy one. You can use it for your upcoming trip and then stick it in a closet and forget about it. You would be much better served buying a medium action 3 wt. rod and learning to cast better. Fishing a 3 weight can be a kick, I know I own two; but as has been pointed out, winds can be an issue in the mountains, so a 4 or 5 weight would probably be a better choice, especially for these giant mountain trout you speak of.

My three weights don't see as much action for trout fishing as I thought they would.

By the way, that is one nice steelhead!

Thanks, ST.

We'll be heading into the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming above Pinedale. The last time I went, we did the horseback thing but we were on the wrong side of the mountain...or maybe we just didn't know what we were doing. I did manage to land two 16" goldens on that trip, but my largest cut was about 14". At the same time, my buddy/guide was on the other side of the mountain, just slaying them.

I couldn't cast across the pool that held the 16 inch fish, but most of the creeks are smaller. It's the lakes where my buddy said the trout are often just out of reach. For that reason, we're leaving earlier in June (the 22nd) than he did his previous trips.

Apparently, the fish come closer to shore when they're spawning, and the warming trends of the past few years have pushed that earlier. There IS a good snowpack this year, so we might run into trouble, but it's a crap shoot trying to nail a one week window of opportunity.

IF i get a fast 3 wt., it could be the perfect rod for the San Juan River. My 4 wt is fine there, but I COULD go a bit lighter. My 2/3 fiberglass is a bit light, especially when the afternoon winds kick up.

We'll see.

Arizona Bruce wrote:
Thanks, ST.

It's the lakes where my buddy said the trout are often just out of reach.



It doesn't matter how accomplished a caster you might be or might become. The above will always hold true

That's the word that got me into tying my own flies and built two rods. Lot's less $$$!! Go to one of the rod bashes and learn, and see how much $$$ you can save. Then you can even repair your own rod and don't have to worry about someone dying off. I use the cold, snowy, winter months to tie up just about all the flies I'll need for the following year and plenty to give to my friends for birthday and Christmas gifts as well.

As far as getting info for the right blanks & parts you need, there are ALOT of people on the board to get it from. Pappy, CharlieS, Slofly, Darti as well as many others. Just ask! I've never heard anyone ask for info that was refused.

After thought: I'm sure I'm not the only one here that will say there is a certain "high" obtained from catching a fish on a rod you built yourself and a fly you tied yourself! Even when my friends catch with flies I tied for them!

Beerfly

I can't say you're wrong. I'll probably learn to tie before building a rod, because I've already got so many rods.

Problem is, I work alot, and I mean A LOT. I work at home and I work at work. I have trouble finding the time to do much else, except fish and spending a little time with friends.

I know this sounds lame, but it's the truth. I guess I don't have a very well-rounded life, but hell, I'm content!

Beerfly,

Just got home from work so I can lock the door and spend the next 3 days doing my income taxes.

I thought of another reason I need to learn how to tie...the limits I'm under just buying my flies (although, did you know you can get many patterns for 70 cents on line?).

Sometimes I need a sparse fly, but the commercial one's aren't tied that way, or I'd like some krystal flash in a fly that wasn't tied with it, or rubber legs.

Yeah, I'll learn sometime.